Top 10 Best Rappers in Africa 2022
Africa has been gaining global recognition recently in the world of entertainment.
You’ll agree with me that those in the music and rap industries have worked hard and are now enjoying the recognition they deserve.
Today, we’ll focus on the rap industry and list out the top 10 rappers in Africa who have risen above the competition.
These rappers have dropped hits in the past few years and chosen to be unique and diverse in their music.
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- Olamide
Olamide Adedeji, popularly called Olamide, is a Nigerian rapper born on March 15, 1989. He is one of the best rappers in Nigeria and is known for infusing both the Yoruba language and English in his rap.
He released his first album in 2011, and he has gained fame. Olamide is the first Nigerian artist to sign an endorsement deal with Ciroc. He is also the founder of YBNL Nation, a record label and event management company.
So far, he has signed several endorsements with different drink companies and is also known as one of the richest musicians in Nigeria.
His songs include; Goons Mi, Kana, Pawon, and Infinity. Olamide has sold out several show venues in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. During his Culture Tour alongside rapper Phyno, he sold out building six at The 02 Arena. He has won the Best Street Hop Artist Award, Best Rap Artist Award, Artist of the Year Award, and many others.
- Octopizzo
Henry Ohana, known as Octopizzo, was born on October 30, 1984. He is known as one of the best rappers from East Africa. Octopizzo is a Kenyan rapper known for partaking in rap battles.
He has grown as a rapper and, despite the reluctance of other rappers to experiment in different sounds like Trap.
Octopizzo’s music is different in sound, which has made him stand out. His songs include; Too, Tergat Gang, Nikuoate, Ringa, and Something For You.
- Phyno
He was born on October 9, 1986. Nigerian rapper Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, popularly called Phyno Fino, has been active in the rap industry since 2003.
Phyno gained popularity in Nigeria for using the Igbo language consistently in his raps.
He is also known globally and has been featured in other songs by colleagues. His most famous songs are Fada Fada, Connect, For The Money, Gods Willing, and many others.
Phyno has received many awards and nominations in Nigeria and beyond.
He excels in the rap industry due to his Igbo music and African American music infusion.
- Falz
Folarin Falana, Alias Falz is a Nigerian rapper, born on October 27, 1990. Falz is known for his versatility and indigenous sounds in his music.
Even though he has been in the industry for a while, his recreation of the hit song This Is America by Childish Gambino was tagged as his eureka moment.
His version was called This is Nigeria, and it centered on the negativities facing the country.
The song was both entertaining and was used as a form of activism. His other hit songs include; Soldier, Foreign, Wehdone Sir, Marry Me, Bop Daddy, Squander, and many others.
Falz has worked with several artists, both in his home country and abroad. Not only is he a rapper, but he is also known as an activist.
Best Rappers in Africa 2022
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- AKA
South African-born rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, also known as AKA, was born on January 28, 1988.
He is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his culture-shaping music. AKA is known as a controversial rapper, and despite that, his music has received impressive reviews.
In 2014, he signed up with Sony Music and received nominations for awards nationally and globally. In 2019, he was nominated for the Best International Act in the BET Awards.
Also, his 2014 album, Alter Ego, is known as one of the best rap albums by an African artist.
His top tracks include Levels, Be Careful What You Wish For, Touch My Blood, and Bhovamania. AKA has also opened for Ed Sheeran and 2 Chains during their tour in South Africa.
- Sarkodie
Michael Owusu Addo, popularly called Sarkodie, is a Ghanaian rapper born on July 10, 1988.
Sarkodie is a multifaceted rapper who often raps in his native Twi language. Sarkodie has released various hits and has collaborated with various famous artists.
His biggest hit is the song Adonai featuring Castro, and due to his consistency in the music industry, he was given the Artiste of the Decade Award at the Ghana Music Award.
He also won the Best International Act at the 2012 BET Awards and has won more than 70 awards.
In addition, in 2015, Sarkodie was ranked the 19th most influential Ghanaian.
Apart from being one of the best rappers, Sarkodie is also known as one of the wealthiest rappers in Africa.
He is said to be not only a rapper but also an entrepreneur. His social media page is littered with pictures of his houses and cars on display.
- Sho Madjozi
Also known as the most popular female rapper in Africa, Sho Madjozi was born on May 9, 1992.
After dropping her hit song John Cena in 2019, she gained recognition globally, and the internet also helped propagate her fame.
Apart from being a skilled rapper, she is known for uniquely fusing Swahili and English in her music.
Her popular tracks include; Kona, Wakanda Forever Di Hawks, and Bubble Gum.
Sho Madjozi has made songs both memorable and comical, which helps fans sing along with her.
Read also: Top 10 Richest Female Celebrities in Africa
- Cassper Nyovest
He was born on December 16, 1990. Cassper Nyovest is a South African-born rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Although he doesn’t rap in English like other African rappers, he has managed to pull fans internationally.
He is also known as the first African rapper to fill a stadium, which others cannot achieve.
Cassper became a popular name in 2014, and some of his popular tracks are; Tsholofelo, Refileo, Thuto, Any Minute Now, and Sweet and Short.
Not only has he grown this past few years massively, but he also boasts millions of followers on his social media accounts.
- Khaligraph
Khaligraph, also known as Brian Ouko Omollo, is a Kenyan rapper born on June 12, 1990. He has been in the rap industry since 2013 and has many followers.
Khaligraph is a talented rapper known for his intelligent storytelling skills.
Some of his popular tracks include; Testimony, Juu Ya Ngori, Yes Bana, and Wavy.
He is the second-best rapper in Africa and the first rapper in his home country to win international awards.
Best Rappers in Africa
- Nasty C
Born on February 11, 1997, Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, popularly called Nasty C, is a Durban-born rapper from South Africa.
He is the first rapper from Africa to be signed under Def Jam and Universal Music Group.
Nasty C is known for his diverse rap discography and versatility as a wordsmith.
He has released four albums and one mixtape to this effect. Some of his popular tracks include Allow, Phases, Legendary, Black and White, All In, and Zulu Man with Some Power, and they are all critically acclaimed.
Nasty C is a globally recognized rapper whose rap freestyle on Tim Westwood TV in 2018 is known as one of the best rap sessions on the channel.
Nasty C won the award for Best Freshman Prize at the South African HipHop Awards, and he is the youngest rapper to win such.
He has also won the Best International Act Award, Song of the Year Award, Best Hip Hop Album Award, Best New Artist Award, and many others.
