Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Fireboy DML was in the country recently to promote his new album ‘adedamola’. 
 
Among other things during an interview with SlikourOnLife, the artist touched on the love Amapiano gets in Nigeria. 
 
<blockquote>“Everyone who knows Afrobeats is worldwide, Amapiano is worldwide but, you know, we Nigerians, we love Amapiano a lot. Even in our clubs, I think Amapiano plays 60% of the time. We appreciate good music, we appreciate music that makes people happy, and you know, Amapiano makes people happy, so yeah, I mean it’s all love you know.” - Fireboy DML 
</blockquote>

False

Fireboy DML: “We Nigerians Love Amapiano A Lot”

The GQ Best Dressed Awards took place over the weekend and some of South Africa’s best dressed musicians walked away with some awards. 
Maglera Doe Boy, who’s always looking dapper took the fitting “Best Dressed Street Style” award. 
<blockquote>“This year our winners have been chosen by looking at their personality, individuality, and creativity in style.” - GQ.
</blockquote>
Other musicians who won include acclaimed music producers, Oscar Mbo, Murdah Bongz, and Zakes Bantwini.
See the full list of winners below:
Best Dressed Street Style, Presented by CROCS 
Maglera Doe Boy
 
Best Dressed Editor’s Choice Award 
Murdah Bongz
 
Best Dressed Celebrity, Presented by YENZA 
Oscar Mbo
 
Best Dressed Couple 
Zakes Bantwini &amp; Nandi Madida
 
Best Dressed Fashion Icon, Presented by CROCS 
Siyabonga 'Scoop Makhathini' Ngwekazi
 
Best Dressed Avant Garde Style 
Hacjivah Dayimani
 
Best Dressed Classic Man, Presented by KURT GEIGER 
Andile Ncube
 
Best Dressed Woman, Presented by INVERROCHE 
Lisa Madibe
 
Best Dressed Cultural Influencer, Presented by JACK &amp; COKE 
Boogy Maboi
 
Best Dressed Do Good Award 
Dr. Fezile Mkhize
 
Best Dressed Young Creative 
Samkelo Boyde
 
Best Dressed Fashion Influencer 
Audrey Lunda
 
Best Dressed Street Fashion Content Creator, Presented by CONVERSE 
Jacob May
 
Best Dressed Reader, Presented by PREVIEW DESIGNER COLLECTION 
Nicholas Mangena

Maglera Doe Boy, Oscar Mbo, Murdah Bongz, Scoop Makhathini + More Win At The GQ Best Dressed Awards

Baby S.O.N just dropped his debut album ‘Baby Who?’ an album with a guestlist that’s equal parts established names and emerging acts, a move the versatile artist says was intentional. 
 
<blockquote>“No one gave me an opportunity until the OGs gave me an opportunity,” he says in an exclusive interview with SlikourOnLife. “I’m not saying I’m at OG level but why not start where I am, giving other people opportunities to be heard.” 
</blockquote>
 
Baby S.O.N has worked with the likes of DBN Gogo, Kelvin Momo and AKA among others. “I wrote about nine joints on AKA’s [‘Mass Country’],” he says.

&quot;No One Gave Me An Opportunity Until The OGs Gave Me An Opportunity&quot; - Baby S.O.N

Earlier this year, Amapiano star Musa Keys assured fans that his homecoming concert, Detty December, is still going to happen. 
We asked him why the show was postponed. 
 
<blockquote>“That’s my first biggest baby,” Musa Keys said. “It’s just that that baby is really expensive. To be quite honest. It’s a very expensive exercise. The type of artist that I am, I am not willing to settle for something that I’m not gonna be so happy about so I’d rather put up proper people and proper funds so that I get my vision out the way I want it. ‘Cause once it’s successful there, I’m able to…
 
“One thing we never doing out here is touring. South African artists don’t tour in South Africa. We just do clubs. We should start doing arenas. This week I’m at Bloemfontein Arena, next week I’m doing Cape Town Arena… proper solo concerts.” 
</blockquote>

