Best Amapiano Artists and DJs You Should Know in 2026

2026-10-29

The most important amapiano artists to know are Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Kelvin Momo, Uncle Waffles and Major League DJz. Together, these South African amapiano artists and DJs built the sound, defined its biggest records, and carried it from township parties to festival stages around the world.

If you're new to the genre, this guide walks you through the amapiano DJs, producers and voices behind it, from the pioneers to the names rising right now.

I'm a house and afro house DJ, not an amapiano DJ, and I'll be upfront about that. But I've been a fan since I first heard a log drum roll through a club system, and I play right next door to this sound every week. Think of me as an excited guide pointing you to the people who actually made it.

How We Picked These Amapiano Artists

This isn't an official ranking. It's an informed fan's guide, built around three things.

First, influence: did this person shape how amapiano sounds or how far it traveled? Second, catalog: do they have records that defined a moment in the genre? Third, standing: are they respected inside the South African scene, not just popular online?

Every name, hometown and track below was checked against published sources. If I couldn't confirm a fact, I left it out. That means some great artists aren't here, and that's on me, not them.

The Pioneers and Defining Artists of Amapiano

Amapiano grew out of township parties in the mid 2010s, mixing kwaito, deep house, jazz and lounge with that signature log drum bassline. Where exactly it started is still debated between Johannesburg and Pretoria. If you want the full backstory, start with our [what is amapiano guide](/blog/what-is-amapiano).

These are the artists most often credited with building the sound.

Kabza De Small

If you only learn one name, make it this one. Kabza De Small is a Pretoria DJ and producer widely called the "King of Amapiano," and he leaned into it by naming his 2020 album I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust.

His 2018 single "Umshove" helped launch his career. He also runs the Piano Hub label, which released early work by artists like Kelvin Momo and Young Stunna.

DJ Maphorisa

DJ Maphorisa grew up in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, and was a respected producer long before amapiano took off. He co-produced Drake's "One Dance" and made "Soweto Baby" with Nigerian star Wizkid.

Maphorisa has said Wizkid was the one who first pushed him toward the then-underground amapiano sound. He's since become one of its central architects and one of its busiest mentors to younger producers.

Scorpion Kings

When Kabza and Maphorisa teamed up as Scorpion Kings, the genre changed gear. Their 2019 debut album Scorpion Kings is credited with playing a major role in popularizing amapiano.

They followed it with a run of joint projects, including Rumble in the Jungle with singer TRESOR. In 2025 they took Scorpion Kings Live with Friends to the 50,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

MFR Souls

MFR Souls are a DJ and producer duo from Katlehong, on Johannesburg's East Rand. Some of the sound's early figures credit them with giving amapiano its name once keys became central to the music.

Their 2019 single "Love You Tonight," featuring Sha Sha, Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, was certified platinum in South Africa. It's still one of the easiest ways into the warmer, vocal side of the genre.

JazziDisciples and Josiah De Disciple

JazziDisciples were Mr JazziQ and Josiah De Disciple, two producers from Alexandra, north of Johannesburg. Their 2018 single "Long Lasting" put them on the map, and their tagline "Amapiano is a lifestyle" stuck.

Josiah De Disciple was working on the sound as early as 2012. Since the duo went solo, he's built a deeper, more spiritual style of his own on albums like Spirits of Makoela.

Kelvin Momo

Kelvin Momo is from Diepkloof, Soweto, and he pioneered "private school" amapiano: a softer, jazzier version built on lush keys and deep house textures. His 2020 debut Momo's Private School came out on Kabza's Piano Hub label.

He's only grown since. His album Ntsako won Best Amapiano Album at the 31st South African Music Awards, and in 2025 he ranked among South Africa's three most-streamed artists on Spotify.

Vigro Deep

Vigro Deep is a Pretoria producer and DJ who broke out around 2019 while still very young. He produced Focalistic's "Ke Star," one of the genre's defining records, and "Blue Monday" with Focalistic.

His tracks lean on heavy basslines and moody textures. If you like your amapiano dark and driving, his catalog is a good place to dig.

Top Amapiano DJs and Producers

The pioneers laid the foundation. These amapiano DJs and producers are the ones keeping dance floors full and pushing the sound forward.

DBN Gogo

DBN Gogo was born in Durban and grew up in Pretoria. Her 2021 project Thokoza Cafe and her breakthrough single "Khuza Gogo" made her one of the scene's most important tastemakers.

