10 Tracks That Made Me Fall In Love With Amapiano

Amapiano, translating to "the pianos" in isiZulu and isiXhosa, is a captivating South African music subgenre that blends House music and Kwaito. Originating from the townships of Pretoria in the mid-2010s, its pioneers are said to include DJ Stokie, Mfr Souls, Mr JazziQ, Josiah De Disciple, and Kabza De Small. “Yanos” is what the genre is affectionately known as in the community of creators and fans. 

Its emergence makes sense when you consider the landscape that it comes from. Amapiano is a charming genre that invites us to dive into the soul of a musical nation that has significantly shaped and influenced African music for decades. From Bubblegum to Kwaito, traversing Deep House and Gqom to bring us to today; the South African dance music scene evolves faster than its BPMs. Amapiano, arguably its biggest export to date, is a versatile sound that has captured the attention of musical audiences worldwide.

The global rise of Amapiano in 2019 aligned with my discovery of the genre. I was instantly captivated by its soulful melodies and the more laid-back tempo that sets it apart from other House music genres, and I found myself drawn back into the realm of electronic dance music (EDM). Nearly a decade prior, my DJ sets ranged encompassed Deep House, Progressive House and Electro, before evolving towards the emerging sounds of Afrobeats and the sophisticated edits of Soulection.

Amapiano emerged as a compelling reintroduction to EDM, and its smooth assimilation into my musical journey was facilitated by the genre’s infusion of African flair into rhythmic patterns and dance moves. That’s what I love about a lot of different flavours of African music, and I had finally found a style of house music to obsess about as a DJ again.

I was very excited to embark on this discovery and even more excited to share this newfound obsession on the Pineapple Undertones platform. I first featured Amapiano music on Mama’s House 2 in 2020, where it seamlessly coexisted with its more upbeat relatives, Afro House and Afro Tech, as well as Kuduro, Batida, and more. Since then, Yanos has dominated the Mama’s House mix series, reaching as far as its latest edition, Mama’s House 10.

Amapiano’s rise has occurred within a major resurgence in electronic dance music, particularly within communities of African descent. It is undeniable that South Africa’s finest has become very popular amongst artists and music fans alike in Nigeria, the world’s fastest-growing entertainment market. There have also already been many collaborations between Amapiano acts and artists from various regions of the continent.

As an avid fan and advocate of this scene on the Pineapple Undertones platform, I have been fortunate to experience Amapiano’s infectious energy at parties in Cape Town, London, Accra, Kampala, and beyond. Few music subcultures have taken the world by storm in such a short span of time, let alone any African genre! I truly hope that Amapiano remains; that it innovates while maintaining a distinct identity, that it evolves and stands the test of time, and that it serves as a musical vessel propelling African music culture forward.

Reflecting on my Amapiano journey and celebrating ten editions of the Mama’s House mix series, I present a curated list of ten tracks that made me fall in love with the genre back in 2019, and that have deepened my love for the genre since.

Long Lasting - JazziDisciples (2018)

This is one of the earliest Amapiano records that I discovered. By the former duo JazziDisciples, made up of prolific solo acts, JazziQ and Josiah De Disciple, this Jazzi instrumental masterpiece certainly did not need any vocals to complete it; it is a certified party-starter! The music video was one of my first encounters with groove; the sweet and infectious South African party vibe. Everyone is in an element, translating the sounds into their unique dance moves. It made me want to spend the following weekend in Jozi!

Love You Tonight - Mfr Souls, DJ Maphorisa, Sha Sha, Kabza De Small (2019)

East Rand’s sensational duo, Mfr Souls, enlisted the Scorpion Kings, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, alongside the talented Zimbabwe-born singer, Sha Sha, for this 2019 release. This love jam set the tone for the great wave of soulful Amapiano that has followed. The track is introduced by a drum loop that pulls you into a trance that is sustained by the jazzy piano chords. It must have been my first time hearing DJ Maphorisa (aka Madumane) sing on Amapiano, and I was left quite impressed!

