Amapiano artists and producers dominated the scene in 2023. There were more songs and albums than we could count, and they were all impressive. Some artists and DJs broke into the international stage, getting co-signs from top artists, including Beyoncé, Drake, Rihanna, etc. Some have continued to do their thing at home and have earned a massive fanbase here and a great catalog.
Here are 20 Piano hitmakers we are looking out for this year.
20. Sizwe Alakine
Sizwe Alakine’s switch from SA Hip Hop to Amapiano has been a fulfilling move. Fans agree that he found his place in Amapiano despite criticizing the genre in the past. With Maphorisa’s guidance, Sizwe Alakine has done well for himself, collaborating with top hitmakers. He hasn’t done much since the “Alakine World” album in 2022. We are confident he has more to come this year.
19. Pabi Cooper
Pabi Cooper is a queen in her own might. She has amassed a fanbase that will follow her to hell and back. She also continues to impress them. Pabi bagged a BET Awards nomination last year, and her fans went wild. She celebrated with rave performances. She also dominated the scene with “Dali Wam,” a collaboration with Yumbs, MaWhoo, and Nkosazana Daughter.
18. De Mthuda
De Mthuda has often been compared to Kabza De Small, who is regarded as the King of Amapiano. But, Mthuda has gone his own path and made memorable tunes. Last year, he made a huge impression with his entries, including the stunning collab “Sgudi Snyc” with Da Muziqal Chef & Eemoh featuring Sipho Magudulela. We are certain that he has more planned for this year.
17. Mellow & Sleazy
There isn’t a year when the famous duo Mellow & Sleazy does not show what they can do on the airwaves. Last year, they pulled out all the stops and absolutely delivered. The duo collaborated with SjavasDaDeejay, TitoM, and Tman Xpress and dropped “Imnandi Lento.” They also dropped “Wena Wa Pallwa” with Jimmy Maradona, QuayR MusiQ, and more. 2024 is certainly promising.
16. Mas Musiq
Some hitmakers don’t stress when it comes to making and dishing hits. They know what they want, and they go on and achieve it. After kicking off the year with “10 Kilometers,” a collaboration with Daliwonga, Mas Musiq put in more work to achieve what he wanted. He later dropped the massive jam “Gangnam Style” with Daliwonga, DJ Maphorisa, and Kabza De Small. He must have big plans for this year.
15. Daliwonga
We must confess that we love the success Daliwonga has had in recent times. He has risen to be a recognizable voice in the Piano scene. Last year, he dropped the “Dali Dali” album, and we couldn’t stop listening. He also blessed the scene with the jams “Gangnam Style,” “Kunkra,” and more. Knowing him, 2024 will be a time to put in more work.
14. Tumelo_Za
There is something about Tumelo_Za that makes you want to listen. The talented hitmaker gained so much attention last year following the release of the viral jam “Mnike” with Tyler ICU. He has since done more to stand on his own two feet. He dropped the “A.L.I (A Lot Inside)” EP, which was praised by fans. We are hoping he has more singles and an album coming this year.
13. Lady Du
Lady Du might be one of the country’s biggest jack-of-all-trades who masters all. The famous hitmaker is both a talented singer, a DJ, a vocal coach, a producer, and a businesswoman. Despite battling personal storms, she kept all fronts locked down and delivered great tunes like “Everyday iParty Waya Waya.” We are certain that she will do more this year.
12. Toss
Toss has a personality that attracts attention. The Billiato ambassador was one of the country’s most influential celebrities of 2023. He gave us many reasons to smile, and all we had to do was hear or watch him. He dropped the “Thought It Was Over” EP, “Vatela,” etc. While he didn’t have massive hits last year, we are hoping his luck changes this year.
11. DBN Gogo
Everyone has something nice to say about DBN Gogo. The talented queen is all about the music, and nothing else matters to her. While she may be drama-free, her personal life always attracts attention. Gogo put in work last year and dropped hits like “Funk 55” and more. We are wondering if a sophomore album is in her plans this year.
10. Focalistic
President Ya Straata, the man with the sold-out shows and fans breaking barriers to get a piece of him. Focalistic had an incredible, and he was always either on the road or on a stage doing his thing. We hear he’s been sneaking around with Pabi Cooper. But he kept the music coming. There is always something in the works with him.
09. Young Stunna
Arguably one of the biggest artists on the Piano scene right now, Young Stunna owes a lot of gratitude to his music daddy, Kabza De Small, and, of course, DJ Maphorisa. The star had a lot of bad press around him this year for his attitude to shows, but he did not let it affect the music. We are confident he has more coming this year.
08. Kelvin Momo
One thing is sure, Kelvin Momo is loved. The famous hitmaker owned the past year with good music. Fans could not get enough, so he dropped the “Kurhula” album. It spawned the jams “Amalobolo,” “Uthando,” “Wa Nsiya,” and more. His live performances also hit a little more differently. Knowing him, there is always something coming. So, we can’t wait.
07. DJ Maphorisa
DJ Maphorisa is king in these streets. The famous hitmaker gave his fans so much to be thankful for on stage and off the stage. With sold-out shows in the country and outside, collaborative albums, and songs, Porry was one of last year’s most successful hitmakers. We all know he has multiple projects ready for each year. He might drop something at the beginning of the year.
06. Sir Trill
Sir Trill’s musical journey has been laden with much controversy, but he has kept his head down and focused on the music. Fans often wonder what it would have been like if he had all the freedom he needed to make music. He made many moves last year and dropped singles, including “Athandwe,” “Buya,” and more. We should have more coming this year.
05. Tyler ICU
Tyler ICU dominated the airwaves this year with his viral hit “Mnike.” He recorded many hits on the scene, including Kamo Mphela’s “Dalie,” “Ngimoja,” and more. He also performed on some of the biggest stages in the country and the world. He gave Barbadian star Rihanna one of her favourite songs this year. We know he will come for more this year.
04. Kabza De Small
Kabza De Small is inarguably one of the hardest-working hitmakers on the scene. He has recorded massive jams this year. He has also collaborated with some of the biggest artists on the scene and dominated the scene with massive hits. Some of his biggest jams this year include “Imithandazo,” “Gangnam Style,” and more. He also dropped multiple projects. No doubt, Kabza will drop more this year.
03. Nkosazana Daughter
2023 was a massive year for Nkosazana Years. The calm-voiced singer dominated the scene with good music and amassed many fans this year. She dropped the Afro House songs “Makhelwane” and “Kaneilwe” with Wanitwa Mos, Master KG, Casswel P, and Dalom Kids. She also released her debut Piano album, “Uthingo Le Nkosazana.” We know she’s not done yet and will do more this year.
02. Tyla
The thing about Tyla is that she is not just about Amapiano. She started as a Piano artist and has collaborated with some of Amapiano’s top hitmakers. Tyla is expected to drop her debut album sometime this year. She has dominated the world with her massive hit song “Water” and performed on some of the biggest stages of the world. She dropped a few songs from the album, including RnB and pop jams. We can’t wait to hear the rest of the project.
01. Uncle Waffles
Uncle Waffles is one of the biggest names in Africa right now. She might be the most booked African female DJ of 2023. The “Yahyuppiyah” star owned the scene with two EPs and a viral dance challenge that entertained fans all over the world. She also got co-signs by famous names, including Beyoncé. Waffles certainly has more plans this year, and she always shoots for the stars. We can’t wait to see more of her.
