Each year, amapiano brings fresh hits, innovative trends, and new sounds to get fascinated by. The music's range seems endless as it delicately embraces different aspects of the human experience.
Nine months into the year, the hits keep piling up, and the artistry keeps expanding. Despite recent talks about the decline of amapiano – not that it’s anything new – artists keep finding new ways to flip the log drum, new talent springs up all over the internet, and legendary nights that keep bringing the focus back to the music, which is what it’s really all about.
In August, the Scorpion Kings proved why their run in amapiano has been one of the most cohesive, consistent efforts at community building. Their epic one-night showcase, Scorpion Kings Live with Friends, held at the Loftus stadium, featured everyone from Msaki, to Focalistic, to Ami Faku, and Davido, who always makes it a point to show love to South Africa and its sonic innovations every chance he gets.
The drama is never far behind, and the month of September came with its own share that had streets talking. Tebogo G Mashego, who appeared on “Biri Marung,” had a legendary crashout online, shading everyone from DJ Maphorisa, whom he accused of owing him millions in unpaid royalties, as well as alleging that Scotts Maphuma is not a South African citizen. He has since apologized for his comments, after being detained by the police over public safety concerns.
On the music front, Shakes & Les have just blessed up with the blazing nine-track offering, Estradini, with features from the likes of Kabza De Small, Royal MusiQ and Scotts Maphuma, while Sfarzo Rtee has just announced the follow-up to his his May offering, Rethabile. Titled Rearabilwe, it’s scheduled for an October 24th release.
Read ahead for the best amapiano songs of 2025 so far.
Focalistic, Ch’cco, Sims Noreng - “Beyoncé Baby”
In the teaser clips leading up to their joint album B.O.A.T, Ch’cco and Focalistic’s chemistry crackled – on stage at the Scorpion Kings’ stadium spectacular, in studio trading ideas, and even joining a viral trend to salute the late, great ProKid. At twelve songs short, the album is what we have come to know, love, and expect from the two premier figures of Amapiano, and much more. “Beyoncé Baby” flips Bujo Mujo’s “Shiwelele” with magnetic effect, the pair sliding all over Sims Noreng’s slick production.
Shakes & Les, Mbuxx - “Hhay wena Maan” (feat. Scotts Maphuma, Uncool MC)
Shakes & Les carry an attitude and a feel that is very particular, attuned to fundamentals of Amapiano’s predecessors – like kwaito music and deep house – while concurrently looking at ways to shift sonic continuums with every release. “Hhay wena Maan,” with Scotts Maphuma and Uncool MC, they walk the tightrope between past and future with striking ease. The track explores South African pop culture references like ingredients in an oven preheated for impact, firing at full heat and setting dance floors ablaze at home and abroad.
EeQue, Pcee, Royal MusiQ - “Ke Wave”
“Ke wave” – meaning “it’s the wave” – fits seamlessly into an Amapiano ecosystem that thrives on invention, always pushing towards the unheard. That spirit of innovation plays out in the weekly flood of bangers expanding the sound’s boundaries. On “Ke Wave,” EeQue reconnects with longtime sparring partner Pcee and links with Royal MusiQ to craft a definitive summertime smash. It has Deezemba stamped all over it — from the stripped-back, mantra-like lyrics (“Uthuleleni, bozza, thatha, faka, eh”) that hit with high-voltage impact, to the bassline that lands exact and soul-shifting. It’s meticulous sound design. It’s fly rhymes – “suka wena, uyaz’bayzisa / jongisa ngabo mapakisha” (go away, you’re bringing bad vibes / watch them with the packages) — and above all, it’s the ultimate fusion of top-tier production and street-level wisdom.
Mluusician, Ricky Lenyora, DJ Maphorisa - ”Malacosta” (feat. Vulela Maweekend, Mark Khoza & Angekebabuye MC)
“Malacosta” is one of those amapiano cuts that doesn’t just play in the background but floods the room, injecting the party spirit straight into your veins. The bassline creeps in with intent, the log drum hits like a jolt of high-voltage electricity, and before long, the track has taken command of bodies on the dancefloor. It’s less a song than it is a trigger, engineered to flip any gathering into a celebration.
DJ Tshegu, Focalistic, Ch’cco, Nkosazana Daughter - “Basela” (feat. Ceehle & Sims Noreng)
DJ Tshegu returns with “Basela,” a dancefloor-ready amapiano cut featuring Ceehle and Sims Noreng alongside heavy-hitters Focalistic, Ch’cco, and Nkosazana Daughter. Driven by pulsing log drums and vocal textures that resonate from the streets to the VIP, the track distills the hypnotic, explosive energy DJ Tshegu is known for, and pushes it straight through the monitors. It marks another powerful entry in her fast-growing catalogue, cementing her place in the new wave of selectors shaping amapiano’s future.
Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Da Muziqal Chef - “Abalozi” (feat. Sykes and Mqobi Yazo)
Abalozi, believed to be spirits of fallen warriors – often from riverine or mountainous terrain – are said to hover over places of serenity and natural beauty. In Kabza De Small’s hands, the phrase finds a sonic interpretation. Sykes and Mqobi Yazo serve as intermediaries in this spiritual discourse. Amapiano becomes a tributary, connecting us to forces greater than ourselves, beings who’ve witnessed the horrors and joys of this world long before us. Kabza is a singular force, but it’s his collaborative instinct that cements his timeless relevance. DJ Maphorisa and Da Muziqal Chef add to this wondrous, joyous vibration.
Mkeyz and Kabza De Small - “Hero To Zero”
On his latest album, Isiko II, which arrives five years after the first offering, Mkeyz pays visual homage to HHP’s Motswafrika era. Echoing the late rapper’s regal aesthetic, Mkeyz appears on the cover dressed in royal regalia, seated on a stately throne. He’s flanked by two standing men – presumably guards – and two women seated at his feet. This commanding visual frames the project with a sense of reverence and self-possession. The music mirrors the majesty. Thoughtful and deliberate, the album reveals Mkeyz’s deep command of the electronic traditions that inform his take on amapiano. Take “Hero To Zero,” featuring Kabza De Small, where he delivers a cautionary meditation on the fragility of success. “Emhlabeni, ungasuka from hero to zero,” he sings, grounding the sentiment in a soulful refrain that he layers with otherworldly harmonies. The production is lush and restrained: cascading piano chords, crisp percussive accents, and the mandatory log drum that accentuates the emotional arc of the song.
M00tion - “Brzl x Quantum”
M00tion has no interest in aesthetically pleasing sonics. His sound hits hard and without apology. The log drum is front and centre, demanding your full attention. Synths crash in from all sides, engulfing you in surround sound and leaving no room for anything but to dance. “Brzl x Quantum” continues his Brzl series, and first surfaced in 2024 on the Eastern Cape-born producer’s TikTok account, an early version already bursting with raw energy. The version we have now is more refined: tighter, punchier, and engineered for full-body movement. You either dance or clear the floor; there is no in-between.
Xduppy, Seun1401, DJ Maphorisa, LastBornDiroba, DJ Njabsta, Mellow & Sleazy, Blacko SA, Scotts Maphuma - “Hao Khonagale”
DJ Maphorisa’s had epic crash outs on his Instagram Live that have outlived their moment and calcified into fragments of culture. “Hao Khonagale” is a phrase lifted from one such session, during his very public fallout with Samthing Soweto. He’s since flipped that raw, unfiltered moment into a track, proving that spectacle, in the hands of someone who’s capable, can be transformed into vibrant sound. Backed by a cast of heavy-hitters, from Xduppy, Mellow & Sleazy, Scotts Maphuma, and more, the song expands beyond its meme origins, reasserting Maphorisa’s knack for pulling together the right collaborators to turn a personal episode into a cultural moment.
Aymos feat. Mas Musiq & Lawd Weezy- “Maspala Bomdantso”
Aymos is one of the strongest songwriters to grace South Africa’s dance music landscape. His pen carried the collective conscience through the stillness of hard lockdown, with collaborations alongside Mas Musiq and Kabza De Small offering both comfort and release when it was needed most. On “Maspala Bomdantso,” he remains resolute in that gift; his voice and lyrics are a compass that points to the true North, while the production keeps feet shuffling and spirits lifted on the dancefloor. Aymos is a songwriter whose work continues to shape the genre’s emotional core.
DJ Maphorisa, XDuppy, Sean1401 - "Ngibolekeni" feat. Leemckrazy, Scotts Maphuma, Blxckie, PCee, Kabelo Sings
DJ Maphorisa's undeniable presence in the amapiano scene remains unchallenged with "Ngibolekeni," a track that feels like the festive season refused to end in the best possible way. From the moment the beat drops, there's an unmistakable sense of familiarity: log drums that hit just right, infectious chants, and a groove tailored for dancefloors and street corners alike. It's the kind of song that sounds like December, even in June. Far from a solo flex, "Ngibolekeni" brings together a cast of some of the most sought-after voices in the game right now. Blxckie delivers slick, melodic bars that ride the beat with ease; Scotts Maphuma adds raw, streetwise charisma; LeeMcKrazy, with his rising star status, brings the spark; and PCee, known for his viral hooks, locks it all in with a chant-ready refrain.