Her hit "Possible," with Musa Keys and Dinho, is a modern classic. She also launched her own label, Zikode Records, with Universal Music, and in 2026 she played a 24-hour DJ set in Durban.

Mr JazziQ

After JazziDisciples, Mr JazziQ became one of the genre's biggest solo stars. In 2021, Spotify South Africa named him the most-streamed South African artist among Gen Z listeners.

His track "Woza," with Kabza De Small and Lady Du featuring Boohle, is a big singalong. His 2026 album 0303 shows he's still near the top of the game.

Tyler ICU

Tyler ICU is a DJ and producer with a gift for hits that go viral. "Mnike," his 2023 track with singer Tumelo_za featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee, was ranked the No. 1 amapiano song of 2023 on Audiomack.

The song also traveled far beyond South Africa, peaking at No. 3 on Spotify and Shazam in China. Its dance challenge helped make it one of the most recognizable amapiano tracks of the decade.

Mellow & Sleazy

Mellow & Sleazy are a Pretoria duo from Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa who mix amapiano with the harder Pretoria style known as Bacardi. That blend gives their records serious bounce.

"Bopha," with Felo Le Tee, Young Stunna and DJ Maphorisa, went double platinum. They also produced Daliwonga's "Abo Mvelo," the track that introduced many American listeners to amapiano.

Sam Deep

Sam Deep is a Soweto producer and DJ known for soulful, polished amapiano. He released his debut album iMali Ye Ntwana in 2023.

His 2025 hit "Shela," with Nia Pearl, Boohle and Mano, set a record for the most streams of a song in a single day on South African Spotify. If you want to hear where melodic amapiano is right now, start with his album Who I Am.

Amapiano Artists Who Broke Through Globally

These are the famous amapiano artists and collaborations that carried the sound past South Africa's borders.

Uncle Waffles

Uncle Waffles was born in Eswatini and is based in South Africa. In October 2021, she filled in for a missing DJ at Zone 6 in Soweto, and a clip of her dancing behind the decks to Young Stunna's "Adiwele" went viral.

She didn't let it stay a viral moment. Her 2022 debut single "Tanzania" became a hit, Beyoncé played it on her Renaissance World Tour, and Waffles performed at Coachella in 2023. Billboard has called her the "Princess of Amapiano."

Major League DJz

Major League DJz are twin brothers Bandile and Banele Mbere. In early 2020 they started filming sets on their balcony, and their Balcony Mix series became one of the biggest windows into amapiano for fans outside South Africa.

They've since played Coachella, made the album Piano Republik with Major Lazer, and signed a global deal with Atlantic Records. If you've watched an amapiano set on YouTube, there's a good chance it was theirs.

Focalistic

Focalistic, also known as Pitori Maradona, blends hip-hop with amapiano and raps in the Pretoria slang he grew up with. His 2020 single "Ke Star," produced by Vigro Deep, became a national anthem.

The 2021 remix with Nigerian superstar Davido took it continental. TIME named the "Ke Star" remix one of the biggest singles of 2021.

Tyla

Tyla is a singer from Johannesburg who grew up hearing amapiano at parties. She calls her own style "popiano," a mix of pop, R&B and amapiano rhythms.

Her 2023 single "Water" reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. In 2024 it won the first-ever Grammy for Best African Music Performance, putting amapiano's log drums in front of a huge American audience.

Musa Keys

Musa Keys is from Giyani in Limpopo, and his 2021 single "Vula Mlomo" won Record of the Year at the South African Music Awards. He's one of the scene's most magnetic live performers.

He's the featured artist on Davido's "Unavailable," an Afrobeats and amapiano hybrid that earned him a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance in 2024.

The Voices of Amapiano

Amapiano is a producer-led genre, but the singers and dancers are why so many tracks become anthems. These are a few you'll hear again and again.

Young Stunna

Young Stunna is a singer from Daveyton who signed to Kabza's Piano Hub label. His hit "Adiwele," featuring Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, was a tribute to his mentor and became one of the genre's best-loved songs.

He's also on "Bopha" with Mellow & Sleazy. His voice is all over the 2021 era of amapiano.

Daliwonga

Daliwonga is one of the genre's most in-demand vocalists. "Abo Mvelo," with Mellow & Sleazy and M.J, went viral before it was even officially released.

