Since the time hip-hop started to influence the African crowd, the revolutionary accent of hip-hop caused a huge cultural shift in African society. From the beginning of the 1980s and 1990s, this genre became wildly popular and started to evolve and a different shape of hip-hop started to emerge. This article will celebrate 20 rising African hip-hop artists who are shaping the hip-hop arc of today’s society with a powerful individualistic approach.
1. Cassper Nyovest from South Africa
He is one of the few rappers who can boast that he has sold out stadiums, impacting society, and many emerging artists he has been the godfather of the rap game in Africa. He has released singles like ‘Gets Getsa 2.0’ and ‘Doc Shabaleza’ in his career, he also has dropped highly acclaimed albums like ‘Thuto’ and ‘Refiloe’.
2. Sarkodie from Ghana
If you are a rap lover then you must have witnessed the exquisite musical forms of Sarkodie’s journey to fame. This Ghana-based artist offers impactful and prolific wordplay along with charming musical flow has been one of the most celebrated forms of hip-hop music in Africa. His works have impressed a large audience and his works will continue to impact more people in the future as well. With his works, he has gained the title of the ‘Rap God’ while his continuous trials are elevating his hip-hop game with his pompous zest, solidifying his craft further.
3. Anifest from Ghana
Ghana-based M.anifest comes from a line of music artists, starting the line with his grandfather who was a leading composer and foremost ethnomusicologist in Africa. He also is a great lyricist and an even more impactful music artist. He is paving his path to the summit with eminent acts such as Erykah Badu and Tony Allen. He is oscillating between the pompous life of the US and the deeply-rooted connection in Ghana. His works also include political innuendos, mixing the flavors of assorted grave and important topics and bringing awareness to issues that are often left unnoticed.
4. Nasty C from South Africa
Being born and based out of South Africa, Nasty C came to the limelight in 2016 after his ‘Juice Back’ became a massive hit. This single release was extremely popular compelling artists like Davido and Cassper Nyovest to feature in the remix video of this song. He is now known for shaping a special approach to African hip-hop. His extensive list of collaborations includes artists like ASAP Ferg and French Montan. He played a big role in bringing African hip-hop releases to a global audience. By far He has released 3 studio albums from which he has gained over 100 million streams to his releases. He is just 26 years old and he already has become one of the leading men of the African Rap game.
5. Blaqbonez from Nigeria
No one can be as profound and at the same time as confident as Blaqbonez is. He is the self-acclaimed “Best Rapper in Africa”, yet he has proven his worth and still proving his point with skills with each of his releases. He is an undaunted musical force that anyone must reckon with, the massy hip-hop approach along with his marketing styles he has become one of the most impeccable music artists since 2018 after he dropped his vast acclaimed and critically-appreciated album, Bad Boy Blaq. His music often infuses Afro-pop elements which increases the power of his releases. His records are widely popular and everyone is making a powerful impression with his releases. With each of his releases, he has impacted the zeitgeist of African hip-hop in a great way.
6. Innoss’B from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
He is a young prodigy who started this age at the age of 17. His debut album ‘Meme Pas Fatigue’ took him to his instant glory. He also has featured in many films and shows including The Lion King and Green Frontier. He also got his nomination for Best New International Artist at the 2020 BET Awards.
7. Nadia Nakai from Zimbabwe/South Africa
Nadia Nakai was born to Zambian parents, yet she made her name in African hip-hop styles while hailing from South Africa. She emerged to the African hip-hop scene with her 2016 release, ‘Naaa Mean’. Her collaboration list includes powerful artists like Ice Prince and Cassper Nyovest. With her charming releases and highly prolific works, she has become one of the leading ladies of African Hip-hop styles, elevating and amplifying a release with her commanding magnetism. She also has a thriving career as a Television personality; she has hosted several shows like Yo! MTV Raps is a South African-based MTV show. She also has appeared in the Young, Famous & African, a 2022 reality show on Netflix.
8. Bill Nass from Tanzania
In 2015, Bill Nass made his debut with ‘Raha’, and for that, he was nominated for the Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards (KTMA) as the Best Artist. His trajectory is taking over his craft in every corner of Tanzania along the world is also witnessing his rise.
9. Khaligraph Jones from Kenya
Khaligraph Jones emerged in the rap game when he was in secondary school; he came to the limelight in 2008 after he released his ‘Words And Pictures’ track. It was the official initiation of his music career. But it was not until 2018 when he released his debut album making it into the OG rap game of Africa. His debut album, ‘Testimony, 1990’ brought him to the mainstream African rap game, elevating his works to be one of the most powerful releases of this age. On that year he was nominated for the BET Awards along with Nasty C. They both were nominated for the Best International Flow category in 2020. He always has been one of the few rappers from the East side of Africa who made an impression with his charming rapping style.
10. AKA from South Africa
He introduced himself to the African world of music in 2011 with his ‘Victory Lap’. These several chart-topping singles were followed by his debut album, ‘Alter Ego’. He is the first South African rapper who have a platinum-selling album. Yet, the tragic death of this shining star is very saddening but he will continue to live through his creative works.
