Is South Africa’s HHP Africa’s No.1 Emcee?

September 6, 2010

By Chiagoziem Onyekwena

HHP is Africa's No.1 rapper

MNET recently put together a list of the Top Ten rappers in anglophone Africa, crowning widely-popular South African emcee Hip Hop Pantsula Africa’s numero uno. The controversial list was aired on the weekly show Studio 53 Extra and even though random lists like this one have proven to be ineffectual in the past, MNET’s list in particular has the potential to become pivotal going forward for two reasons;

First, it’s award season again, judges have their antennas up and the search for metrics to assess nominees and potential nominees with is now on.

Secondly, the list was put together by MNET; entertainment news on the African continent doesn’t come any more relevant than that.

As you should expect however, the list did raise some questions, here are a few of of them;

  1. Can an emcee who raps in a language less than 5% of Africans speak truly be ranked No.1?
  2. In a year where an artiste like Sarkodie emerged and where more established acts like Tinnie and Bradez had a good showing, are recent Channel O nominees - R2Bees and D-Black really the best Ghanaian hip-hop has to offer?
  3. Is Sasha on the list because of her consistency over the years or is she here because she lacks any recognisable competition?
  4. Isn’t it ironic that Ikechukwu seems to get more respect outside of his country than he does at home?
  5. South Africa’s Tumi has worked super hard and more than deserves a mention, but whatever happened to staples like ProKidProverb or even the versatile J.R?
  6. How many of these artistes can claim to being continental stars?  Let’s even bring it down a level, how many of them can lay claim to be stars in their individual regions?
  7. What kind of metric did they use to arrive at the conclusion that D-Black is a better rapper than M.I?
  8. What did Mode 9 ever do to mainstream hip-hop to be overlooked time and time (and time) again?

Still for those that want to know who the rest of Africa’s biggest emcees are (according to MNET), here you go.

Conscious South African rapper Tumi came in at No. 10

Ikechukwu powered his way to No. 9

Mozambican hottie Dama Do Bling came in at No. 8

Kenya's Nameless was named Africa's No.7 emcee

No. 6: Hip life + Hip hop = Ghana's R2Bees

The First Lady looking presidential at No. 5

No 4: Zeus is one of Botswana's biggest rappers

Mister Incredible came two places short of No.1

D-Black is a surprise for the No. 2 Spot

Related posts:

  1. NET Exclusive: The List of Nominees for The 2010 MAMAs
  2. Death Visits Ikechukwu, Big Lo and K-Solo
  3. Winners of the 2010 Channel O Awards
  4. Mo’Hits Records Deny Ikechukwu Alliance
  5. Banky W Heads List of Nominees for 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards

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9 Responses to “Is South Africa’s HHP Africa’s No.1 Emcee?”

  1. uno 1 says:

    ikechukwu nd sasha equals NO!!! Modey deserves a place nd Naeto is 10/10 aswell…..MNET is shit!

  2. sexyedoboy says:

    Ok dont even get me started. All my comments are on facbook. Search for sexy edo boy

  3. Keni says:

    God in heaven, see how these people are trying to force my hand?

  4. bruce wayne says:

    am beginnin 2 sound like a broken record… but who gives a shiit? guy u dey write abeg!!

    to d list, cudnt mnet hav been nice enuff 2, @ least, tell us the criteria they used 2 judge. its actually d least they cud hav done. u dont just draw up a list of ten rappers without a proper basis backin u up! esp. wen it has 2 do with lists as controversial as pickin d best rapper in a region

  5. niggaken says:

    This is all shit!!! How can a rapper who speaks what half of the continent dont understand' be the best.

  6. Kelly says:

    M.I,mr. incredible simply the best

  7. genesix says:

    m i is the best, stop long tin.

  8. Omonaija says:

    D-black is kuul

  9. deji blacki says:

    HHP is a better rapper than
    M.I … HHP is best in africaa… MI dont deserve dat numba 2.. Its just because of d hype from nigeriaa
    … D list is abt africa rappers nt english rappers… So if hhp is rapping in is language notin is bad.. Cos he is reppin as an african

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