6 Amapiano DJs You Need To Know Immediately

These artists and selectors are the heartbeat of a worldwide music phenomenon.

Of all the genres that have accelerated in growth in the past half-decade, Amapiano can arguably lay claim to the biggest. Emerging from the ever-creative music scene in South Africa, a nation that has altered dance music at will for the past two decades, the sound - a hybrid of House, Kwaito, R&B, Jazz and other local flavours, often banded together with groovy piano riffs – has captured the hearts and imagination of music heads far and wide.

Though surging in popularity in the COVID-19 pandemic era, Amapiano’s origins stretch back slightly further. From 2016, it began infiltrating South African culture en masse, with the club scene soon becoming enamoured by the sound. In a nation that also gave us Gqom, Amapiano’s darker, more intense cousin, the new sound became all consuming, taking over local and national radio and birthing an army of innovative disciples.

With its cultural capital at an all-time high by 2019, international acclaim has followed, with Nigerian Afrobeats superstars Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema featuring on tracks the following year and clubs across the globe exporting the sound. Just like that, Amapiano’s ceiling is now sky high, and here are six acts, mostly born and bred in South Africa, who are taking the sound to the world and back.

Scorpion Kings

DJ Maphorisa (left) & Kabza De Small (right) make up Scorpion Kings

Consisting of DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, Scorpion Kings have arguably played the biggest hand in Amapiano’s mainstream success. Seen by many as the godfather of the sound, Maphorisa has been dropping anthems for the best part of a decade, a pre-Amapiano era when Kwaito and Gqom were all the rage, helping to usher in the next generation of South African talent. Meanwhile, Kabza serves almost as Maphorisa’s protégé, but his contributions to the scene are indelible. In 2020, his album I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust brought the genre to the world stage, becoming Apple Music’s most streamed South African project of all time and making him the most streamed South African artist on Spotify. A year before, the two would join forces as Scorpion Kings, dropping their eponymous EP and have since built on that foundation with an additional five projects, including collaborative projects with SA titans such as TRESOR and King Deetoy, bringing them into their colourful world. With their joint talents becoming one, Amapiano moves to the beat of Scorpion Kings’ drum, and it looks as if that will be the formula for a while yet.

Mr JazziQ

You won’t find a reputable Amapiano party without Mr JazziQ on the bill. An accomplished DJ and artist, the Alexandra-born polymath is the architect of one of the biggest recent Amapiano tracks such as ‘Woza’ and ‘GUPTA’ alongside household names Kabza De Small, Focalistic, Lady Du and Boehle. His altruistic nature has also enabled him to bring his friends along for the ride, performing with other reputable South African artists such as Cassper Nyovest, DBN Gogo and Kamo Mphela on stages as diverse as Boiler Room and AmaFest, the largest Amapiano festival outside of South Africa. Well and truly a pioneer with the perfect ear for what makes a hit, Mr JazziQ’s imprint is at the very core of the scene and will only grow deeper as the genre’s popularity surges.

TxC

Clair (left) & Tarryn (right), popularly known as TxC.

DJ duo Tarryn & Clair, popularly known as TxC, bring a refreshing and lively mix of Amapiano and Electronic to the dance, making them a leading DJ name in the scene. Adept at spinning House and Deep Tech, the ladies, based in Cape Town, have earned reputations as serious party starters. DJing together for a few years now, their powers are being felt strongly in the present day and they would earn further plaudits by kickstarting Boiler Room’s Amapiano showcase in London last September. Never leaving room for a breather, they have played everywhere from London to Lagos, spreading the message of Amapiano and proving a favourite with fans thanks to their ability to read and please the crowd.

Waffles

At 21 years old, Waffles is one of the biggest names spinning Amapiano in the world. Born in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), she has risen from local fame to international recognition almost overnight, thanks in no small part to her magnetic personality. Though active as a model and presenter in her homeland from a young age, she reached new heights when a video surfaced in October 2021 of her spinning Young Stunna’s then-unreleased ‘Adiwele’ at a party, dancing with the vim of a DJ who made themselves proud with their own selection. The video would soon go viral, accruing over four million views and bringing Waffles into the light. It is this energy that she brings to every set, spinning the latest and greatest Amapiano tracks while feeding off the energy of the crowd and reciprocating the vibes. She has now toured South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania and can count Drake as a fan and follower. All the signs of a big future ahead.

DBN Gogo

DBN Gogo was born to be in music. Raised in the church and with a singer for a mother, the Durban-born DJ and artist grew up admiring music in all its forms, especially House. She first hit the decks in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since, finding her lane in Amapiano and growing in stature. Equally pushing herself as an artist, she has released a number of new age Amapiano hits, including ‘Possible,’ ‘Dakiwe’ and ‘Zwonaka’ gaining over 200,000 monthly Spotify listeners. While still adjusting to the fame and attention of becoming a household name, DBN Gogo has made light work in her ascent to the very top of the game.

Vigro Deep

Being born to musical royalty can be daunting to the average person, but Vigro Deep is far from average. The son of one of the founding members of The Godfathers of Deep House South Africa, Victor Ngcongwana, the 20-year-old, who began as a rapper before pivoting to singing and DJing, has become known not only for his expertise in Amapiano but his tendency to push the limits of the sound. Releasing his debut album, Rise of a Baby Boy, in 2020, he revealed a potent and compelling mix of Amapiano with Deep House and R&B that made him stand out from his peers. He has been prolific ever since, dropping at least one project a year and most recently remixing Amaarae’s ‘SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY’ featuring Kali Uchis and Moliy. With an aim to make music that will stand the test of time, Vigro Deep has made a strong start on his journey to greatness.