Every year since it blew up in 2019, amapiano has had to fend off claims about its shelf life and imminent demise, about its candor and global appeal, and about its ability to carry socially conscious messages in the face of propaganda that tells us to shut up and dance. And, like clockwork, the genre perfects, reinvents, and expands its local acclaim and global reach – whether through amapiano artists getting booked on world-renowned stages, or artists from across the world finding their own corner in the amapiano universe, locking in, and emerging with something profound.
This year has seen that expansion deepen at home, branching into new modes of the sound. Subgenres like ‘private school amapiano’ are long established, with artists such as Kelvin Momo consistently topping streaming charts and earning critical praise — he was also the focus of Red Bull Symphonic in South Africa this year. But there’s been a growing presence of other interpretations too: sgidongo, sgija, and kwapi. In this regard, artists like Skroef28, Nkulee501, Nvcho, Sam Deep, and Stixx – whose Kings of Kwapi Vol. 1 feels generational and a blueprint for how to flex on a record – fly the flag high, gliding over heads and shoulders as if it were the latest trend in town.
The top of the year saw DJ Maphorisa and producer wunderkind, Xduppy, unleash magnetic brilliance in their double albums, Umoya and Rough Dance. This set off a wave of duo projects – an amapiano mainstay – that shook both the underground and the mainstream. Focalistic and Ch’cco showed unmatched chemistry on B.O.A.T.S (“Beyonce Baby” remains on high rotation), while Khalil Harrison and LeeMcKrazy’s newly released SkeemSam already has the streets buzzing.
In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Davido expressed his undying love for both South Africa and amapiano, underscoring an important sentiment not only for the genre, but for global scenes more broadly. Amapiano is “definitely their sound,” he said, stressing the importance of involving a South African steeped in the style when making an amapiano record. In that single comment, he displayed a sensitivity many musicians still lack. On his recently released Blue Disco, Young Jonn also reaches out to Focalistic to complete the triumvirate formed with him and Asake. “2Factor” is one of the finest bangers out right now, and Young Jonn remains one of the first Nigerian producers to incorporate the log drum into his work, as far back as 2015. “The beats were really good, but I didn’t know what it was at the time,” he told OkayAfrica in an interview. “I started incorporating [the log drum] a lot into my sound, but people were not really familiar.”
The year was long, eventful, and wildly productive. Amapiano is the strongest it’s ever been, and it’s only sharpening from here. These are the joints that kept heads bouncing, shoulders rolling, and booties shaking all year.
DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, Kabza De Small - “Abantwana Bakho” feat. Young Stunna, Thatohatsi & Nkosazana Daughter
“Abantwana Bakho” is still one of the biggest songs on South African radio, and it’s had us in a chokehold for most of the year. It draws from the same well as Msaki and Kabza De Small’s “Khusela,” and DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, and Ami Faku’s “Abalele” – percussion-driven masterpieces that acknowledge and incorporate spirituality, pull meaning and feeling from their immediate environments, and understand the power prayer holds over our collective consciousness. “Baba kumnyama, khanyisa” (Lord, cast away the darkness and bring your light), Young Stunna implores, breathing light into the mic and hoping it reaches the other side. Thatohatsi, whose career has shot up several notches this year, and Nkosazana Daughter, whose amapiano credentials are unimpeachable, shape and mold this into the sermon it becomes. But it’s the production that truly shines – the string and piano combination at around the 4:30 minute mark, and the low drone that unfurls beneath it, laying a carpet for the harmonies to fully reveal themselves. This is epic. Profound. Intentional. Generational.
Maline Aura, Drega - “Mabebuza” (MDU aka TRP remix)
MDU aka TRP is widely regarded as the originator of the log drum, a sound so central to amapiano that it’s hard to imagine the genre without it. Over the years, he’s built a cult following through both his own productions and collaborations with others, from Kabza De Small, Skroef28, Semi Tee, and Thatohatsi. This year feels different, however, as the mainstream fully embraces his signature sound. His remix of Maline Aura and Drega’s “Mabebuza,” a three-year-old song that got a new lease this year, and was released in August alongside remixes by Atmos Blaq and &lez, continues to climb both charts and dance floors. It’s joyful, celebratory, and embodies the spirit of hustle that defines inner city Johannesburg, that colors and covers our rough edges, that makes us both human and God. This is serious music, no chancers here. MDU, aka TRP, is exactly who he thinks he is, and the world is listening.
