MUSIC
The Best Amapiano Songs Right Now
March was proof that amapiano continues to grow strong on the continent and beyond.
The month of April will be an exciting one, with DBN GOGO’s 24-hour DJ marathon on the horizon. In a recently held press conference, she shared how she’s been getting in shape over the past two years, and what she aims to achieve with the initiative, which is to hopefully inspire little girls and young women, for them to see that it’s possible to achieve the things they set their minds to.
Two releases came out during March that hold their own against claims that amapiano as a genre has plateaued. Mr JazziQ’s 0303 and Nvcho’s Letters I Send Write are complementary works, striking in how they favour content that stands the test of time, paying no mind to the noise that floods the scene. OkayAfrica spoke to Nvcho about his album, and shall be publishing the piece in the coming weeks.
Below is a rundown of all the amapiano songs that left us in awe during March.
Mr JazziQ - 0303 [LP]
Mr JazziQ might have messed around and made one of the year’s best albums. Released on his birthday, 0303 is a curatorial masterpiece, an expedition into the elements that connect and alchemize the sound — from kwaito to house and beyond. The intro alone is a hall-of-famer; Madala Tk fires off a series of one-liners — “you check my cup to see if I have enough, I check your cup to see if you have more, hayikabi” (no shade), he says — a quote that deserves inclusion on the genre’s wall of greatest hits. “Ukupho” feels like light rain landing on your face; “Ithemba” is a hit; “V6 (10 Oct)” is big car, big speaker music; and “Chom Yam” is the kind of joint that makes you want to be outside instantly. Appearances from the likes of Chley, Mellow & Sleazy, Al Xapo, TOSS, and Focalistic make this a top-tier affair. Classy.
Nvcho - Letters I Didn’t Write [LP]
About a month before the release of his debut album Letters I Didn’t Write, vocalist and producer Nvcho lost his father — the man who shaped his taste, believed in him, challenged him, and pushed him to aspire to greater things. As a result, even songs recorded before his passing are cloaked in a veil of grief, but they also carry a forthright resilience of spirit. “Umzali” is heartbreaking, a letter to a day one now gone forever; Babalwa M’s appearances on “AmaCorrection” and “321 KTL GP,” both produced by Stixx, are monumental; “SOFT.” finds Nvcho tapping into his hip-hop bag with assistance from Loatinover Pounds and Maremo Violin; and “Ntomb’Yomzulu” plays like a kasi romcom set atop house beats. He leaves us with a lot to sit with, but also a sense that there’s still much more to do, be, and achieve.
From Fela Kuti to Asake, Tyla, and more.
Kabza De Small, Zawadi Ya Mungu - “Khanya Njalo”
Kabza De Small’s new album, TUTU, arrives in June, and the singles have already begun rolling in. “Khanya Njalo,” featuring the ethereal Zawadi Ya Mungu, with whom he previously collaborated on “Lawuleka” and “Amakhosi” from Bab’Motha, is affirmation in song form. “Khanya njalo sbani sami” (shine on, my light), she sings — a mantra, a reminder to remain open to the world and never dim your light. Production-wise, Kabza pulls an interesting trick on the log drum, lending an immediacy that serves to highlight the gravity of the message.
DBN GOGO - “The Boy Is Mine”
A few weeks before her history-making 24-hour show, DBN GOGO unveiled the video for “The Boy Is Mine,” alongside Moonchild Sanelly and Thuto The Human. The concept loosely draws from films like Charlie’s Angels, with the trio re-enacting some of cinema’s most iconic moments. Moonchild Sanelly doesn’t hold back, as usual: “ngiyakutshel’ ukuthi labafana bana manga, mngani” (these boys are liars, homegirl), she says, her raspy voice a portal of truth, a gateway to the unhinged. She delivers a brutally honest playbook on handling a cheating man: confront him, block him on WhatsApp, unblock him to get laid, then block him again. Thuto The Human’s production is the perfect backdrop, heavy on sgija elements that keep amapiano so exciting.
LeeMcKrazy, QuayR Musiq - “Ziyakhala”
LeeMcKrazy has been ever-present since he stepped onto the scene and has maintained a 100% attendance record, regardless of the season. He always has something to say, and that consistency is part of why the streets are still vibing to songs he dropped two or more years ago. Another reason is his distinct style; “ba re ke Lee Meke” (“they say it’s Lee Meke,” a play on his artist name) has transcended amapiano and edged into mainstream pop via Tyla’s “MR. MEDIA.” On “Ziyakhala,” from his collaborative EP with QuayR Musiq, Macala, he makes a strong case for being one of the scene’s greats.
M00tion, Rory Diamondz - “Isikhathi Sami”
M00tion has put in the hours, sharpening his craft and demonstrating a keen ear for sound selection on releases like “Brii x Quantum” and “Brzl Phonk.” His latest, “Isikhathi Sami,” is a fully formed thesis of those earlier ideas. The bass frequencies that once clashed — not necessarily a flaw in certain scenes — now find harmony, while leaving room for Rory Diamondz’s angelic voice to fill the space.
Nandipha808, CAAZA, Givem Tyler Leech - “ILLUM KL”
Production-wise, instrumental amapiano remains the most exciting frontier. Without vocals to accommodate, producers can push sounds to their limits and incite mini-riots on audio while stumbling into happy accidents. That’s exactly what Nandipha808’s “ILLUM KL” sounds like: a series of happy accidents that never take a wrong turn or hit a dead end. CAAZA and Givem Tyler Leech’s contributions knock this one straight out of the park. Play it in your ride at an unreasonably high volume.
