Nadine Lustre and Apl.de.Ap Release Collaborative Single Donuts

Nadine Lustre and Apl.de.Ap have released a new single titled “Donuts,” a hip‑hop‑pop track that blends English and Tagalog lyrics. The song was made available on digital platforms worldwide on September 4 2026 under Cool Girl Records. A lyric video followed two days later on September 6, 2026, and was shared by Lustre on her social‑media accounts.

The collaboration marks Lustre’s second musical outing after a three‑year hiatus. Her first release of 2026, “Personal,” dropped on July 31 and was a pop‑driven single that signaled her return to the recording studio after focusing on film and television projects. “Donuts” takes a more rap‑centric direction, with Lustre rapping about confidence and dismissing gossip in the opening verse.

The track was composed by Kahlil Atienza, Isagani Palabyab, and Elijiah Wudz B. Bitacura. Lyrics were written by Ivo Impreso and Lustre herself. Palabyab produced the song, while Lustre is credited as both composer and lyricist. The single was released under Cool Girl Records, a label that has worked with several Filipino pop artists in recent years.

Apl.de.Ap, born Allan Pineda Lindo, is a Filipino‑American rapper and founding member of the Grammy‑winning group Black Eyed Peas. He has been active in the music industry since the early 1990s and has released solo work that highlights his Filipino heritage, such as “Bebot” and “The Apl Song.” His collaboration with Lustre follows a June 2026 partnership with Illest Morena and fana on the track “Wind It.” The partnership brings together a local pop‑singer‑actress and an internationally recognized hip‑hop artist, creating a cross‑cultural musical bridge.

Lustre’s career has spanned acting, music, and advocacy. After a successful run with Viva Entertainment’s Pop Girls and a string of hit films with James Reid, she returned to music in 2020 with the album “Wildest Dreams.” In 2023 she released “Overgrown,” and in 2026 she resumed her musical output with “Personal” and “Donuts.” She has also starred in the 2026 television series “Love, Siargao” alongside Alden Richards, and has appeared in films such as “Nokturno,” “Uninvited,” and “Call Me Mother.”

The release of “Donuts” illustrates a growing trend of Filipino artists collaborating with international musicians. By blending English and Tagalog, the single appeals to both domestic and diaspora audiences. The partnership also highlights the continued influence of Filipino talent in global pop and hip‑hop scenes, a trend that has been evident in the past decade with artists like Charice, Sarah Geronimo, and the Black Eyed Peas’ own Apl.de.Ap.

As of September 7 2026, “Donuts” is available on all major streaming services, and its lyric video has accumulated several hundred thousand views. No chart positions have been reported yet, but the single’s release follows a pattern of strategic timing that aligns with Lustre’s return to music and Apl.de.Ap’s ongoing promotional activities. The collaboration is expected to generate further discussion about cross‑genre partnerships and the representation of Filipino artists on international platforms.

The lyric video, released on YouTube on September 6, features animated visuals that sync with the song’s verses and chorus. According to YouTube analytics shared by Lustre’s management, the video had surpassed 300,000 views within the first 48 hours. The video also includes subtitles in both English and Tagalog, a feature that aligns with the song’s bilingual approach. On Instagram, Lustre posted a short clip of the track’s hook, which garnered over 200,000 likes and sparked a trend of fans remixing the hook on TikTok. These engagement metrics suggest that the single is resonating with both domestic listeners and the Filipino diaspora in North America and Europe.

In summary, Nadine Lustre and Apl.de.Ap’s “Donuts” represents a notable collaboration that merges pop and hip‑hop elements, showcases bilingual lyricism, and underscores the continued presence of Filipino artists in the global music market. The single’s release under Cool Girl Records and its subsequent promotion through a lyric video and social‑media sharing position it as a key entry in the 2026 music landscape.