The Top 40 Projects Of August 2024
The month of August left us music lovers feeling like a kid in a candy store, tasting a whole range of different and unique sounds from what this wonderful country could offer us.
Like we do every month, it was time for us to rank what we felt were our personal favourite bodies of art, ranging from different genres from all corners of South Africa.
Hopefully, you agree, and if not, the comment section is always right below, so let us know. Additionally, we urge you to check out what our local talents have worked so tirelessly for us to enjoy and show them as much support as possible.
Now that’s all out the way, let’s jump right into it.
40. SEVENTEEN - Slezzy K (9 August 2024)
This was our first encounter with Slezzy K, who quickly impressed us with this album, displaying his versatility over a range of different sounds, hopping from explosive Trap beats like “Movie” to flowing over an AfroPop beat on the track “Don’t Rush/Broke”.
39. Pareidolia - Thor Rixon & Helena Goddard
It’s been an amazing experience following Rixon’s journey through the Techno scene, and this two-track project had him teaming up with the gifted Helena Goddard, bringing us some of the most beguiling dance tracks. It’s a shame we couldn’t experience one or two more songs of the project, but we still loved what we received.
38. 21 - phenyo WAZE (11 August 2024)
This was a brilliant three-track EP from the talented poet, having him speak on various topics that have been troubling him over decorative instrumentals. We especially enjoyed “UNDERSTAND” and having recently dropped his newest tape, titled “FAMILY HOUSE”, the constant hustle from the youngster will surely reward him in the near future.
37. Van Toeka - Inkos’yamagcokama (30 August 2024)
The Maskandi Maestro continued his dominance, releasing this beautiful album, and taking us back to the spiritual realm of South African culture. This album was stacked with charming instrumentals and topped by Inkosi’s graceful performances of each track.
36. My Life In Music - Kay Invictus (30 August 2024)
After what felt like a lifetime, the “Halala” hitmaker finally released his newest project, bringing Amapiano heads a bag of stunning dance hits to enjoy. The track “Yeyee 2.0” has been making its rounds in the club scene and it’s no surprise, knowing how much of a banger this song and the rest of the project is.
35. 31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME - YoungstaCPT (16 August 2024)
The well-respected Capetonian lyricist used this project to reflect on his past experiences, detailing his growth over the years, and proving how much of a better person he’s become. It’s actually insane knowing this is his 33rd mixtape and it just shows how much of an inspiration Youngsta truly is.
34. Let Me Love You - Nic Van Graan (30 August 2024)
Coming as a surprise release at the end of August, the gifted Capetonian (now based in Amsterdam) songwriter released his two-track jewel. Both tracks, titled “Let Me Love You” and “Through the Windowsill” were adorable love songs that had us flowing along with the heavenly guitar strums and Nic’s irresistible vocal performance.
33. Baby Who? - Baby S.O.N (9 August 2024)
Baby S.O.N has been making major moves, dropping hit after hit and hopping on to some of the biggest Amapiano tracks like Kamo Mphela’s “Dalie”, so it was great to hear him continue to push his momentum with this outstandingly crafted album. We enjoyed the tracks “Duze”, “Vula Inhliziyo”, and “Jesus Piece”.
32. RICHB4FAME - Richi Rich (30 August 2024)
This project was proof to all artists, that trying out something completely new and out of this world, could prove to be a success. This EP had the Capetonian-based star merge Hip-Hop and Rock elements, bringing us a truly remarkable sound that has been missing in the Cape Town scene.
31. SHAWTY MUSIK & DEMONS - BoMalone (30 August 2024)
Dropping his first project of the year, BoMalone did a fantastic job building such an astounding body of work. While sticking to his traditional Hip-Hop tones, this twelve-track album had the talented musician also take on more of a soft RnB approach, going for a more singing approach, and we loved every bit of it, especially on the tracks “What’s Next?” and “Aint No Sleep II”.
30. Indalo - Dr Feel (30 August 2024)
For too long has Dr Feel been supplying the AfroHouse environment with elegant dance tracks for House music lovers to enjoy. His newest work saw the producer craft some of the most amusing dance numbers for us to get the festive season started.
29. Mama Ghost - Holy Alpha (29 August 2024)
Seeing Alpha’s stocks continuously rise in the Hip-Hop scene is always impressive to witness. The bright star from Khayelitsha used this album to explore different sounds, bringing out an even more dynamic side of her, and it was awesome to hear such a dope project from the rising gem.
28. Ugli Day - nexa (23 August 2024)
This was our first encounter with nexa’s sound, with the proficient singer showcasing their distinctive approach in the Neo-Soul genre. Although only consisting of three tracks, we were impressed with their effort, and we look forward to more music from the talented songbird.
