Top 10 SA Hip Hop Artists of 2015
SA Hip Hop has been growing at the speed light and is becoming more competitive by the day. Those at top have to be feeling the pressure because all the young guys on the come up are hungry for it and aren’t afraid to show it through their music. The criteria on what makes a hot MC: lyrics, sales, style, impact, buzz and other intangibles that set one artist apart from the next.
Top 10 S.A Hip Hop Artists of 2015
1. AKA – AKA has had the biggest buzz not only in SA but across the continent and beyond.AKA is the only SA Hip Hop act nominated for a B.E.T Award in the Best International Act category. The Soil are the only other South African nominee in the category. Mr Forbes’ music has managed to penetrate different markets on the globe, All Eyes On Me is not only a massive hit on the continent but going the rounds in the U.K and some parts of Europe as well.
2. Cassper Nyovest – Cassper Nyovest was the biggest winner on the continent last year at the Channel O Awards and just found out he is nominated for a B.E.T in the new category ‘Viewers Choice Award’ that was announced on June 15 2015. Nyovest is the only South African artist nominated in this category.
3. K.O – Mr Cashtime stays pushing the envelope having some international features this year and his hit song which features Nandi Mngoma , Skhanda Love is still buzzing. K.O changed the whole sound of South African Hip Hop last year and called the new sound Skhanda. When it comes to style you can not help but notice the amount of kids dressing like K.O on the streets of S.A and our neighboring countries.
4. Ifani – Ifani is the first SA Hip Hop artist to sell 20 000 copies on the day of release of his latest effort titled ‘I Believes In Me (1st Quadrant)’. There has been widespread speculation that the copies were bought by Redds and this just doubled Ifani’s buzz. His dress code is different from anyone else in the game not mentioning him being at the forefront of Xhosa rap.
5. Ricky Rick – Ricky’s Finally dropped Boss Zonke and through that one song he claimed his spot in the top 5. Boss Zonke is mostly in vernacular and has had massive success on the continent. Ricky is also nominated for the Video Of The Year Award at the MTV Awards for Nafukwa. Ricky and his squad have a different swagger from everyone else in the game and they are undeniably at the fashion forefront.
6. Anatii – Anatii hasn’t given us a full length project yet but captain hook has been making all the hits. Anatii has been been featured on Ghetto, Special Somebody, Alone, My Own, Yaya and all these songs have been chart toppers. He recently dropped The Saga which features the 3rd World Boss himself AKA. The Saga has to be one of the best if not the best video coming out of Mzansi.
7. Kid X – Cashtimes golden boy has been bringing hit after hit but hasn’t given us a full length project but has been pushing the Skhanda movement forward. His hit song Se7en which features the Skhanda Queen has had major success this far. Fans have been impatiently waiting for Kid X’s album from which he has dropped singles like Pass ‘n’ Special, Cooler Bag and Se7en. The Cashtime member has been going from strength to strength since the release of his first single last year and has also made an impact in the through his dress sense.
8. Reason – The No Sleep rapper is one of the best lyricists coming out of Mzansi. Reason is one of the few rappers in the game today who don’t have to make a party song to be relevant. Reason spits heart touching lyrics and managed to score features with The Chairman M.I Abaga and Pac Div from the U.S.A. His latest single Endurance featuring HHP is one of the best Hip Hop songs of 2015.
9. Kwesta – We can’t figure out why Kwesta is all the way at number 9, but has to be a reflection of what the competition is like in the industry today. The lyricist has been consistent even after dropping his album Dakar. The little man with a giants voice’ lyrics will touch your soul and definitely merc’s the streets without the Benz.
10. Khuli Chana – Khuli Chana made a come back after he almost lost his life in the shooting by explaining the story from his perspective in 9 Shots. He dropped Mahamba Yedwa after and looks like Khuli officially back. He has been mentoring Gigi Lamayne and feature on her new hit song Ice Cream Remix.
