The long political history, eleven official languages, and impeccable street fashions of South Africa go a long way toward explaining how this country has developed such a rich and critical hip-hop scene. As is the case in other locales across the continent, the triplet flows and cosmic Auto-Tuned hooks of the sound dubbed ATM (a.k.a. “African trap music”) figure prominently, and trailblazing MC’s like Emtee and Kwesta are also known to explore singer/songwriter melodics, mbaqanga-esque baritone vocals and heart-swooning music video visuals while dropping hot raps in indigenous tongues. The production is always polished, but the style invariably draws from the roots: As Reason muses on issues of poverty and religion in his intricate, hook-laden wordplay, K.O and others harness a stylish combo of trap, kwaito and pantsula, the dapper-looking, quick-stepping township dance that dates back to the ‘50s.