Babalwa M - “Muzi Ka Baba”
Babalwa M needs no introduction. A behemoth of the amapiano landscape, she’s delivered hit after hit, keeping dance floors alive until sunrise. Her voice both commands and comforts, and her writing always drives the message home. “Muzi Ka Baba,” from her latest offering Acquiesce, is smooth, unrushed, and quietly assured. “Khulisa muzi ka baba, bakulindile,” (it’s time to strengthen your father’s homestead) she sings, a simple message, instantly understood by young men and women of marrying age. Stixx’s production grounds her, brings out the certainty in her step, and once again pushes an entire genre to the fore.
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.
Sfarzo Rtee, Jinger Stone, Mono League - “Do You Remember” feat. Leandra.Vert
Sfarzo Rtee has been on an electrifying run this. Barely six months after May’s Rethabile — a tight, 10-track statement with an exquisite line-up of features and an even broader sound — he was back in our ears again, banging tables and rousing the inner rhythm within us. “Do You Remember” appears on the follow-up, Rearabilwe. “Bowa motho wame/ pelo e botlhoko ha ke lale,” (Come back, my love/ my heart is in pain, I can’t sleep), sings Leandra.Vert, a lament for a lover’s return, and a plea for changed behavior. The sound is grand yet understated, bold and daring, with Jinger Stone and Mono League contributing to what feels like a momentous chapter in the Limpopo-born producer’s ascent.
Sai Hle - “UBUMNND”
Sisters Amahle and Siphosethu Koom make up Sai Hle, a vocal duo steadily finding their footing in the South African music scene, one incredible release at a time. They’ve previously featured on songs by Marcus Harvey, MacG, and Karyendasoul, and “UBUMNND” is their first proper solo outing. The curtain is heavenly; the music feels and sounds like a hymn of gratitude rendered through amapiano: groove-laden and funk-heavy, with intricate vocal arrangements that wrap the music in something ethereal and deeply spiritual. They’ve been on our radar since the viral video that made them internet darlings, and we’re keen to see what they have lined up for the coming year.
Stixx, Jimmy Dludlu, DJ Kent - “Kent’s Groove”
Stixx’s album, The Dawn, marked another defining step in his rising career upon its release this year. Spanning sixteen tracks, it never falters, and if anything, leaves you wanting more. “Kent’s Groove” stands out as one of the album’s centerpieces: a slow burner that takes hold of your body and soul, guiding you deeper into its rhythm. Here, Stixx collaborates with true legends – and that’s no exaggeration. Jimmy Dludlu, the revered jazz guitarist whose signature tone has defined countless classics, brings his effortless touch and classic scats, while DJ Kent, a master craftsman on his own, channels his deep knowledge of the dance music landscape to complete the alchemy.
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 dance floor. It’s less a song than it is a trigger, engineered to flip any gathering into a celebration.
Leehleza, Myztro, Shaunmusiq, Ftears - “Nika Nika (Tobetsa 3.0)”
Amapiano’s charm lies in its uncanny ability to morph. A song can be deeply spiritual, reaching for the highest hills and performing acts of healing like it’s second nature; or it can be gloriously ratchet and built for the streets. Both modes reveal a carefree spirit: a youthful zest unbothered by constraints, an unhinged pursuit of the highest forms of self-expression. Leehleza’s “Nika Nika (Tobetsa 3.0)” is a staggering giant, a true street anthem for now. It takes everything we love about quantum sound — the sub-bass–heavy variant that hit our ears with 2023’s “Bhebha” — flips it on its head, and drags it across concrete with bare knuckles. This is party music, so let your thoughts clock out while your body roams free. As the song commands: jaiva jou shit!
