(April 14, 2019). For the past four weeks, djrobblog has covered African hip-hop artists who should be getting some love here in America. The first four parts of this five-part series have covered some of the best rappers coming from the Motherland, all of whom have received praise in their native countries and throughout the continent, but few that have made waves here in the USA.
This blog has paid tribute to the best of the best by featuring eight of the hottest rappers in Africa, from places like Ghana, South Africa, and, of course, Nigeria. These first eight selections have sparked much debate on the blog’s Facebook page, with spirited commentary from readers and hip-hop fans all over. If you missed the earlier parts, you can see which rappers were featured by visiting the following links:
Now it’s time for the final part, the last two rappers among the ten that this blog believes should be checked out by hip-hop fans all over. Of the remaining two, one is from South Africa, the other from Nigeria.
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AKA
Full Name: Kiernan Jarryd Forbes (also known as Supa Mega, King Forbes); Age 31; South African rapper from Cape Town. Genres: hip-hop, trap. Latest project is Touch My Blood (released June 2018). AKA has recorded his last two projects for his own imprint, Beam Group.
Other interesting facts: South African rapper AKA has released three studio albums since his debut in 2011, including that year’s debut Altar Ego. Interestingly, fellow SA hip-hop royalty Nasty C was an opening act during AKA’s first promotional tour. All three of AKA’s albums have been certified platinum in SA.
According to Genius, AKA started his music career as part of a group called Entity with two of his classmates, but went solo in 2006 after the group disbanded when they matriculated from school. AKA then went on to study Sound Engineering so that he could improve his skills as an artist.
His debut album won him many awards, including three Metro FM Music Awards for “Best Newcomer”, “Best Hip Hop” and “Best Produced Album.” He also won “Best Street Urban Music Album” and “Male Artist of the Year” at the 18th South African Music Awards for Altar Ego.
His 2014 sophomore album continued his winning ways, with songs like “Congratulate” (Video of the Year) and “Run Jozi (Godly)” (Best Collaboration) taking prizes at the 2014 SA Hip-Hop Awards.
His third album, Touch My Blood, was released to critical acclaim on June 21, 2018. It contains fourteen dope as hell tracks, making it hard to determine which are the best among them. As with his first two full studio albums, his latest project should have no problem being a winner during the next awards cycle.
Best tracks on Touch My Blood: “Fully In,” “Reset,” “Magriza,” “Sweet Fire.” Hell, they’re ALL ?!
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Vector
Full Name: Olanrewaju Ogunmefun David (also known as V.E.C, Vector Tha Viper); Age 33; Nigerian rapper from Ogun State. Genres: hip-hop. Vector is officially signed to YSG Entertainment. His recent multicut project is the mixtape The Rap Dialogue. His latest single (released February 15, 2019) is “This Vector Sef.”
Other interesting facts: Vector is another well-educated rapper from the motherland. After completing his primary school education, Vector attended Government College and Saint Gregory’s College in Lagos State. He later attended University of Lagos, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy.
Vector has won several awards, including Best Rap Single and Lyricist on the Roll, both at the Headies (in Nigeria), as well as Best Afro Hip-Hop and Most Promising Act To Watch, both at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards. He’s also won both Best Mainstream Hip-Hop Video (2011) and Best Afro Hip-Hop Video (2012) at the Nigerian Music Video Awards.
Aside from his rapping and singing skills, the highly marketable Vector is also the voice behind a Sprite commercial that has aired on radio stations across Nigeria since 2009.
From his Twitter feed, Vector released The Rap Dialogue mixtape on October 12, 2018, in a stated attempt to bring the “old spirit of rap and hip-hop culture” to music. But, at this writing, that product is not available on streaming services and its tracks are not available on YouTube.
His last full album before that was 2016’s Lafiaji, a 25-track set released on Christmas Eve that year. That album, which featured some of the best produced, most complex tracks in recent memory, can be heard on the Spotify link immediately below.
And that’s it.
AKA and Vector are the last of the ten artists included in this special feature of the Ten African Rappers American Hip-Hop Fans Should Hear Now. But there are many more out there, several of whom should be considered for a list such as this. Who do you believe should have been included?
A heartfelt thanks!
Many of the artists featured in this series were initially recommended by my colleague and friend Ayo Ayegbusi, whom I wish to thank for opening my eyes and ears to this talent. But I also want to thank readers for enhancing the list with their suggestions and their dialogue. You certainly have affected the list of ten and I appreciate it!
