Women in hip-hop in South Africa

Last updated

Since the early 1980s, South African hip-hop has grown significantly as both a musical and social movement. It started in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town in the early 1980s. [1] The first all-female hip-hop group was Yo Girls, who also emerged in Cape Town in the 1980s. [2] Over a decade later in 2002, the group Godessa became the first all-female hip hop group in South Africa to sign a record deal. [3]

Contents

Over the years, South Africa slowly saw the emergence of over a dozen female artists into the mainstream hip-hop scene, leading Okay Africa to declare 2018 as "the year [that] women won in South African hip-hop". [4]

In a study done on Hip Hop songs produced by African women, it was found that the majority of songs came from South Africa. It was also found that South African Hip Hop was more likely to address social issues such as patriarchy, corruption, and conflict. [5] It is also believed that this is due to the greater access to resources within the country as well as the fact that it historically been more tolerant of queer identities. [5]

South Africa in 1990, including South West Africa in light green South Africa (1915-1990) (orthographic projection).svg
South Africa in 1990, including South West Africa in light green

History

South African hip-hop arose in the 1980s, and was mainly a male-dominated genre. American hip-hop was featured widely in movies and TV shows seen by South Africans and had an influence on the introduction of South African hip-hop. Hip-hop was also considered as an outlet and a social movement that countered gang violence. [6]

Throughout the 1990s, South African hip-hop was emerging, and both men and women participated in the genre. The 8-member all-female rap group, Yo!Girls is considered the first all-female hip-hop group in South Africa. Though they never recorded, they performed at The Base, a popular club in South Africa, where other pioneering hip-hop groups, like Prophets of da City, also performed. Later, in the early 2000s during the post-apartheid period, the first female group to actually record would be Godessa. At one point, Godessa was the most well-known female hip-hop group in South Africa. [7] The 2007 documentary Counting Headz: South Afrika's Sistaz in Hip Hop is the only documentary that chronicles the participation of women in South African hip-hop.

Regions

Johannesburg

Photo montage of the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Montage Johannesburg.jpg
Photo montage of the city of Johannesburg, South Africa.

While the birth of South African hip-hop was in Cape Town, Johannesburg is the commercial capital of South Africa's hip-hop scene. [8] Most of South Africa's major labels and radio stations are located in Johannesburg. Several women MCs got their start in Johannesburg, including Miss Nthabi, QBA, Gigi Lamayne, Yugen Blakrok, and Nadia Nakai.

In 2018, the city of Johannesburg hosted an all-female rap and hip-hop concert, Women In Hip-Hop, Herstory. The concert was meant to highlight and acknowledge women and their role in the history of hip hop. [9] The concert was hosted by LootLove, Lee Kasumba, and Angela Yee, who is known for her role on the American radio show The Breakfast Club.

Young M.A, an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York, was a headliner for the concert. [10] South African artists who performed or were honored included Nadia Nakai, Rouge, Gigi Lamayne, Moozlie, Godessa, Dope Saint Jude, and Fifi Cooper.

Cape Town Golden Acre, Cape Town ( 1050404).jpg
Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town is considered the birthplace of South African hip-hop, where the genre emerged in the Coloured townships of the Cape Flats. [11] [ page needed ]

Groups and artists like Sisters In Command, Nubian Queens, 6 ft Deep, Godessa, Miss Celaneous, Dope Saint Jude, OBie Mavuso, Kanyi Mavi, Mercury Metronome (Eavesdrop), and Patty Monroe are all from Cape Town. [12] [13] Godessa was most known as being one of the few all-female hip-hop groups for many years. Many of their tracks have political themes. The group has received criticism for the content of their music. They have reached both local and international audiences. [14] Dope Saint Jude is credited for contributing to the emergence of the queer community in South Africa. [15]

Time periods

2000s

Ultra South Africa 2017 (Johannesburg) Ultra South Africa 2017 (Johannesburg).jpg
Ultra South Africa 2017 (Johannesburg)

While South African hip-hop was created in the 1980s, the 2000s was an important decade for women in South African hip-hop. In 2002, Godessa released their first single, Social Ills. Later, in 2006, the group released their debut album Spillage.

In 2005, the first woman to be on Hype , South Africa's only print hip hop publication, was Ms. Supa. [12]

In the mid-2000s, Miss Nthabi made appearances on Hype. Her track Breathe was released in 2006 with a feature from rapper Reason.

Many artists started their careers in the first decade of 2000. Artists emerging during the first decade of 2000 include Godessa (Cape Town), Miss Nthabi (Johannesburg), QBA (Johannesburg), Sky Wanda (Durban), Mercury Metronome/Eavesdrop (Cape Town), and Endz the Otherness (Durban).