11. Fik Fameica from Uganda
Hailing from Uganda, Fik Fameica acquired the spotlight when he released his single ‘Byenyenya’ in the year 2017. Afterwards, he became extremely popular and his prominence allowed him to become one of the most-booked rappers of his country. Two years before he debuted into the industry with his charming release ‘Pistol’ he was seen to be extremely engaging with his musical form and brilliant hip-hop elements. His release, ‘Pistol’ topped many charts and after the time he released his ‘Property’ and ‘Sconto,’ his popularity spiked a bit more. He is now a multiple-award-winning African rapper playing an essential role in the shaping history of the African rap game. He is also elevating the local landscape of hip-hop through his songs and powerful narratives, pushing the rap culture of Africa even further, for the world.
12. Octopizzo from Kenya
He is a man with a mission, and his songs show how it should be. She rose from poverty to the utmost glory. He strives to deliver more than just songs through his release every hip-hop lover must learn about him.
13. Jovi from Cameroon
Being one of the mainstream artists of Cameroon, Jovi emerged in the game with a lot of dedicated and unfathomable power within himself. As her spent time in this music industry he started to unleash his power to create a strong and investing landscape of the mainstream music of Africa, with releases like his album ‘H.I.V (Humanity is Vanishing)’ and singles such as ‘Pitie’ and ‘Don 4 Kwat’. Hioswokrs are not just popular but critics also have heavily appreciated his musical crafts as they always offer something insightful along with oscillating rapping vibes. He is popular for his musical dexterity and his musical graph also includes international collaborations like he releases with Akon. The flair of his musical fusion is not something that is heavily guarded with brilliant narratives and powerful soundscapes. Apart from his musical identity, he is also known for garnering a cult in his country through which he has become one of the most important voices of this continent.
14. Sho Madjozi from South Africa
Even though, she craved a path she will continue to blend English with Tsonga, which came along to be extremely refreshing to witness. Her music and her fashion both are extremely fresh and urban and her music style accentuates her overall personality as well. Her debut album ‘Limpopo Champions League’ is singlehandedly responsible for her rise to popularity.
15. Rosa Ree from Tanzania
Tanzania native, Rosa Ree is someone who has been proving her worth since she emerged in the African hip-hop spectrum. Her first acknowledgment was at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Cypher when she performed alongside Elizabeth Ventura and Kwesi Arthur. It was one of her biggest breakthroughs since she started to make music in 2016. In 2016, she released ‘One Time’ she has been dropping one after the other songs that are not just compelling but extremely reflective and sometimes introspective as well. In 2022, she released her debut album Goddess, putting her position at stake in the large musical spectrum in the African music industry.
16. Olamide from Nigeria
He released his 10th studio album, ‘Unruly’ and his enigmatic gangsta vibes continue to prevail in the album as well. He has been one of the most distinctive hip-hop rappers in Africa for a long time and he continues to grow his glory even further with his enchanting releases.
17. I Abaga from Nigeria
Nigeria-based, M.I Abaga is undoubtedly one of the greatest rappers in Africa after he has revered many accomplishments and offers songs that resonate with the world. He is playing a prominent role in the hip-hop game of Africa and has influenced a large chunk of the African natives with his powerful music often describing the most impactful narrative that you can ever witness. Even his retrospective attires are also widely popular. Releases like his ‘The Chairman’ and ‘Talk About’, he has brought together many people with these highly-decorated releases. He also has heavily promoted the culture of rap cipher through his strategic ways of collaborating with brands. He is also an executive record producer and he has produced for many former label mates like Blaqbonez and Ice Prince.
18. Bomb$hell Grenade from Zambia
She is fierce and powerful with her releases; she has always emerged as a strong character with her releases. She has songs like ‘Jump Off´ and ‘Backshot’. She has earned many awards including the 2021 AFRIMMA Best Female Rapper in Africa.
19. Femi One from Kenya
She started to rise to fame game after she appeared on the King Kaka’s hit single ‘Ligi Soo’. Afterward, she released her debut album ‘Greatness’ in 2015, mostly rapping in Sheng and Swahili.
20. Didi B from Côte d’Ivoire
Based out of Ivory Coast, Didi B merges as a hardcore rapper who has put himself forward as one of the most powerful music artists of this age. His craft comes under the burgeoning French rap scene and this new style is taking over the entire continent due to its refreshing vibes. Previously he was also a member of a popular hip-hop rap group Kiff No Beat but recently he has embarked upon a new journey to focus on his solo career in 2020. After he started as an individual artist he released his debut album History in 2022.
Whether it is Tanzania’s Bongo Flava or Ghana‘s Asakaa Drill, many artists are rising to this glory and getting ready for the future generation of African hip-hop games. With their expressive eyes with words that are highly introspective and also show various aspects of the world, they make their place in global fame and popularity. During this new emergence a new generation was born, dauntless and vocal about various socio-political aspects including a personal touch to it, changing the mainstream hip-hop styles, and challenging the world with impactful releases.
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