Hip hop music has been popular in Africa since the early 1980s due to widespread African American influence. In 1985, hip hop reached Senegal, a French-speaking country in West Africa. Some of the first Senegalese rappers were Munyaradzi Nhidza Lida, M.C. Solaar, and Positive Black Soul.
GHETTO RUFF is an independent South African recording label specializing in kwaito, hip hop, soul, house, gospel and rhythm and blues. Having been formed around the need to have a voice against apartheid GR released Prophets of da City who had tracks banned by the government of the day.
¡Mayday! is an American hip hop group from Miami, Florida. The group comprises rappers Bernardo "Bernz" Garcia and Ben "Wrekonize" Miller, along with producer and percussionist Andrews "NonMS" Mujica. Until 2015, the group also included keyboard player and guitarist Aaron Eckhart, drummer Terrel, and bassist Gianni Perocapi. The band was formerly signed to Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin's Strange Music label. As of May 1, 2022, all future releases will be on their own label Mayday Music distributed by It Goes Up.
Tabure Thabo Bogopa Junior, professionally known as JR, is a South African entrepreneur and musician. He frequently performs Motswako rap, in both Setswana and English. He has had two number-one hip hop songs as well as two number-one pop hits on South African charts.
Derek Johnson, Jr., better known by his stage name Derek Minor and former stage name PRo, is an American Christian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and screenwriter. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Reflection Music Group (RMG) with Doc Watson, and signed to Reach Records in a joint venture between the two labels in 2011. In 2012, Johnson announced that he had changed his stage name from Pro to Derek Minor. In 2014, he announced that as his two-album contract with Reach was complete, he would no longer be publishing releases through that label.
Remilekun Khalid Safaru, known by his stage names Reminisce and Alaga Ibile, is a Nigerian singer, rapper, songwriter, and actor originating from Ogun State. He performs in English and in his native language, Yoruba.
Thato Madonsela, better known by his stage name L-Tido, is a South African hip hop recording artist from Alexandra, Johannesburg. He is best known for being one of the few independent artists in the country to reach commercial success, winning the Best Newcomer in Africa award at the 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards
Cyril-Alex Gockel, who is known by his stage name C-Real, is a Ghanaian rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, writer and poet. In 2009, he won the Ghanaian edition of the Channel O Sprite Emcee Africa talent show and finished second at the show's final. He is regarded as one of the leading hip-hop artists in Ghana, and has released the album Em C.E.O. (2012). C-Real was featured on "Next Up", a song from Coptic's mixtape The Rising Stars of Gh, Vol 1 (2012).
Levels is the second studio album by South African rapper AKA, released by Vth Season. It is the follow-up to his debut release, Altar Ego. The album was made available a week before its originally announced 8 July release date on 30 June 2014. The album was certified gold on 17 June 2015, selling over 20 000 copies almost 11 months after its release. It has since been certified Diamond in sales excess 300,000 units, 10 Platinum.
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes (28 January 1988 – 10 February 2023), known professionally as AKA, was a South African rapper, record producer, and businessman. Born in Cape Town and raised in Johannesburg, Forbes gained recognition after releasing his single "Victory Lap" from his debut studio album, Altar Ego (2011). He was one of the most popular South African musicians of his era and the best-selling South African hip hop artist of all-time.
Rikhado Makhado, known professionally as Riky Rick, was a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur. He was also the founder and owner of record label Cotton Club Records and a member of Boyz N Bucks and he's well known for his hit song Boss Zonke from his album Family Values.
North God is the third studio album by South African American hip hop recording artist Da L.E.S, released on November 27, 2015, through Fresh 2 Def Records and Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
Dreamteam is a South African hip hop musical group formed at KwaZulu-Natal.They first nominated at the South African Hip Hop Awards in 2013.
Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi known professionally as Kwesta, is a South African rapper and songwriter. Born in Katlehong, Gauteng, a township also known as "K1". In 2003, at the age of 15, he and his friends formed a rap group Ghetto Fellaz which then changed to The Juvenylz, same year. He is currently signed to his own independent media company known as RapLyf Records with co-founder Kid X.
Edson Abel Jeremias Tchamo, known by his stage name Laylizzy, is a Mozambican, hip-hop recording artist, songwriter and performer who raps in Portuguese and English.
Bad Hair is the debut studio album by South African hip hop artist Nasty C. It was released by Mabala Noise Entertainment on 23 September 2016. The album was made available for streaming and free digital download on Audiomack on the same day of its release, and was added to iTunes on 24 September 2016. It features guest appearances from Omari Hardwick, Riky Rick, Tshego, Tellaman, Erick Rush and Rowlene. Nasty C executive produced the album, along with contributions from "Ganja Beatz", "The Gobbla", "Alie Keyz" and "Gemini Major". The album was supported by one single —"Hell Naw".
Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi, professionally known as Rouge, is a Congolese-South African rapper, author, and television presenter. Her debut album The New Era Sessions, accompanied by a short film, received a South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film.
South African hip hop artist and record producer AKA has released four studio albums, two collaborative albums with Anatii as well as Costa Titch respectively, one extended play (EP), 42 singles and 23 music videos. AKA's music has been released on record labels Sony Music Entertainment Africa, Vth Season and Beam Group.
South African rapper Nasty C has released four studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), 16 singles and 22 music videos. Nasty C's music has been released on record labels Venomous Production, Outy Records, Free World Music, Mabala Noise Entertainment and Universal Music. He gained major attention after the release of his second mixtape Price City, which was released in 2015. He won the Best Freshman Award at the 2015 South African Hip Hop Awards for Price City at the age of 18, making him the youngest recipient for the award.
"Run Jozi (Godly)" is a lead single by South African rapper and songwriter AKA from his second studio album Levels (2014). It features guest appearance from K.O, uncredited vocals from Yanga, and production from Tweezy. It was released on 24 June 2014 through Vth Season with exclusive license from SME Africa.
