Top 20 Amapiano Artists 2025

Amapiano’s 2025 story is both global and proudly South African: from a free, all-day takeover at New York’s Marcus Garvey Park headlined by DBN Gogo, Musa Keys and Felo Le Tee on August 2, to blockbuster home releases that reset the bar. This Top 20 Artists list weighs concrete signals—new music cadence, touring scale, playlist support, Shazam traction, and DJ rotation—over sentiment. Benchmarks include Kabza De Small’s full-length Bab’Motha (released July 18, 2025), Kelvin Momo’s expansive 29-track Thato Ya Modimo (released May 30, 2025), and the continuing velocity around Uncle Waffles’ “Zenzele,” all of which provided verifiable data points for impact and momentum. Expect a balance of soulful “private school” stylists and peak-time architects—names shaping both local weekends and export stages—ranked on what moved audiences measurably in 2025 so far.

#1 Kabza De Small

Kabza De Small sits at the summit in 2025 because his release cycle, DJ presence and cross-platform metrics are outpacing the field. His July 18, 2025 album Bab’Motha reignited the year’s amapiano conversation and, crucially, moved listeners in volume: industry reporting around release week noted first-day Spotify South Africa streams surpassing the 1-million mark, the kind of domestic velocity only the genre’s genuine pace-setters generate. He kept momentum into August with the single “Ngiyavuma” (Aug 8, 2025) and a steady drumbeat of high-profile features on other artists’ projects, ensuring continuous placement in major DSP “Amapiano” and “New Music” lanes throughout Q3. Club data mirrors the streams—Kabza’s log-drum architecture and tactile chord voicings (“Abantwana Bakho” and “Ngiyavuma” being the strongest bellwethers) remain core in South African weekend sets and increasingly frequent in UK/EU rooms. He also continues to be the genre’s most sought-after collaborator; 2025 credits with De Mthuda, Soa Mattrix and Stakev reinforce how his rhythms anchor other producers’ singles to radio and TikTok traction. Taken together—new album scale, weekly audience growth, a packed feature slate, and enduring DJ rotation—Kabza’s dominance this year is both cultural and quantifiable, which is why he’s the clear #1.

#2 Kelvin Momo

Kelvin Momo’s 2025 has been elite by any standard, powered by Thato Ya Modimo—the year’s most anticipated private-school piano set and, notably, the most pre-added South African album on Apple Music before release. The project’s week-one impact translated into platform charts, debuting at No. 2 on Spotify South Africa’s Top Albums in June while individual cuts like “Ngtjele” and “Modimo” (with Murumba Pitch) surged in Shazam lookups across SA metros. From a DJ-rotation standpoint, Momo’s sets—both club appearances and official uploads—show remarkable dwell time; the long-form arrangements typical of his catalog regularly cross the seven-minute mark yet sustain skip-rate discipline on streaming, a sign of dedicated listening. He’s also expanded his collaborator ecosystem in 2025, pulling in Major League DJz and Thatohatsi on “Amalanga,” which secured prominent placement on Amapiano flagship playlists in several territories. Sonically, the hallmarks—silky pads, minimal percussion lanes, soft-focus piano riffs—are still intact, but Thato Ya Modimo adds brighter lead motifs that have broadened his appeal without losing core credibility. With real consumption peaks, pre-add records and sticky club usage, Momo is the year’s most complete album artist—hence #2.

#3 Uncle Waffles

Uncle Waffles ranks this high in 2025 because she’s the scene’s most reliable global draw and a consistent front-line singles artist. Her February 7, 2025 single “Zenzele” extended a singles run that DSPs rewarded with prime bannering in Amapiano categories across multiple countries, while her back-catalog juggernaut “Tanzania” continues to command enormous reach on YouTube and radio mixes, keeping her monthly listener base elevated as she tours. Importantly, Waffles’ bookings profile shows real-world heft this year: European summer residencies and multi-city US plays have placed amapiano in front of broader club audiences, with promoter feedback and recorded crowd clips indicating repeat sell-outs in key markets. In sets, her curation remains a conversion engine for new releases—“Zenzele” and her 2025 edits sit alongside scene staples to strong crowd response, which is reflected in Shazam spikes during her appearances. As a brand, she’s also drawing high-visibility partnerships and festival top-line billing that translate into playlist adds on release day. The combination of a working 2025 single, sustained catalogue streaming, and tier-one touring makes her one of amapiano’s most impactful exporters this year, justifying a podium finish.

#4 Mr JazziQ

Mr JazziQ jumps into the top five on the back of a strong 2025 singles campaign and scene-shaping collaborations. His posse cut “Majozi” (with Vigro Deep, Mellow & Sleazy, Cowboii and Xduppy) was rolled out with an official video under a major-label apparatus in Q1, and it has since become one of the year’s most circulated club records—its log-drum phrasing works across both deep and commercial piano sets, and it’s a fixture in DJ tracklists uploaded since March. JazziQ followed that momentum with the Vigro Deep collaboration “Fede,” reinforcing his knack for A&R-style combinations that deliver streaming pops and keep his name in weekly charts and algorithmic radio. He’s also stayed hyper-visible on TikTok, where “Majozi” snippets and choreography clips have driven fresh creation volume for an otherwise producer-led record. Crucially, JazziQ’s 2025 metrics show balance: official video views, Shazam growth in Johannesburg/Pretoria corridors, and repeat radio spins in late-night dance slots. Factor in his touring—which still leans heavy into SA but includes select international stopovers—and you get a well-rounded, high-impact year that places him squarely at #4.

