Top 20 Best Rappers In Africa

Who Are The Top 20 Best Rappers In Africa?

Hip-hop music has taken Africa by storm in recent years, with a plethora of talented rappers emerging from various countries across the continent. From the raw, gritty sounds of South African hip-hop to the more polished and commercial styles of Nigeria and Ghana, African hip-hop has truly come into its own.

With so much talent on display, it can be challenging to identify the best of the best. In this article, we will be taking a look at the top 20 best rappers in Africa, based on a combination of critical acclaim, commercial success, and impact on the genre.

So, whether you’re a die-hard hip-hop fan or simply looking to explore the vibrant music scene in Africa, join us as we delve into the exciting world of African rap.

This article will show us a list of the top best 20 rappers in Africa who are doing so well in their field.

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1. Nasty C

Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, commonly known as Nasty C, is arguably the best in South Africa and the best rapper in Africa.

Nasty C is also the first rapper from the continent under Def Jam and Universal Music Group.

Nasty C: Image Source

The Durban-born rapper has a diverse discography.

Nasty C’s four albums and one mixtape are a testament to his versatility as a wordsmith.

However, his 2020 release, Zulu Man with Some Power, is critically acclaimed.

Besides his global recognition, Nasty C is a skilled rapper.

For example, 2018’s freestyle on Tim Westwood TV is arguably one of the channel’s best sessions.

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2. Khaligraph Jones

Khaligraph Jones joins the list of the best rappers of 2022 because of his talent.

Although the rapper has been in the industry for the past decade, he became a continental superstar in 2016.

Khaligraph Jones: Image Source

Since then, Khaligraph has proved his writing prowess, especially when scouting for African talents.

Besides his vast following, Khaligraph is one of the best African rappers, thanks to his wordplay and writing style.

In addition, the Kenyan rapper has an intelligent way of retelling stories.

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3. Cassper Nyovest

Cassper Nyovest is a South African record producer and rapper.

Although he does not rap in English like most artists, he has managed to keep his continental fans glued to his songs.

Casper Nyovest: Image Source

His song Doc Shebeleza is considered a blueprint for African rap.

Since his 2014 hit release, Cassper Nyovest has consistently put out music that resonates with millions of fans.

In addition, Cassper’s work has been a testimony of his growth as a musician.

In addition to millions of followers from social media, Cassper Nyovest is the first rapper in Africa to fill a stadium.

For most hip-hop lovers, this was a sign that he is one of the best rappers in Africa.

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4. Sho Madjozi

Sho Madjozi is one of the most famous rappers from South Africa.

Thanks to the internet and her biggest song yet, John Cena, Sho has gained immense recognition.

Sho Madjozi: Image Source

The hit song opened doors for the young artist to tour the world and launch her career.

Sho Madjozi’s work ethic is unmatched, especially considering she has been in the commercial music space for less than five years.

Apart from her skills as a rapper, Sho is famous for her fusion of Swahili and English.

Also, her bubblegum lyrics make her songs comical and memorable.

5. Sarkodie

Born Michael Owusu Addo, Sarkodie is a rapper and entrepreneur from Ghana.

Although Afrobeat dominates West Africa’s music scene, the rapper has defined all norms to become a key entertainer in the region.

Thanks to his consistency, Vodafone Ghana Music Award gave him the Artiste of the Decade award.

Sarkodie: Image Source

The rapper’s significant hits are collaborations with other artists.

For example, Adonai featuring Castro is his biggest song yet.

Apart from being a skilled rapper, Sarkodie is one of the wealthiest rappers in Africa.

He often shares pictures of his cars and houses on his official Instagram page.

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6. AKA

Kiernan Jarryd, alias AKA, is a record producer and one of the best African Hip hop artists.

While the South African rap star has created many controversies on Twitter in the past few years, his 2020 EP, Bhovamania, has received impressive reviews.

His 2014 album — Alter Ego — is one of the best rap albums by an African rap artist.

The singles from the album are culture shapers, especially in a continent that has a young rap industry.

Besides being one of the top African rappers in terms of influence, AKA has been nominated for different global awards.

