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Have you ever wondered who the best South African rapper is? I have and after doing a lot of thinking about it, I’ve arrived at a definitive list. Now some of these rappers might seem obvious until you realize that one of these words is not like the others.

Rapping is not just a profession or hobby in South Africa, it’s a culture. South Africans take their rap music very seriously. With the high levels of crime in South Africa, rappers help express how they feel about the wrongs that are happening in their country. Here are the top ten rappers in South Africa today.

10. Okmalumkoolkat

Okmalumkoolkat is a rapper, producer, and a graphic designer who in fact has worked with Nike before. His real name is Smiso Zwane and was born in Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Okmalumkoolkat has been active in the rap game since 2007 and he came to the limelight back in 2013 after he collaborated with Cassper Nyovest in the single “Gusheshe”.

Mlazi Milano” is his only album at the moment which is certified Gold and released in 2016.

Did you know: Okmalumkoolkat is also known as Future Mfana, DJ Sharp Sharp, Smart Mampara, Mlazi Milano Malume wengane.

9. Emtee

Emtee, whose real name is, Mthembeni Ndevu is best known for his debut single ”Roll up” featuring AKA and Wizkid. The single won Song of the Year at the 2015 South African Hip Hop Awards.  He later released his debut album in 2016 named Avery after his son and took home Metro FM Music Awards.

One could think that Emtee’s music career took off fast but that is far from the truth, he released his first mixtape in 2008 title “The Introduction”.

Did you know: Emtee first stepped on the stage to perform when he was just 9 years of age at a talent show in Yeoville primary school.

8. Kwesta

Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng and is currently signed to his own record label known as Rap Lyf with Kid X as the co-founder. His Song Ngud featuring Cassper Nyovest went 5x Platinum which was on his third studio album DaKAR II released in 2016. He has also had songs with International acts like Kelly Rowland and Wale on ‘Spirit’ which also went platinum.

Did you know: Kwesta and his girlfriend(now wife) got matching ring tattoos way before they even thought about marriage. Isn’t that cute?

 

 

7. Priddy Ugly

His real name is Ricardo Molo and was born on 2nd April 1992. Other than being successful in Music Priddy Ugly was also been an accomplished Sportsman during his childhood.

Priddy Ugly released some amazing songs from his 2018 album, EGYPT(Everything Godly Yearns Patience and Time) which earned him a lot of listeners across Africa and some great reviews.

Did you know: Priddy Ugly is the first-ever African ambassador for Italian retail clothing company, Diesel.

Top 10 Best Rappers in Africa 2022

6. A Reece

One of the youngest rappers to make it in South Africa. Besides being a rapper, he is also a  songwriter and record producer signed with  Ambitiouz Entertainment in 2015.  A-Reece started his label(RubberBand Gang) after having disagreements with Ambitiouz Entertainment.

His real name is Lehlogonolo Ronald Mataboge. He currently has 3 albums with his latest one dropped early in 2020. You can find all his songs on his youtube channel.

Did you know: While other kids were dreaming of being Doctors, pilots, e.t.c A Reece always dreamt of being a rapper since eight grade. (he achieved his goal, don’t give up on yours).

5. K.O

Also known as Ntokozo Mdluli who is also a businessman in South Africa. K.O came into the limelight after releasing hits with the Hip-hop group Teargas, they released a couple of albums from 2006 t0 2012.

He released his debut album in 2014and another one in 2017 under Sony Music Entertainment Africa. K.O has being nominated for many awards for his hit song Caracara which he released back in 2014 featuring KId X.

Did you know: He was influential in the career of fellow rapper Kid X.

4. Shane Eagle

Shane Patrick Hughes (born 7 June 1996) is best known for his song ‘Way Up’.

He rose to fame after being one of the top four contestants on the South African television show Vuzu: The Hustle, where most South Africa rappers came from. He released an album in 2017 under his own Record label.

Did you know: Meek Mill is his all-time favorite rapper.

3. A.K.A

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 several albums, as a matter of fact, his 2015 album ‘Levels’ went Certified Gold. Beside AKA being a decorated artist he is a father.

Did you know: His Rap career started back in high school(2002) when he started a Rap group ‘Entity’ with his friends.

 

2. Cassper Nyovest

Cassper Nyovest is one of Africa’s favorite who is popularly known for his first hit songs ‘Gusheshe’ and ‘Doc Shebeleza. The two songs earned him awards and since then he has been getting awards across the world like its nothing. Cassper Nyovest became the first South African Musicians to fill up a stadium with 72,000 fans during his concert.

Did you know: Cassper Nyovest is also a Business Man and in In 2018, he made it to the list of Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 list.

Top 10 Best Rappers in Nigeria 2022

1. Nasty C

The man of many awards at only 22 years of age, a lot of rappers cant relate. He is not only the Best Rapper in South Africa but also the best in Africa. Besides being a South African Rapper he is also a songwriter and Producer.

Nasty C has been nominated by BET Awards before for Best International Act: Africa and has won many other awards across Africa. He has really changed how we look at the Hip-hop genre here in Africa. Nasty C’s real name is Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo. He currently has albums, Bad Hair and Strings & Bling.

