Clik here to view.
7 of the best South African hip-hop verses of 2016 so far
Six months into the year and South African rappers have already dropped some of the hottest verses, on posse tracks, you will hear all year. Here are seven of the strongest, in no particular order:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
9 hot singles from the man who brought you “Ngud'”
If you’re only hearing about Kwesta’s greatness now that you’re jamming to “Ngud’“, you’re late. The Katlehong-native has been killing it since 2007 when we first introduced to his infectious brand of...
View Article[Video] Behind the scenes with Dope Saint Jude, one of Cape Town’s hottest...
International magazine, I-D, called her the “patron of South Africa’s intersectional hip-hop scene”. She has already collaborated with London rapper, MIA, on a campaign for H&M. But it’s her skill...
View ArticleClik here to view.
9 great Sketchy Bongo-produced songs that aren’t “Back To The Beach”
Durban producer Sketchy Bongo is probably one of the most versatile producers right now. While his most famous production may be “Back To The Beach”, the man has produced some heaters. We list some of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Here are the dopest South African posse tracks from the last 10 years
DJ Switch’s latest single, “Now Or Never”, is a dope posse track. It has had people debating the tightest verse, especially on the remix, which featured 12 emcees. We look back on some of the freshest...
View ArticleClik here to view.
10 notable South African female rappers of all time
Our list of the most influential women in local rap history includes many impressive names: Like Yo Girls, the first ever all-female South African rap crew who performed in the ’80s, to the new crop of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
5 male musicians on the female artists who inspire them
Mashayabhuqe KaMamba says Busi Mhlongo helped him build his subgenre digital maskandi. Youngsta is inspired by Queen Latifah to rep his city hard. More hot young male musicians like Kimosabe, DJ Fosta,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
#RBMAJozi: 7 acts you have to see at the Red Bull Music Academy weekender in...
This weekend (1 – 4 September), the Red Bull Music Academy Weekender Johannesburg will bring a diverse line-up of artists, to different parts of Jozi. The Bassline, And Club, Kitcheners, Carfax, Great...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How Kimosabe went from being a hostile rapper to a flourishing singer and...
Kimosabe’s hauntingly beautiful vocals are all over radio these days. Be it on DJ Clock’s latest dancefloor anthem “Wolves” or DJ Dimplez’s “Bet It All” alongside the rapper Maggz. Last year, the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In memory of Mandoza, one of the most confident kwaito artists of all time
Even though he had been reduced to just a face on a meme for “bad English” and hadn’t released music that resonated since the mid-2000s, Mandoza was an important figure in South African culture. We...
View ArticleMashayabhuqe KaMamba talks us through the importance of clan names
We asked young people around Braamfontein if they knew their clan names, and very few did. “I’m not traditional,” one said. We also got musician Mashayabhuqe KaMamba, whose music is modern but has deep...
View ArticleClik here to view.
This is why the MTV Africa Music Awards are pap
For years, African artists have been included in “African Music”categories in award shows around the world, but after 2009 there was finally an African MTV award show that artists could be featured on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ambitiouz Ent is running SA hip-hop, here’s a list of our favourite hits from...
You’ve heard the the tag – the “Ambitious” whisper at the beginning of your favourite SA trap songs. Ambitiouz Ent is undebatably the best hip-hop stable in South Africa currently. It’s home to Emtee,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How this Cape Town afro soul duo went from performing on trains and taxi...
On their popular single, “Ngeny’ilanga”, which has about 34,000 YouTube views, the up-and-coming Cape Town afro soul duo Soul Kulture tell an emotive story of hope. On the video, they go from...
View ArticleThis review of Nasty C’s “Bad Hair” album might upset you if you’re a fan
Nasty C‘s debut album Bad Hair was released about a month ago. Two of our contributors debate whether it’s good or not. Mayuyuka Kaunda wasn’t impressed with the album. “I really didn’t get to know who...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Popular slang words and the South African hip-hop artists who popularised them
Nowadays we call just about anyone a “Stan” for being obsessed with a particular artist. But how many of you remember that it came from Eminem’s song by the same name? In the same way, there are...
View Article[Video] Electronic music duo Stiff Pap’s new single will have even hip-hop...
We recently took a walk around Cape Town CBD with electronic music duo, Stiff Pap. The group is made up of producer Mshindi AKA Jakinda (20) and rapper Ayema Probllem (20) who describe themselves as...
View Article[Video] This is why South African rappers sound the same
Would you say your favourite South African rappers are original? Well, after listening to A-Reece’s new album Paradise, two of our contributors found themselves asking the same question. Aseza Pupuma...
View Article7 dope South African trapsoul singers you need in your life before the year ends
2016 brought us melodic trap music, known as trapsoul (named after American singer Bryson Tiller’s album of the same name). South Africa, not to be left behind, has also produced a few trapsoul singers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The 10 best South African albums of 2016
2016 showed us flames, but musically it was one of the best. From Zaki Ibrahim’s experimental electronica EP Orbit: A Postcoital Prequel, to Priddy Ugly’s unique take on trap You Don’t Know Me Yet, to...
View Article