MZANSI MUZIQ 2021 🇿🇦 Rolling South Africa thread

by popular demand: a thread that’s meant to function as the focal point for all the wonderful new music coming out of the good land of Mzansi (and immediate surroundings). this is the place to post your favourite tracks by your favourite amaKhosi nezIndlovukazi (that’s kings and queens in Zulu) of amapiano, gqom, (afro)house, kwaito, soul and rap, and whatever else might strike (y)our fancy...

(and yes, this means that it’s more or less replacing the mini-myriad of SA-themed threads (Sun-El, “eMcimbini”/Kabza, Amapiano) that have sprung up recent(ish)ly. they are still here obviously, but use them wisely, lovingly and sparingly. it's easy if you try - I hope)

let's kick off with a repost from the Sun-El thread of the current big summer hit in SA right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AagjAUE8U8s
Blaq Diamond • SummerYoMuthi

huge amapiano track, not (yet?) on Spotify/etc for some reason:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2oUtIhSX00
DJ Obza • Dlozi’lam
(Shazam, in all its wisdom, lists the artist as “Joynomics”)

another very good current Obza track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5etyYdRRCBo
DJ Obza ft. Leon Lee • Mang’ Dakiwe

Limpopo (in the) house: there’s much more where Master KG came from. as producers go, there’s also DJ Call Me. here he is with the awesome Makhadzi, whose recent album I nominated for the EOY, but Call Me’s own album is equally good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb77lccDHKo
DJ Call Me ft. Makhadzi & Mr Brown • Maxaka

more about this genre of “bolobedu house” here:
https://www.okayafrica.com/master-kg-jerusalema-bolobedu-house-tracks-check-out/

...and I'm also loving this track at the moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb2HYdZMaGQ
DJ Luvas ft. Mnisi • Egoli

so much for me for now - what are your favs of the moment?

Is this gonna be all pop music? Because I've been listening to a fuckton of South African jazz the last couple of years and that shit is amazing. Crucial names: Nduduzo Makhathini, Ndabo Zulu, Linda Sikhakhane, Thandi Ntuli, Siya Makuzeni, Bokani Dyer, Benjamin Jephta.

The Brownswood label is putting out a compilation called Indaba Is later this month. Here's the first single, Bokani Dyer's "Ke Nako":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Mvqyc7DMM

My favorite that (I think) wasn't posted on last year's thread is "Mercedes" by Semi Tee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4-FPxxH7b8

We’re bundling the various South African offshoots of the Rolling Afropop thread into one Rolling SA thread (of which this is the first edition), so yeah, the focus is definitely on “pop”, but as long as any non-pop stuff you’re posting is current I think we can *roll* with it. Pretty sure at least some people will appreciate the jazz!

As for “Mercedes”, it was posted on the Amapiano Awesomeness thread back in May. Semi Tee is a blast, and so is rapper Focalistic, who's on this track.

Egad, I was wrong! Well, I guess that's why it's a good idea to have one thread instead of half a dozen.

Jazz makes sense since it's such a big part of the SA music mindset, imo. Very happy about this thread in general.

JazziDisciples to thread!

There's a cover story on South African jazz (based around the aforementioned Indaba Is compilation) in the new issue of The Wire, which just came out today:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eriu4-jXIAEqX1j.jpg

Jazz and pop have some overlap these days imo.

Have you guys heard this 2019 album by Tlale Makhene “s.g 2.0”? It’s so good, I’ve been obsessed w it lately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdZImX0f1CE

Damn deej, this album is amazing! When are we rerunning the 2019 EOY?

A profile on Tlale Makhene:
https://www.jazzitout.com/2020/02/21/tlale-is-a-percussionist-whose-drum-beat-was-nurtured-the-swazi-way/

So S.G 2.0 is the follow-up to his 2017 Swazi Gold album, consisting in large part of “remixes” of that album’s tracks. The track deej posted (which is new) is actually the only percussion-heavy one, the rest is much closer to Makhene’s own description of them as “lounge and soul” (for “lounge” read “electronic”, I guess). Musical partner and producer Ziyawa Ka Zitha (who’s from Eswatini/Swaziland) quite probably plays a big role here. Opening track “Gegege”, which I'm currently luxuriating in, is just him (Ziyawa) with singer Juda Selitjane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3elGc7YvZ0

(I’m a sucker for the kind of vocal harmonies that are employed on this album, they remind me of early 90s r&b and stuff, but you also hear them in turn-of-the-century SA house trio SHANA, featuring a young Black Coffee.)

Listening to Swazi Gold now, and some of the original versions are pretty old-school gospely soul jazz and their “remixes” on 2.0 really are *something else* altogether, his way of “mov[ing] with the times before finding himself on the other side of evolution”. But not everything is: the original “Emabhunswini” for instance is a trip and a half in itself.

this thread sure got off to an unexpected start - not complaining tho!

^that sounds cool, will check it out.

If we're still talking about recent jazz, I listened to the Ndabo Zulu album Queen Nandi yesterday and it's stunningly good: https://ndabozulu.bandcamp.com/album/queen-nandi-the-african-symphony.

Yeah, I love that record. I actually had a long Zoom conversation with Ndabo Zulu, Nduduzo Makhathini and Mbuso Khoza about it when I was writing a review of the album.

