10 best rappers in Africa in 2018
Many African musicians create their music in the genre of rap. Their inborn talent and feeling of the rhythm make them incomparable masters. But it is complicated to name the best African rapper. Checkout list of top 10 best rappers in Africa!
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10 best rapper in Africa
Rap started in 1970s among African-Americans of the Bronx region. They made rap not for commercial purposes, but for pleasure. DJs all around the world would use rhymed couplets to address to their audience. Amateur radio in America significantly contributed to the spreading of the rap genre. It made the music famous among black part of America.
The words “rap” and “rappers” are firmly entrenched in style due to the track by The Sugarhill Gang “Rapper’s Delight” (1979). Although rap as the genre had been born in the USA, it firmly assimilated in Africa. Contemporary, Africans are acknowledged to be the best rappers in the world. Native African rhythms and rhyming make African hip hop and rap are really special, dynamic, and powerful.
Are you ready to learn the names of the top ten best rappers on the African continent?
10. M.Anifest
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M.Anifest who became popular in 2017 opens our top 10 best rappers in Africa currently. Thirty-six years old Ghanaian songwriter and performer won Best Rapper and Hip-Hop song of the year at the 2017 Ghana Music Award.
His famous grandfather - Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia – African ethnomusicologist and composer, must have influenced his feeling of the rhythm of native African tunes. Among his singles you may know: W'ani Aba" (feat. Bisa Kdei), Forget Dem, God MC,100%, Sugar feat Brymo, Do My Own feat bigBen, Me ne woa feat King Promise, and Don’t Follow Me feat. Bayku & Yaa Pono released in 2018.
9. Phyno
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Phyno`s real name is Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, and he is thirty-two years old Nigerian singer. He became famous in 2003 rapping in Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin language. He won several local awards like Nigeria Entertainment Award and The Headies Awards. Collaboration with Olamide brought them an album with the name 2 Kings. Among his singles you may know: Ghost Mode, Man of the Year, No Be My Style, Okpeke, NWA, So Far So Good, Mkpotu, and Nnunu.
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8. Nadia Nakai
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Inspired by a female rapper from Kenya – Nazizi, Nadia Nakai became popular in 2013. Nadia Nakai from South Africa was the first and only female rapper to win the Mixtape 101 competition on the e.tv Hip-Hop show. Her single Like Me made her famous. Among her singles, you may also know Bragga, Naa Meaan, and the Man. Recently, this year, she became the red carpet host for MTV Africa at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards in Spain.
7. Khaligraph Jones
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Brian Robert Ouko is real name of Khaligraph Jones. He is twenty-eight years old hip-hop and rap musician from Kenya. He became famous in 2009 after he had won the Kenyan Edition of the Channel O Emcee Africa competitions. This year he won the award for the Best Rap Act at the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA). Among his songs, you may know: Mariga Money, Dedication, Ma Name Cash, The Anthem, One Two Three, Yego, Faslane, Tattoo Kwa Thigh, Point of No Return, Find Your Way and Put God First.
6. AKA
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Kiernan Jarryd Forbes is a thirty years old rapper from South Africa. He became famous in 2011 when his song "Victory Lap" won Channel O's Most Gifted Hip-Hop Video at the 7th annual Channel O Music Video Awards. Besides, the rapper collaborated with Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Kendrick Lamar in their tours around South Africa. He also was awarded for "Best Street Urban Music Album" and acknowledged best "Male Artist of the Year" at the 18th South African Music Awards (SAMA). Among his singles, you may know Baddest, The Saga, All Eyes on Me, Sim Dope and P.A.I.D.
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5. M.I Abaga
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Thirty-seven years old Jude Abaga comes from Nigeria. He won Best Hip-Hop and Best New Act at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards and was nominated for the Best International Act category at the BET Awards 2010. His music is filled with punches but in any way extremely rhythmic. Among his songs you may know: Show Me, King James, You Rappers Should Fix Up Your Lives, Your Father, Acho Mi'Ya and Everything I Have Seen.
4. Sarkodie
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Michael Owusu Addo is thirty-three Ghanaian hip-hop artist, he won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 2012 BET Awards. Later in 2015, he was acknowledged the 19th most Influential Ghanaian by e.tv Ghana. He creates his music in Azonto genre where he combines tunes for Ghana national dance called Kpanlogo and contemporary hip-hop. MTV Base acknowledged him 6th on its top of the Hottest African MC's in 2014. In 2013, he was ranked the 1st on the list of the "Top 10 Ghanaian Rappers of All Time" by Lynx TV.
In 2015, The Guardian named him one of top five hip-hop acts on the African continent. Among his singles you may know: How Low, How Many Drinks, All Night, See Only You, Pain Killer and Sarkcess Story.
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3. Falz
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Folarin Falana better known as Falz is twenty-eight years old rapper who comes from Nigeria. He dreamed of becoming a professional musician at school, where he created a band called The School Boys. But it was not the beginning of his professional career. Collaborating with Yemi Alade, he created the song Marry Me and won Nigeria Entertainment Awards for “The Best Collaboration of the Year.” He was also nominated for the "Best Rap Act of the Year" and "Best New Act to Watch" categories at the same event. Falz says the one may call his music "Wahzup music." It combines hip-hop and funny lyrics in Yoruba accent.
In 2014 he became one of "The 10 Most Gifted Rappers in Nigeria 2014" according to the opinion of NotJustOk - Nigerian music download website. Today he owns a music record studio where he helps to young and inexperienced artists. Among his songs you may know: Sweet Boy, This is Nigeria, Jeje, Clap, Soldier, Bahd Baddo Baddest, Something Light, Next and Wehdonsir
2. Cassper Nyovest
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Twenty-eight years old Refiloe Maele Phoolo from South Africa known as Cassper Nyovest released his debut album Tsholofelo in 2014. He received four South Africa Hip Hop Awards. This year he was nominated for Headies Award in Nigeria in the category of Best African Artiste alongside Nasty C, Sarkodie from Ghana, Kenyan group Sauti Sol, and Tanzanian singer Vanessa Mdee.
1. Nasty C
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Nasty C is the number one on our list of top 10 best rappers in Africa according to the version of tinamagazine.com. Twenty-one years old Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo comes from South Africa. Being so young he collaborated with Davido, Tumi, and Cassper Nyovest. He was the youngest recipient of the Best Freshman Award and was acknowledged as the best rapper of South Africa and the best African rapper of our list. Besides he got Lyricist Of The Year Award, Best New Artist Award, Best Hip Hop Album Prize, and Song of the Year 2017 prize for his work with the name Bad Hair Extensions.
Among his songs you may know: Way It Go, Jungle, King and Legendary. Though he recorded only two studio albums, the tempo of his creative progress is quite promising, and Africa is waiting for his appearance on the world stage.
Nigeria and South Africa gave Africa the majority of rappers. Though the rappers from Kenya, Ghana, and other countries are in the same league, these two countries go on competing. The only thing we, as fans, can do is go on listening to rap music and support our favorite rappers.
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Source: Legit.ng
