Zingah Weighs In On SA Hip Hop Replicating The US Hip Hop Culture

Zingah Weighs In On SA Hip Hop Replicating The US Hip Hop Culture. At the core of South Africa’s thriving hip-hop culture, the famed rapper Zingah has reignited the debate about the genre’s authenticity.

With the rise of global influences, mainly from the United States, South African rappers have a choice between being faithful to their traditions and adopting worldwide trends. Taking to X, Zingah shared his thoughts on what he perceives as a growing trend of South African hip-hop mirroring its American counterpart.

The famed rapper and podcaster said that SA rappers have been replicating too much of the US Hip Hop music which is not relatable to their South African audience hence the mass exodus of many music lovers moving to listen to Amapiano. “SA Hip Hop still wanting to replicate the American scene, when in reality they exist in a country where people really just want to have a nice time,” wrote Zingah.

Zingah’s remarks came after he shared a video of urban youths grooving to Dj Maphorisa and Tyler ICU‘s amapiano track Manzi Nte. With its catchy melodies and danceable rhythms, amapiano has captured the attention of many South Africans.

While SA hip hop has a strong foundation, some argue it hasn’t adapted as quickly or hasn’t been as unified in the face of amapiano’s rise. Interestingly, some SA hip-hop artists are incorporating amapiano elements into their music, blurring the lines between genres. So, it’s not necessarily that amapiano has replaced hip hop, but it’s captured the current South African music scene.