Musa Keys On Why He Postponed Detty December And His Plans To Tour South Africa  

YoungstaCPT just dropped his 33rd mixtape, ‘31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME’ which is a sequel to ’21 Y?RS AHEAD OF TIME’ which he dropped in 2014 at 21. 
In the Q&amp;A below, YoungstaCPT reflects on the last decade of his career: 
You dropped 21 Y?RS Ahead Of Time 10 years ago, you were 21, still went by Youngsta (without the “CPT”). How are things different as you drop ‘31 Y?EARS’?
I was always YoungstaCPT, I think back then but lesser now the “CPT” gets left out because journalists think it’s a handle like when ‘worldwide’ or ‘official’ get added into everyone’s names. Social media kind of changed that, so it took a while to catch on until I started to force it into everything I did from the visuals to the clothing. A lot has changed in that now I’ve grown and solidified the name of my city. To the point where when you think anything CPT-related, you think of me. 
Will you drop ‘41 Y?RS AHEAD OF TIME’ 10 years from now when you’re 41?
If God spares me and if people still care and show interest in my art, then yes definitely. I also want to know when to bow out gracefully and not be an old boxer still trying to make hits. When the time comes, I’ll know what to do.
This is your 33rd mixtape. Do you still remember some of your songs from your early mixtapes? You still revisit these tapes? And what are your thoughts on them now? 
I do replay them from time to time. I think I took a lot more risks musically. I rapped on House music back then being that the Euphonik and DJ Kent sound was prominent. I rapped on Dubstep and EDM because Cape Town had a lot of Electronic acts at the time. I think the mixtapes were my practice ground, I was just honing my craft innocently everyday and that is what was so pure about it. I’m never embarrassed by any of those songs, it was my learning curve. I do wish the sound quality on some of them was better, but even that’s a part of the journey.

YoungstaCPT Reflects On The Last Decade As He Releases His 33rd Mixtape ’31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME’

We caught up with A-Reece after the filming of his Red Bull 64 Bars. We asked him to rank his albums and share his top 5 rappers right now.  
A-Reece ranks his three studio albums: 
3. ‘Paradise’ (2016)
“With ‘Paradise’, I didn’t really get the full creative control that I wanted and it didn’t come out how I intended it to so I kinda have mixed feelings about it. [But] I come around people who say, ‘Yo, that shit is a classic bro…’ I mean like, ‘shit got me through 1,2 and 3,’ and I’m like, ‘bruh, I didn’t even want that song on it’, ‘I didn’t fuck with this beat…’ you know what I mean, ‘I didn’t want to do that hook’ or whatever the case.”
 
2. ‘From Me To You And Only You’ (2017)
“‘From Me To You And Only You’ was when I was independent for the first time and I could do whatever the fuck I wanted and I just felt so liberated and free and confident, and it was like a make or break situation too cause I had to prove myself like, okay, what are you about? Now that you out the label now that you are running around with your gang or whatever.”
 
1. ‘P2: THE BIG HEARTED BAD GUY’ (2023) 
“I feel like, from those two records prior to it, I improved at a very large scale. That’s why I put it at number one.”
 
A-Reece lists his top 5 rappers at the moment: 
5. A-Reece 
4. Slim Dumpie 
3. Jay Jody 
2. Ab-Soul 
1. Your Old Droog

A-Reece Ranks His Albums, Shares His Top 5 Rappers Right Now 

The 2024 Basadi in Music Awards occurred at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, on August 10th. The annual event aims to celebrate and honour women in the South African music industry. 
The nominees were announced on May 27. Tyla received the most nominations with 5, followed Lwah Ndlunkulu and DJ Zinhle with four each.
 
See the full list of winners below:
 
Amapiano Artist Of The Year
Kamo Mphela – "Dalie" featuring Khalil Harrison, Tyler ICU, and Baby S.O.N
 
Artist Of The Year
Lwah Ndlunkulu
 
Best Styled Artist of the Year
Thembi Seete
 
Collaboration Of The Year
DJ Zinhle and Basetsana – "Mdali"
 
Dance Artist of the Year
Makhadzi - “Mapara”
 
DJ Of The Year
DJ Zinhle
 
Entertainment Journalist of the Year
Mbalenhle Zuma – Sunday World
 
Entertainment TV Producer of the Year
Noni Khumalo – Trendz Live
 
Entertainment Radio Producer of the Year
Nelza Buda – Sibuya Nawe Express Lane (IKwekwezi FM)
 
Entertainment Radio Presenter of the Year
Mroza Buthelezi – Vuka Afrika Breakfast Show (Ukhozi FM)
 
Gospel Artist of the Year
Zaza Mokhethi – "Shabach shofar Chronicles"
 
Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Dyna Steez – "Nomalanga"
 
Jazz Artist of the Year
Salphina Kadiaka – "Tompie"
 
Music Video of the Year
Kamo Mphela– "Dalie" featuring Khalil Harrison, Tyler ICU, Baby S.O.N
 
Music TV Show Presenter of the Year
Robyn Nakaambo (Namibia) - WhataLifestyle NBC
 
Newcomer of the Year
Nontokozo Mkhize – "Moyongcwele"
 
Pop Artist of the Year
Shekhinah – "Risk" featuring Moliy
 
Reggae Artist of the Year
Reign Afrika – Hush
 
Sofnfree Afropop Artist of the Year
Naledi Aphiwe – 'Ngiyabonga'
 
Song of the Year
"Water" – Tyla
 
Songwriter of the Year
Brenda Mtambo – 'Bhaluyacima'
 
Traditional Artist of the Year
Pleasure Tsa Manyalo – 'Makoti Take 5'