Off the 2021 tip, one thing I wanted to do this year was explore more of the older music from Africa (I've been following since 2019, but given all the great songs I've heard imagine all the great stuff I missed before then!). I've been enjoying going through this list as a starting point: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2014-07-15-the-100-greatest-south-african-songs/

One highlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1OQLHHH63M

that’s Felix Laband • Whistling In Tongues, from 2002.

my request for this thread (and all other music threads really):

🔻🔻Could everyone please label the tracks they are posting?
It makes it so much easier to search for something, and as with all internet links, there is every chance these YouTubes (or Soundclouds or whatever the case may be) will become broken at some point (in a couple of years perhaps, or you know, next week, it happens all the time), and then we won’t have anything left to go on.🔺🔺

that list looks great, Greg, I feel the same about getting to know the classics better, but while I'm busy thread (traffic) policing - a reminder that we have a dedicated thread for older African pop:

Old School Afropop

(btw some ilxors might be interested to learn that that Laband track also received the Todd Terje remix treatment)

not sure how much longer TNS intends to continue to drip drop tracks before he releases his album (the tally is now at six), but this is one of the best so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMeb01inrCA
TNS ft. Nokwazi Mtshali & Nomcebo Mthethwa • Kwamashu

The DJ Obza album (it’s called Masego and features “Mang’ Dakiwe” but not “Dlozi’lam”) is very good.

Since we accept jazz, let's also accept r&b. This song from last year is quite magnetic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEWCJc1atvc
Elaine - You're the One

Through some odd channels, I recently came into a digital copy of Phelimuncasi's first record from 2016, which has seemingly disappeared from the internet. It's quality gqom, really digging it today.

ooh that TNS track breastcrawl posted is really cool

There's a clip for Makazi

In case you're interested to hear the follow-up to Dumelang, here's Nobody

Also Boohle is officially the closest singer to Sha Sha. Enjoying discovering her stuff, even if she's maybe not quite, not quite there.
But it's close.
Boohle - Inyembezi for example. Or Mama.
She was mentioned once last year. Her album with Josiah De Disciple is titled Umbuso Wabam'nyama (october last year), it's really consistent.

oh yeah, I like Boohle!

admire this beautiful piano with a Sun-El extension:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwF9S59F4II
Kelvin Momo ft. Sino Msolo & Souloho • Madlamini

that's really nice

might be my favourite song of the year so far, just so carefree and beautiful

I need to revisit it with much better speakers, but yeah it's cool to see 'piano done so gracefully

luv 2 start threads at the worst possible time: TRESOR, the Congolese-South African singer with the heavenly voice

https://www.theafricareport.com/62955/sibongile-khumalo-voice-of-the-new-south-africa-dies-at-63/

RIP Sibongile Khumalo, South African Zulu township jazz & choral singer. I know she’s not exactly perfect for this thread, but thought readers of this thread might nevertheless be appreciative.

RIP. I had never listened to her before. Definitely old school, impressive voice.

someone has been watching "Jerusalema" blowing up worldwide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLM3brK16o
DJ Cleo ft. Bucy Radebe • Gcina Impilo Yam

it's actually an amapiano rework of this recent gospel smash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RpnvLCgED8
Bucy Radebe • Uzugcin'impilo Yam'

the dance steps look easy enough, now let's hope "Gcina Impilo Yam" will roll off international tongues as easily as "Jerusalema" (or "ngilondoloze"/"y yo no lo se" lol)

I'm a big fan of Manqonqo. he started out in the Limpopo House/Bolobedu scene (working with producer Airic), but this is the best I've heard him on amapiano so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq-Wuqda9d8
Bee Kay ft. Manqonqo • Imali

sensational jam, love the dramatic disco strings and the organ vamps on this, and that beat is sumptuous

god for an opportunity to dance to this in public

He has a new song out gaining ground called Amaneighbour, but I will post this really fun song from two years ago: Killer Kau - Kataliya

I'm also getting interested in producer Busta 929 who has really unique take on the genre, quite free and deconstructed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijHEvvDKAZA
Mr JazziQ & Busta 929 - Ekseni feat. Boohle SA & Zuma

It's worth checking Vsop which is fascinating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSKKAw024fs
Mr JazziQ & Busta 929 ft. Reece Madlisa, Zuma, Mpura, Riky Rick, 9umba - VSOP

Maybe it's the year Amapiano explodes as a genre as it's taken apart and to its logical end

Also:
https://www.okayafrica.com/south-african-artists-to-watch-2021/?rebelltitem=1

The album, Maba Jabul’abantu, is really uncharted territory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryJjULFAquk
Reece Madlisa & Zuma - Sithi Sithi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLFULXPUqgk
(mfr souls ft. bassie - bathandwa)

crossposting here after having been made aware of this thread ;P

really enjoying "bathandwa" from the mfr souls album. that album's been out since august of last year(?) but i guess i wasn't fated to hear this track until it got a video and could thus reach my ears via youtube recommendation algorithm/overlord

― dyl, Sunday, February 14, 2021 12:27 PM (three hours ago)

yes, “Bathandwa” is a fabulous track.

Musical Kings is one of those big amapiano albums that I still haven’t listened to in full even tho all the tracks I have heard are great - see also DJ Stokie’s My Journey. they’re just so damn long!

― Long Tall Arsetee & the Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Sunday, February 14, 2021 1:37 PM (two hours ago)

good morning!

Sweet stuff, TNS is doing amapiano. His album must be around the corner with the number of songs he just released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dqr1n2a7Vk
TNS - Umhlaba Wonke

apparently as of a couple weeks ago, dj obza's "dlozi’lam" from upthread is now streamable as "idlozi lami," the first track on an open mic productions compilation. (good thing too b/c it's gorgeous)

Baby Are You Coming? for the pandemic era:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHGUjtcUF70
SHELOVESKAMO ft. Ch'cco & Crush • You My Baby

catching up on this thread and the the mr jazziq & busta 929 tracks are really cool, especially "ekseni". really love that massive hi-hat/snare sound

Jersualema never did much for me, but wow at "Gcina Impilo Yam" !