Did you know: Nasty C started his rapping career at only nine years old

(That should go to the people who think Rome can be built in just one day)

 

As far as I am concerned, South African hip-hop is currently in a healthy state. With so many fresh and underrated artists emerging left right and center, it is hard to list who are the best rappers in South Africa right now.

It seems that almost everyone on the lists below has been overlooked, yet we think that these MCs have all earned a special place in SA hip-hop. These lists will likely be updated on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, but then again, we might just leave them as they are for eternity.


Top 10 Best Rappers in South Africa 2022

  1. Nasty C
  2. Cassper Nyovest
  3. A.K.A
  4. Shane Eagle
  5. K.O
  6. A Reece
  7. Priddy Ugly
  8. KID X
  9. Emtee
  10. Okmalumkoolkat

Top 10 Richest African Musicians

Best Rappers in South Africa 2022

 

Top 10 Best Rappers in South Africa 2022

Top 10 Best Rappers in South Africa 2022

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Taarifa kwa Vyombo vya Habari – wimbo mpya wa Into the Blood: “Play Your Clarinet!”

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Taarifa kwa Vyombo vya Habari – wimbo mpya wa Into the Blood: “Play Your Clarinet!”

Katika wimbo wao mpya wenye mchangamsho “Play Your Clarinet!”, Into the Blood wanaunganisha midundo ya kielektroniki inayoshika kwa urahisi na mgeuko wa kusisimua: solo la klaneti lenye mionjo ya jazz kutoka kwa Peter Fuglsang. Uchezaji wake unaongeza mguso wa uchezaji wa moja kwa moja unaokamilisha msingi wa kidijitali wa wimbo huu, na kuunda tukio la kipekee kabisa la kusikiliza.

Wimbo huu utazinduliwa kimataifa tarehe 22 Novemba katika lugha 11 tofauti—ikiwemo Kiswahili, Kifaransa, Kiingereza na Kichina n.k.—pamoja na toleo lisilo na sauti za kuimba.

Jiunge nasi katika safari ya kimataifa
Acha “Play Your Clarinet!” ikupeleke kuvuka mipaka, sauti na tamaduni. Wimbo mmoja. Lugha kumi na moja. Utasikika kwenye majukwaa yote makubwa ya kusikiliza muziki mtandaoni, na video za maneno ya wimbo zitapatikana kwenye YouTube. Jifunge mkanda na ufurahie safari!

Orodha ya video za “Play Your Clarinet!” – video za maneno ya wimbo katika lugha zote 11 kwenye YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuQcCz0vhEKyPigEcJ1-Du7YhrzZdLrex

“Destination 11” – video ya muziki:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8l72BtPBd8

Kuhusu Into the Blood
Duo la Into the Blood—Jens Brygmann (sauti za kuimba na ngoma za kidijitali) na Carsten Bo Andersen (kinanda na sintesa)—imekuwa ikifanya kazi tangu mwaka 2016. Muziki wao umekuwa ukipigwa kwenye vituo mbalimbali vya redio duniani, vikiwemo vya Uingereza, Australia na Ufaransa.

Toleo la asili la “Play Your Clarinet!” pia linapatikana kwenye rekodi ya vinili ya inchi 12 kama sehemu ya mradi wao mkubwa wa Destination 11, unaojumuisha video ya muziki ya dakika 11. Video hiyo imewahi kuonyeshwa katika matamasha mbalimbali ya kimataifa ya filamu fupi, na hadi sasa tayari imeshinda tuzo mbili nchini India, kufikia hatua ya fainali kwenye East Village New York Film Festival na Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival, nusu fainali kwenye Seattle Film Festival na robo fainali kwenye Synergy Film Festival huko Los Angeles.

Mradi wa Destination 11 umefadhiliwa na White City Consulting na Custom Coaching.

Upakuzi kupitia Dropbox – Hapa unaweza kupakua nyenzo za promosheni:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/sai0udu4imfwdmktxf5cj/ADqWOKnmQZjDm3PsXL3yzvs?rlkey=75i1ctld2guy8tcp6snp112j9&st=jtgfu546&dl=0

Salamu za muziki kutoka
Into the Blood
Jens Brygmann & Carsten Bo Andersen 📧 [email protected]

Into the Blood – mitandao ya kijamii:
https://linktr.ee/intotheblood

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Van Hechter’s “Boy Problems” Is a Deep and Danceable Bilingual Anthem for Anyone Tired of Lukewarm Love

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Van Hechter’s “Boy Problems” Is a Deep and Danceable Bilingual Anthem for Anyone Tired of Lukewarm Love

Montreal-based pop sensation and LGBTQ activist Van Hechter is back with “Boy Problems,” a stunning new single. The track merges his signature upbeat charm with rare emotional depth. Hechter, known for hits like “Disco Brother,” “Hot Damn,” and “Love Elastic,” reveals a new side to his magnetic electro-pop personality, offering a message that is both radiant and raw.

