THE263POST RISING STARS 2023: 10 AFRICAN RAPPERS WHO GOT NEXT.
The finest emerging rappers have repeatedly shown themselves to be the future of rap music’s saviors. The game can always rely on the newcomers to have an impact on Hip Hop history, whether their energy is referred to as “TikTok” Rap or a trendier term.
THE263POST is pleased to present our African Rising Stars for 2023, our inaugural list that will be shared yearly. We have been keeping an eye on these ten new musicians for the past year, predicting their trajectory based on their online presence and musical preferences. The main factor that distinguishes them as the top new rappers is the distinctive characteristics of their music.
Read more about each artist’s 2023 so far and stay tuned for updates on our fresh new batch of THE263POST Rising Stars!
KAYFLOW (Zimbabwe)
Kayflow is one of of the most talented rappers on the come-up right now, with one of the most distinct styles of alternative rap that are heavily based on sonics. Representing Midlands, Gweru, Senga, “Mfanha WepaJecha” Kayflow has so far given us bangers from Honda Fit, The Other Guy, Muround (all features with VoltageRaps), and several Freestyle Dumps.
DEE KOALA ( South Africa)
Dee Koala is a celebrated female artist from South Africa. Dee has succeeded in striking the ideal balance between relatability and star power ever since she burst onto the music scene in 2016 with her song “Whuzet.” Riky Rick noticed her mind-blowing bars in both English and Xhosa at the Major League Gardens festival, which further propelled her career. Over the years she has managed to waork with a number of high profile rappers like Blxckie, K KEED on Spaz And Recently on her new smash single Gwan with Maglera Doe Boy.
It is impossible to deny this unique, unadulterated, and genuine energy her music poses. Her fan base is highly indicative of both where she has been and where she is headed.
KILLA (Zambia)
Following a TikTok collaboration with North American content creator and musician Conor Price that produced over 21 million views on TikTok and a song that climbed the U.S. Apple Music Charts, Zambian musician Mark Lukwesa, better known by his rap name Killa, recently became a worldwide sensation.
His style of rap is far from what Zed Rap usually is and he has a flow pattern that is unique and doesn’t compromise the lyrism. Receiving thumbs up from the likes of Zambian Rap Legend Holister we can safely say more is in the books for this African Super Star.
K.KEED (South Africa)
K.Keed, also known as Mihlali Koyana, was born and reared in Cape Town’s Gugulethu township. With the publication of her debut single, “Similes,” in 2019, she launched her career. Last year, she released ALTER-EGO, an 8-track EP that includes, among others, Blxckie, Dee Koala, and Indigo Stella.
The impressive list of projects K.Keed has collaborated on includes, among other features, the smash hit song Spazz by Dee Koala. Her professional highlights to date include being chosen as one of the artists for Redbat’s ‘Young & Dope’ campaign and being asked to perform at The Boiler Room: Contemporary Scenes x Wear Broke. It also seems like this year is a cruise too with her doing so much damage already dropping a number of dope visuals and apearing on Mash Beatz’s ”Bad” with Flow Jones JNR and Maglera Doe Boy.
SUHN (Zimbabwe)
Born Tafara Dondo on the 22nd of April in 1998, the Zim hip hop artist, producer and songwriter SUHN has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his fairly young career with two of his songs Twenties and Magielas making waves on the local radio scene.
Suhn, is one of the fresh new musicians who are giving Zim-HipHop a new flavor. Suhn personifies trap music and the new era of hiphop with his braided hair, grill, and banging electronic beats as he performs lyrical gymnastics to the beat. The hit maker was formerly known as Union 5, but he revealed a rebranding some 3 years ago, leading to the creation of Suhn.
In order to create more of the music that would speak to him, he even deleted all of his earlier artist work under the name Union 5 and announced that he would be starting over as Suhn.
YAMIKANI (Zimbabwe)
A young musician named Yamikani calls herself “a sonic experience with no boundaries.” Her eccentric personality, which was created to contrast with her traditional African upbringing, informs her viewpoint on music. Her recent appearance on Suhns “That’s Cool That’s Fine” shows her capability to hold her own.
Yamikani’s sophisticated and captivating performance act when we first saw her at Rutswanda Rage 2 by Domane Youth. With Yamikani’s debut project on the way we can expect to be served with a combination of sonic from Alternative Hip Hop with a touch of soul . Her music aims to make audiences feel understood while immersed in a fresh, culturally unconventional musical soundscape.
KHAID (Nigera)
Khaid, real name Sulaimon Shekoni Solomon, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter who is contracted to Neville Records.
Khaid’s sonic palette encapsulates a blend of Afrobeats, trap, pop, and Amapiano. Growing up in the streets of Ojo, Lagos; he cites Polo G, Rema, Juice WRLD as his musical influences, “making my kind of music in a place like Ojo cost me opportunities to perform at concerts,” he says. This would see him nurse the idea of ditching trap completely before now.
His debut single “With You”, a record inspired by love and loss, has since racked up over 10 million streams across DSPs. Speaking on “Ski”, the follow-up single, he mentions, “putting my past life into Trap-lines is a gift and I want everyone to feel it because it’s real”. The rapper has gone a step further releasing his debut project Diversity, a six-track release that recounts Khaid’s encounter with love, heartbreak, and his past life. He has started 2023 on a high note with his smash hit ”Jolie”.
KWAKU DMC (Ghana)
Kwaku DMC, whose stage name is “Da Music Child,” has always viewed himself as unique. Kwaku has adopted the habit of getting better every day. Rapping in a mix of Twi and English, Kwaku DMC is able to touch the public broadly. In conversation around Accra and Kumasi, Kwaku’s name consistently came up as a premiere lyricist and a rapper that has a way of capturing the voice of the people. For those who don’t speak Twi, his flow and cadence is enough for hip-hop heads around the world to bump to, making for a deadly combination in his burgeoning space.
BAGGA (Zimbabwe)
Bagga “We Ragga Bagga Magga” is a very intriguing rapper with a very distinct rap style that incorporates a raw grit and a very ghetto centric persona. It’s safe to say he by far had an outstanding 2022 that saw him jump on a number of high profile collaborations that include Saint Floew, Crooger and Mycole Biller. His a efforts earned him three Zim Hip Hop Awards Nominations. We believe 2022 was just an introduction to what this rapper can truly do.
NOLUNTU J (Zimbabwe)
Born Lisa Noluntu Sibanda, the musician was raised in Bulawayo and started music in 2017 dueting with a friend before she met Cal_Vin who became her mentor. She has been nominated for Zimhiphop awards best female rapper, and the Bulawayo Arts Awards’ as outstanding alternative artiste. The rapper is surely one of the dopest live perfomers in Zimbabwe.
Over the years she has dropped some highly anticipated singles including “Soka” and recently “Moko”. Noluntu J uses the song Moko to assert her place in the male-dominated music business, which inspired her to write it. Moko accurately denotes a problem or threat, but in a positive manner. The song is a fun-flex rap number that features Ndebele, English, and Shona bars to honor the rapper’s prowess while also highlighting the wonder, beauty, and strength of female sexuality.
