Queensbridge’s own ilham is back outside! The Moroccan-American R&B singer just dropped her first release of 2025 called “roster,” a silky yet commanding track that flips the script on post-breakup dynamics. Out now via The Orchard, the song comes with a striking visual directed by Cass Myers (SZA, SadBoi) that places ilham front and center against the iconic NYC skyline, drawing eyes and turning heads.
Sonically, “roster” layers distorted strings over an ethereal bed of synths, crafting a hypnotic soundscape that complements ilham’s delivery. The track was co-produced by NAMI (Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Travis Scott) and GRAMMY winner Kevin “Kofo” Ekofo (Wizkid, Fridayy, Khalid, Burna Boy), making it clear ilham is moving with A-list energy.
While “roster” has a sultry, dreamy vibe, ilham makes sure it’s not drenched in sadness. Instead, she flips the pain into power. “I wrote ‘roster’ freshly heartbroken, but I wanted to create something that felt like an escape,” ilham explains. “I was tired of being sad in my music, so I walked into the studio and said, ‘sometimes I wish I wasn’t such a lover girl.’ We wrote the song imagining a more empowered version of myself—someone confident, in control, on top of the world. Even if I wasn’t feeling that way in real life, I wanted to manifest that energy for myself and my listeners.”
ilham returned to music last summer after a two-year hiatus. Her independent debut track, “uhm…ok?,” made waves, stacking over 3 million streams. But her On The Radar Radio live performance set the internet ablaze—20 million views, 100K likes on Twitter, and 6 million TikTok plays.
She doubled down with “games,” a modern-day siren song for women who know their worth and refuse to be played.
Raised in the legendary Queensbridge Housing Projects, the same stomping grounds as Nas and Mobb Deep, ilham has seen the grind up close. But while her surroundings were rough, ilham saw beyond the block. Studying legends like Aaliyah, Ashanti, and Michael Jackson, she refined her craft, went on to learn music theory at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, and even graduated early from Cornell University. Her breakout EP, 41-10, put her on the map in 2018, linking her with Dave East and Arin Ray, while her 2019 follow-up, with time, soared to #1 on the iTunes Top R&B Albums Chart. She’s since worked with heavy-hitters like London on da Track and TBHits, performed at major festivals like Day N Vegas and Sol Blume, and racked up over 33 million streams.
ilham is locked in, leveling up, and playing by her own rules.