Basadi In Music Awards 2024: Full List Of Winners

LaCabra’s new mixtape '<a href="https://slikouronlife.co.za/blog/27145/lacabra-drops-unexpected-mixtape-iqhawe-emphakathini">iQhawe Emphakathini</a>' is one of the best projects this year so far. 
The Qwellers member dropped the tape as a surprise release without a rollout. 
In the interview below, LaCabra discusses his come-up, the OGs that made the dream possible and ‘Iqhawe Emphakathini’. 
Who is LaCabra, where is he from and why does he have so many names?
LaCabra mfethu, ngumfethu who was born in Durban, grew up in Durban half of his life until grade 7 and then he moved to Dundee to stay with his dad. That’s when I started staying with Lowfeye and Gvnt who are my brothers. From there, that’s when the music thing started getting serious. Why do I have so many names? It’s ‘cause I grew up in so many places. Ngikhule in every situation, ngikhule emakhaya, ngikhule elokshin, nase-middle class uyabo. Eli likaLaQasha I got it from ugogo wam.
 
What made you move to Jozi?
What made me move to Jozi is the opportunities esiwabonayo that there’s gang opportunities. After high school we decided to pull up to this side and push the qoh and make this shit happen. And right now, yeah, it’s happening!
 
Did you start as a duo with Lowfeye?
Nah, I didn’t start as a duo with Lowfeye. I started rapping ngiseThekwini , Lowfeye started rapping eseDundee. So by the time we started staying together, we discovered ukuthi siyarappa sobaw’2 uyabo. So, it was a thing of it just happened. And we started working together obviously cause we stayed under the same roof, the vibes, it’s easy to span. So ya we didn’t start as a duo, but we are a duo.
 
How important was Dr Peppa in your come up?
Yeah, Dr Peppa is the OG, he was very crucial to our come-up ‘cause he came through, mfethu, he was the first OG to co-sign us, me and Lowfeye, he peeped us with no motion, he believed in us. He was very crucial to the qoh. Cause he was the first one who posted our video to his feed on his Instagram thats where Sjava discovered us. He was very crucial, he is an important piece to our come-up.
 
‘I’lembe LamaQweller’, are you proudly saying uyeyona ntsizwa kwamaQweller?
Nah nah nah, ilembe mfethu, just means, it’s just me ngiy’hyper up. It’s for the fans not to my broers. I’m not tryna be that broer, nah. It’s for the fans, the fans came with the qoh. We not on the energy of comparing and whatnot.
 
Why did you drop your recent mixtape with no rollout? I know you dropped it on your birthday too.
I feel like, mfethu, I’ve never really had so many people waiting on my music ever in my life, so I didn’t give a fuck uyabo ukuthi izokwenza kanjani iproject cause all I wanted was to give people umculo. So, I didn’t care about entering the charts and all, I just wanted to give abantu umculo. I was surprised uk’bona iproject imove-a , it was a surprise for me cause I didn’t even care if it was gonna move. I knew there was people waiting for the music.
 
You sing and rap too, similar to what Sjava does, is he your most influential artist?
Yeah man, OG Sjava is like one of the biggest inspiration kuthina mfethu especially after he peeped us yabo. I started out tapping in into his music more and realised ukuthi this nigga is our Drake; he does everything yabo, he sings, he raps. So, hhayi nathi masikwenze lokho dawg. I was doing it before when the OG discovered us kodwa now it’s like it’s a thing of ukuthi we doing it for real, for real. Without even thinking twice. So yeah, the OG is one of my biggest inspirations in the game, emhlabeni jikelele.
 
Listen to 'iQhawe Emphakathini' on Apple Music and Spotify.

[Q&amp;A] LaCabra: “Dr Peppa was very crucial to The Qwellers’ come-up”

‘<a href="https://slikouronlife.co.za/blog/27150/kwesta-bontle-modiselle-to-star-in-netflix-movie-piano-love">Piano Love</a>’, a movie starring Kwesta and Bontle Modiselle, is hitting Netflix on August 23. 
The film is said to be “a captivating thrill ride as we watch young love blossom against all odds.” 
The film’s tagline is “Two lives, two dreams, one log drum. An Amapiano love story.”
In the Q&amp;A below, we catch up with Kwesta about the upcoming movie.
This is your debut role. Tell us about the expansion into acting. 
Yeah, this is my debut role. I like that you said debut cause you opened yourself up to the possibility of being others. I wanted to involve myself in an art I appreciate and try out new things. I’ve been making music now for 17 years and I kinda wanted to try something and see if I could. And when you’ve been doing something for 17 years, it’s almost repetitive, you know what’s gonna happen. 
So, diving into acting is a completely new thing for me, and I haven’t had new things to do. For me it’s a way to find out if I’m good at it and find my voice in it and express myself through it. I had a whole lot of help from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blackbrain_sa/?hl=en">Black Brain</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mandla_n/?hl=en">Mandla N</a> especially in terms of acting cause when he first made the call I almost didn’t wanna do it, but he kinda pushed me into believing until we did. Cause I didn’t wanna disrespect the acting space. That thing is tough, it’s long days, it’s constantly being in character. We will see how it goes, I will play my part by taking classes and improving my acting. So, this is definitely an introduction to acting.
 
