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Amapiano

New Afrobeats and amapiano documentary, A Movement, released by Afro Nation: Watch

The short film explores the mainstream rise of Afrobeats and the formation of the Afrobeats Charts

A new Afrobeats and amapiano documentary is available to watch now via Afro Nation festival. Afro Nation: A Movement features talking heads such as Burna...

Mdu Aka TRP smiling in a corridor wearing a white beanie hat and green adidas sweater

DJ Maphorisa and Major League Djz led the drive to recognise the work of the genre figurehead

A number of amapiano artists have pledged money to genre figurehead Mdu Aka TRP, the producer credited as being behind the log drum sound that...

Photo of Bandile and Banele posing wearing black hats in front of a bright orange background

Major League Djz are taking the sound of amapiano into spaces that others cannot reach. The South African twins may not have been the first to start pioneering the genre, but they have picked up the mantle and run with it. DJ Mag’s Ria Hylton meets them at their temporary base in West London to talk about their history and effectively becoming amapiano’s global ambassadors

No one does house like South Africa, and in South Africa amapiano reigns supreme. To be sure, you’re unlikely to find SA deep house heads...

The Ascension pose with flowers in an April 2023 press shot

A soothing amapiano single officially introduces the London-based duo

The Ascension have released their debut single ‘Khulula’ – check out the dreamy amapiano cut below. Comprising Zimbabwe-born, UK-raised DJ and producer Charisse C, and...

Amapiano star Musa Keys is the latest artist to feature in our DJ Mag Originals series, How I DJ, powered by Pioneer DJ. In this...

DJ Mag’s rap artists to watch in 2023

Introducing the MCs, DJs and producers set to make an impact on the global rap scene in 2023. From voices that can move between dancehall and drill, and those challenging industry shortcomings, to a DJ mixing hip-hop and R&B with amapiano, and producers pushing localised hip-hop sounds into the future, these are the artists daring to be different and set to make the global rap scene theirs this year

One of the UK’s most promising and versatile MCs, Cristale has proven herself across dancehall, drill and jungle, spitting fire one minute before going deep...

Thakzin debuts on Sondela Recordings with ‘The Magnificent Dance’: Listen

It’s the first in a series of singles from the South African artist for the label

Thakzin has released a new track, ‘The Magnificent Dance. Check it out below. Out now through Defected’s Sondela Recordings, the track marks the first release...

Dj Sumbody

DJ Sumbody's production company, Sumsounds Music, have confirmed he was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning 

Amapiano star Oupa John Sefoka aka DJ Sumbody has died following an alleged shooting in Johannesburg. Sefoka's production company, Sumsounds Music, confirmed he was killed...

Get To Know: Charisse C

Get acquainted with Charisse C, the Southern Africa-born, UK-raised DJ embracing amapiano's unifying power

Southern Africa-born and UK-raised, Charisse C has been collecting the old and new sounds of her Zimbabwean and South African heritage for a while now...

Amapiano contributes to increased tourism to South Africa, report finds

Comments made by the country's Tourism acting CEO, Themba Khumalo

Amapiano music has been credited with providing a significant boost to tourism in South Africa. Speaking to News24 at the launch of World Tourism Month...

New amapiano documentary released by BBC Radio 1Xtra

The 25-minute show is available for streaming via BBC iPlayer

BBC Radio 1Xtra has shared a new documentary about amapiano music. 'This Is Amapiano' looks at the genre's rise from South Africa's townships to a...

MOVES Recordings releases second compilation spotlighting Nigerian Freebeat sound': Listen

DJ Stainless & DJ Elede, DJ YK, DJ West & Fela 2, DJ OP Dot all feature

MOVES Recordings has released a second compilation spotlighting the Nigerian Freebeat sound, which marries elements of techno, gqom, amapiano and more. 'CRUISE! 2' follows on...

Hagan and Aymos link up on new Afro house single, ‘Sise Ntweni’: Listen

"A club-ready track that highlights how South African music has been a significant source of inspiration for me"

Hagan has teamed up with South African vocalist Aymos for a new single, ‘Sise Ntweni’. Check it out below. "'Sise Ntweni’ is a club-ready track...

Amapiano added as genre on Beatport

Beatport has been overhauling its genre tags recently, adding Grime, Mainstage, Jackin' House and Dubstep as categories in 2021

Beatport has added amapiano to its official genre tags. Previously found under the "Afro House", "Deep House" and "Dance/Electro Pop" tags, the South African house...

Tribal Brothers

LR Groove and Razzlerman merge the sounds of UK funky, amapiano and Afro-house across four cuts of "high-impact drum science"

Tribal Brothers have announced a new EP on Livity Sound, 'Formation'. The release marks a return to the celebrated UK imprint for the London club...

Album Of The Month: DJ Lag ‘Meeting With The King’

DJ Lag’s thrilling debut album is a testament to gqom’s versatility, and its ability to cross-pollinate with the sounds of amapiano and deep house

Lwazi Asanda Gwala, better known as Durban artist DJ Lag, is a pioneer of the gqom genre: a unique South African style that strips out...

dj-lag-album

Amapiano hitmaker Lady Du also features on the long-awaited full-length

Gqom trailblazer DJ Lag has unleashed his hotly anticipated debut album, ‘Meeting With The King’, via Ice Drop and Black Major. Check it out below...

These are the most exciting amapiano producers right now

Amapiano has become a world-conquering genre since emerging in South Africa over a decade ago, with the sound mutating in recent years to solidify its place as an embedded dance music culture. Here, Shiba Melissa Mazaza asks: who are the South African artists carrying the torch for amapiano right now?
 

Amapiano (also known as ipiano or ’piano) began in the streets of Gauteng, South Africa, in the early 2010s. The now world-conquering sound is a...

Manchester's Pie Radio announces amapiano and Afrobeats event tour series

Events are scheduled to take place in London, Manchester and Birmingham

Manchester-based, youth-led radio station Pie Radio is organising an events series that will showcase a number of figures from across the amapiano and Afrobeats music...

Selections: DJ Neptune

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Nigeria’s DJ Neptune spotlights his recent favourite Afrobeats, Afropop and amapiano tracks

Lagos’ DJ Neptune has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s music scene for over a decade. The award winning artist rose to prominence as backing...