Amapiano continued to showcase its resilience in 2021, attracting rappers such as Young Stunna and Cassper Nyovest and expanding beyond its origins in the Pretoria and Joburg taxi ranks and shebeens. The genre’s dominance extended across South Africa and throughout the continent, providing the soundtrack for the year.
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According to Spotify’s year-end chart, amapiano musicians claimed the first five spots on the list of the most streamed local artists in South Africa, with OG DJ Maphorisa leading the pack and Scorpion King Kabza De Small following closely behind. Newcomers Busta 929, De Mthuda, and Mr JazziQ also claimed their own spots on the list.
While global superstars like Drake and Justin Bieber topped the Apple Music charts overall, South African artists, largely due to amapiano, made up almost half of the Top 100 songs of the year.
Best Amapiano Songs of 2021
Therefore, we present our list of the best amapiano songs for 2021, listed in no particular order:
- “Adiwele” by Young Stunna
Young Stunna pays homage to his mentor, Kabza De Small, in “Adiwele.” The track is off Stunna’s debut album, Notumato, and has helped him become a viral sensation. Kabza De Small has played a crucial role in Stunna’s career, guiding him through the music industry.
- “Umsebenzi Wethu” by Busta 929 and Mpura
Busta 929 and Mpura’s amapiano hit “Umsebenzi Wethu” took the number 2 spot on Deezer’s year-end charts globally and topped Apple Music’s 2021 most-streamed song chart in South Africa. The tragic death of Mpura in a car accident in August left questions surrounding Busta 929’s involvement with underage girls who allegedly recorded music at his studio without parental consent.
- “Abalele” by Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Ami Faku
“Abalele,” anchored by Ami Faku’s pleading vocals, is a track by Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa. It was released in September and made it to the number 4 spot on Spotify’s most-streamed songs in South Africa for 2021.
- “LiYoshona” by Kwiish SA ft. Njelic, MalumNator & De Mthuda
DJ and producer Kwiish SA’s latest track “LiYoshona” featuring De Mthuda and Njelic is taken from his most recent album, Umshiso. The song became the #1 most Shazamed song of the year in South Africa, after Kwiish SA’s hit “Iskathi (Gong Gong)” was one of the biggest house tracks of 2018.
- “Woza” by Mr JazziQ x Kabza De Small x Lady Du ft. Boohle
Mr JazziQ, alongside Kabza De Small, Lady Du, and Boohle, created a massive hit single, “Woza,” off his album, Party with the English. Earlier in 2021, Mr JazziQ was named the most streamed South African artist by Gen Z audiences on Spotify SA. The track even inspired a dance challenge, with a video of three guys dancing to the song outside the White House in Washington DC.
- “Khuza Gogo” by DBN Gogo x Blaqnick x MasterBlaq ft. Mpura, Ama Avenger, and M.J
Mpura’s vocal contributions to “Khuza Gogo” with Ama Avenger and MJ, alongside DBN Gogo, Blaqnick, and MasterBlaq’s beats, were just some of the tracks he gifted the world before his tragic passing in August. Since its release in March, the YouTube video has racked up almost 4 million views, and Spotify SA announced it was the most-streamed South African track by Gen Z.
- “John Wick” by De Mthuda ft. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal Chef
De Mthuda’s hit single “John Wick,” featuring Sir Trill and Da Muziqal Chef, is one of his sure-fire blockbusters. The track speaks to the confidence displayed by Keanu Reeves’ character in the “John Wick” film series. De Mthuda also collaborated with Sir Trill on another hit single, “Emlanjeni.”
- “Siyathandana” by Cassper Nyovest ft. Boohle and Abidoza
Rapper Cassper Nyovest, too, ventured into amapiano territory, alongside Boohle and Abidoza, with “Siyathandana”, off his amapiano project Sweet & Short 2.0. He performed the track, which weaves in the melody of mid-2000s’ “World Hold On” by Bob Sinclair (Axwell mix), during the Boiler Room’s Amapiano showcase in London in September. And he, as he told OkayAfrica, there’s more to come!
- DJ Maphorisa & Tyler ICU, ft Madumane, Mpura, Daliwonga & Visca ‘Izolo’
DJ Maphorisa is the only local musician to have made Spotify’s top 10 most streamed artists list, occupying eighth place, among the likes of Drake, The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran. With his output this past year, it’s no wonder. Whether releasing his latest collab with Kabza De Small, Rumble in the Jungle or an EP with Tyler ICU, Banyana, Maphorisa left his mark on 2021. But he didn’t stop at just producing, as evident on the anthemic number, “Izolo,” which featured his singing alter-ego, Madumane.
- DJ Sumbody ft Drip Gogo, The Lowkeys ‘Iyamemeza’
DJ Sumbody had another great year, following on from his 2020 album, Ashi Nthwela. This time, he called on Drip Gogo and The Lowkeys for the anthemic “Iyamemeza.” Sumbody showed he has a good ear for new talent, with Drip Gogo and The Lowkeys being relatively unknown before this track. But with the popularity of “Iyamemeza,” they are now making a name for themselves in the amapiano scene.