What drew you to the story? 
What drew me to the story is literally the similarity of the character and myself. I mean it is a movie so some things are extremely exaggerated compared to my real life. Navigating through life going through a slump and finding your way back up is really something I connect with. That I know very well. My character is someone from the hood who makes music, he goes on to be dope and everyone loves him. Shit hit the fan, he has to regroup and build himself/confidence up again. I saw myself in the role which was great cause it’s something familiar with, I don’t have to method act or anything. It wasn’t a hard switch from Kwesta to the character.
 
‘Piano Love’ over ‘<a href="https://slikouronlife.co.za/blog/23940/at-loveandhiphop-south-africa-a-win-or-l-for-sa-hip-hop">Love and Hip Hop</a>’… what’s the difference?
Look, I don’t think there’s a difference. It’s all black urban culture. It’s all a matter of the genre; you either pick beats and rhymes and drums or log drums and dance. Buts it’s really about how we navigate love and how love finds its way through all of that. Through the art of music. It’s a movie about love. The backstory is clearly Piano, but it could have been any other genre. I must say though, my character is not a ‘Piano artist. I somehow have to make that clear.
 
Tell us about the experience of working with Bontle.
The experience of working with Bontle was dope. I drew a lot from her too. She had acted before, yes she’s a dancer and wears a lot of hats pretty much. But she had done this whole thing before and I hadn’t, so I was drawing from her a lot of times and the whole crew. I didn’t walk in there thinking, ‘Yo, I’m Kwesta, y’all gon do this my way.’ No, I walked in there work sponge and all and tryna soak in as much as I can. 
So, she helped a lot with that. She was like within the whole sets and scenes, she was the ease to everything, she brought a certain calm and joy and glee to the whole thing. And that made me really comfortable, especially in the scenes we were doing kinda together cause we also not strangers so there’s jokes in between to kinda calm the nerves. 
So, she played a big role to making sure I’m calm and she did that without even sorta purposely doing it. It was just the energy she brought. She’s amazing and her character is really dope. It was one of her hats, it was my first one.
 
Is this you hanging the mic and taking the silver screen? 
No not at all, this isn’t Kwesta hanging up his mic. Not at all. This is not the conversation. It adds to what Kwesta does.
 
When can we expect new music?
I’m definitely dropping new music before the end of the year. For now, let’s focus on ‘Piano Love’ and sooner than you think, I’ll let y’all know when I do. I haven’t hung up my mic, it’s been in use, we just have to hit the share button. But definitely there’s music coming.
 
‘Piano Love’ is premiering on Netflix on August 23.

Kwesta On ‘Piano Love’: “My character is not a ‘Piano artist”  

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/speedstabro/?hl=en">DJ Speedsta</a> is dropping a new album soon. “As usual you can expect lots of features and a lot of new names. It wouldn’t be a DJ Speedsta album without any new names,” DJ Speedsta tells SlikourOnLife in an exclusive interview. 
‘<a href="https://slikouronlife.co.za/blog/27099/dj-speedsta-to-drop-new-single-my-way-ft-blxckie-vsinare-off-of-upcoming-album">My Way</a>’, the lead single to the project features Blxckie and VSinare and is dropping on the 8th of August. 
<blockquote>“With this song and most of the songs on the album, we intentionally trying to bring back ‘the vibe’ — nice summer vibes, music people can dance and have fun to. We aren’t paying that much attention to heavy raps on this project. We want to take it back to fun music,” Speedsta says. 
</blockquote>
As one DJ who’s always been the closest to the new generation, we asked Speedsta to recommend some artists for older Hip-Hop fans.
Here’s his list: 
Tony Daimane
Lucasraps 
Usimamane 
K.Keed

Speedsta Recommends New Generation Artists For Older Hip-Hop Generation

Sizwe Alakine is dropping a new single from his upcoming album. The song, titled ‘Where Is Reason?’, features… Reason. Confusing, right? 
In an upcoming episode of our ‘What A Life’ podcast, we asked Sizwe Alakine to break down the difference between Reason and Sizwe Alakine. 
<blockquote>“It was a crazy idea that manifested into conversations like this, like what if I was two different people at the same time? 
“Initially, I just wanted to say Sizwe because this time I wanna be me. I wanna go back to Sizwe. Reason was a character I created in the space or environment of Hip-Hop and he fulfilled all his duties in that community. 
“Sizwe feels more like myself as a person; just like, the other guy. The guy who, unlike Hip-Hop, can say, ‘ngiyahlupheka.’ The guy who, unlike Reason, can say… ever since met the log drum noMadumane, ngeke ning’bone. Sengifana noDoc Shebeleza, uzong’thol’ ebumnandini. Reason would never say that, but if you know me, you know….” 
</blockquote>
Look out for our sit down with Sizwe Alakine for ‘What A Life’ in the next few weeks.
Stream Sizwe Alakine’s ‘Where’s Reason?’ featuring Reason.