i'm behind on the thread but this just came through my inbox:
https://www.dw.com/en/warner-demands-licence-fees-for-jerusalema-videos/a-56594810

what a skeleton move

did remind me that Forbes did an interview with Master KG: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericfuller/2020/12/11/south-africas-master-kg-talks-jerusalema-bolobedu-dance-and-life-off-the-road/

catching up on this thread and the the mr jazziq & busta 929 tracks are really cool, especially "ekseni". really love that massive hi-hat/snare sound

― ufo, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 2:35 AM (three days ago)

Doing this now too -- p intriguing stuff. My dance music history is crap but "Ekseni" sounded a bit like garage to me?

yeah i hear that a little

becoming slightly obsessed with this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Tct3AAre0
Tyla ft. Kooldrink • Getting Late

(been out for a year, but only blew up recently through TikTok, some serious international crossover potential here)

Mthandazo Gatya has his first EP out, built around his hit Senzeni. The Amapiano number is Uyena. It's on the gentle side, but very nice at that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNoqKODqMn8
Mthandazo Gatya - Abafana

"getting late" is nice

More great vocals by Mthandazo Gatya:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5ESyyt4Q3w
PastorTheDJ ft. Mthandazo Gatya & DJ Vitoto • Thandaza (Remix)

"Devotion" by the same threesome is very good too.

this is killer too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOYotbZRsc4
MalumNator ft. De Mthuda & Ntokzin • Umfaz'Wephepha

the highlight from MalumNator's excellent Moya Wam album

that’s Felix Laband • Whistling In Tongues, from 2002.

I've been curiously obsessed with this hugely underrated and unnoticed record for well over a decade and had no idea he was from SA! Was NOT expecting to see something from Dark Days Exit in here

Great thread---and since somebody cited older music way upstream, I'll mention The National Wake, whose 2013 "complete works? (14 tracks) reissue I mentioned in Pazz & Jop ballot notes:
National Wake---Walk In Africa 1979-1980: Music made by young South Africans, of various RSA racial classifications: punk-funk-reggae-dub, reminding me of Australia's Us Mob, No Fixed Address, Coloured Stone, early live Police, some of Tom Robinson's combos, Bad Brains kinda. The finale, a dub workout, is over 17 min long, like over three times as long as any other, but despite my habitual editorial fantasies, wouldn't part with a particle so far. Would have Top Tenned this set, but already got all those reissues on there already….
Backstory, doc excerpt* and reissue still here:
https://lightintheattic.net/releases/923-walk-in-africa-1979-81

*from the doc Punk In Africa, which incl. a lot of other artists def. worth checking

And from 2020 Uproxx ballot notes*:
Someone suggested that I check out Azana, a young "house and soul" singer, as he puts it, from Durban. Here's a good -sounding playlist, all from her current album, Ingoma, I think--might seem a bit ballad-y at first, but mostly of a smooth pulsation, luxury class but never wasteful---or wasted, alas; I wouldn't something a little less reasonable, but she's as good, as that gets. Relatively mainstream "Your Love" is even a fave---first single, and I totally get that, ditto the plainer version of "Goodbye," but most faves make more overt use of "ethnic" elements, like

the other version of "Goodbye," feat. Just Bheki and Afriikan Papi, and another fave, "Uthando Lwangemela" (that might be my No.1), also "Silekelela", with 0 guests listed. Ditto the mystique of "Egoli," wiith clipped accents drawing catchy verses around the sidewalk, then chorus stretching some syllables toward dreamtime--here's the playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgV3lUftsRbYnDhoIIwZoqvIfFN4gOYkF

And one of several not on the list, v. catchy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNCml8NfC8I

There's also a live at the Redbox set, where she performs the whole album, apparently, haven;t listened to that yet (several African artists with vids from the Redbox, I see) (Oh also on the list: "Lovers and Best Friends," feat. Disciples of House.)

Someone in YT comments: "If she were Anita Baker or Sade, people would be raving." Yeah, she's in there between them, straightfowardly drawn to something beyond (moments, milestones, pleasures, satisfactions, becoming actual happiness?), via her own way, becoming more and visible.
*orig. from her thread:

Azana - Ingoma

the anita and sade comparisons feel so clumsy to me for such light music (no pejorative intended in 'light')

anyway im obsessed with this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uNMkL1InEg
blaqnick and masterblaq - the whistling man feat. uncle jo

whoa. it's right there in the title and yet something about the sound still took me by surprise

FYI: the TNS album is finally out - it’s a 30-track double album called Phupholetu. needless to say, I haven’t listened to it yet, but there should be plenty of goodness on there.

FYI as in public service announcement, I might add

And if you have any doubt that it's a competition, you have Prince Kaybee's new album which manages to be 2 minutes longer in just 24 tracks.

yeah "getting late" is amazing ... the structure of the track almost treats her vocals like a sample but there's some very pop about it also, i think it's a really cool combo

in this interview producer Kooldrink talks about wanting to make an amapiano track with the structure and the vocals of what he calls “a normal radio song” (from 5’35 minutes in)

”Getting Late” has a UK pop garage vibe for me - I can hear garage (of the “Do You Mind” kind) in Boohle’s vocal for Busta 929’s “Ekseni” too, but that one also recalls 80s Chicago house a lot, I feel.

xps

yes, it can’t be a coincidence that TNS and former employer and current rival Prince Kaybee dropped their new albums on the same day.

when it comes to chart performance, Kaybee blows TNS out of the water, but that TNS album is absolutely fantastic. there’s the 10 tracks he released in the past 9 months, post-album number one, but the 20 new ones are equally good. they’re all cut from the same cloth, a quite different, much cleaner and sparser sound than on the first album, where he sounded like a next-generation Heavy K, but every next track sounds exciting and fresh.

have only listened to a couple of the Kaybee tracks yet, but TNS-less Kaybee often leans towards afrotech, which is my least favourite of the SA house genres. I like “Menateng”, his track with Aymos and Black Motion tho:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM8OFcFaEC4

Busta 929 dropped his first (8-track) solo album (that is, without Mr JazziQ) this Friday as well btw (it’s called Undisputed).