Felo Le Tee, DJ Maphorisa - “Siyaphothula” feat. Scotts Maphuma & Dladla Mshunqisi
“Siyaphothula” is bare-bones, hard-edged, and relentless. There’s neither room to pause nor catch your breath; the song will have you sweating like it were a treadmill. It locks you into its sound design, courtesy of Felo Le Tee, the hitmaker behind timeless bangers like “66” and “Dipatje Tsa Felo.” He teams up with DJ Maphorisa to craft a rare groove for Scotts Maphuma and Dladla Mshunqisi, both accomplished vocalists, to tear through with grit and flair. This one’s for the rough dances, the impromptu get-downs, the street bashes that shut entire blocks down. Get into it.
LeeMcKrazy - Amaglobe feat. King P, Pcee, Scotts Maphuma, MphoSpizzy & Infinity MusiQ, 031CHOPPA)
There’s a freedom that amapiano vocalists exercise on songs that is unmatched, and LeeMcKrazy arguably stands as the archetype. He sounds like he’s hesitating, but not really, like he’s reaching deep within to unleash insane levels of aura and an effortless cool. “AmaGlobe,” from his recently released Krazyway (Agent 2.0), is the perfect example. Listen to how he delivers his lines: “bona ba nyonyobela / bafun’ ukunkokotela,” (look, they are flirting/ they want to hook up with you), flowing as naturally as water. The track is a full-on party, held together by a lethal combination of 031CHOPPA, PCee, and LeemcKrazy’s regular collaborator, Scotts Maphuma.
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.
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.
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. On “Hhay wena Maan,” Shakes & Les and Mbuxx, together with Scotts Maphuma and Uncool MC, 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.
TeepeeMassoxs and Kelvin Momo - "Opera"
"Opera" is reminiscent of early amapiano releases with its jazz-inclined chords and deep, pounding bassline. TeepeeMassoxs, a relative newcomer to the mainstream amapiano scene, collides with “private school piano” kingpin Kelvin Momo for a chilled-out sonic expedition into the underground depths. "Opera" is taken from the producer's impressive debut album, The Beginning.
Mr JazziQ, Vigro Deep, Mellow & Sleazy, Scotts Maphuma, Cowboii, Xduppy - "Majozi"
On Mr. JazziQ's first release of the year, the celebrated producer brought along fellow heavy-hitters Vigro Deep and Mellow & Sleazy, alongside Cowboii and Xduppy, for one of those legendary get-togethers that amapiano experiences now and then. "Majozi" also came with a music video, a first for the producer. "The song was created late last year in conjunction with my strikers, Mellow and Sleazy, Vigro, Duppy, Cowboii, and Scotts Maphuma," stated the producer. "I remember the exact night that the beat was created. We all wouldn't stop dancing to the arrangement we had just put together, and obviously, everyone in the studio was dressed in NIKE that night."
Sir Trill, B33Kay SA & DJ 2K - “iMpumelelo” feat. Msongi, Tumisho, De Soul
Like many amapiano artists, Sir Trill got his start in hip-hop. Since then, he's hopped on different cuts that became genre-defining hits, such as "John Wick" alongside De Mthuda and Da Muziqal Chef and "Isingisi" with Semi Tee and MDU aka TRP. On "iMpumelelo," Sir Trill breathes life into the music and re-inscribes his lane, reminding us that his name is not to be left behind when a discussion about the greats comes up.
Odeal - "Blame U" feat. DJ Maphorisa and Xduppy
Straight out of South East London comes Odeal, a multi-genre artist known for his fusion of Afrobeats and R&B sensibilities. The artist, whose star has moved to the stratosphere since the year started, with high-profile collaborations placing him firmly on the global radar, delves deeper into his love for electronic music on "Blame U" by bringing DJ Maphorisa and Xduppy to give the song, initially on his Lustropolis album, a makeover for the ages. Amapiano has never sounded more sensual.
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