How Reason Became Sizwe Alakine

Blxckie has finally dropped his highly anticipated EP ‘see u soon’. 
The 8-track oeuvre serves as a display of the rapper's lyrical prowess and versatility.
singles, ‘all faxx’ and ‘pull up’ which received critical acclaim following their respective releases. ’see u soon’ includes two features from Beau Nox and K1llbrady.
Blxckie took listeners through his thought process behind the concept of ‘see me now’ in his recent interview with Nandi Madida on Apple Music’s Africa Now radio.
<blockquote>“And yeah, for ’see u soon,’ I wanted it to mimic ‘B4now’ in the sense that it's not super conceptual, it's more of a showcase. It's more of just, “This is what Blxckie can do.” And then, yeah, after this we're going more crazier.”, he stated.
</blockquote>

Blxckie Flexes His Versatility In New EP, ‘see u soon’

25K has dropped a video on his socials that has all Hip-Hop fanatics excited. He has announced new music that is on its way in dope fashion. 
The bro is sitting on what seems to be a presidential chair with a demeanour that suggests he knows what he is about to drop is fire. We last got a tape from 25K when he dropped his debut album, 'Pheli Makaveli' in 2012. His sophomore, which will be titled 'Loyal To The Plug: The Life &amp; Times Of Don Kilograms', is one of the most anticipated albums of 2024. 
With the standard set high by 'Pheli Makaveli, everyone is curious about where Kilo will take it with his second offering. There's currently no release date for 'Loyal To The Plug: The Life &amp; Times Of Don Kilograms' but it should be soon.

25K Announces New Project, &#039;Loyal To The Plug: The Life &amp; Times Of Don Kilograms&#039;

Yanga Chief recently shared in our latest episode of What A Life that his hook on AKA’s 2014 hit, ‘Run Jozi’ (Godly), was originally a 32-bar verse. 
<blockquote>“I had a 32-bar verse. Some of the lines didn’t make it. Some of the lines are on some of Kiernan’s verses. We just stripped the whole thing apart.” - Yanga Chief 
</blockquote>
The hook interpolates TKZee’s ‘Sikelela’ from the Kwaito group’s 1998 album ‘Halloween’. 
‘Run Jozi (Godly)’ kickstarted Yanga Chief’s career 10 years ago. The song is one of the biggest hits of the mid-2010s era of South African Hip-Hop.
The song features one of K.O’s most praised verses and the video came with the monumental push-ups. Yanga Chief wasn’t even credited on the song. 
The song appeared on AKA’s sophomore album ‘Levels’ which recently turned 10 and has been safely declared a South African Hip-Hop classic.

How Yanga Chief’s 32-Bar Verse Became The ‘Run Jozi’ Hook

As AKA’s 2014 classic album ‘Levels’ turns 10, here are 10 facts about the album that you may not know: 
 
1. ‘Levels’ was released on iTunes a week before its official release date in physical stores. Music stores have become obsolete over the last decade. 
 
2. ‘Levels’ was inspired by JR’s 2012 album ‘Kool Forever’, which incorporated dance music and made use of recognisable samples. As a result, JR was a co-writer on some songs on ‘Levels’ such as ‘Congratulate’ and ‘All Eyes On Me’.  
 
3. Around the time ‘All Eyes On Me’ dropped, AKA, Da L.E.S, and Burna Boy had formed a supergroup called the A-Team.  
 
4. ‘Levels’ gave Tweezy his break. His career took off after producing ‘Sim Dope’, ‘All Eyes On Me’ and ‘Run Jozi (Godly)’ on ‘Levels’, hence his slogan “Hits Since 2014”.
 
5. Yanga Chief’s hook on ‘Run Jozi (Godly)’ was originally a 32-bar verse but got cut down to the lines used in the hook, an interpolation of TKZee’s ‘Sikelela’. 
 
6. Simphiwe Gumede aka Sim Dope, the title of the second track on ‘Levels’, has been friends with AKA since they were 11 years old. 
 
7. K.O’s infamous push-ups on top of a Siyaya were not meant to be on the video. “It was just [me and AKA] tryna out-goof each other and the camera happened to be on,” K.O said. 
8. ‘Levels’ is one of the very few (if not the only) South African Hip-Hop albums released locally in the 2010s to be released on vinyl. Only 300 copies were released in 2015. There’s a new 10th-anniversary edition of the ‘Levels’ vinyl out now. 
 