2010s

In the 2010s, South African hip-hop evolved. Many female artists started their careers and found mainstream success. South African women in hip-hop also started to appear on online charts, such as those on the streaming service Apple Music. [16]

The South African Hip Hop Awards, created in 2012, celebrates the achievements of South African hip-hop artists. Women have won many different titles at the awards. For example, Kanyi Mavi was the first person to win the title of Best Female Rapper. Fifi Cooper has received three awards during her career.

In 2015, South African musician and poet Ntsiki Mazwai wrote an open letter to the South African hip-hop community, which criticized the erasure of women from the genre and claimed that it was very masculine. [17] Alternatively, Osmic Menoe, who is the organiser of the South African Hip Hop Awards, stated that South African hip-hop is starting to become more inclusive and progressive. [17]

In 2018, the film Black Panther was released. Two out of four of the South African artists on the movie's soundtrack were Yugen Blakrok and Babes Wodumo, both women. [18] 2018 was considered a very important year for South African women in hip-hop, according to OkayAfrica. [4]

Further reading

Clark, Msia Kibona (2018). "Feminisms in African Hip Hop." Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, 17, no. 2: 383–400.

Haupt, Adam (2003). "Hip-hop, gender and agency in the age of Empire." Agenda 17, no. 57: 21–29.

Haupt, Adam (2019). Neva Again: Hip Hop Art, Activism, and Education in Post-Apartheid South Africa, edited by Adam Haupt, Quentin Williams, H. Samy Alim, and Emile Jansen. HSRC Press. ISBN   9780796924452.

Loots, Lliane (2003). "Being a 'Bitch': Some Questions on the Gendered Globalisation and Consumption of American Hip-Hop Urban Culture in Post-Apartheid South Africa". Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity : 65–73 – via JSTOR.

Mpetsi, Ntebaleng, and Toks Oyedemi (2018). "Global hip-hop culture and the scopophilic spectacle of women in South African hip-hop music videos." Communicare: Journal for Communication Sciences in Southern Africa 37, no. 2: 92–106.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of South Africa</span>

The music of South Africa exhibits a culturally varied musical heritage in conjunction with the multi-ethnic populace. Genres with the greatest international recognition being mbube, isicathamiya, mbaqanga, afrofusion, kwaito, South African pop music, afro house, South African hip hop, Shangaan electro, bacardi house, bolo house, gqom and amapiano.

Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, between the late 1980s and 1990s. It is a variant of house music that features the use of African sounds and samples. Kwaito songs occur at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music and often contain catchy melodic and percussive loop samples, deep bass lines and vocals. They are also very similar tempos to early 1990s NYC house tracks.

Prophets of Da City (POC) is a hip hop crew from Cape Town, South Africa. They are composed of about eight members, though the exact membership fluctuates frequently; these include Ishmael Morabe (vocals), Mark Heuvel (dance), Shaheen Ariefdien, Ramone and DJ Ready D. Their style uses elements of hip hop music, reggae and traditional African rhythms. Their albums include Our World (1990), Boom Style (1992), Age of Truth (1993), Phunk Phlow (1994), Universal Souljaz (1995), and Ghetto Code (1997). They are currently signed under the independent record label Ghetto Ruff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brasse Vannie Kaap</span>

Brasse Vannie Kaap (BVK) was a hip-hop group from the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa. They rapped predominantly in the Cape Flats dialect of Afrikaans. The original line-up included Deon Daniels (Boeta-D), Roger Heunis (Hamma), Ashley Titus and Enver Pietersen. Bboys Cheeze, Baby-L and Levi joined the group soon after they started to perform live.

Hip hop feminism is a sub-set of black feminism that centers on intersectional subject positions involving race and gender in a way that acknowledges the contradictions in being a black feminist, such as black women's enjoyment in hip hop music and culture, rather than simply focusing on the victimization of black women in hip hop culture due to interlocking systems of oppressions involving race, class, and gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassper Nyovest</span> South African rapper (born 1990)

Refiloe Maele Phoolo, professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer and amateur boxer. Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of the most successful artists in South Africa. In 2014, he established his own record label, Family Tree Records. Nyovest rose to fame with the release of his debut studio album, Tsholofelo (2014) which produced the hit singles "Gusheshe" and "Doc Shebeleza".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AKA (rapper)</span> South African rapper (1988–2023)

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). Often regarded as one of the greatest South African musicians of all time, 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.

Emtee has already secured himself a jointly partnership record deal with Empire early this year in 2024, which currently is the Label of the Late King von the greatest

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasty C</span> South African rapper

Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bantu (band)</span> Musical artist

Bantu is a 13-piece band based in Lagos, Nigeria. Their music is a fusion of Afrofunk, Afrobeat, highlife and Yoruba music. The group features multi-instrumentalists and singers who perform as a collective.

