Christian hip hop is a cross-genre of contemporary Christian music and hip hop music. It emerged from urban contemporary music and Christian media in the United States during the 1980s.
The music of Zambia has a rich heritage which falls roughly into categories of traditional, popular and Christian music.
Heart to Yours is the debut solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records, it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member. Production of the album began in 2001, with Williams working with an array of producers, including her brother Erron Williams, HR Crump and Warryn Campbell. Heart to Yours is primarily a contemporary gospel album, which incorporates elements of other styles and genres such as neo-soul, inspirational, R&B and rock music. The album includes a tribute, dedicated to the victims and families affected by the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Writing on her vocal performances, critics drew comparisons to Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott.
Chilu Lemba is a Zambian-born and South African–based award-winning voice over artist, author and musician. His voice is heard across the African continent daily on ads ranging from branding commercials for washing detergents and cellphone networks, to promos for satellite television channels.
Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from Queens, New York formed in 1991. Consisting of rappers Prodigy and Havoc, they are considered to be among the principal progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hop. Mobb Deep became one of the most successful rap duos of all time, having sold over three million records. Their best-known albums are The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1999), and their most successful singles were "Shook Ones " and "Survival of the Fittest." They were known for their dark and hardcore delivery.
Zeds Dead is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Canada, consisting of Dylan Mamid, also known as DC, and Zachary Rapp-Rovan, also known as Hooks. The duo rose to prominence releasing original music and remixes from 2009 to 2010 before becoming a staple on the international touring circuit thereafter.
Tim Neufeld is a Canadian singer, songwriter and recording artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba and now based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, best known as the co-founder and lead singer of Starfield who are four-time Juno Award nominees, Western Canada Music award recipients, winners of 10 GMA Canada Covenant Awards (CGMA) and two Dove Awards. He is currently lead singer of the country music group Tim and the Glory Boys.
Zone Fam was a Zambian hip hop supergroup based in Lusaka, composed of Sam Sakala, Jackson Banda, Reginald Lube, and previously Timbwama Chisenga Kaputula until his departure from the group on April 1, 2015. It was a collective of solo artists that frequented "Zone Studios" started by Duncan Sodala also known as Holstar and Kati Kawanu in 2006. Zone Fam Officially became a Rap group in 2009 after recording "The Full Script" Mixtape with Nigerian producer Teck-zilla. They gained popularity after the release of their debut album single Shaka Zulu On Em which received nationwide airplay, topping radio charts and got worldwide reviews off YouTube. In 2011 they went on and released their first studio album, The Business: Foreign Exchange, which was the bestseller of that year. In 2012, Zone Fam signed their first international deal under record label Taurus Musik of Kenya, which helped them produce songs several songs and visuals namely, Translate, "Da Bidness" and Contolola, which won them a Channel O Award at the Channel O Music Video Awards for Best Group. They also have to their name the award for Best African Group at the Global African Music Awards. The group is currently disbanded and was managed by Duncan Sodala between 2009 and 2014 - He also manages the Zone Fam brand.
Brian Mumba Kasoka Bwembya, recognized professionally as B Flow, is a prominent figure in the Zambian entertainment landscape, bearing multifaceted roles as a musician, media personality, humanitarian, philanthropist, and staunch advocate for social justice. Furthermore, he stands as the esteemed founder of "Music For Change," a notable initiative dedicated to leveraging the power of music for social transformation.
Mukubesa Mundia, better known by his stage name Petersen Zagaze is a Zambian Reggae and Afro Dancehall recording artist and record producer from Lusaka, Zambia. He initially gained major recognition after his third single in 2005 Munyaule. Petersen a holder of a Bachelor of Art's Degree in Public Administration is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of his own label imprint, Zaga Lyfe Entertainment, Octopus Media and 2016 Kora Awards Best Male Southern Africa Nominee.
Clementina Mulenga, popularly known as Cleo Ice Queen, is a Zambian-born hip-hop recording artist, television, and radio presenter. She is a multiple award-winning musical artiste and media personality which has seen her become one of the most influential personalities in Zambia and the rest of Africa. She is signed to global record label.Def Jam Records,
Dambisa Michelle Lunda, better known as just Dambisa is a Zambian singer-songwriter and a self-proclaimed queen of Dancehall. She is also the brand ambassador for Pampers Zambia. She is best known for having some controversy in some of her songs which have put her in the spot-light. She has also featured on the front cover of EZM Magazine in 2014 Dambisa debuted in 2011 with her hit single Kaduka Chain, on which she featured Petersen.
Masautso Nkhoma known professionally as Ruff Kid is a Zambian rapper and songwriter. He debuted in 2004 with his single Wekatemwikwa. Because of the rough childhood he went through, he decide to name himself Ruff Kid, a name that will always depict and remind him of his hard life as an adolescent. In 2012 he won a BEFFTA award in the category of best international act beating out other African music heavy weights such as Zahara, Camp Mulla, Cover Driver, D’banj and Grace Galaxy
Chimwemwe Chihana, also known by her married name Chimwemwe Chihana Mtawali, is a Zambian photographer known as Qcheda. She is also a Digital Media Specialist, and has written and performed Afro-pop, reggae and dancehall songs under her stage name Wacheda.
Mwila Musonda, known professionally as Slapdee, is a Zambian hip hop and rap musician. Having won multiple awards since his debut in 2006, he is often regarded one of the pioneers of Zambian hip-hop.
King Cassie Kabwita, popularly known as King Cassie, is a Zambian actor and film-maker. She is also known for he appearance in the Zambian TV series Loves Games as Kanswa Chileshe, and for her role in the 2015 film Sink or Swim: The Perilous Journey. Kabwita is also the chief executive officer of her own production company King Cassie Empire and is the current African Film Festival Ambassador. She is the first Zambian actor to feature in a Nollywood film and collaborate with Nigerians, Ghanaians, Tanzanians and Kenyans. She is one of the pioneers of the film era in Zambian cinema.
XYZ Entertainments, also known as ‘Xamplo Yapa Zed’(XYZ) which means ‘Zambian Example’ in Bemba and Nyanja, is a Zambian Music Record Label in Lusaka. It was founded by Mwila Musonda AKA Slapdee who is regarded to be one of Zambia’s music pioneers. The entertainment group had one of Zambia’s greatest musical icons, like PJay, Rufkid, Bmak, Jonny C, DaevZambia (RIP), to mention just a few. R&B, afropop and hip hop music are types of genres most artists signed to the label produce.
Mudiwa Hood is a Zimbabwean hip hop/gospel artist and actor.
Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya is a multi-award-winning Zambian journalist, winner of the BBC Komla Dumor Award 2022 and television presenter at Diamond Television, a leading private TV station in Lusaka Zambia.
Trevor Mumba is a Zambian businessman and radio personality based in South Africa. He owns Rovert Radio for which he won the Zambian radio personality in 2023. Prior to that in September 2022 was nominated for the Diamond TV Personality Awards and won the 2022 Medium Enterprise Owner of the year Award, where he was placed in the same category as renowned Zambian businesswoman Monica Musonda.