9. ‘All Eyes On Me’ is the most streamed AKA song on Spotify with 13M+ streams to date. 
It’s followed closely by ‘Lemons ( Lemonade)’ which has 12,8M streams. 
 
10. Yanga Chief directed the music video for ‘Run Jozi’ under his company Young Legend Films.

10 Facts About AKA&#039;s Sophomore Album ‘Levels’ #AKALevelsX

The DStv Delicious Fest organisers have announced renowned American icons, Janet Jackson and Jill Scott as the official headliners for this year’s festival. 
 
Janet Jackson and Jill Scott are expected to captivate massive crowds with their soulful performances and classic hits. 
 
The festival, set to take place between 21-22 September at Kyalami Grand Pix Circuit (Johannesburg), will include a star-studded line-up of South African artists including Sjava, Thandiswa Mazwai, Soweto Gospel Choir, and more. 
 
Tickets are currently available for purchase and range between R1050,00 and R3250,00.

Janet Jackson &amp; Jill Scott To Headline DStv Delicious Fest 2024

Stogie T recently ruffled feathers when he didn’t only say “Kendrick, J. Cole and Drake aren’t special” but went on to say “Kendrick’s not better than me” during the latest episode of our ‘What A Life’ podcast. 
The response to his comments has been divisive as some fans do believe his spitting fax while others feel he’s capping and just fishing for clout. 
Watch the full episode of ‘What A Life’ to get the full context on YouTube.

“Kendrick’s Not Better Than Me” - Stogie T

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/spotifyafrica/">Spotify</a> is currently rolling out their ‘<a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/amapiano10/">A Decade of Amapiano </a>’ campaign which looks at the popular genre’s first decade. Yes, decade… perhaps, if you didn’t realise Amapiano has been around since around 2014, then ‘<a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/amapiano10/">A Decade of Amapiano</a>’, a site looking at the past decade of Amapiano and its different key influences, will clarify any confusion. 
The site is complemented by an on-platform <a href="https://open.spotify.com/genre/0JQ5DAqbMKFypBjTx7l1CW?si=jv_dm4OOTgG2_3l5DLfARQ">Amapiano destination</a> with playlists and podcasts for anyone wishing to learn more about the genre’s origins, sounds, and future.
In 2023, Amapiano hit over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify. 
‘A Decade of Amapiano’ launched on 14 June, two days before Youth Day. 
The project also comes with insightful statistics that show who the biggest songs and artists are and the markets that are tapping in. 
View them below: 
Top 10 Amapiano Songs On Spotify 
Tyler ICU, Tumelo_za, DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA, Tyron Dee - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/5tpft20jhQvRlG3O7XfwWy?si=716e128be801446a">Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA, Tumelo_za &amp; Tyron Dee)</a>
TitoM, Yuppe, S.N.E, EeQue - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/54seQV7MCcppBrznALCdlT?si=691fe92268d6449c">Tshwala Bam (feat. S.N.E, EeQue)</a>
Kabza De Small, Mthunzi, DJ Maphorisa, Young Stunna, Sizwe Alakine, Umthakathi Kush - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/6Kijtp0DB6VwcoJIw7PJ9W?si=5ab276f4bca44ad7">mithandazo (feat. Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine &amp; Umthakathi Kush</a>)
Kamo Mphela, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison, Baby S.O.N - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4URabg9AGHasjFEVdTbWcC?si=d2cf423a856f4aaa">Dalie (feat. Baby S.O.N)</a>
Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Ami Faku - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/2qxgejJTaZIHNSHDD22Uhl?si=7c2f7979cb7d41da">Abalele</a>
Uncle Waffles, Tony Duardo, Justin99, Pcee, Chley, EeQue, Chley - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/6L1UdBhj6v8Ol9qKHBtvLN?si=b8d4f107ca7947a5">Yahyuppiyah (feat. Pcee, EeQue &amp; Chley)</a>
Davido, Focalistic - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/3vTW0qXIitjhZW5kfTwBTv?si=2ad4160db05c4375">Champion Sound</a>
Daliwonga, Mellow &amp; Sleazy, M.J - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ek5bneviajgSzZGonWfds?si=4fbbd33926174b76">Abo Mvelo (feat. Mellow &amp; Sleazy &amp; M.J)</a>
Soa Mattrix, Mashudu, Happy Jazzman, Emotionz DJ - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1y5eHXBYiLgNv00KoHXm4o?si=b94e499f01b14316">Mina Nawe</a>
DJ Stokie, Omit ST, Sobzeen, Zee_nhle - <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4J1H4EuucGhhYfcPpYCBRr?si=b1acfa506c3b4027">Awukhuzeki</a>
Top Artists
<ul>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mMqD2uqwvCjFvlzo6ayGi">DJ Maphorisa</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1bNjWBFWsAAzZSR59lRdpR">Kabza De Small</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oIQCM7hRZI9tS5b9S8rj4">Tyler ICU</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/5MJ5f1XKD9yu7aWfG8OGjz">Mellow &amp; Sleazy </a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4VlxI0WKDh7HFgHjXcfj6v?si=zDsP9TL-QzOhKmBolqRjVg">Kelvin Momo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GJMSZ7M3D0KyyKRhYgWju">Focalistic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/6WQFTzqYHmh8Ph2X0L0QLQ?si=2XKXhL_uQaWFuBQ4p8lRdA">Young Stunna</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/3xXIOO328Ieh0PWOcxivjL?si=423CU_H-RcSkvPyuL0eQtg">Aymos</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oW137oXCLwA5b4uYRxvIn?si=YsRnZY2gRFuKHIB6bRDgbQ">Daliwonga</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fdFRgy3GmfiWQqeKbmFS8?si=q_eGuj5GSPmy9ieIgTwpBA">Mas Musiq</a></li>
</ul>
Top Countries streaming Amapiano over last 10 years
<ul>
<li>South Africa </li>
<li>United States Of America</li>
<li>United Kingdom</li>
<li>Nigeria </li>
<li>Germany </li>
</ul>
 Top Amapiano Spotify playlists in 2024 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX5mILnBJLA26?si=1d89f7877d0b4407">AMAPIANO grooves</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWWMzqaiPmTMy?si=03cbab8219db4bce">SoulPiano</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX1in2XW8zzxO?si=60abd8ac39694ea4">Beast Mode Amapiano</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWYnm5FxlmGjN?si=a6934e9172c6496d">Amapiano 101</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX298URqcHUhL?si=54a869ae4669428c">Amapiano Rising</a></li>
</ul>
A Decade of Amapiano is now<a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/amapiano10/"> live</a> on Spotify’s For The Record and the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/genre/0JQ5DAqbMKFypBjTx7l1CW?si=jv_dm4OOTgG2_3l5DLfARQ">Amapiano destination on-platform.</a>

