These are the top 10 African rappers ruling their various countries.
Rap is one of the popular music genres in Africa, although Afrobeat is the continent’s biggest sound export, the best rappers in Africa continue to get global recognition, and here are the top 10 African rappers ruling their various countries.
Popular record labels such as Sony and Def Jam are increasingly making inroads in the continent in search of more rap talents
Who is the best rapper in Africa right now?
Unlike other music genres, rappers are diverse and differently skilled. Therefore, it is hard to pinpoint the best rapper at any given point.
Nasty C
Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, commonly known as Nasty C, is arguably the best rapper in South Africa.
The 23 years old (as of 2020) is also the first rapper from the continent to be under Def Jam and Universal Music Group.
The Durban-born rapper has a diverse discography. Nasty C’s four albums and one mixtape are a testament to his versatility as a wordsmith.
However, his 2020 release, Zulu Man with Some Power, is a critically acclaimed album
Sarkodie
Born Michael Owusu Addo, Sarkodie is a rapper and entrepreneur from Ghana.
Although Afrobeat dominates West Africa’s music scene, the rapper has defined all norms to become a key entertainer in the region.
Thanks to his consistency, Vodafone Ghana Music Award gave him the award for “Artiste of the Decade.”
M.I Abaga
Jude Abaga, better known as M.I Abaga, is a Nigerian rapper and record producer.
He rose to prominence in 2006 when his song “Crowd Mentality” became popular in Jos, Nigeria. His debut studio album Talk About It was released in 2008.
The LP was succeeded by MI 2: The Movie (2010). Four years after that, he released The Chairman as his third studio album.
Olamide
Olamide Gbenga Adedeji, known professionally as Olamide (and also Olamide Baddo, BaddoSneh, or simply Baddo) is a Nigerian hip-hop recording artist.
He records in Yoruba and English. In 2011, he released his debut studio album Rapsodi while signed to Coded Tunes.
Khaligraph Jones
Khaligraph Jones is a talented rapper from Nairobi, Kenya. Although the rapper has been in the industry for the past decade, he became a continental superstar in 2016.
Since then, Khaligraph has proved his writing prowess, especially when the world is scouting for African talents.
Besides his vast following, Khaligraph is one of the best African rappers, thanks to his wordplay and writing style.
Even though his subject matter is repetitive and predictable, the Kenyan rapper has a smart way of retelling stories.
Cassper Nyovest
Cassper Nyovest is a South African record producer and rapper. Although he does not rap in English like most artists, he has managed to keep his continental fans glued to his songs. His song Doc Shebeleza is considered a blueprint for African rap.
Since his 2014 hit release, Cassper Nyovest has consistently put out music that resonates with millions of fans.
However, his delivery as a rapper has matured, Cassper’s work has been a testimony of his growth as a musician.
Ladipoe
Ladipo Eso popularly known as Ladipoe or Poe is a Nigerian musician, On 28 February 2017, Ladipoe signed a record deal with Mavin Records.
He rose to prominence with the song “Feel Alright” where he got featured by SDC “Show Dem Camp”.
He also released a new single “Jaiye” in March 2019 before dropping the hit song, “Know You” featuring Nigerian Joromi singer, Simi.
Roma Mkatoliki
His biggest song, Zimbabwe, was heavily played in continental music channels such as MTV and Channel O. Since then, Roma has released some solo projects and collaborations with Khaligraph and Lady Jay Dee.
While the debate of who is the most skilled hip-hop artist is not ending soon, the best rappers in Africa continue to redefine the rap sound.
Some rappers infuse African sounds in their raps, while others use different languages to create music. These factors make African rap one of the best forms of hip-hop to listen to in the 21 century.
Falz
Falz, born Folarin Falana, is a versatile rapper from Nigeria, unlike most rappers in Africa, he is not afraid to use indigenous sounds in his work.
While this approach to creating music has worked against some talented rappers, Falz has successfully created an alternative rap sound.
Even though Falz has been an active musician for decades, his eureka moment happened when he recreated This Is America by the American rapper, Childish Gambino.
This is Nigeria was not only entertaining but an essential piece of activism.
Octopizzo
Octopizzo is a versatile Kenyan rapper. Born Henry Ohanga, the rapper is a product of Nairobi’s vibrant rap battles.
However, he has evolved from an MC to one of East Africa’s rap icons.
While most rappers are reluctant to experiment with different sounds such as Trap, the Kenyan artiste has used trends in the hip-hop scene to sharpen his skills.
All his seven albums are different in terms of sounds and subject matter. His 2020 album — Jungle Fever — fuses Benga with rap.
Top 10 African rappers ruling their various countries
- Nasty C
- Sarkodie
- M.I
- Olamide
- Khaligraph Jones
- Cassper Nyovest
- Ladipoe
- Roma Mkatoliki
- Falz
- Octopizzo