He's also featured on tracks with Kamo Mphela and on DJ Maphorisa's projects. When you hear his smooth tone on a track, you know it's going to stick.

Kamo Mphela

Kamo Mphela first made her name as a dancer, and her moves earned her the nickname "Queen of Amapiano." She then built a career as a singer and performer.

Tracks like "Sukendleleni," with DBN Gogo, Dinho and Daliwonga, made her a regular on amapiano playlists. Her single "Dalie" with Tyler ICU went gold just six days after release.

Boohle

Boohle is a singer from Vosloorus whose gospel-tinged voice lifts any track she's on. She won Best Amapiano Newcomer and Best Amapiano Female Vocalist at the 2021 South African Amapiano Awards.

You'll hear her on Mr JazziQ's "Woza" and Sam Deep's "Shela," two very different records that both lean on her warmth.

Rising Amapiano Artists to Watch

Amapiano moves fast, and new names break through every year. Here are a few verified artists who are already making noise.

Xduppy

Xduppy is a producer from Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. His 2023 single "Bhebha," with ShaunMusiQ & Ftears, Myztro and Mellow & Sleazy, caught DJ Maphorisa's attention.

In 2025 the two released the double albums Umoya and Rough Dance. He's become one of the hardest-working producers in the scene.

Thatohatsi

Thatohatsi is a vocalist who has quickly become a go-to voice for soulful amapiano. She's on Sam Deep's chart-topping "Thandaza" and has recorded with Kelvin Momo.

LeeMcKrazy

LeeMcKrazy is a vocalist and producer whose catchphrase has traveled from amapiano into mainstream pop, including Tyla's music. His 2026 collaborative EP with QuayR Musiq showed real range.

Nkosazana Daughter

Nkosazana Daughter is a singer from Durban who has worked with Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa and Master KG. Apple Music named her one of its Africa Rising artists in 2023.

How to Discover More Amapiano Artists

Once you've got the names above, here's how to keep going.

Follow the producers, not just the hits: Amapiano tracks are often credited to several artists. If you like a song, check every name on it. You'll find new producers and vocalists that way faster than any algorithm will show you.

Follow the labels and collectives: Kabza De Small's Piano Hub and DBN Gogo's Zikode Records are good starting points. DJ Maphorisa's circle of collaborators is another rabbit hole worth falling into.

Use the platform playlists: Spotify, Apple Music and Audiomack all run dedicated amapiano playlists that update with new releases. They're the easiest way to hear what South African fans are actually playing.

Watch the live sets on YouTube: Major League DJz' Balcony Mix series is a great way to see how amapiano DJs actually build a set. Watching a full set teaches you more about the genre than any single track.

Start with the classics: Our guide to the [best amapiano songs](/blog/best-amapiano-songs) collects the essential records, and our best amapiano mixes roundup points you to full-length sets. If you want to understand the groove itself, read about [amapiano tempo and the log drum](/blog/amapiano-bpm).

Amapiano Artists and DJs FAQ

Who is the best amapiano DJ?

There's no official answer. Kabza De Small is the name most often called the King of Amapiano, but DJ Maphorisa, Major League DJz, DBN Gogo and Uncle Waffles are also among the best amapiano DJs working today.

Who started amapiano?

No single person started it. Amapiano grew in the mid 2010s out of Johannesburg and Pretoria townships, and the exact birthplace is still debated. MFR Souls, JazziDisciples and Kabza De Small are among the early figures most often credited.

Who are the biggest amapiano artists?

Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Kelvin Momo, Uncle Waffles, Focalistic, Tyler ICU and Sam Deep are among the biggest. Tyla brought amapiano-influenced pop to a global audience with "Water."

Is amapiano mainly South African?

Yes. Amapiano was born in South Africa, and nearly all of its leading artists are South African. Some key figures come from neighboring countries, like Eswatini-born Uncle Waffles, and the sound is now produced and played worldwide.

Who are the best amapiano producers?

Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Kelvin Momo, Vigro Deep, Mr JazziQ, Mellow & Sleazy, Sam Deep and Xduppy are among the top amapiano producers.

Keep the Groove Going

Amapiano and afro house are close cousins. Both grew from South Africa's house music tradition, and both live and die by the groove. If you love the artists above, there's a good chance you'll feel right at home in afro house too.

Come check out my afro house and house mixes on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@DJRikstar). And if you want to understand where those two sounds overlap, start with our [afro house guide](/blog/what-is-afro-house).