27. Sewe - Kelvin Momo (9 August 2024)
This album from the highly appreciated Amapiano producer saw a lot of negative comments from the Dance community, with many calling it underwhelming. Although we agree it’s not his best work (with the project hosting a staggering thirty tracks), we still enjoyed this project, with Momo slowing down the vibes, bringing fans a softer more mellow approach to his distinct sound.
26. NO VISA - PatricKxxLee x KindlyNxsh x BabyDaiz (9 August 2024)
It’s no surprise knowing why these three entertainers are highly admired within the dense Hip-Hop scene. This three-track project had KindlyNxsh, PatricKxxLee, and BabyDaiz all combine their distinct sound to the tape, perfectly blending a riveting listening experience for Hip-Hop lovers.
25. AnXieTy / Smalltown Boy - Aidan Fraser (16 August 2024)
Aidan Fraser is a name we’ve got high hopes for, with the polished vocalist continuing to drop stunning music. This short but sweet project had the singer capture our hearts with his bubbly yet sorrowful performance on the tracks “AnXiety” and “Smalltown Boy”, showcasing how gifted of a musician he is.
24. Inception - Chaise Williams (16 August 2024)
If we had to describe this project using one word, we’d define it by simply saying it was lively. Chaise has an incredible gift in terms of bringing out the vibes and energy on anything he touches, and this album from the Capetonian entertainer showed how easily he’s capable of doing so, with assistance from multiple well-respected artists in the game.
23. Gift Of Life (Chapter II) - Sipho Magudulela (7 August 2024)
Smooth Jazzy inspired Amapiano beats are always our sweet treat, and Sipho was able to bless us with some of the most mellow Dance tracks for fans to easily groove to. We especially loved the first track, “Buya”, that really set the tone for the immersive project.
22. Babies In April - Maraza (2 August 2024)
Listening to this project was a pleasing experience, with the talented virtuoso speaking on many topics involving his growth as not only an artist but as a person with emotions too, painting a clear image of his struggles over delightful AfroPop-inspired instrumentals.
21. Makhelwana - Wanitwa Mos (30 August)
Two of the country’s hottest talents, Nkosazana Daughter and Master KG, teamed up to release this enchanting House collaboration, gifting music lovers a body of awe-inspiring numbers. Nkosazana did an incredible job flaunting her appreciated vocal talents over KG’s winsome House beats, proving why these two combine so perfectly.
20. True You - Sanfaneto (28 August 2024)
The city of Bloemfontein has a true uprising star within its ranks, with Sanfaneto being able to captivate RnB fans with a lovely twist to the genre. This project highlighted the singer's ability to take on interesting instrumentals, dominating every track with his charming vocal performances.
19. Tshwala Bam - TitoM & Yuppe (30 August 2024)
After the success of their viral sensational track, titled “Tshwala Bam”, the hitmakers came out with a full project of their own, supplying highly entertaining Amapiano numbers, with heavy bass and expressive instrumentals that amplified their status as the nation’s top Amapiano producers.
18. Twenty Four - Nomfundo Moh (2 August 2024)
The award-winning songbird dropped her third studio album, blowing away Soul music fans with her breathtaking vocal performance over spiritually driven instrumentals that had us falling in love with her sound all over again. We were left feeling warm after our first listen of the album which proved to be some of her best work yet.
17. Gamelihle - Lizwi Wokuqala (9 August 2024)
It was heartbreaking to find out about the passing of such a bright figure in the SA music realm, and listening to this project was a tough task to go through. This EP had us feeling emotional, with Lizwi displaying his bona fide voice, emphasizing how true of a vocalist he was, and this project was the best way to send off the sensational singer.
16. The Grass Is Greener - MrJazziQ & Vigro Deep (9 August 2024)
It’s no secret that having two of the most respected Amapiano producers in the scene work together on a project would be nothing short of entertaining. The duo combined their distinctive sounds, creating pleasurable hits for the masses to enjoy.
15. If I’m really being Honest - Tasha HendrixX (1 August 2024)
After one listen-through of this heavy project, we could easily pick up how intimate of an album this was for Tasha to make. This tape was used to unveil personal moments that she had to navigate through, which made it a lovely listening experience, having us as the listener truly understand more about what goes on throughout her life.
14. Nia Lo - Nia Pearl (9 August 2024)
The rise of Nia Pearl has been a joy to watch, with the graceful vocalist continuously shining over lovely Amapiano instrumentals. This project had her team up with incredible producers (such as DJ Maphorisa and Kelvin Momo), and she did a brilliant job embracing the beats with her angelic voice.
13. PROBLEM CHILD - The KID Eclipse (23 August 2024)
What a joy this was to experience from The KID Eclipse. Listening to this body of art gave us early Travis Scott vibes, with the prospect producing some of the most energetic Trap joints for fans to rage to. We loved everything about this project, having the young star command each and every beat with his thrilling performances.