The Top 10 Amapiano Songs &amp; Artists Of All Time On Spotify

Sjava has excitedly announced his new collaboration with iconic South African brand, Omega.
Co-starring in the announcement video for the new collaboration are popular Hip-Hop group, The Qwellers. 
<blockquote>“We’re excited to announce the official @sjava_atm x @omegaoriginalza collaboration range dropping soon. Pre-Order’s Now Open LINK IN BIO.”
</blockquote>
Omega embraces traditional design elements, promotes South African culture and heritage, and represents the spirit of creativity in South Africa.

Sjava Announces Collaboration With Omega

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/f_eezysa/">F-Eezy </a>has signed with Emtee Records. The Kasi Rap pioneer puts pen to paper joining artists such as Yung Seruno and Lolli Native who are also under the label headed by Emtee.
The acquisition of F-Eezy is a sign of growth for Emtee’s imprint. 
F-Eezy has been a fan of Emtee so this partnership makes sense. And one thing we know it means is we will be getting new music from F-Eezy. The last time he dropped was with the 2020 EP ‘Insert Coin’.

F-Eezy Signs To Emtee Records

Soulful artist and Alex representative Marcus Harvey has signed with Stay Low. The record label added to the star-studded team that includes lordkez, Zulu Mecca, Mars Baby, and now Marcus Harvey. 
Their choice of artists to sign aligns with the brand/label that they are. The label dropped a video announcement with Harvey going through his neighborhood and speaking on his come-up. The Marcus Harvey journey is only beginning.