Sir Trill, B33Kay SA & DJ 2K - “iMpumelelo” (feat. Msongi, Tumisho, De Soul)
Like many amapiano artists, Sir Trill began his musical journey rooted in hip-hop, honing his skills in a genre known for its lyrical dexterity and storytelling. Since then, he has seamlessly transitioned into amapiano, lending his distinct voice and style to tracks that have become genre-defining anthems. Hits like "John Wick" alongside De Mthuda and Da Muziqal Chef and "Isingisi" with Semi Tee and MDU aka TRP cemented his status as a key player in the scene. With "iMpumelelo," Sir Trill breathes fresh life into the music's evolving soundscape and firmly re-inscribes his lane.
DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy & Enny Man Da Guitar - "Dlala Ka Yona" (feat. Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC
In a conversation with OkayAfrica, Xduppy opened up about the breakthrough moment his 2023 hit "Bhebha" brought him: catching the attention of none other than DJ Maphorisa. The connection sparked a creative partnership that quickly flourished, with the duo working closely until they amassed enough material for a double album. Out of this prolific collaboration came standout tracks like "Ngomoya" and "Rough Dance," both of which showcase their seamless chemistry and knack for crafting amapiano bangers. Among these, "Dlala Ka Yona" stands out as a reminder of just how electrifying Focalistic can be when he locks into the groove. Riding a Bacardi-flavoured beat that bubbles with raw energy and infectious rhythm, the rapper delivers his verses with abandon, leaving nothing on the floor. His sharp flow and magnetic presence are further amplified by Ricky Lenyora and Uncool MC, who bring an extra dose of intensity and flair, pushing the track to the edge of a full-blown club anthem.
Skyla Tylaa - "Bombshell (Cheza) (feat. Diamond Platnumz, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison & DJ Exit)
Amapiano meets Afropop in "Bombshell (Cheza)," a high-voltage collaboration from Skyla Tylaa, Diamond Platnumz, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison, and DJ Exit. Blending the sounds of South Africa, Tanzania, and the UK, this genre-bending anthem has already begun making waves, with unreleased teasers racking thousands of videos and millions of views on TikTok alone. The London-born Skyla Tylaa marks her first official foray into production with a track that lives up to its name. "Bombshell (Cheza)" takes the stabby synths and rumbling basslines reminiscent of gqom, flips and filters them through an explosive, club-ready amapiano template, and laces them with Diamond Platnumz's commanding vocals alongside regular Tyler ICU collaborator Khalil Harrison.
Sfarzo Rtee, Jazzworx, and Thuthukhela - "Asiyeni" feat. DBN Gogo
Current 3-step darlings Jazzworx team up with Sfarzo Rtee for a wild yet soulful ride through the lush, expansive terrain of amapiano. Known for their ability to balance rhythmic precision with melodic richness, Jazzworx continues to carve out a sound that's both forward-looking and emotionally resonant. At the heart of this sonic escapade is Thukuthela, whose voice floats, soars, and heals. His performance is featherlight yet full of presence, gliding effortlessly over a four-on-the-floor groove that's as dazzling as it is deeply soothing. The beat pulses with the hypnotic swing of 3-step, while lush chords and atmospheric layers create a dreamy, almost cinematic mood.
De Mthuda - “Gijima” feat. Zawadi Yamungu and Sipho Magudulela
Zawadi Yamungu draws from a vocal tradition as ancient as time. Her voice echoes the spirit of matriarchs like Princess Magogo, the Zulu poet and musician whose compositions were rooted in oral tradition, and sonic visionaries like Busi Mhlongo, who channeled ancestral memory through genre-bending expression. With this rich lineage behind her, Zawadi brings something far deeper than just vocals to "Gijima." She brings an invocation. Over De Mthuda's masterful instrumentation, she doesn't merely sing; she conjures. The log drums and layered textures serve as the rhythmic bones of the track, but it's Zawadi's voice that imbues it with soul. Sipho Magudulela's warm saxophone melodies further anchor the track in feeling, threading intimacy and breath into its already rich sonic palette.
Missed ourMay 2025 amapiano hits? Catch up on the hottest amapiano tracks fromDe Mthuda, Kelvin Momo, Sfarzo Rtee, and more.
