Music
Image: Album cover art

Listen to AKA's Posthumous Album 'Mass Country'

The late South African rapper spent his last days ecstatic to share the album with the world, and now we know why.

It's been two weeks since South African hip-hop star Kiernan Forbes, aka AKA was gunned down in the streets of Durban, alongside close friend and celebrity chef Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. As the Forbes family lays their son to rest this week, fans of the highly favored rapper have been bestowed with AKA's sixth and final album, 'Mass Country'. And what a treat it is.

Keep reading...Show less
Music
Image courtesy of the artists.

Kwesta and Kabza De Small Return to Kwaito In Their New Collaborative Album

The South African hip-hop and amapiano stars revert to kwaito in Speak N Vrostaan.

Over the last few years, South African hip-hop’s overall prominence has slowed down — mostly because of amapiano’s tight grip on the market. As a result, most mainstream rappers have had to be innovative and incorporate the log drum into their tracks. One hip-hop artist who exemplifies and has executed this approach without neglecting his core artistry is Kwesta. The MC, who for a large part of the 2010s dubbed himself “Da King of African Rap,” has kept up with the times and his recent team up with Kabza De Small is a testament to this. As a rapper, who often dovetails into authentic, South African-birthed sounds, his decision to join forces with Kabza is not much of an anomaly.

Like Kwesta with South African hip-hop, Kabza is a towering and key figure within amapiano. For the past three years, the pioneering producer/DJ has remained a stalwart and has been one of the most streamed South African artists across all genres. As a solo act or together withDJ Maphorisa as Scorpion Kings, he has released genre-defining chart-topping amapiano tracks and projects. Through his label, Piano Hub, Kabza has also been instrumental in the careers of other artists including Kelvin Momo, Young Stunna and Mdu aka TRP.

The timely creative union of Kwesta and Kabza De Small dates back to 2020, amidst the peak of the pandemic when they had an encounter during a shoot for Channel 0’s Lockdown House Party show. As Kwesta tells it, Kabza was the one that initially suggested that they work together. At the time, the super producer had put out the first instalment of his Pretty Girls Love Amapiano album series and was gearing up for the release of the groundbreaking, I Am the King Of Amapiano: Sweet and Dust. From then, both their individual careers went on in their own unrelated ways: Kwesta released g.o.d Guluva in 2021 and Kabza put out multiple projects like 2021’s Rumble in the Jungle,Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3 and 2022’s Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena and KOA II Part 1, until they hit each other up via DMs on social media.

Keep reading...Show less

get okayafrica in your inbox

news.

'Skhanda Republic 3' Is Testament to K.O’s Relentless Staying Power

After 16 years, the legendary South African MC’s pen and musicianship remain sharp-as-ever on his fourth album, SR3.

AKA and Nasty C Team Up in "Lemons (Lemonade)" Music Video

The South African duo recently released the music video for their joint record.

10 Must-Hear Xhosa Trap Songs and Artists

These 10 songs and artists showcase the revival of Xhosa rap.

The 20 Best South African Hip-Hop Songs of 2021 So Far

The best South African hip-hop songs of the year so far featuring Nasty C, Blxckie, Stino Le Thwenny, K.O, A-Reece and more.

popular.

Stream Cassper Nyovest’s New Album ‘Sweet and Short 2.0’

Cassper Nyovest releases his sixth studio album 'Sweet and Short 2.0'.