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Top 10 Best Rappers in Africa 2023 (With Best Songs)

Published

5 years ago

5:53 pm

Delvin

I’ve compiled a list of the top ten rappers in Africa for 2023 so you can stop wasting time and get back to what really matters: Making money.

While other continents may be known for “making the most noise”, no one does it quite like Africa. We bring you the first-class talent that Africa has to offer.

1. Khaligraph Jones

Khaligraph Jones is the best rapper in Africa. His swagger and passion for his music set him apart from all the other hip-hop artists out there today. Solid content and clever lyrics have proven that he is definitely a force to reckon with.

His real name is Brian Ouko Omollo and he is a Kenyan rapper. Khaligraph Jones was the first rapper from Kenya to win awards and is internationally recognized by the Hip Hop community. He has a flow that is as quick as Twista’s (American) or M.I (Nigerian) and with this, he has gained a huge following with a lot of loyal fans. He first came to light in 2009 when he participated in the 2009 Channel O MC Africa Challenge and reached the finals.

Some people are born great, but Khaligraph Jones worked hard to become this good.

Do you know the top Independent artists?

2. Nasty C

There are a handful of African rappers that have broken into the US and UK market, but Nasty C has set the bar pretty high.

Acclaimed as the best rapper to ever come out of South Africa, Nasty C is a talented lyricist, producer and songwriter. He may sound like your typical hip-hop music star, but there is more to Nasty C than meets the eye.

Underneath his lyrical intelligence and charming personality lies a man who is on the rise to be one of the most influential artists of this generation.

He is perhaps best known for his hits “SMA,” “Said,” “King,” and His Album “Stings and Blings” which did a great job of establishing his sound. Nasty C has a unique way of writing rhymes that creates vivid imagery in the listener’s mind. His flow sounds effortless even when he’s spitting quick bars. He got to where he is because he has been working tirelessly since the age of 16.

In 2015, he became the youngest rapper to win at South African Hip Hop Awards for Best Freshman Prize. He has also won many other awards including, Best International Act: Africa, Song of the Year, Best Hip Hop Album, Best Male Album, Best New Artist(BET Awards) from many other award ceremonies.

3. Sarkodie

Some say Sarkodie is the best rapper out. Some say he might be wack. But it’s all a matter of perspective because some people like chocolate while others like vanilla. What do you think?

One thing for sure is that Sarkodie is undoubtedly Ghana’s biggest rapper, with a helicopter flow and knack for witty punchlines.

He is often named as the greatest African rapper and in 2015 was ranked the 19th most Influential Ghanaian by e.tv Ghana. He won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 2012 BET Awards, and was nominated in the same category at the 2014 BET Awards. Sarkodie has 79 awards and received nominations in so many other categories.

His real name is Michael Owusu Addo.

4. Cassper Nyovest

You’re looking at the most respected, glorified, and celebrated rapper South Africa has ever seen; a man who has sold out stadiums across the country and played to a combined 1 million-plus fans all over the continent.

He’s been anointed benevolent king of contemporary rap well that was till he began to incline much on the Amapiano scene, but don’t be fooled; the dude can still spit as effectively as ever.

Refiloe Maele Phoolo has done so much, done it all, you name it.

He rose to fame in 2013 with the song ‘Gusheshe’ and in 2014 with ‘Doc Shebeleza’ which both won awards. He has continued to make hits after hits since then including, ‘Ksazobalit’, ‘Baby girl’ and ‘Tito Mboweni’. Cassper Nyovest became the first South African Musicians to fill up a stadium with 72,000 fans during his concert.

Let’s face it, many African Musicians haven’t accomplished a goal like that yet.

5. Ladipoe

I’m going to assume you’re searching for the best rappers from Nigeria. Ladipoe is our guy, and he’s the type of rapper who draws people in and makes them feel something even if they’re not actively listening to his songs.

Ladipoe is popular for his smooth beats and laid-back vibe. Ladipoe is like a breath of fresh air compared to the harsh beats and aggressive delivery of many rappers.

6. AKA

AKA is a rapper and entrepreneur from South Africa. He also goes by the name Kiernan Jarryd Forbes. In 2014 AKA signed a multi-album deal with Sony Music. He has also opened for Ed Sheeran and 2 Chainz on their South African tours. AKA has released quite a number of albums, as a matter of fact, his 2015 album ‘Levels’ went Certified Gold. Beside AKA being a decorated artist he is a father.

7. Emtee

Although seven years have passed since his debut, Emtee’s story is far from finished.

The 29-year-old rapper, born Mthembeni Ndevu, has dominated radio airwaves and local campuses with his fierce and clever rhymes, spitting “hand grenade flow.”

8. Kwesi Arthur

With a powerful voice and a fresh yet potent style, Kwesi Arthur is already making waves in the African music scene.

He’s bringing together hip-hop swagger with African rhythms and a dash of rap.

9. A-Reece

We can’t leave A-Reece out of this. His entrance into the game came with lots of questions and few clear answers, but a growing number of followers suggest that this young rapper has something to say.

10. Medikal

Medikal may be a new name to you, but he has been making waves in Ghana and the UK since last year.

Samuel Adu Frimpong chose the moniker Medikal because he enjoyed rapping about doctors, surgeons, medical practitioners, and hospitals in general. He’s created a reputation for himself in the music industry via hard work and several collaborations with well-known performers.

Conclusion

You could argue that this list is not built on facts and doesn’t have any legitimate conclusions, but let’s be honest: it’s never going to be easy if you want to write a list of the ‘best rapper in Africa’.

In reality, everyone has their own opinion about who is the best for them. Maybe we can blame it on how difficult it is to actually follow current happenings in African hip-hop these days. But maybe we can also say that these rappers are pretty great and all deserve recognition (sorry to all the other rappers who are not on this list, don’t take it personally).

Picking out the best rapper in Africa is like picking out the prettiest painting in an art museum. We see things differently and that’s okay.

All in all, we’re proud to say Africa has finally grown a crop of rap artists that can stand toe to toe with their peers from the “bigger” continents.

Who is the fastest rapper in Africa?

Sarkodie is the fastest rapper in Africa, possessing a flow so rapid-fire and free that he was able to sound out his own name on a track.

Sarkodie’s particular talent lies in using internal rhymes, multisyllabic rhymes, and accentuating certain syllables within a line. This creates a cadence that leaves listeners both envious and in awe of his skills.