No Ties (Amapiano Remix) ft. King Monada & MFR Souls - Tshego (2020)

It was refreshing to hear Atlanta-born Tshego sing over an Amapiano instrumental and we have the Mfr Souls duo to thank for that! They completely reimagined the Dancehall-inspired original version with this official Amapiano remix, and arguably made both Tshego and featured artist King Monada sound even better. I fell in love with the charming chords upon my first listen, which contributes a lot to the track’s enduring appeal.

Soweto Blues - Juls, Busiswa, Jaz Karis (2020)

The prolific British-Ghanaian DJ and record producer, Juls, recruited South African sensation, Busiswa, and South London R&B singer-songwriter Jaz Karis, and the trio delivered a feel-good vibe that became an instant classic. This hit single is featured on Juls’ “Happy Place” EP and marked the beginning of the producer’s journey with the Amapiano sound. Juls takes us on a trip through the streets of Soweto both sonically and through the scenic visuals, enabling many to discover Amapiano for the first time.

Ke Star Remix - Focalistic, Davido, Vigro Deep (2021)

With the original version topping the charts in South Africa in 2020, Pretoria rapper Focalistic took the song global by tapping up one of Africa’s brightest stars, Davido. This collaboration showcases the Nigerian superstar’s seamless integration into the Amapiano wave early in 2021, adding a different energy to the record with a very catchy verse and ad-libs. Produced by Amapiano heavyweight, Vigro Deep, this tune dominated dance floors throughout the year and became an essential pick in the peak moments of parties.

Selema (Po Po) - Musa Keys, Loui (2021)

South met East with this memorable collaboration, as Musa Keys connected with Afro-Bongo singer Loui to create a continental hit that has since been certified platinum. The Limpopo-born record producer struck gold when identifying the Tanzanian as the right vocalist to complement the track. It was also a reflection of how Amapiano’s popularity has extended beyond Mzansi (a colloquial name for South Africa), as it has since garnered widespread appeal in the Tanzanian mainstream.

Abo Mvelo - Daliwonga, Mellow & Sleazy, MJ (2022)

One of my favourite Amapiano vocalists and one of the most prolific in the game, Daliwonga delivered one of the biggest Amapiano records to date. With the help of M.J and Pretoria’s hit-making producer duo, Mellow & Sleazy, the Soweto-born singer and songwriter crafted an unforgettable melody and supplied us with an infectious chant. This certified banger features an iconic drop, and it always makes me break out my invisible drums. And the ominous keys create a build-up that lets you know what time it is!

Rekere 2 - Kabza De Small, Stakev (2022)

Another fully instrumental Amapiano record that captured my ears, heart and soul is this 2022 release by one of Amapiano’s pioneers, Kabza De Small, featuring frequent collaborator, Stakev. This is one of my favourite tracks to play in my live sets; it takes you on a journey through so many grooves, feelings, and moves. This is Kabza at his best and I never get tired of diving into it at length. It features my second favourite Amapiano drop, after Abo Mvelo, of course!

Mnike - Tyler ICU, Tumelo_za, DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA, Tyrondee (2023)

Does this one need any introduction? If the mission is Amapiano to the world, then this 2023 anthem cemented the genre’s place on the map! Tembisa’s star DJ and record producer, Tyler ICU, recruited Soweto vocalist Tumelo.za and co-produced an iconic record in Amapiano’s young history. It incorporates different elements that each represent different facets of the genre. Like Rekere 2, this track takes you on a journey, but here you are transported from soulful hooks to pulsating breakdowns.

Peacock Revisit - Uncle Waffles, Ice Beats Slide, Sbuda Maleather (2023)

As the Eswatini-born viral sensation’s stock continued to rise in 2023, Uncle Waffles left us with an absolute banger off her sophomore album, SOLACE. This mesmerising record samples the bubblegum 80s hit “Peacock” which produces a catchy set of vocals that lingers in your mind. The track features two of Amapiano’s breakthrough producers from last year, the frequent collaborators Ice Beats Slide and Sbuda Maleather, who elevated the track, showcasing the continued evolution of Amapiano.

And so my love for Amapiano continues in the tenth edition of Mama’s House. I hope you enjoy it. Long live the Yanos!

Words by K’Ru (DJ & Founder of Pineapple Undertones)