Marcus Harvey Signs To Stay Low

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/maftownheights/?hl=en">Maftown Heights</a> has announced the release of a compelling new 4-part documentary series titled ‘Maftown Heights Untold Stories’. 
Established in 2009, Maftown Heights is one of Africa’s leading hip-hop festivals, started to celebrate the Motswako movement which originates in Maftown (Mafikeng). The documentary’s cast will include the likes of AKA, Cassper Nyovest, JR, Kabelo Mabalane, Focalistic, Khuli Chana, Riky Rick, and a whole lot more. 
The documentary, set to premiere on Saturday, June 15 at 4PM on Channel O (with subsequent episodes released weekly), delves into the rich history, cultural significance, and behind-the-scenes moments of one of Africa’s most iconic music events.
‘Maftown Heights Untold Stories’ explores the festival's journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a powerhouse in the African hip-hop scene. Through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen footage, and personal stories from artists, organisers, and friends of the brand, the documentary is said to provide an intimate look at the festival's impact on the music industry and its role in shaping the careers of many celebrated artists.
Executive-produced by Khuli Chana and Refiloe Ramogase, co-produced by RefRam Productions and Molotov Cocktail, with musical score by Motswako legend and member of Morafe, Towdee Mac. 
<blockquote>"Maftown Heights Untold Stories has been in the works since 2020. It’s been a labour of love and a celebration of the cultural tapestry that has shaped the South African music scene. We aim to honour the legacy of the artists who have inspired a generation (some of whom are no longer with us), and to provide a platform for their voices to be heard in an authentic and compelling manner. We believe it will resonate with long-time fans and newcomers alike, providing a deeper understanding of the festival’s significance and its role in the broader cultural landscape,” shares Refiloe Ramogase.
"Maftown Heights has always been more than just a stage for me; it's a homecoming, a place where the roots of my music and my journey are celebrated. It’s an honour to present the Maftown Heights Untold Stories. This documentary is a celebration of the incredible talent, passion, and community that define Maftown Heights,” expresses Khuli Chana.
</blockquote>
Key Highlights of the Documentary:
<ol>
<li>Origins and Evolution: Gain insight into the origins of Motswako and its growth into a mainstream cultural force. Discover the inspiration behind Maftown Heights and how it grew from a few hundred in attendance to an African phenomenon, highlighting key milestones and memorable performances.</li>
<li>Artist Stories: Hear from some of the biggest names in African hip-hop, including Cassper Nyovest, K.O, the late Riky Rick and AKA, as they share their personal connections to the festival and how it influenced their musical journeys.</li>
<li>Cultural Impact: Examine the festival’s contribution to promoting SA hip-hop and a culture of collaboration, fostering unity, and creating a platform for emerging talents.</li>
<li>Behind-the-Scenes: Get an insider’s perspective on the dedication and hard work that goes into organising Maftown Heights each year, featuring interviews with the festival’s founders, MCs, crew and event partners. </li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Part 1 – 15 June 2024</li>
<li>Part 2 – 22 June 2024</li>
<li>Part 3 – 29 June 2024</li>
<li>Part 4 – 6 July 2024</li>
</ul>

4-Part Doccie On Maftown Heights To Air On Channel O

Upon announcing the completion of his upcoming album, Amapiano sensation <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eeque_thedreama/?hl=en">EeQue</a> confirmed that he will be dropping a new banger with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/focalistic/?hl=en">Focalistic</a>. 
EeQue took to socials to share a snippet of the single, captioning it:
<blockquote>“That album I been promising is actually done ! Drop eshota ka date. New music w/ my shlime <a href="https://www.instagram.com/focalistic/?hl=en">@focalistic</a>”.
</blockquote>
EeQue dropped his last official track, ‘Baleka’ alongside Certified Dyans and Baby S.O.N in April.

EeQue Teases Upcoming Single With Focalistic

Pretoria-based R&amp;B artist ZRi. has dropped his debut album titled 'Thank God For The Sun’ ironically as we enter winter.
ZRi.’s artistry is unparalleled with an ability to stretch his voice to the max while maintaining a phenomenal cadence. 'Thank God For The Sun' is a tape where we are fully introduced to the Pretoria artist. "Seeing Ye on the TV, I could not ignore him/ From that moment, I wanted to be an icon,” he raps on ‘Money On My Mind’. With Michael Tuohy on production, ZRi. goes into the details of why he wanted to become an icon in the song. 
The theme of him trying to make it in this tough industry is dominant on the tape. It is not only that, though, as the song 'On My Own' featuring saveHXPE and 21 Oranges details the need to try to find oneself while in a relationship. "Bring me closer to myself that is the mission"
On 'Back To The Mud’, ZRi. raps about his hunger to make his dreams a reality sprinkling Spitori raps while mentioning A-Reece and his crew: "Just imagine seeing Reece in G12, still rapping/ Want it all, nigga, I'm not stopping until I manage.” ZRi. here gives props to the PTA artists who came before him. The 17-track album has appearances from The Big Hash, saveHXPE and Roho to name a few who are mostly from his hometown. 
If you love Vince Staples, you will love ZRi.. The storyline and the transitions between songs are clean. ZRi. wants his fans to know that he is from the hood, that he is hungry to make his name a staple in the game and is emotional enough to tap into the deep parts of his upbringing.
'Thank God For The Sun' out now on every platform.

ZRi. Tells His Story In His Debut Album &#039;Thank God For The Sun&#039;

Tyla’s self-titled debut album has surpassed a billion streams on Spotify making her the first South African female artist to do so.
This amazing feat comes as no surprise. Her International  breakthrough single 'Water' alone has 653 million-plus streams. 
Tyla's presence is well felt on the world stage while representing South Africa proudly.

Fireboy DML: “We Nigerians Love Amapiano A Lot”

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How Reason Became Sizwe Alakine

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The Top 10 Amapiano Songs & Artists Of All Time On Spotify

Sjava Announces Collaboration With Omega

F-Eezy Signs To Emtee Records

Marcus Harvey Signs To Stay Low

4-Part Doccie On Maftown Heights To Air On Channel O

EeQue Teases Upcoming Single With Focalistic

ZRi. Tells His Story In His Debut Album 'Thank God For The Sun'

Tyla’s Debut Album Surpasses 1 Billion Streams On Spotify