Feel free to comment on this site or on the blog’s Facebook page or on other social media about these artists and let me know what you think.
And remember, you can see who was featured in the first four parts by visiting the following articles.
Peace and love,
DJRob
DJRob is a freelance blogger who covers R&B, hip-hop, pop and rock genres – plus lots of music news and current stuff! You can follow him on Twitter @djrobblog.
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I would replace Dremo with YCee, however others worthy to mention would be Khali Abdul, Emtee, A-Reece, Shane Eagle & Payper Corleone. My opinion though. Well done.
Thank you! I may update the list later.
I think Dremo shouldnt have made the list of top 10 in Africa, not until Khaligraph Jones is mentioned… I’m Nigerian and I say Khaligraph Jones is one of the best in Africa!! Top6 IMO
Sarkodie from Ghana deserves the first position on this blog. The fact that he raps in his local dialect, shouldn’t be the reason to omit him. He is the best rapper in Africa for crying out loud.
What is your criteria for choosing best rappers by the way? You should consider flow, timing, lyrics, style bro. Sarkodie is the name. You can research on him.
Sarkodie is included in the series and the rappers are not ranked in any order. It is left to the reader to decide what the order is. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Amount of research carried out before this publication= 0000000.0 useless !!
Still way more than the amount of thought or intelligence put into your comment. (Decimal point goes after the first zero.)
DJ Rob the savage, nice response man… And honestly you’re doing a good job. You did what you knew was best.
All of you here are mad. No rapper in Africa that’s why they don’t get international recognition. If i may ask, is Olamide a rapper? funny African brodas
I don’t like what this blog is doing, you are talking about African Rappers please where is khaligraph Jones
I agree, Khaligraph Jones deserves a feature in the blog, and I am working on it.
Did you forget about Olamide
I have to research his work further.
If you didn’t know about Khaligraph Jones then you know no Jack about African Hip Hop. Get something else to do at your free time.
You’re right, before I did this series I didn’t know anything about African hip-hop, which is why I did the research – to learn about them and educate fellow American hip-hop fans so they may also learn. Thankfully, you don’t get to decide what I do in my free time, but I do get to decide which troll’s comments I want to include and respond to and which ones I don’t. Guess what, you win! Have a good day and thanks for reading.
Kaligraph Jonnes is missing in your list, I dont know how. You should listen to his Supper man track
I am writing a separate article for Khaligraph Jones. Stay tuned.
Phenom from Nigeria should be there ..B.R.A
I wonder how Kaligraph jonnes AKA Omollo is not in your list. You should listen to his supper man track.
where is M.anifest in Ghana ? hes just the best in Africa….no doubt
Did you read the other parts? He’s in there.
Check khaligraph jones work, he is the real hiphop bully in Africa alongside sarkodie
I will. He has had several recommendations on the blog.
I skipped the articles from part 1 to part 5 looking for khaligraph jones. One thing i can tell u, if all these rappers get into a rap battle with khaligraph, none will come out alive.
I think not. KhaliGraph was not known to most Africans until M.I Abaga introduced him (Black Billgates, M.I still bodied him on the track). He may body some,but certainly not all. That’s two things u should tell us.
You mentioned Kenya as a country with good rappers, sadly you only talked about rappers from South Africa and west Africa
True. And that will be rectified in a follow-up article. It was not intentional, and I hope that readers will forgive my oversight.
When dogs race for speed, the cheater just seat back and watch that’s why MI is not here.
MI is in the first chapter…
Thats a horribly biased review, no female rappers and only features rappers from two countries? Africa is way richer than that.
I’ll accept that criticism because I consciously thought about female rappers AND the fact that the rappers I featured came from three (not two) countries. I may do an additional series that broadens the scope both nationally and gender-wise.
Name one female rapper who is better than any of the mentioned. This blog is trying to push African hip hop,not gender equality. Tell me if there’s one female rapper in Africa who has been consistent for over 5years,with more than a single album n a break through single,continental breakthrough I mean.
A-Reece should be added to this list
Look towards Kenya… See Khaligraph Jones and Octopizzo..and a Lady called Xtatic..
M. I should be included in this race, I think he got what it takes to be added as one of the best rappers in Africa ..
He is already. Read Part 1.