At 4 minutes and 24 seconds, “BoyProblems” is a bilingual (French & English) eruption of glitter, melancholy, and empowerment. It’s built on irresistible synths, glossy production, and pulsing basslines. The song invites listeners into a world where heartbreak beats in rhythm with liberation. The melodies feel euphoric on the surface, yet are stained with a haunting vulnerability, proving that dancing and deep feeling can exist together.

At its core, the song is a manifesto about refusing to settle for half-love. Van delivers lyrics that make you sway, smile, and suddenly pause; the truth stings. If love isn’t loud, real, and fully given, he’d rather walk away. It’s a reminder wrapped in rhythm: loving yourself means refusing the small version of what you deserve.

Filled with Hechter’s signature humor, glamour, and optimism, “Boy Problems” is a club anthem and a soul-stirrer all at once. The bilingual lyrics expand its emotional reach. The track feels at home anywhere, from Parisian dance floors and New York rooftops to headphones on a bus or speakers at Pride.

This is a jam that makes you feel like you’re flying, free from pretense. It’s definitively dance-pop and unmistakably Van Hechter, though the smile has a real heartbeat underneath. Listeners will hear that signature flair; he’s still cheeky, stylish, and unapologetically queer. His artistry is simply sharpened with new emotional honesty. This is a growth moment, delivered with a wink and a synth hook.

“Boy Problems” is a significant step beyond a simple catchy single. It’s a toast to self-worth. A glittering rebellion against lukewarm love. A reminder that the dance floor can be a place to heal. This sonic centerpiece belongs on your playlist, and on your friends’ too.

Catch Up With Van Hechter on:

Established Hip Hop Artist ReachingNOVA Creates a Free-flowing Lyrical Course with His Single "C'est La Vie"

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TR Craze brings his South Sudanese story to the gritty drill anthem “Tule Tule” with Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko

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TR Craze brings his South Sudanese story to the gritty drill anthem "Tule Tule" with Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko

Sometimes a song shows up like that friend who kicks open the door without knocking, grinning and saying, “get your shoes, we’re leaving.” “Tule Tule,” the new single from South Sudanese artist TR Craze featuring Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko, moves exactly like that. The track is bold and charged, carrying the weight of lived experience while stomping over a dark, menacing drill beat that feels built for the streets as much as the club.

TR Craze’s backstory reads like a movie script Hollywood studios would fight over. He was born in South Sudan, shaped by the trauma of civil war, and pushed into the harsh realities of refugee life. He literally survived the treacherous routes through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. This man distills survival into rhythm. On “Tule Tule,” you can feel that heart, that urgency, and that fire in his delivery, channelled into a raw, assertive drill performance that cuts through even if you don’t understand a single word of the opening verse. At its core, “Tule Tule” is a raw, assertive drill track that isn’t afraid to bare its teeth.

The word “Tule” comes from Nuer. It refers to youth games and the electric thrill of chasing something, whether that’s victory, joy, or destiny. TR Craze uses that spirit like a drumbeat beneath his voice. The choruses hit with a communal, call-and-response warmth but here that playfulness is flipped into a gritty, chant-like hook – “Tule Tule” – that feels like the rallying cry of a crew on the move. Even without translating the lyrics, the tone tells you everything. This is about motion, pursuit, celebration, and refusing to stay stuck in the past, all wrapped in an unapologetic, high-adrenaline atmosphere. Lyrically, the track leans into street life, dominance and crew loyalty, matching the tension in the beat.

Behind them, producer Kyxxx builds a dark, tense soundscape, stitching drill drums with Brazilian bounce and Bhangra-flavoured rhythmic elements that keep the track constantly on edge. The result is a gritty, energetic and unapologetic atmosphere that pulls you straight into their world.

Then Caine Marko slides in for the second verse, and the whole energy pivots into a sharp, swagger-heavy bounce. His flow is clean but gritty, confident and confrontational, shifting between braggadocio and sly charm.

“She knows I’m a wolf and I run the pack,” he starts, classic alpha talk, but delivered with a laid-back grin. “She come first like running track,” he continues, flipping between affection and athletic metaphors like a man who’s too used to moving fast.

Then he opens up the verse more: “Doing dirt and getting with a bitty, I only pretty… then back to the city. Got me some liquor then it got me some weed.” It’s lifestyle rap, but the reckless, unapologetic kind. It’s the messy, outside-at-night, live-in-the-moment vibe that balances TR Craze’s more grounded narrative. When he ends with “you going to hang with the gang,” the energy snaps into a group-hyped finale, a reminder that music like this isn’t meant to be consumed alone, underlining the crew-first loyalty at the heart of the record.

“Tule Tule” works because it blends worlds without softening its raw, street-hardened edge. It merges East African emotion, Caribbean-UK swagger, drill and hip-hop grit, Brazilian and Bhangra textures in Kyxxx’s production, diaspora storytelling, and a spirit of joy that refuses to be dimmed by pain.

Let “Tule Tule” run while you’re walking, cooking, texting, or plotting big dreams – or getting ready to step out with your crew.

| INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK |

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