AKA: Image Source

He was one of the nominees for the Best international act in the 2019 BET Awards.

He died on the 10^th of February, 2023, after he was shot by thugs in a South African restaurant.

7. Falz

Falz, born Folarin Falana, is a versatile rapper from Nigeria.

Unlike most rappers in Africa, he is not afraid to use indigenous sounds in his work.

Falz: Image Source

While this approach to creating music has worked against some talented rappers, Falz has completed an alternative rap sound.

Even though Falz has been an active musician for decades, his eureka moment happened when he recreated This Is America by the American rapper Childish Gambino.

This is Nigeria was not only entertaining but an essential piece of activism.

8. Phyno

Phyno is a Nigerian rap artist who started recording music in 2003.

After gaining a massive following in his country, the artist became a continental star in 2014.

Phyno: Image Source

Phyno is one of the few African rap artists that consistently use African language in his raps.

For example, his biggest song yet, “Fada Fada’ featuring Olamide, is purely in Igbo.

His use of language makes him a unique rap artist.

9. Octopizzo

Octopizzo is one of the best rappers from East Africa.

Born as Henry Ohanga, the rapper is a product of Nairobi’s vibrant rap battles.

However, he has evolved from an MC to one of East Africa’s rap icons.

Octopizzo: Image Source

While most rappers are reluctant to experiment with different sounds, such as Trap, the Kenyan artist has used trends in the hip-hop scene to sharpen his skills.

As a result, all his albums are different in terms of sounds and subject matter.

His 2020 album — Jungle Fever — fuses Benga with rap.

10. Roma Mkatoliki

Ibrahim Mussa, alias Roma Mkatoliki is a Tanzanian rap artist.

Roma Mkatoliki: Image Source

He is part of ROSTAM, which is a duo rap group.

However, in the last two years, they have been doing a lot of solo projects.

His biggest song, Zimbabwe, was heavily played in continental music channels such as MTV and Channel O.

Since then, Roma has released some solo projects and collaborations with Khaligraph and Lady Jay Dee.

11. Olamide

Olamide is a Nigerian recording artist born on March 15, 1989.

He is one of the best rappers in Nigeria, and most of his records are in Yoruba and English.

Olamide: Image Source

The rapper released his first album in 2011 titled Rapsodi and later released a second one under the label imprint YBNL Nation.

Olamide made history in Nigeria as the first artiste to sign an endorsement deal with Ciroc.

The artiste is married to Adebekunmi Aisha Suleiman and has two boys.

12. Ladipoe

Ladipoe is one of the most prominent African Hip Hop artists because of his impressive works in the industry.

The rapper started his music career in 2014 and established himself in the industry with his unique music pattern.

He has been giving fans non-stop back-to-back hits ever since, as he has released numerous albums and singles over the years.

Ladipoe: Image Source

13. Vector

Vector, whose real name is Olanrewaju David Ogunmenfun, is a famous Nigerian artist, songwriter, stage performer, and recording artist.

The talented rapper was born on August 7, 1985, in Ogun State in the southwestern part of Nigeria.

Vector started his professional music career in 2008 after completing his university education.

Vector: Image Source

He officially signed to YSG Entertainment and, in February 2010, released his first official single, Kilode.

Today, he is one of the wealthiest and most influential rappers from Africa with a high net worth.

14. Ice Prince

Ice Prince has been dominating the airwaves for a long time and counts as one of the most influential rappers to ever grace the stage.

Ice Prince: Image Source

Some of the rapper’s most popular tracks include Oleku, Aboki, and I Swear, among others.

The rapper’s real name is Panshak Henry Zamani, and he was born on October 30, 1984. Today, Ice Prince is one of the most successful rappers in Nigeria and one of the most followed on Twitter.

15. Kwesi Arthur

Kwesi Arthur’s notable works in the rap industry make him one of the top rappers on the continent.

Also, he is considered one of the biggest names in Ghana’s entertainment industry.

His remarkable rapping prowess even got him a nomination to the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, becoming the second ever to get the nomination in the country.