Busta 929 and Mr JazziQ, together and separately, have been dominating the SA charts with their productions this year so far like Kabza (with or without Maphorisa) did a year ago.

"getting late" is the best song ever

wow "getting late" is so good. i found an interview where tyla says she's been working more with kooldrink so i'm looking forward to more like it to come from them

very impressed with the somber/solemn new Semi Tee. great percussion as usual:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqddmF7M8FA
Semi Tee ft. MDU aka TRP & Sir Trill • Lomshini

(Sir Trill proving once again why he is one of the hot vocalists right now)

just noticed it’s actually a Semi x MDU coproduction, from a forthcoming project of theirs

now, I could post all the good tracks on the TNS album, or I could link the new NaakMusiQ single as a shortcut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcWUWwpmIho
NaakMusiQ ft. TNS & Bluelle • Ntokazi

(this one actually has a bit more of the oomph of the earlier TNS stuff)

Following that trill I found that his songs with Stoa Mattrix (who gave us Uthando last year) are a perfect combination. His vocals are really close to Samthing Soweto.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-lntx6Jdl0
Soa Mattrix - Pula (feat. Sir Trill)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BDoL_wzSJU
Soa Mattrix - Stoko (feat. Sir Trill)

I love that baby-rocking end of the Amapiano sound.

“Pula” especially is lovely. Mashudu (who I hadn’t heard before, she’s on several other tracks of the Soa Mattrix album) is good on it too.

Sir Trill with Da Muziqal Chef is a good combination too, I find. Mdoovar’s “Uyalazi Piano”, one of my favourite “eMcimbini” slipstream hits last year, was my introduction to that combo.

Another long one, chill and elegant, free. Wonderful keys, and I like the raw group vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUJzC0fWXCI
Kwiish SA - LiYoshona (feat. Njelic, Malumnator, De Mthuda)

That's my favorite of the year so far.

Tyla was 17 last year and going to high school. Cute accent too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC5oY4WEiDM

that interview was posted upthread earlier

FYI- Awesome Tapes from Africa pr email excerpt

By popular demand, we are releasing Teno Afrika’s incredible Amapiano Selections on LP and CD on Friday.

He compiled a very compelling DJ mix surveying the quickly-emerging amapiano sub-style Skrr Gong, which he says everyone is going nuts over at the moment.

Teno Afrika's new mix comes out in anticipation of the LP and CD release of Amapiano Selections which has received considerable praise from fans and press around the world since its digital release late last year

on youtube already
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSzquyPtCVg

what is skrr gong

great mix

didn't expect to hear "sonini" in there lol

Balance some of us real quick wats dis skrr gong all about? pic.twitter.com/ncHSNlaD1b

— TAKA LIMI🇮🇹 (@mellowzr) January 24, 2019

Skrr gong is also a song and now a record label too

skrr gong, look what the cat brought in – it’s some tracks that have made my March so far:

Bassie ft. Boohle & T-Man SA • Sizani: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFo9VWOttiw
(Bassie is the voice on MFR Souls’ fabulous “Bathandwa”, see upthread. she has now become The Voice of the spectacularly good “Sizani”)

Felo Le Tee ft. Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa & Mark Khoza • Duduzane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlYvTMNJ2c
(Felo Le Tee’s Paradise album is worth checking out, just clock the features there!)

Tendaness ft. JoJo • Uthando Lwakho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74gSZROYUWc
(Tendaness is from eSwatini/Swaziland. his “Jika” from 2017 is a gem)

T-Percx & Vusinator ft. Assert, King Monopoly & Rising Blaqstar • Shela ntombi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krL4IXC6cZ0
(it’s that fingerlickingly good 'n groovy stuff)

Mr JazziQ ft. Kabza De Small, Boohle & Lady Du • Woza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vgibR8NXfE
(onwards from “Ekseni”)

Q-LV ft. BosPianii • Wena Fela: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN_0hb3WmKo
(BosPianii is the producer of one of amapiano’s first mainstream hits, KayGee DaKing & Bizizi’s “Kokota”. this is not that, but it’s achingly beautiful. make yours its first YouTube view!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyhq8GJJPQA
Kamo Mphela - Nkulunkulu (new EP out in April)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s96A1W6J840
Boohle feat. Busta 929, Reece Madlisa, Zuma) - Hamba Nobani

I love the ability of Busta 929 to surprise and do counter-intuitive things in a genre that is so enclosed, even if that's considerably less true of Hamba Nobani compared to his previous work and another one of his latest, Phola.

I think I've come to see Amapiano as a sort of hermetic art that must sound quite opaque or navel-gazing to new audience, if only because of the similar developments and long track time. Probably one thing that Nigeria and the occasional Getting Late can help with. But maybe that's just the story with electronic music.

here is your thread companion - a Spotify playlist with (almost) everything posted in this thread as well as South(ern) African tracks posted on other threads:

ILM rolling 🇿🇦 Mzansi MusiQ 2021 🇸🇿 🇳🇦

re-upping two broken links:

DJ Obza ft. Nkosazana & Dj Freetz • Dlozi’lam / Idlozi Lami

Kelvin Momo ft. Sino Msolo & Souloho • Madlamini
(this one has been removed from Spotify unfortunately, so it's not on the playlist)

gosh "idlozi lami" is so incredible, definitely one of my favorites so far this year. honestly, there's been a lot of great amapiano this year. i don't know if i'm just hearing more stuff at that level because i'm paying more attention now or if it's just a strong period for the genre lately

(i am definitely paying more consistent attention than i used to)

amapiano has been going from strength to strength for the two years since it entered the SA mainstream.

