Rolling Afropop, House, Amapiano, 3-step 2026

Always felt it would be nice to explicitly re-integrate South-African stuff, as I find that so much of it straddles genres, has commercial appeal, and simply pops. It's also because of the first song I have to share. Hopefully it encourages us to break 100 posts this year :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49GhgLUjzdI
Officixl RSA, Benzoo, Sizwe Alakine - Mabalabala

Looking back, I do not think we have posted Uvalo last year. Sweet stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B12qTSkGmZw
JAZZWRLD, Thukuthela & Babalwa M - uValo

Wahoo!! ONE THREAD!

Have to slowly move towards that black singularity and keep the afro-futurism spirit

One thread! One hundred posts!!

And we're off to a good start :)

TML Vibez & Ruger - Body Tuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85qgMRKMe-M

Became a bit obsessed with this one today. Incredibly lush.

We haven't had Ankole cows in a while. Enough there to marry a chief's daugther. Nice bass bounce and vocals are on point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRr2UP8U1PE

I won't post Ngysindelwa with Zee Nxumalo. It goes hard and initially gave me Chale vibes at first, but it goes a bit nowhere.

Speaking of lush, how about this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFZ6p2hMKo
Shoday & Fola - Paparazzi

For people like me who don't listen to many albums, Shallipopi just released a video for Gbefun. I somehow assumed all his other songs would be just heavy on bass like Na So, and boy was I wrong ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06DkCf0tens
Shallipopi - Gbefun (Fine SHit)

Know what, let's post Ngyasindelwa after all. It's kind of weird but in style with Durban stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmdvWry-9QI
DJ Lag x Zee Nxumalo feat. K.C Driller - NgyaSindelwa

great start

This thing blasts. I'm sitting on my sofa with my headphones but I feel like I'm in a car with the top off.

I wanna repost this one from last year as it's really really good. And also I'm hosting these guys at my next clubnight.

Describing his vibe as "UK Afrohouse" (although personally I'd say it's closer to an amapiano/afrobeats/UK hiphop crossover style, I really think Ilxors in this thread will appreciate Rice & Peas by Boy Sayso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_c7dcC77nE

Yeah, Rice & Peas is 2025 SOTY. NgyaSindelwa is incredible too, though! Around 1:45 when it takes off, Wow!

Frederik come to my clubnight! I'm sure Bristol is judt a short flight away..

Yeah... Sigh. Not really any good DK Afrohouse club nights. That I know of.

I dig the production on Rice & Peas, the vocals less so, but I may still consider voting for it. In terms of fusing styles it's certainly a good one.

From their EP together. Prod by Magicsticks & 4Tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv5chGtfVTg
Wizkid & Asake - Turbulence

Something a little different, faster and heavier on percussion, but I think it works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hKuvfH1j_w
Seyi Vibez & Omah Lay - My Healer

Yeah, I quite like that Wizkid/Asake ep. The rythms are sorta more choppy and stumbling, except of floating along in endless bliss. I think it's part of the move from amapiano to 3-step, perhaps? It fits them.

Hoping Asake is working on another Mr Money With The Vibe but with 3-step.

In ILM poll for 2025 tracks top African involved finisher -

12 Moliy & Silent Addy ft. Skillibeng & Shenseea - Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)

And Zuchu and Shallipopi. Amaarae is also half-Ghanaian.

Been hearing a lot of quite unusual takes on gqom recently.

Starting with this. Desong M - Umcimbi (Feat. Spherzin Tribe)

This strange cantering rhythm that reminds me of 2000s schaffel techno in a way. When I first heard it I thought the DJ had made a mistake and was playing two records offbeat. Certainly a bit odd

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

T.NO is an Amsterdam-based producer who specialises in a super fast style of gqom that might be a bit much for the fainthearted

https://soundcloud.com/tdotno/1-cadence-1?in=tdotno/sets/combat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg2L0_jPdRI

BabyDaiz - Allonsy

I don't know anything about BabyDaiz, but this is great. riyl Rema in HEIS mode