#5 De Mthuda

De Mthuda’s 2025 output underscores why he remains one of amapiano’s most dependable hitmakers. “Bawo” (with Ntokzin and Azana) arrived in June with official roll-out and immediate DJ adoption; the record’s emotive topline and Mthuda’s signature drum transcription have made it a heavy request item in both lounge sessions and main-room sets, reflected in robust Shazam activity through suburban Gauteng. He then broadened the year’s footprint via album-level placements—Mthuthuzeli extends his melodic sensibility with more adventurous chord coloring while preserving the swing that keeps his productions in steady radio rotation. Collaboration has also been a 2025 constant—cuts with Major League DJz and vocal features from scene stalwarts have multiplied his presence across DSP playlists and weekly “best new” write-ups. Importantly, Mthuda’s tracks continue to show long tail on platforms; several 2024-2025 releases sit above the million-stream mark and gather consistent daily deltas, indicating real listener retention rather than one-week spikes. In short: a marquee single, durable catalogue, and broad club utility push De Mthuda easily into the year’s top five.

#6 DJ Maphorisa

DJ Maphorisa’s 2025 ranking reflects how central he remains to amapiano’s ecosystem—both as a front-of-house artist and as the genre’s most prolific collaborator. “Ingoma” (with Kabza De Small, featuring Xduppy and Njelic) adds another radio-ready hammer to the Scorpion Kings playbook and has enjoyed steady YouTube and radio traction since spring. Across the year, Maphorisa’s fingerprints are everywhere: he appears on Kabza’s Bab’Motha, is name-checked in multiple Q1/Q2 singles campaigns, and remains a go-to closer on festival lineups. His catalogue’s gravitational pull keeps his monthly listener count high, which directly benefits new drops—when he pushes a single to his channels, discovery ripples outward into collaborator profiles and playlist algorithms. From a touring perspective, Maphorisa has leaned into hybrid shows in 2025 that move between piano, Afro-house and rap crossovers, making him an effective gateway for broader audiences entering the amapiano universe. The consistency of his release cadence, the visibility of “Ingoma,” and his role as a power networker cement his place inside the top ten.

#7 Sam Deep

Sam Deep’s 2025 is defined by tangible consumption markers and growing authorship. He set the table with the June album Kings Of Kwapi Vol. 1 (with Stixx & Nvcho), a project that introduced a kwapi-tilted variation on piano and landed him persistent editorial support in Amapiano hubs. Then, on August 8, he followed with “Shela” (with Nia Pearl & Boohle), whose momentum is measurable: within two weeks the track had already crossed 30,000+ Shazams and was trending on Apple Music’s Amapiano playlists in multiple territories. On YouTube, Sam Deep’s official channel shows a healthy split between high-performing catalogue (“Isgubhu” at 28M+ views) and 2025 roll-outs, indicating he’s converting heavyweight back-catalogue interest into new-release discovery. In clubs, “Shela” is sticky—the melody and drum programming slot naturally into both soulful and more percussive sets, making it a reliable mid-tempo lifter. Add regular collaborator wins (with Azana, De Mthuda and others) and a calendar that’s kept him visible around major SA weekends, and you have a year with clear data points, meriting a strong #7.

#8 DBN Gogo

DBN Gogo’s 2025 impact is anchored by her global live footprint and catalogue durability that continues to convert new listeners. On August 2, she co-headlined a free, all-day amapiano takeover in New York City’s Marcus Garvey Park alongside Musa Keys and Felo Le Tee, putting thousands of casual US listeners in front of piano sets and driving notable follow-week bumps for tracks like “Khuza Gogo.” That 2021 single remains one of the format’s most reliable entry points, and in 2025 it’s back in rotation thanks to renewed TikTok use and steady club plays, especially in diaspora scenes. Crucially, Gogo’s role as a curator remains unmatched—her radio residencies and event takeovers have become staging grounds for early spins of emerging 2025 records, and Shazam activity during her sets often mirrors later playlist adds on DSPs. She’s also been active across collaboration threads this year, guesting on records and sharing mixes that keep her name in weekly search trends. A cross-continental live schedule, a still-surging flagship single, and strong tastemaker status justify her #8 slot.

#9 Daliwonga

Daliwonga’s case in 2025 is built on both fresh releases and the staying power of his biggest records. In May, he teamed with Mas Musiq for the collaborative album Bas’tholile (May 22, 2025), a set that topped South Africa’s Apple Music album rankings on release weekend and kept multiple cuts in the daily Top 100 for days. His earlier smash “Abo Mvelo” has remained a staple of DJ warm-ups and prime-time sets alike; the official video continues to accrue views and, more importantly, fuels daily Shazam queries whenever it surfaces in diaspora rooms from London to Johannesburg. Feature work this year—appearances on Kelvin Momo’s Thato Ya Modimo and select singles—has expanded his vocal fingerprint across the ecosystem, with his phrasing and hook instincts still among the most identifiable in the genre. The combination of a #1-bowing 2025 project, evergreen streaming magnets in his catalogue, and heavy club usage puts Daliwonga comfortably in the top ten.

#10 Tyler ICU

Tyler ICU closes the top ten because he’s turned 2025 into a year of sustained relevance after the historic run of “Mnike.” While the 2023 visualizer remains the definitive YouTube artifact for that record, Tyler’s 2025 slate—high-profile collaborations with Visca and steady placements on Ceeka RSA/LeeMckrazy-led edits—keeps his name baked into weekly Amapiano playlists and DJ charts. Importantly, he’s converted viral equity into touring; his brand is now a reliable draw across SA provinces and on UK nights where amapiano programming is moving from monthly to weekly cadence. Production-wise, 2025 shows Tyler tightening his drum transients and foregrounding mid-range synth leads, which has helped new cuts punch through mobile speakers on TikTok and club systems alike. Even when he isn’t top-line billed, you’ll find him in credits on some of the year’s stickiest singles. That blend of catalogue gravity, current-year collaboration heat, and continuous club rotation is why he lands at #10.