<i>Touch My Blood</i> 2018 studio album by AKA

Touch My Blood is the third album released by South African rapper AKA. Released on 15 June 2018 through Beam Group in partnership with NYCE Entertainment, it is his first independent release and is the follow-up to his sophomore album, Levels. It features guest appearances from fellow South African artists including L-Tido, JR, Yanga Chief, Stogie T, Kwesta & Okmalumkoolkat, as well as a sole international appearance by Nigerian artist and producer KDDO. Production is handled by AKA, Master A Flat, Tweezy, Tazzy, Kiddominant, Anatii, Gemini Major, DJ Maphorisa, Makwa, Buks and additional production by Julian McGuire. Touch My Blood was certified Gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) on 25 June 2018, just one week into its release. On 9 November 2018, the album was certified platinum by RiSA four months after its release.

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.

<i>Strings and Bling</i> 2018 album by Nasty C

Strings and Bling is the second studio album by South African rapper Nasty C. It was released by Universal Music Group on July 6, 2018. At the 25th South African Music Awards the album won the Best Hip Hop album and Best produced album.

Samuel Thomas Turpin is a South African rapper, producer and musical artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YoungstaCPT</span> South African rapper

Riyadh Roberts, known professionally as YoungstaCPT, is a South African rapper, lyricist, songwriter and studio gangster from Wynberg. He is known for incorporating details about his Cape Malay culture and his Cape Town roots in his music in order to make money. YGEN ACTIVE YoungstaCPT has been described as "one of the most outspoken South African emcees of this generation". He released his debut solo album 3T in March 2019, which won Album of The Year at the 2019 South African Hip Hop Awards. Prior to the release of 3T, YoungstaCPT had released 30 mixtapes, six extended plays and two collaborative albums since his debut in 2010.

Sabelo Mlangeni is a South African photographer living and working in Johannesburg, South Africa. His work is held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Walther Collection.

Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney, known professionally as Gigi Lamayne, is a South African rapper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dope Saint Jude</span> South African rapper

Catherine Saint Jude Pretorius, professionally known as Dope Saint Jude, is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter and music producer.

Yanga Ntshakaza, professionally known as Yanga Chief is a South African rapper, record producer and singer-songwriter. Born in Mthatha and raised in Queenstown, Yanga studied film studies at University of Johannesburg.

Nhlanhla Tshabalala, better known as Frank Casino, is a South African rapper and record producer. He is known for his guest appearance on "Mayo" by DJ Speedsta with Shane Eagle, Yung Swiss and Tellaman.

References

  1. ↑ "Hip Hop – Basler Afrika Bibliographien". www.baslerafrika.ch. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  2. ↑ Mkhabela, Sabelo. "10 notable South African female rappers of all time". Sowetan Live Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  3. ↑ Haupt, Adam (2003). "Hip-hop, gender and agency in the age of Empire". Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity (47): 21–29.
  4. 1 2 Mkhabela, Sabelo (2019-01-09). "2018 Was the Year Women Won In (South African) Hip-Hop". OkayAfrica . Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  5. 1 2 Clark, Msia Kibona (2018). "Feminisms in African Hip Hop". Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism. 17 (2): 383–400. ISSN   1547-8424.
  6. ↑ "Hip Hop". Basler Afrika Bibliographien. Carl Schlettwein Foundation. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  7. ↑ Haupt, Adam; Aman, Burni; Williams, Shameema; Von Lyrik, UJ (2019). "Godessa's entry into Hip Hop in the early 2000s". Neva Again: Hip Hop Art, Activism and Education in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Cape Town: The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). pp. 91–126. ISBN   978-0-7969-2445-2.
  8. ↑ Monaheng, Tseliso. "Hip-hop in South Africa". Music Africa. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Ngubane, Sandiso (2018-09-17). "South African Womxn in Hip-hop". Between 10 and 5. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  10. ↑ "Johannesburg's underground artists are rising up by staying true to themselves". The FADER . June 28, 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  11. ↑ Ariefdien, Shaheen; Abrahams, Nazlee (2006). "Cape Flats alchemy: Hip hop arts in South Africa". In Chang, Jeff (ed.). Total chaos: The art and aesthetics of hip hop. New York: Civitas Books. ISBN   9780786722082.
  12. 1 2 Mkhabela, Sabelo (August 8, 2019). "Notable Women Rappers in South African". Livemag. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  13. ↑ "Representation, Rhymes and Cape Town's Fiercest Femcees". Capetown Magazine. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  14. ↑ Nxumalo, Lee (August 27, 2019). "The women who are the backbone of South Africa's hip hop sound". Red Bull . Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  15. ↑ Lacaille, Jeanne (March 2, 2020). "Female rappers & Africa in 2020: Ears to the ground !". #AuxSons. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  16. ↑ Mkhabela, Sabelo (2019-11-14). "Best of the Decade: The Greatest SA Hip-Hop Songs of the 2010s". OkayAfrica . Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  17. 1 2 Jason, Stefanie (2015-04-14). "6 South African Female Rappers Talk About the SA Rap Scene". OkayAfrica . Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  18. ↑ Saponara, Michael (2018-02-09). "Every South African Artist Featured on 'Black Panther The Album': A Quick Introduction". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.