South Africans Aren't Happy About Jorja Smith's New Amapiano Single
The release of "All of This" has sparked some controversy online in SA, with artists like Cassper Nyovest and DJ Maphorisa weighing in.
Last week, Jorja Smith sparked some controversy when she released an amapiano single titled "All Of This," produced by Ghana's GuiltyBeatz. She described the single on her Instagram as an effort to "bring Piano to the world."
According to Jorja, "I met [Guilty] when I went over to Port Antonio in Jamaica for a writing camp in 2019. He's so wonderful to work with and when we initially started the song, it was more a fall to the floor type beat. He's shared amapiano playlists with me before and then during the first lockdown in 2020, he sent me a version of the song like it is now. We then finished writing the song remotely, exchanging messages over WhatsApp with his girlfriend Abby who is also a writer. It's all about someone who doesn't deserve you and thinking wow, you really had all of me once, ew."
Piano to the world\nAll Of This out now @GuiltyBeatz \n\nhttps://orcd.co/allofthis\u00a0pic.twitter.com/Z2yzablnxI— Jorja Smith (@Jorja Smith) 1628187354
The release of the song sparked social media outrage, with artists like Cassper Nyovest, DJ Maphorisa, and more coming forward to criticize Smith's sampling of the genre without paying homage to its origin by virtue of the fact that the song features no actual South African and isn't made by a South African producer. To South Africans, it feels like Jorja Smith is just another global artist banking on the country's indegenous sound without giving real credit to its originators.
"If you don't involve us, it's not amapiano. Then trust me you can't eat alone on amapiano, it's a community movement but we don't mind sharing though," said DJ Maphorisa.
The argument is that, without the inclusion of a South African artist on the song, the genre is simply being exported without the creators, taking away the originality that the genre is founded on and instead in its place is a mixed up pop-version. And this in no way benefits the artists who've worked hard releasing hits tirelessly to get the sound this far.
A touch from Kabza De Small ,De Mthuda or Abidoza woulda sent this through the roof. Vocals are fire doe! Piano to the world!!!!https://twitter.com/JorjaSmith/status/1423347042689093636\u00a0\u2026— Don Billiato (@Don Billiato) 1628228497
The globalization of indigenous sounds from regions like Africa is a tried and tested tactic in the music industry, many times, artists have attempted to reinvent their sound or expand their audience by collaborating with other artists at the forefront of sounds on the rise. Drake's collaboration with Wizkid on "One Dance" aptly describes this phenomenon, where Drake's rap-pop appeal highlighted afrobeats to a much wider audience following its release and chart performance.
In scenarios where foreign artists were involved in crossovers with amapiano artists, the songs were well received by South Africans and touted by the amapiano community, giving them necessary validity. Examples include Focalistic's "Ke Star (Remix)" with Davido & Vigro Deep and DJ Tarico's "Ya Ba Buluku (Remix" with Burna Boy. The least that South Africans ask for is that as global stars aim to take Amapiano to the world, it's creators are not left behind.
South Africans took to Twitter to share their displeasure of Jorja Smith's new single. Here are some of the responses:
Amapiano hasn\u2019t even tasted the top ten in global charts but we must allow people to come dilute and run with the sound so it can grow? What then happens to the pioneers? Aowa— uMaka Mah \ud83d\udc75\ud83c\udffd (@uMaka Mah \ud83d\udc75\ud83c\udffd) 1628233700
jorja smith is already on the cover of spotify for amapiano, with her fake amapiano song and a (allegedly) stolen beat from an SAn artist. but yah "wHy dO you GuYs wAnNA gAteKeEp a MuSic gEnRE"— Gina (@Gina) 1628241470
If it\u2019s not from Cognac (France) it\u2019s not Cognac\n\nIf it\u2019s not from from France it\u2019s not Champagne \n\nIf it\u2019s not from South Africa it\u2019s not AmaPiano— DJ Venom (@DJ Venom) 1628236441
My conclusion of this Jorja Smith & her error of an amapiano song attempt saga.\n\nRespect us!.pic.twitter.com/bib0VUfEfU— A Ncaa Gent. \ud83d\udcaf (@A Ncaa Gent. \ud83d\udcaf) 1628246277
Please collaborate with a South African amapiano artist bestiii! We need a real banger https://twitter.com/JorjaSmith/status/1423347042689093636\u00a0\u2026— thickleeyonce \ud83c\udf3b (@thickleeyonce \ud83c\udf3b) 1628226484
Africa finds itself in the global limelight more often these days, contributing a plethora of sounds to the music space, with artists all over the continent each putting forward their unique styles infused with indigenous sounds from their countries. One of the most recent from this ever growing collection of euphonic greatness emerging from Africa is amapiano.
The South African mix of house, jazz, synths, air pads all intertwined with dance-centric themes and melodies is known for its fanciful (often minutes-long piano solos), and its propensity to get just about anyone moving. It's South Africa's most popular genre right now, since its steady incline from 2017 till now, the genre's popularity has moved across borders, and sailed overseas.
2020 was a huge year for the genre with major hits from artists such as Kabza De Small, Focalistic, Vigro Deep, Major League DJz, DJ Maphorisa and rappers like Cassper Nyovest and Focalistic tapping into the sound recently with hits of their own. The sound has only grown bigger in its global appeal this year, becoming arguably one of the year's biggest trends, courting global artists in the search for something fresh and eccentric.
- Amapiano female duo Banaba'Des - OkayAfrica ›
- The Top Amapiano Songs of 2019 - OkayAfrica ›
- This Documentary Looks at Amapiano 2019—South Africa's New ... ›
- 7 Amapiano Albums & EPs to Stream Right Now - OkayAfrica ›
- 21 Amapiano Songs By Artists From Outside South Africa To Stream ... ›
- 808s & Log Drums: How South African Hip-Hop and Amapiano Fell ... ›
- Who Will Introduce South Africa's Amapiano to the World? - OkayAfrica ›
- Why Amapiano Will Be the Sound of UK Summer This Year ... ›
- The 20 Best Amapiano Songs of 2021 So Far - OkayAfrica ›
- The 20 Best Amapiano Songs of 2020 - OkayAfrica ›
- Cassper Nyovest On South Africa's Amapiano Revolution - OkayAfrica ›
- The 20 Best South African Songs of 2021 - OkayAfrica ›
- The 10 Best Amapiano Songs of 2021 ›
- Bacardi House-Tinged Amapiano Is Setting the Streets Ablaze - OkayAfrica ›
- South Africa Prepares For National Shutdown - OkayAfrica ›
- Wizkid's New Song Sparked Strong Debates About Amapiano - OkayAfrica ›
- Vigro Deep’s Experimental Strain of Amapiano Is Boundless - OkayAfrica ›
- The Best Amapiano Songs Out Right Now - OkayAfrica ›
- Tyla Makes Music History with Billboard Debut - Okayplayer ›
Watch Davido's New Music Video For “Funds” Featuring Odumodublvck and Chike
The Dammy Twitch-directed video takes thing from an art auction house to the dance floor, all while honoring Brenda Fassie.
The Songs You Need to Hear This Week
The best African songs you need to hear this week, featuring Davido, Odumodublvck and Chike, Moonchild Sanelly, Joshua Baraka, MOLIY and more.