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.
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.
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.
Originally from Michigan and now based in Philadelphia, Digital Guts is an artist who embraces anonymity, keeping attention on the music rather than the person behind it. That sense of mystery fits naturally with a deeply DIY approach. The self-titled 7-track album “Digital Guts” is a fascinating, genre-bending project, connecting an underground electronic and emo aesthetic with experimental, sample-heavy instrumental structures. The result feels committed to sonic exploration, with arrangements that resist cookie-cutter formulas and a production style that shifts deliberately from one track to the next.
Opener “Angels Ball Out” sets the record in motion with a grand introduction. Its beat leans heavily on clever, layered sampling, creating a textured foundation that feels nostalgic while remaining distinctly underground. The rhythm settles into a smooth, loop-centered hip-hop bounce. It functions almost like an overture, especially once the album reaches its final track, “Bye Bye,” which cleverly returns to “Angels Ball Out” through a full-circle structural reverse play. Weightless, ethereal, and triumphant, the opener creates a cinematic entryway into the album’s universe.
The second track, “Goth Girl,” moves directly toward darker alternative subcultures, driven by a shadowy trap bounce and alluring vocals. A deeply calming, hypnotic instrumental backdrop balances the vocal loop, while the rhythm stays slow, deliberate, and swaying. Much of the vocal cadence circles around one lingering question, “What you see in me?” At a faster tempo, that repetition might become tedious. Here, it works beautifully, drawing a comparison to Rihanna’s “Pour It Out,” filtered through a more gothic atmosphere.
What comes through is deep longing, melancholia, and romantic fixation. The restrained beat strengthens the sense of emotional vulnerability and keeps the listener absorbed in the atmospheric space surrounding the voice.
Third track “Broken” marks a huge sonic pivot. The smooth sampling falls away as the production dives headfirst into aggressive electronic hip-hop, powered by high-energy UK drum and bass patterns. The rhythm is high-octane, frenetic, and relentless. Its chaotic cadence recalls early The Prodigy and the aggressive electronic-punk style associated with Wargasm UK.
The mood is erratic, anxious, and explosive. “Broken” captures the sensation of mental fracturing or inner chaos, pushing the album’s energy suddenly into overdrive.
Another standout from the album is “cryonme,” easily its most experimental and polarizing track. The production is intensely maximalist, with so many elements moving at once that the beat can feel intentionally at odds with the underlying tone. Its eccentric layering carries a distinct art-pop Gorillaz influence, while hyper-pulsating electronic details become one of the track’s defining characteristics.
The rhythm is disjointed and constantly shifting. “cryonme” is among the album’s more lyric-driven moments, asking the listener to follow the vocal cadence through a maze of competing instrumental sounds. The mood is melodramatic, eccentric, and overwhelming. It resembles emotional overload poured into a blender, producing a surreal and slightly chaotic listening experience.
“Dreams” is a synthetic masterpiece, hauntingly beautiful throughout and capable of leaving a desirable aftertaste long after its final notes fade.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the story of Digital Guts’ “Digital Guts,” streaming now on popular digital platforms.
Right now, gospel artist Harmoni Allen’s work reflects the transformative power of faith, with vulnerability, triumph, encouragement, and Christ-centered hope running through her music. Her warm vocals, expressive delivery, and deeply personal storytelling give that message a human center. Drawing from lived experience and testimony, she turns questions of faith, healing, freedom, resilience, and hope into songs that feel intimate without losing their uplifting spirit.
Harmoni Allen’s “Schitzo” is a sincere, soul-stirring track built around a deeply personal subject. Short for schizophrenia, the song opens an intimate conversation about mental well-being, judgment, fear, vulnerability, and the struggle to feel free in a world that can be quick to define people from the outside. Harmoni does not keep the subject at a safe distance. She brings the listener directly into the experience, shaping the song as a confession that feels immediate and exposed.
The accompanying music video establishes that vulnerability from its opening moments. Harmoni sits alone on her front porch, drinking water, visibly troubled and seemingly asking herself whether she is truly okay. Nearby, two women watch her from a distance. Their expressions communicate the judgment and assumptions that sit at the center of the song. Without speaking, they capture a painful reality: people can decide who someone is before taking the time to understand what that person may be going through.
Looking for answers, Harmoni calls a friend and heads to a hospital. The song then unfolds inside a psychiatrist’s office, where she is asked, “So, Miss Allen, what brings you to my office today?” Her answer becomes the emotional core of “Schitzo.” The music takes over, developing into a slow-burning, soulfully rich R&B confession carried by Harmoni’s heavenly, deeply vulnerable vocals.