I’m pretty sure that if you’re loving this year’s output you’ll find lots and lots to love in 2020 and 2019 amapiano as well

Tresor has a fantastic album out with Kabza & Maphorisa - get thee to the Tresor thread!

another slightly unexpected teamup: Makhadzi joins forces with Mlindo the Vocalist on the very pretty "Mjolo":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U4S6FxVh3E

quite disappointed by the new Semi Tee album with MDU a.k.a TRP. it’s that tech thing again I’m afraid, which is what MDU brings to the table. hope this is a one-time collab.

for a dense sound that’s actually thrilling instead of kinda boring I guess the new Team Mosha album might be the way to go, if their current hit is any indication:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMW3mL1qDzw
Team Mosha ft. Mapara A Jazz & Colano • Phuzi Mali Yakho

some great *dense* jams on the Team Mosha album, but they said to expect the unexpected:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4JPlSyjgPQ
Team Mosha ft. Shimza & Twist • Shugela

beautiful.

tip if you're in the mood for more beautiful amapiano: the Soa Mattrix album Sounds of Africa. Nabozo posted some tracks upthread.

What does "dense" mean in this context?

it's these previous Semi Tee tracks that prompted me to reach for that description a year ago on the Amapiano thread:

For all fans of "Labantwana Ama Uber" and/or "Lorch":

Semi Tee ft. Ma Lemon • Lemonade

and/or

Semi Tee ft. Miano, Kammu Dee & Ora Dee • Gabadiya

"Gabadiya" in particular is **dense** and there are some percussive things going on in both of these that seem new in amapiano.

― breastcrawl, maandag 2 maart 2020 20:13

*dense* is the word. I have not quite warmed to these yet but I believe I'm on my way.

― human and working on getting beer (longneck), donderdag 5 maart 2020 22:49

also:

Dense, Dense, Dense (Yebo, Yebo, Yebo):

Semi Tee ft. Kammu Dee & Njelic • Stayla

― No mean feat. DaBaby (breastcrawl), vrijdag 12 juni 2020 20:07

I guess for me it means layer upon relentless heavy synth layer every which way you look or listen, combined with that hard-hitting bottom end - for me this is where amapiano (which is often quite floaty/light on the top end) comes closest to gqom soundwise

Ah, thanks, I hear what you mean on "Gabadiya", and maybe also "Madibuseng", which both definitely have a different low end...

oh yeah, those famous bottom and top-end theories...

*bangs head on desk*

the welcome return of King Monada, one of *the* voices of Limpopo - playing this on a loop rn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX_i2yatoMM
King Monada ft. Mack Eaze, TNS & Leon Lee • Ngifuna Yakho

(and hey, it's TNS involved in an amapiano track!)

also loving this live performance of Kwiish SA's "LiYoshona", one of the songs of the year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=facNvokcbtg

Njelic and MalumNator on vocals.

no, you've never heard it all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrrIxmE1htU
Vico Da Sporo ft. Sibusiso Makhoba • When I Meet Unobuhle

feel i did my myself a real disservice by never listening to the four (!) albums Vico released last year in full.

the full version, because you need all 5 minutes and 31 seconds of this

not sure about the context here:

Not in my wildest dreams have i ever thought this could happen, Bandlase omkhulu 😭.

Thank you to @Usher his team for the recognition on our song Luthando.

Soulgiftedmusic Rec.
🙌🙏And thank you for supporting us. pic.twitter.com/Fum0AuUwyf

— Vico da sporo (@Vicodasporo) March 4, 2021

came across this very charming early amapiano performance on an SA breakfast show in May 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BqD0t57C8
Team Mosha • Sofa Silahlane

(TIL that Shuffle Muzik - the guy in the back - is half of Team Mosha)

I was away for two weeks and I have only started to catch up but GUYZ, Folasade - Soro !!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFu_4bhsqkY
Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa & Tresor - Folasade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ugtgezOCs
Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa & Tresor - Soro

True to form, Kabza de Small has also a DJ mix out called In Session (under the name Scorpion Kings) which has LiYoshona, Catalia, and Umsebenzi wethu in good place among others (Kelvin Momo, Dj Stokie, Semi Tee, yada yada).

here, my dear:

TRESOR, the Congolese-South African singer with the heavenly voice

(man, this is one hell of a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it)

(and it's not that it's even any use... this is what I posted upthread)

Tresor has a fantastic album out with Kabza & Maphorisa - get thee to the Tresor thread!

― Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), vrijdag 9 april 2021 23:58

anyone else hear this album by dj black low? dark, hard-edged, vicious amapiano, kinda along the lines of "john vuli gate" but probably not as tiktok friendly lol.

good stuff: https://djblacklow-southafrica.bandcamp.com/album/uwami

I heard a few tracks, it’s some raw shit. this one is pretty wild:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp-4A_-nwXU
DJ Black Low ft. DJ Saxo Boy • 9 Days

yes definitely. this was my highlight from the project tho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8JWkqlvWV0

I already playlisted it!

loving this South African rap jam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w65HxZ2q_Vc
Dr Peppa ft. Blxckie, Aux Cable, Lord Script & Chang Cello • Mntase

also posted this one earlier last year on the Rolling worldwide rap thread 2021:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBQhHgzNHQY
DJ2WNTY ft. Lani , BANDSMIDNIGHT & 6ixty Jonas • Oorkant

but amapiano is the biggest genre in SA. you want proof?
these are today’s 30 most streamed tracks on Apple Music:

1. amapiano
2. amapiano
3. amapiano
4. amapiano
5. amapiano
6. amapiano
7. amapiano
8. amapiano
9. Justin Bieber • Peaches
10. amapiano
11. amapiano
12. amapiano
13. Lil Nas X • Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
14. amapiano
15. amapiano
16. amapiano
17. amapiano
18. amapiano
19. Young Stoner Life (Young Thug & Gunna) • Solid
20. Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) • Leave The Door Open
21. Giveon • Heartbreak Anniversary
22. amapiano
23. Tiësto • The Business
24. Lil Nas X • Montero (Call Me By Your Name) (yes, again)
25. amapiano
26. amapiano
27. amapiano
28. The Weekend • Save Your Tears
29. amapiano
30. Young Stoner Life (Young Thug & Gunna) • Ski

one of these tracks is "Banyana" from DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU's new EP, see the Kabza/Emcimbini thread.

there's also several from the number one album in SA right now, Mr JazziQ's Party With The English, with "Woza" (see upthread) the biggest hit of those.

this is just one of the many killer tracks on that mysteriously titled (or is it?) album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqnn_BCRFI
Mr JazziQ ft. Kabza De Small, Zuma & Reece Madlisa • Le Tin

I would not have found it by myself despite listening to the album some weeks ago, but that vocal line in Banyana is straight from Afro-Colombia (Bullerengue): El Pescador. Interesting intercontinental dialogue here.

ah, I saw it mentioned that it was a cover, meant to investigate later.

actually there’s a much more direct connection, “El Pescador” was turned into an international club hit in 2009 by Michel Cleis, under the title of “La Mezcla”. a remix by Charles Webster (British, but active in the SA house scene as well) was/is very popular in South Africa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvShTiE1QOM
Michel Cleis ft. Totó La Momposina • La Mezcla (Charles Webster's Club Mix)

(more about Totó La Momposina's legacy here)

Someone else in amapiano land had the same idea as Maphorisa::

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsNikc-5iYs
DJ Melzi ft. Mkeyz & Mphow69 • La Melza

Melzi may have been first actually, his version’s been around since December last year at least.

“Banyana” for comparison:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39xp8P40eyY
DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU ft. Sir Trill, Daliwonga & Kabza De Small • Banyana

I played both these tracks today and didn’t notice the similarity – also I’m sure I’ve heard “La Mezcla” out back in the day, but didn’t make the connection.

love this fantastic amapiano (sort of) comeback by veteran rapper Khuli Chana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nMVq4M8ums
Khuli Chana ft. Tyler ICU, Stino Le Thwenny & Lady Du • Buyile

scenes

from the ILM awesome oldies archive:

Khuli Chana • Mahamba Yedwa/Mo Tsipe (2015)

Khuli Chana ft. Sho Madjozi, DJ Buckz & Shareen • Tlekeke (2017)

this thread also desperately needs some kuru kuru kuru kuruku-chiki-chiki-chi (qo qo):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naiD6DfQKrE
Musa Keys ft. Sir Trill & Nobantu Vilakazi • Vula Mlomo

hard-hitting - keeping gqom current:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tb5YsE2lUc
Skillz ft. DJ Tira, Mampintsha, Beast & General C'mamane • Inhlokohlela

smooth - this would previously have gone to the Sun-El thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMKGzdFoLeE
Shimza ft. Darque & Sino Msolo • Kethiwe

told you I'm a boss you've ignored that - yes, Muzi's always been very good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjBtguG6JDI
Muzi • Interblaktic

are you that Sumbody?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t16VuAYgFUA
DJ Sumbody ft. Drip Gogo & The Lowkeys • Iyamemeza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMKi85xkgtw
Focalistic and Mr JazziQ - GUPTA feat. Lady Du, Mellow & Sleazy

GUPTA owns my soul right now.

Also... Liyoshona, not to mention Banyana.

hold up - no one has posted de mthuda's gorgeous John Wick yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06_9LOj75g4

holy hell at “Gupta”

Proper beat and chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBQx5O0_PIo
Khuli Chana feat. Tyler ICU, Stino Le Thwenny, & Lady Du - Buyile

Se ka buyile
Seng'shiya more, and ziwa more, wang' feel-a more
Wa tseba, wa tseba
Banana bantshwere ma ayi yebo
Ayi yebo, ayi yebo, ayi yebo!

Of course it was already posted :) my bad. Let's say it was for the video.

The new Vigro Deep album, Baby Boy 4, is good. Here's "Take It Slow" with Sha Sha:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUYpxUG8OuQ

Slowly trying to piece-together an amapiano-and-adjacent playlist to convert my dancehall and soca-loving friends that amapiano isn't all endless shaker-intros and polite, un-kinetic rhythms. Need things with strong hooks and big donks. This si what I have so far: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Aq1aR62T7j0pWqGBF975F?si=2de5fbee91524a95 What's missing?

actually Take It Slow should be on there (can't find a spotty link though)

tyla - "getting late"
busiswa - "makazi"
busta 929 - "ekseni"

"skeleton move"'s genre is bolo house if you want to find more in that vein specifically, i don't think it's that closely related to amapiano but i'm sure there's crossover these days

prince kaybee - "banomoya"
sho madjozi - "jamani"

ah, didn't know about "bolo house" although clearly it's a slightly different beast. I'm conscious Sk'Ngiding is from Mozambique, but it certainly sounds in line with the other tunes. It's one of my faves

thanks for the recommendations, will take a listen!

amapiano has certainly spread far beyond just south africa now, there's been a bunch of nigerian amapiano tracks lately (though i don't remember them off the top of my head)

whole lot of examples if you search this year's afrobeats thread, i need to catch up on them all

the dj black low songs i posted upthread fit the bill, imo: "9 days," "jaiva low," "emonate oe bethela de vosho"

I'd forgotten how much I love "Majesty" by Busiswa and DJ Tunez. What a track!

