MANILA, Philippines — Nadine Lustre is kicking off another chapter in her music career with an unexpected international collaboration, joining forces with Filipino-American rapper and Black Eyed Peas founding member Apl.de.Ap for the new single “Donuts.”
Released on September 4, 2026, the track pairs Lustre’s vocals and rap-driven delivery with Apl.de.Ap’s signature hip-hop presence, creating a fast-paced, genre-blending track that gives fans another glimpse of the actress-singer’s evolving musical direction. Apple Music lists “Donuts” as Lustre’s latest single, while the track is also credited to Apl.de.Ap.
The collaboration arrives shortly after Lustre released “Personal,” marking a particularly active period for the artist as she continues to build momentum around her music.
A surprise pairing fans did not see coming
The announcement of “Donuts” immediately caught attention because of the unlikely-but-natural pairing of Lustre and Apl.de.Ap.
The song reportedly combines Lustre’s vocals and bars with a rap verse from Apl.de.Ap, giving the track a distinctly contemporary pop and hip-hop character. Music publication MEGA describes “Donuts” as a fast-paced song that weaves together Lustre’s vocals and bars with Apl.de.Ap’s rap contribution.
Lustre herself described the experience of working with the veteran international artist as “a little surreal,” underscoring the significance of the collaboration. The single is now available across major streaming platforms.
“Donuts” gets an early streaming boost
The collaboration is already receiving prominent playlist placement.
Spotify’s New Music Friday Philippines currently features “Donuts” among its highlighted new releases, placing the Nadine Lustre and Apl.de.Ap collaboration alongside new tracks from major international and Filipino artists.
The song has also appeared on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists in several other Asian markets, including Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and South Korea, giving the collaboration an early regional footprint.
That international playlist presence could give “Donuts” additional room to travel beyond the Philippine market, particularly with Apl.de.Ap bringing an established global audience to the collaboration.
Apl.de.Ap’s Filipino music push continues
The release also comes at an important point in Apl.de.Ap’s renewed push to collaborate with Filipino artists.
In August, Apl.de.Ap announced a partnership with GMA Music covering the worldwide distribution and release strategy for an upcoming three-track EP. The project is built around themes of Filipino identity, cultural pride, unity and the global Filipino experience.
The EP is scheduled to include collaborations with Filipino artists such as Bamboo, J. Rey Soul and Datu Khomeini, with The Philippine Star reporting that the project is scheduled for release on October 2.
While “Donuts” is a separate release, its arrival fits into the broader picture of Apl.de.Ap becoming increasingly active in collaborations connected to Filipino music and culture.
Nadine Lustre enters another phase of her music career
For Lustre, “Donuts” follows the release of “Personal,” which dropped in August.
ABS-CBN Entertainment reported that “Personal” marked another musical release for the actress-singer as she continued exploring her identity as a recording artist.
With “Personal” followed by “Donuts,” Lustre is now showing a willingness to move between different sounds rather than being defined solely by her earlier pop releases.
The collaboration with Apl.de.Ap also puts her in a different musical environment, allowing her to work alongside an artist whose career has stretched from Philippine music to the international hip-hop and pop scene.
Why “Donuts” could become one of Nadine’s most talked-about releases
Beyond the novelty of seeing Lustre and Apl.de.Ap on the same track, the timing may be just as important.
“Donuts” arrives during a period when Lustre is visibly expanding her presence across entertainment, fashion and music, while Apl.de.Ap is simultaneously strengthening his connections with Filipino artists and the local music industry.
The early playlist exposure across multiple Asian markets gives the track an opportunity to reach listeners well beyond the Philippines.
For fans who have followed Lustre’s evolution from actress and pop performer to a more independent creative force, the collaboration may signal something bigger: she is not simply returning to music — she is experimenting with where her sound can go next.
And with Apl.de.Ap now part of that journey, “Donuts” could be the collaboration that introduces a new side of Nadine Lustre to an even wider audience.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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