2022 Radioactive Hip-Hop Fave 15

// Our favorite Hip-Hop songs from African artists this year //

Wassup wassup fam. Been a minute since we posted a Radioactive Hip-hop article, so I'm glad I managed to get this list out before the year ended. I've put together 15 songs that are my favorite and that came out this year. The playlist features rappers from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, and the music ranges from joints that will make you feel turnt up, to mellow jams perfect for a Sunday afternoon drive to your favorite cafe. The list is also available as a Spotify playlist here.

My favorite jam for the year is a song from Sampa The Great's " As Above, So Below album" which I had on repeat for a while and will be my soundtrack when I visit Zambia soon, followed by a joint on Asaph's latest fire offering "Big Mhofu". Asaph never disappoints, and his joint provides a perfect landing for your ears to get into Stige Lebaka's freestyle of which one of my fave lines from the freestyle has to be "It's not a long walk, it's marathon when it comes to making the Mandela".

On number 4, we have something more beautifully chilled and acoustic by Synik and Vusa Mkhaya, followed by an electric track by Meet Luminous (I can't wait to see him perform live). Moving onto number 6, we have a rapper who is no different from Meet Luminous when they are on stage - always bring the most energy and fire. Troy M finally dropped the long awaited visuals to his joint featuring Kenny MC Vital. Keeping the same energy level, we then have "Aziwe Ke", which got me hooked when I came across the jam on Twitter, especially the hook.

Number 8, we have the Vigilante Bop, which by coincidence also blends well into Soko Matemai's song, and both these rappers never disappoint when it comes to making great and dope music. Indigo Saint and Brad the Dude come in at number 10 with a 10/10 jam as Indigo Saint tells a story about "walking through the valley of the shadow of wealth and groove". We then have Yung Tyran's Cross Roads (it was really difficult to choose between this acoustic thank you speech and Champions Parade from his album "Look What It's Come To").

On November 19, 2022, Femi One was crowned the best female rapper during the AFRIMMA awards ceremony held in Dallas, Texas and she comes in at number 12 on our fave list with a dope song and video for the streets. At number 13 we have Jay Rox, Rayvanny and LCJ Chocolate Boi with a beautiful love song, while DJ Binnz and Stino Le Thwenny continue the theme of love, so these are defintie jams for those swill still be in love on New years eve. lol At number 15, we then have Fecko, Villy & Yung Pabi with a vibey joint in "Work Chop", complimented by the great visuals. Fecko not only still making great music but also making histroy by becoming the first Nigerian rapper to perform in an African Metaverse. Alright, enough of me chatting, and I hope you enjoy my 2022 Radioactive Hip-Hop Fave 15 list (Listen Here).

1 - Sampa The Great - Never Forget ft. Chef 187, Tio Nason, Mwanjé (Listen)