Loving the Sho Madjozi track. I'd heard some of her other stuff and really enjoyed it but it wasn't in the amapiano style.

you're not wrong about DJ Black Low. I love this weird rippling almost drill'n'bassy thing the producers are doing at the moment

actually Take It Slow should be on there (can't find a spotty link though)

So the word in business circles and speculators is that Amapiano will take over the UK soon: https://www.okayafrica.com/amapiano-uk-summer-sound-opinion/
Number one amapiano song right now in SA from the household rap name featuring Boohle prominently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnzy7Vtw7C0
Cassper Nyovest feat. Abidoza & Boohle - Siyathandana

yeah that one's really good

i remember this being one of the posts from after the 2019 trax poll when we were wondering how contemporary south african dance music still hadn't made its international break:

one of you folk should do a proposal for a show on nts, seriously. even just a one off

― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, February 2, 2020 1:47 PM (one year ago)

nowadays it seems like nts has been playing amapiano to some extent since late last year, and their latest call for prospective resident djs lists amapiano among the genres in which they are seeking genre specialists

so... maybe it's happening?

sa dance music did have an international hit last year with "jerusalema"

would make sense if amapiano has a breakthrough soon in the uk via west africa etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKO12nnAvrE
Aymos - Jemeni feat. Focalistic

Which will be the first track of his first album in September, Yimi Lo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00j7CQRr2bk
Dzo 729, Guyu Pane and YoungStunner - Ba Xolele

The softest hit of this year ?

Apartheid is getting further and further back in time
Now for something (not quite) completely different:
https://www.noformat.net/album-urban-village-udondolo-78-en.html

The name Urban Village does not just tap into Marshall McLuhan’s image of a global village brought together by telecommunications tech. The name also references how Soweto was created. During apartheid, Black South Africans were brought to the area for work. With them, they brought pieces of their original villages. This helped create a new culture that became a sprawling urban village. Into this melting pot four musicians were raised and met. Guitarist Lerato Lichaba met singer/flautist Tubatsi Mpho Moloi at local jam sessions. Then they hooked up with drummer Xolani Mtshali and bassist Simangaliso Dlamini and Urban Village was formed. [The Quietus]

I'm sure breastcrawl has introduced something like this and had a cool name for it, but this sounds like South Africa being influenced back by Naijapiano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3a52eOC5I
CIZA - Carolina feat. Major League DJz & Abidoza

And since I'm on the subject of interesting variations on Amapiano, check this massive track that mixes a Swiss flag, slow house and this familiar Zulu word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pG3YITIKGc
Dr Duda, Mr JazziQ & Kings Of The Surface - Amandla feat Jessica LM

To which you shall always respond "awethu" to complete the revolutionary cry: power to us the people. Dr Duda has an EP to go with it.

Let's see what we can post to wake this house up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjPK4YpxxFY
Dlala Thukzin - Phuze feat. Zaba

There's a short remix with Sir Trill, Mpura and Rascoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br7ek7iOMX8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWd-SpMo0Y
Dj Tarico & Burna Boy - Yaba Buluku (Remix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKpr1WyYdIQ
De Mthuda & Ntokzin - Jola feat. Malumnator & Sino Msolo

This is a lovely remix of an electro-pop track by Jo'Burg duo Lemon & Herb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Qe4Aia7EA

Nico de Andrea Feat Darla Jade - Ghost in Me (Lemon & Herb Remix)

Cover of the current Makhadzi hit and it's way better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y60avQjxBEU
Sdala B & Paige - Ghanama

Busta 929 returning with 10 tracks. Out of the ones available so far, I'm feeling this instrumental 'ambient' Amapiano. You could put this in a film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEdi3BPOyEc
Busta 929 - Heartbreakers

i remember this being one of the posts from after the 2019 trax poll when we were wondering how contemporary south african dance music still hadn't made its international break:

one of you folk should do a proposal for a show on nts, seriously. even just a one off

― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, February 2, 2020 1:47 PM (one year ago)

nowadays it seems like nts has been playing amapiano to some extent since late last year, and their latest call for prospective resident djs lists amapiano among the genres in which they are seeking genre specialists

so... maybe it's happening?

― dyl, Sunday, June 6, 2021 2:23 PM (one month ago) bookmarkflaglink

sa dance music did have an international hit last year with "jerusalema"

would make sense if amapiano has a breakthrough soon in the uk via west africa etc.

― ufo, Sunday, June 6, 2021 3:11 PM (one month ago)

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-amapiano-now/

Amapiano awesomeness thread has recent Billboard & Rolling stone links

Thread for the AmaPiano awesomeness that is “Baby Are You Coming?” by Zero12finest feat. ThaMagnificent2

Oh thanks, I missed those.

The RS piece is really good*, but I'm a little puzzled by the NTS/pfork/ATfA/Billboard narrative of amapiano being some kind of raw underground phenomenon, like they can only conceive of African music in those terms even when it's super massively popular by any metric (with AfRoBeAtS awkwardly serving as a big pop Other?). Idk maybe this is a UK perspective thing? I assume West African stuff is prominent there in a way it simply isn't here in Montreal.

* though... "Last July, after four months of enduring the pandemic in South Africa, Moma went to Zanzibar, Tanzania, where restrictions were lax. There, he finished his own take on amapiano, an EP called MomaPiano, inspired by American R&B from the Nineties and early aughts. He also found a new residency at a beach club, where his amapiano sets became a raging success." Hmmmmmmm.

those articles just seem to be emphasising the genre's origins without then also emphasising just how huge & commercially successful it is now in south africa?

