One thing about 2022? We were fed.
It's not an overstatement to say that even the most varied appetites were lavished with sprawling flavours from a vast range of sonic influences.
Proof? Look no further than the different genres that topped the Channel O Top 30 throughout 2022.
Or, the cross-pollination of sounds that dominated the year-end lists on the major streaming platforms. It's clear to see that the year was as high-yielding for lofty musical experiments as it was punishing for rigid genre loyalty.
The genre-bending on one of the year's biggest hits, K.O's comeback banger SETE, confirms this fact.
That said, the swelling sweep displayed by Amapiano artists cannot be denied. Where popular South African genres tend to plateau every four to five years, leaving their most lauded disciples scrambling to adapt to the next big ripple, Amapiano has only grown.
Far beyond its native borders, this sound has helped its most successful acts spend a chunk of their time feeding the frenzy across the world.
Deep house may have never left, especially when Amapiano would be considered its latest offspring. But in 2022, a return to its earliest forms was rewarded by audiences. Senior Oat, Zakes Bantwini, Oscar Mbo, Sun-El Musician and among others Gaba Cannal, were at the forefront of this bubbling wave.
Similarly, SA Hip Hop experienced somewhat of a revival. Further to the beefs that caused a frenzy on the internet - whether genuine or orchestrated to re-ignite interest in a genre that had otherwise flatlined, we saw massive comebacks among the most established incumbents. K.O's return has been hard-hitting, and so has AKA, Touchline and Big Zulu's offers.
THE TOP 22 BEST ALBUMS OF 2022
- Kelvin Momo - Amukelani
- Kabza, - KOA II Part 1
- Mörda - Asante
- Felo Le Tee - Contagious
- Sfarzo Rtee - House of Sgija
- Vigro Deep - My House, My Rules
- DJ Lag - Meeting with The King
- DBN GOGO - What’s Real
- Sir Trill - Ghost
- Blxckie - THE4MULA
- Kay Invictus - 0202 EP
- K.O - SR3
- Murumba Pitch - Horumar
- Q-Twins - Words of Hope
- Touchline - S.O.O.N 2
- Focalistic - Ghetto Gospel
- Makhadzi - African Queen 2
- Sino Msolo - Fezisa
- Pabi Cooper - Cooperville
- MFR Souls - Elements of Life
- Myztro - Nkwari 2. 0
- Oscar Mbo and C-Blak - Groovy Since 90 Sumthin
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