Richard Paul Astley is an English singer. He rose to fame through his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman;releasing the 1987 album Whenever You Need Somebody,which sold 15 million copies worldwide. His debut single "Never Gonna Give You Up" was a No. 1 hit in 25 countries,winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. His 1988 single "Together Forever" became his second song to top the US Billboard Hot 100 and was one of his eight songs to reach the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The title track,"Whenever You Need Somebody",was also a No. 1 hit.
Raghav Mathur,known professionally as Raghav,is a Canadian singer. He has released three studio albums:the debut Storyteller in 2004,Identity in 2009,and The Phoenix in 2012. His most known commercial success was with "Angel Eyes" which peaked at number 7 in the UK in 2005. His singles "So Confused","Can't Get Enough" and "It Can't Be Right" also reached the UK top ten in 2004. Raghav continued to have success on Canadian charts in 2010s with subsequent hits like "So Much" with Kardinal Offishall,"Fire","Top of the World","Woohoo" and "Until the Sun Comes Up" (featuring Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan and US artist Nelly. In an interview with Calgary Herald in 2017,Raghav says his upbringing in Calgary plays a crucial role in his musical development.
Oluwaseyi Akerele,popularly known as Shizzi,is a Nigerian platinum record producer,disk jockey and songwriter.
Themba Sekowe,known professionally as DJ Maphorisa,is a South African DJ,record producer,singer,and songwriter. As a record producer with a blend of house music,amapiano and afropop,he has worked with and has received production credits from several notable artists,including Wizkid,Sizwe Alakine,Kwesta,Uhuru,Drake,Black Coffee,Major Lazer,Runtown,C4 Pedro,TRESOR,Kabza De Small,Era Istrefi,Mpura,Young Stunna and Killer Kau. He was signed to Kalawa Jazmee Records prior to establishing his own record label,BlaqBoy Music.
Gqom,(Igqomu,Gqom tech or Sghubu),is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2010s from Durban,South Africa,pioneered largely by music producers DJ Lag,Rudeboyz,Griffit Vigo,Distruction Boyz,Menzi,and Citizen Boy. It was developed from kwaito,a subgenre of house music from South Africa.
Rose Gold is the debut studio album by South African singer-songwriter Shekhinah. It was released by Sony Music Entertainment Africa on October 6,2017. Rose Gold was certified gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa on January 24,2018 and later certified platinum on August 31,2018. The album features guest appearances from South African rapper,Rouge,Asali and Jamali band member,Mariechan. Production is handled by David Scott,DJ Maphorisa,Mae N. Maejor,Shekhinah and Luke Goliath.
"Particula" is a song performed by American electronic music trio Major Lazer from their EP Know No Better (2017). The song features DJ Maphorisa and vocals by South African rapper Nasty C,Nigerian artists Ice Prince and Patoranking,and Nigerian-American hip hop recording artist Jidenna.
Busiswa Gqulu,popularly known as Busiswa is a South African singer-songwriter and poet. Born in Mthatha,Eastern Cape,South Africa,she gained public recognition for her feature on DJ Zinhle's song,"My Name Is",after being discovered by Kalawa Jazmee's CEO Oskido.
Highly Flavoured is the debut studio album by South African singer,poet and songwriter Busiswa. It was released on 8 December 2017 through Kalawa Jazmee. The album features guest appearances by artists DJ Maphorisa,Busi N,DJ Athie,Da Fre,DJ Toxic,Nokwazi,Moozlie,Lando and Yasirah. Primarily,Highly Flavoured is a gqom album.
"Suited" is a single by South African singer-songwriter Shekhinah. It was released on July 14,2017 by SME South Africa,as the first single from her debut studio album,Rose Gold. The song was produced by Luke Goliath with assistance from DJ Maphorisa and Shekhinah.
Lindokuhle Mgedeza,known professionally as Mlindo the Vocalist,is a South African singer and songwriter. He initially gained notable recognition following his debut single,"Amablesser",taken from his debut album,Emakhaya (2018).
Afrobeats is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria,Ghana,and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se,and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing majorly out of Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife,jùjúmusic,highlife and naija beats,among others,were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Amanda "Ami" Faku is a South African singer,performer and songwriter. Born and raised in the township of eZinyoka,Gqeberha. Faku rose to fame as a contestant on The Voice SA season 2 in 2017,prior getting recognition in the music industry.
MFR Souls is a South African amapiano music duo founded in 2012 by Tumelo Nedondwe and Tumelo Mabe,both of whom are DJ and music producers from Katlehong in the East Rand of Johannesburg. Their hit single "Love You Tonight" was commercial success certified platinum in South Africa.
Sandile Fortune Msimango,popularly known by his stage name Young Stunna is a South African singer. He is known for his hit singles "Bopha" and "Adiwele". He has also extensively worked with record producers DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small. Young Stunna is Xhosa and uses Xhosa and Zulu in most of his songs.
Kabelo Petrus Motha is a South African DJ and record producer,popularly known as Kabza De Small. He is a major figure in the amapiano genre of house music. Aside from his solo career,Motha is a member of the Scorpion Kings. Motha gained international recognition after the release of "Umshove",in 2018.
"Lemons (Lemonade)" is a single by South African rappers AKA and Nasty C,released on 16 September 2022 as album's lead single from his fourth studio album MASS COUNTRY (2023). Music video premiered on YouTube same day.
"Mnike" is an amapiano single by South African record producer Tyler ICU and singer-songwriter Tumelo_za. It features guest appearances from DJ Maphorisa,Nandipha808,Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee as it was released on 28 April 2023 under Sony Music Entertainment Africa. It peaked at the number one spot on Billboard South Africa Songs,The Official South African Charts,and hit one million streams two weeks after its release.
Austin Kulani Baloyi,professionally known under the alias of Tyler ICU,is a South African DJ and record producer born and bred in Tembisa,Gauteng. He rose to prominence subsequent to the release of "Mnike" which was certified platinum in South Africa,and peaked at number one for sixteen consecutive weeks on The Official South African Charts and Billboard South Africa songs.
"Asibe Happy" is a single by South African singer-songwriter Ami Faku and record producers DJ Maphorisa,and Kabza de Small. It was released on 12 November 2021 by Piano Hub under exclusive license from Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