Verse by verse, Harmoni reveals the strain of living under the gaze of people who may fear, misunderstand, or judge what they cannot see. She sings about people being scared of her, watching from afar, the medicines she takes, and the exhausting burden of being viewed through a label instead of recognized as a human being. Inside that pressure, however, comes a moment of release. She looks into the mirror, sits on the bed, takes a breath, and arrives at the realization that she is free.
That realization does not magically change the world around her. People still look at her the same way. Their assumptions remain. This is where “Schitzo” broadens into something many listeners can recognize, the understanding that other people’s perceptions do not get to define your identity, your worth, or your destiny.
Harmoni’s faith gives that idea its foundation. Beneath the emotional turbulence is a steady conviction that God has the last say. People may judge from afar, attach labels, and make assumptions based on appearance, yet those opinions do not determine the course of someone’s life. For Harmoni, faith creates a space where judgment begins to lose its hold and freedom becomes possible.
Musically, “Schitzo” carries the same emotional weight as its subject. The production settles into a slow-burning R&B groove that gives Harmoni’s voice room to breathe, ache, and communicate. Her soulful delivery has a nostalgic warmth, while smooth layers of vocal harmony wrap around the lead with an almost heavenly glow. The arrangement remains restrained, keeping the storytelling in clear focus instead of crowding it with unnecessary drama. Harmoni shifts naturally between fragility and quiet strength, making the performance feel close enough to resemble a private conversation across the room.
“Schitzo” ultimately centers on being seen, being misunderstood, finding your breath again, and recognizing that freedom can survive other people’s judgment.
When the final note fades, Harmoni Allen leaves behind the message that has guided the song from the beginning: people may have their opinions, but God has the final say!
Based in Malta, composer Serag Baddar turns a long-held guitar idea into something intimate and absorbing on “Limerence.” The post-rock track grew from a riff he wrote 15 years ago, with one section carrying a subtle nod to Buckethead’s “Padmasana,” whose rhythm guitar left a clear impression on Baddar.
Crisp, mellow, and atmospheric, “Limerence” moves through clean guitar layers and an ethereal sense of space. Silken vocals shimmer underneath, adding a restrained melancholy that suggests heartbreak without overwhelming the arrangement.
Baddar’s background in heavy metal remains important to the song, even as he strips away high-gain distortion and conventional vocal delivery. In their place, structure and melody do most of the emotional work. At the center is a clean, melodic guitar riff designed to flow ergonomically across the fretboard, giving the performance a natural physical ease.
The quieter acoustic and clean passages of progressive metal are an obvious reference point. Opeth and Tool, two bands that have shaped Baddar’s style, can be heard in the track’s sense of structure and restraint. Its spacious ambient textures also draw from the accessible melodic soundscapes associated with instrumental artists such as Buckethead. “Padmasana” is especially relevant, with its rhythm guitar inspiring a small section of “Limerence.”
The pacing is deliberate and unhurried, in keeping with post-rock’s slow-burn character. Its rhythmic framework stays steady, patient, and evocative, giving the central guitar melody room to breathe. Notes are allowed to ring out and decay naturally rather than being crowded by unnecessary movement.
Much of the song’s appeal comes from that simplicity. The arrangement avoids excessive time-signature gymnastics and settles into a smooth, approachable cadence that strengthens its hypnotic quality. That choice suits the meaning behind “Limerence,” the intense and involuntary psychological state of romantic obsession and infatuation that Baddar seeks to capture emotionally.
Because the released track is a “demo” mix, it retains a raw, unpolished authenticity. That texture fits Baddar’s philosophy of “writing for dopamine,” prioritizing emotional resonance and the organic “magic” of a creative spark over pristine, heavily compressed commercial engineering.
The result is intimate and thoughtful. It feels reflective and deeply personal, like a bedroom guitarist finally translating a 15-year-old teenage memory into a cohesive, immersive piece of music. The closing stretch brings the song’s crisp, clean, haunting guitar riff into sharper focus, giving the track a fitting climax and reminding us how much of its emotional weight rests on that original idea.
Baddar waited until he felt his technical ability and musical vision had matured enough to do the riff justice before recording and releasing it. He approaches music as a philosophical hobby, creating for the pleasure of the craft rather than under commercial pressure.
Taken as a whole, “Limerence” is an accomplished, carefully felt performance worth spending time with. It is streaming now.
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