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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

MUSIC

Washington DC Rapper 40 Cal Blends Gritty Street Narratives with a Smoked Out Vibe in His New Track “Benihana”

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Washington DC Rapper 40 Cal Blends Gritty Street Narratives with a Smoked Out Vibe in His New Track "Benihana"

40 Cal returns with “Benihana,” a track straight from the blocks of Washington, D.C. It’s a smoked-out song that combines swagger with street reporting. The name is fitting, as the track serves up a kind of hazy, late-night bravado. Inspired by a calm smoke session, 40 Cal finds an honest balance between mood, memory, and menace.

The production features a humid, tropical-scented trap loop. It sits low and patiently, giving space for 40 Cal’s cadence to cut through. He raps like a person who has witnessed the worst and figured out how to translate it into sharp, often funny lines. His delivery can make you nod in agreement and wince at the same time. The lyrics are unapologetic, weaving weed metaphors together with imagery from the gutter. The chorus repeats the details of the scent and strain, becoming a kind of sensory anchor.

What really stands out is his ability to switch between swagger and storytelling. He places lines about graduating “from the streets” right next to darker threats involving body imagery and choppers, all while maintaining his distinct loner energy. Through it all, 40 Cal’s voice remains his own. The hook is simple but sticky, “Smoking out the bag got grass like a farmer… real tropical shit name like Benihana.” The words get stuck in your head because they successfully build a specific moment.

He effectively mixes violent imagery with small, humanizing details. Lines like “face so swollen” or “leave him fat like Homer” land with visual force and prevent the song from feeling like empty posturing. A rough humor is threaded through the track. An absurd line can undercut a threat, which makes the whole song feel more authentic and lived-in. The smoke session inspiration is clearly important here. The record’s structure mimics a late-night conversation, circular and relaxed until a sharp line suddenly raises the temperature.

If there is a critique to be made, it is that the song relies heavily on repetition and some familiar metaphors. The violent imagery can feel blunt, almost automatic, which some listeners might find distracting. At the same time, that bluntness can be interpreted as honesty. 40 Cal is not trying to make something pretty. He is reporting, turning the experience of survival into bars that hit fast and hard.

Ultimately, the track’s strength is its personality. 40 Cal comes across as hungry, proud, and sharp. He avoids overexplaining his life. Instead, he throws out images and lines, trusting the listener to understand. There is a magnetic confidence in that approach. With “Benihana,” he is staking his claim and reminding everyone that he is still a voice to be heard.

Let the hook loop and the beat roll. If the track grabs you, it belongs in your rotation. Share it with anyone who appreciates gritty storytelling and keep an eye on 40 Cal. He clearly has more stories to tell, and this track suggests he is just getting warmed up. It’s worth a listen and a spot on your playlist.

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Martone and Intelligent Diva turn a painful breakup into a powerful house anthem with their new track “Too Bad, So Sad”

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Martone and Intelligent Diva turn a painful breakup into a powerful house anthem with their new track "Too Bad, So Sad"

Martone isn’t one to tell his story quietly; he’d rather broadcast it until the walls shake. Known as “The Emperor of House Music,” the Detroit artist has built a career on putting himself on the line. For over a decade, Martone has been recognized as a dance-floor architect who is also a storyteller, a cultural activist, and a model of genuine authenticity. He has consistently pushed boundaries with tracks like “Chocolate” and his album The Evolution of Martone, blending club beats with emotional substance. His latest release with Intelligent Diva, “Too Bad, So Sad,” continues that work, proving a heartbreak anthem can be a weapon.

At its heart, “Too Bad, So Sad” is about a breakup, but it’s not the kind that hides in the shadows. Martone opens with lines that feel both personal and cinematic. “I gave my heart, you played it like a game. Thought we had forever, but you just brought the shame.” This is a blunt confession, the kind you make after the tears have dried, when all that’s left is the plain truth. The simplicity of his words makes them hit harder because they don’t rely on metaphor; they are the wound itself. The hook, “Too bad, so sad, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t love you,” feels like a sigh and a shrug at once. It honors the love that was real while firmly closing the door on someone who failed to value it. Martone finds strength in that raw clarity.

Then Intelligent Diva enters, and her verse is like a best friend storming into your room while you’re crying. Her flow is sharp and her tone is commanding, instantly changing the song’s direction. She raps, “Never let nobody treat you like a doormat. You’re a prize to be won, go boast, go brag.” Her words are a pep talk, delivered with the urgency of someone who won’t let you stay down. Martone voices the ache, and Intelligent Diva provides the antidote. Their collaboration creates a dynamic conversation, moving from grief to grit. Her verse transforms the track from a sad diary entry into a rallying cry.

What makes the song feel so immediate is its real-life backdrop. Martone released “Too Bad, So Sad” only days after his divorce was finalized. The timing wasn’t planned, but it feels poetic. You can hear the weight of lived experience in every note. This isn’t just a story crafted for a song; it’s a piece of a life pressed into rhythm and melody.

In a time when dance music can feel like pure escapism, Martone makes sure the beat carries something real. “Too Bad, So Sad” is fueled by emotional honesty, offering both catharsis and empowerment. It’s a reminder that even the deepest heartbreak can be the start of a rebirth. Intelligent Diva’s feature acts as a lifeline, a testament to the power of support when you feel alone.

If you’ve ever found yourself picking up the pieces, this song is for you. Put it on repeat, let it sting, let it heal, and let it remind you that heartbreak is temporary. Reclaiming your power is the real goal. So dance, cry, or scream along. Whatever you do, don’t skip this one.

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The Seductive New Afrobeats Jam “Think About U” From Stayno and Joe O Is Inspiring a Viral Wave on TikTok

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The Seductive New Afrobeats Jam “Think About U” From Stayno and Joe O Is Inspiring a Viral Wave on TikTok

A new track from Nigerian producer Stayno and rising Afrobeats artist Joe O is already becoming a fan favorite, creating a life of its own on social media before it has even been officially released. Their new single, “Think About U,” is a slow-burning blend of Afrobeats, Brazilian funk, hip-hop, and soul that has inspired over 80 viral fan videos on TikTok.

The song finds its strength in the combination of Stayno’s thoughtful production and Joe O’s incredibly smooth vocals. It’s a seductive and contemplative track that tells a gangster’s story of heartbreak, love, and passion. Joe O delivers a hook that sticks with you long after the song is over, making it feel right at home on a dancefloor or for a late-night drive.

The buzz around the record grew significantly after Joe O’s recent performance at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. While on stage during Nigerian superstar BNXN’s Captain Tour, he gave the excited audience a live preview of the song. The moment helped introduce his sound to a new wave of fans and positioned him as one of Afrobeats’ most interesting new voices.

The song’s organic success on TikTok points to its wider appeal. Its relatable story and seductive groove have connected with listeners, sparking dance challenges, creative videos, and personal reactions from fans around the world.

“Think About U” works because of the clear chemistry between the two artists. Stayno’s world-class production feels perfectly matched with Joe O’s natural ability to create a memorable melody. It feels like a milestone for both as they continue to build their careers within the global Afrobeats scene.

Stayno is a Nigerian, Italy-born producer, songwriter, and DJ known for his ability to blend genres. He often infuses Afrobeats with sounds from funk, hip-hop, and soul, building a reputation for shaping a modern, innovative sound. Joe O is a fast-rising Afrobeats singer whose smooth voice and dynamic stage presence are quickly getting him noticed. This collaboration seems like a perfect match, resulting in a tune that feels genuinely special.

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