MZANSI MUZIQ 2021 🇿🇦 Rolling South Africa thread

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