12. The Gospel According To Artwork Sounds Chapter III (Deluxe) - Artwork Sounds & Kabza De Small (8 August 2024)
Kabza teamed up with the talented duo to release the third installment of their series, producing the most inspirational music we’ve heard in the Amapiano genre. It’s always interesting to see how creatives can blend the sound of Gospel with any other genre, and they did an exceptional job with this four-track EP, especially with the first two tracks, titled “Say Yes” and “Praise You”.
11. Mfana kaMakhulu - Lowfeye (30 August 2024)
The Qwellers continue to raise the stakes within the newer generation of Trap stars, with Lowfeye being the most recent from the group to drop his own project. This was a blast to listen to, hearing him team up with the rest of his crew throughout the album, giving Hip-Hop fans thrilling music to experience.
10. Rear View Mirror - Yamiko (9 August 2024)
We were super excited to hear that a project would be coming from the Capetonian-based performer. We had already fallen in love with her hit single “Blest” and listening to the rest of the project opened our eyes to how gifted a singer she truly is, gracefully hovering her vocals above mesmerizing RnB instrumentals.
9. Sacred Steps - Mobi Dixon (30 August 2024)
Whenever Dixon drops, we stop everything and listen. The well-respected AfroHouse producer released some of the most enchanting Summer House tracks that captured the true spirit of AfroHouse music, using heavy beats, uplifting instrumentals, and vocal background noises that gave us goosebumps.
8. Damned If I Don’t! - Solo Sae (30 August 2024)
Listening to this album from the Jozi-based artist gave us further faith in what musicians within our nation are capable of producing. Solo did an incredible job at making us as the listener follow along with his story over different yet enticing instrumentals, either opting to spit his gripping bars over a beat or flaunt his lovely singing voice over softer background sounds.
7. Pretty In Pink - Jak Tomas (29 August 2024)
We cannot express enough how marvelous this EP was to listen to. Jak Tomas has this gift of not only crafting amazing music but also being able to invite us into his world with his divine sound. Tracks like “Forgiven”, “Lost & Found”, and “Hide Us” were blissful for us to experience, putting us in what felt like some sort of trance.
6. BASED ON iWAAR - SimulationRxps (2 August 2024)
Witnessing SimulationRxps’s ascension from his “Ezay Zolo” days to his latest release, it’s safe to say the Langa rapper has everything going for him. This EP had the lyricist take on more of a Kwaito angle, bringing listeners an uplifting vibe. Our standout moment was experiencing Simulation joining together with LOOKATUPS and K.Keed for the track “SONKE” which we absolutely adored.
5. NOT SO DISTOPIA - Hugo Pooe (16 August 2024)
The Punk genre has seen a refreshing come-up of many talents in South Africa, and Hugo Pooe is the latest to make this popular sound his own. This album was awesome to listen to, with loud guitar instrumentals raging over exhilarating drums in the background, having Hugo bless his vocals over the stimulating instrumentals. We urge you to keep an eye out for this rising Capetonain talent.
4. Impilo - Aymos (30 August 2024)
The highly appreciated Amapiano hitmaker continued his winning streak, dropping this banger of an album that captured our souls with his ability to create some of the most compelling tunes in the scene right now. The number of talents featured on this project was immense, having acts like Cassper Nyovest, Nkosazana Daughter, Samthing Soweto, and many more all do a fantastic job at assisting Aymos in developing such a beautiful project.
3. Sun’s Getting Low - Naye Ayla (30 August 2024)
We adored everything about this EP. From the soft and smooth instrumentals to Ayla’s radiant vocal performances, this six-track EP stunningly told her heartfelt story, truly giving us a deeper understanding of her emotional state. It’s always lovely to hear a Soul performer put their everything into their music, and Naye Ayla did not disappoint on this project.
2. Open Hearts - Joya Mooi (30 August 2024)
Joya is a remarkable artist. It’s amazing how easily her vocals can set the tone of her bubbly personality, matching this energy with vibrant dance-inspired instrumentals that manufactured an uplifting atmosphere while listening to the project. Tracks like “Open Hearts” and “Don’t Answer” are great examples of how she’s capable of achieving this feeling, and overall, the full project was a lovely listening experience.
1. Our Broken Hearts Mend - Manana (16 August 2024)
Manana has always been well-renowned for his gorgeous sound within the Soul/RnB genre. The Grammy-Award-winning vocalist came with another brilliantly produced love project, talking on his journey navigating through his love life (something we heavily related to) and exploring different themes throughout the album. It’s why we felt the project deserved the number one spot, and we hope many of you agree.
And there you have it. It was indeed an interesting month of music project releases, with some genres barely having any kind of release (like the Jazz genre for example) but that does tend to happen around this awkward time of the year when the seasonal time is right around the corner.
We hope you found our list somewhat agreeable and if not, let us know who or what we got wrong. We’re always interested to hear the opinions of others.
And again, if any of these artists interest you, please do check out their music and show them support. By doing this we grow our talents even further within the music world.