"heartbreakers" is cool, reminds me of massive attack

Yeah it's definitely the kind of grave house music you listen to in your sofa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ITxUqtA9Y
Busta 929 feat. Mzu M - Mmapula

Jorja Smith makes it work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzGIAhqlblM
Jorja Smith & GuiltyBeatz - All of This

lol all the comments deriding "all of this" for not being pure enough amapiano and complaining it's not a south african producer behind it

Yeah I saw that, some people are fiercely defensive. And conflicted: lol at the "export control quality" posture, all the while still seemed to like the idea of having Jorja Smith's vocals on an Amapiano track. One thing that is true is that it's hard to hear this as a "blue lights" type of r&b, I can only hear it as amapiano.

Cassper Nyovest feat. Abidoza & Boohle - Siyathandana

― Nabozo, Sunday, June 6, 2021 9:59 AM (two months ago) bookmarkflaglink

just heard this for the first time and wooow what a banger

I went through the Aymos album (out 03.09). I did not find its first songs very inspired and his Moonchild Sanelly imitation with his soft voice was an early low point, but the rest from Risasekile to Muhle is charming.

Oops, pressed Enter or something. Charming and lyrical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eJCL1qSrkc
Aymos - Rata (feat. Mas Musique & Boohle)

I'll also have to be checking Felo Le Tee who has an album with all the big Amapiano names and has a song trending with Bopha

KdS is evolving with his sound - he's at his most Sun-El here. Busta 929 maybe not so much. I can't complain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An0PHocDud0
Kabza de Small & Dj Maphorisa - Abalele (feat. Ami Faku)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Y3IUx8aS4
Boohle - Amawaza (feat. Busta 929 & Mpura)

And to make it a full trio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SfcH29GGvs
Sha Sha - Ngithembe (feat. Mdu aka TRP)

And wait for it, we're not done here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZkcF5lzN3k
Sun-EL Musician - Higher (Feat. Simmy)

Tresor is releasing a 15-song album on October 15, leading with this collaboration with Da Capo and Sun-El and with at least two more tracks with KdS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9sUkM0-EUs
Tresor - Lighthouse (feat. Da Capo & Sun-El Musician)

The singles jukebox gave a 8.50 to Osama by Zakes Bantwini which is a trending gospel-type of song that works as the first single of an album coming out in December. He was relatively big 10 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wROpY5i-f_Q
Zakes Bantwini - Osama

Just heard Osama… for the third time in a row.

All I ever listen to is amapiano these days and there are too many hits to ever catch up itt, but it needs to be said that Uncle Waffles is the best thing on IG and that Adiwele is a total banger:

Young Stunna – Adiwele ft. Kabza De Small
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PSyVSfMWHQ

And I was wrong about the Davido remix of Ke Star. It still goes hard.
Champion Sound is another banger by the two of them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-J0Fdze42M

Davido, Focalistic - Champion Sound

Good that you post Champion Sound, gives me a seguewayy to post this hybrid beat featuring Stonebowy (from Ghana) and Focalistic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i2EYId1fk4
Stonebwoy & Focalistic - ARIBA

Some serious vintage showcasing a new voice. Hope the singlesjukebox covers it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtYubd-C_Yo
Nomfundo Moh - Phakade Lami feat. Sha Sha & Ami Faku

She's super cute. Choosing the live version of Lilizela, but there's also a nice clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjnjqgjjmUw
Nomfundo Moh - Lilizela

Yet ANOTHER huge Busta 929 featuring Boohle yet again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vqMW-FuL4Q

Some chilled amapiano / hip hop that also exists in a proper 7 minutes version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=601_U_0m51s
Kwenyama Brothers & Mpura - Impilo Yase Sandton feat. Abidoza & Thabiso Lavish

Second-to-last is Busta 929 - Ngixolele (feat. Boohle)

On the rougher Kwaito side, Mellow & Sleazy are dropping this fun single ahead of an EP called Kwa Kwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WqqKCOrieM
Ch'cco & Mellow & Sleazy - Nkao Tempela

One song we had not posted from A tale of 2 peers has received a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAX4IJxSQqc
Semi Tee & Mdu aka TRP - Isingisi (feat. Sir Trill)

Ghetto King, the Zakes Bantwini album whose advance single, "Osama", is mentioned above, is out now and, I think, terrific.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3q8v4F3zabaHlG5IVECT6r?si=cc4c615f8dc245d4

Still so simple and charming. Her album will be 13 tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaFwj4llKvw
Nomfundo Moh - Nginjena

A very nice Amapiano mini-album leaving a lot of space to its feats is Musa Keys - Tayo (feats include Sir Trill, Sino Msolo, Babalwa M, Aymos, Costa Titch, Moonchild Sanelly and countless others). Hard to pick up a clear highlight because the whole thing is tasty and consistent with impeccable prod, slapping bass, cool vocals, but they went with Wena.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c56_OWc35Kk
Musa Keys & Lebza the Villain - Wena feat. Sino Msolo

I just realized that Mpura and Killer Kau tragically died in August in a car accident killing a total of six. Kabza de Small was also briefly rumoured dead. South African roads...
https://djmag.com/news/amapiano-artists-mpura-and-killer-mau-die-car-accident
Mpura was associated with MrJazziq and Busta 929. Just from this year, he appeared on Umsebenzi Wethu, the Banyana EP, and the Felo le Tee album. He must have been young.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUNdhnMEZs0

Tyla - Overdue ft. DJ Lag, Kooldrink

i missed this when it came out but it's even better than "getting late"?

Does anybody want to nominate the DJ Black Low - Uwami album in the YEP ? I missed it

Friday night driving in my car in Washington DC area the DJ doing a late night special mix on the commercial station that plays r’n’b and some rap ( old school not trap) played a version of “Jerusalema “ and then Beenie Man “Rum and Red Bull.” Then the next night I was at a club seeing a southern soul band ( current southern soul with keyboard and congas and not just retro) Hardway Connection. After their 2nd set , the DJ played “Jerusalema “, and lots of the crowd ( many Black women) started to line dance to it.