The 2010s saw the rise of a new generation of rappers whose art reflected the blend of cultures and code-switching of their daily lives. Fusing street slang and English, they created a new era of self-expression. AKA became a household name with hits like “Run Jozi” and was the first English rapper to go platinum, creating a legacy of hits that incorporated samples of classic SA house tracks. K.O, who first broke out as a member of Teargas and added a legendary verse to “Run Jozi”, defined the mid-2010s with the Kid X-assisted “Caracara”. It was an era of some of the genre’s biggest-ever hits, from the likes of Kwesta, Nasty C and Cassper Nyovest, who broke out as one of SA’s biggest rappers and whose pioneering #FillUp concert series would break attendance records at venues even global stars struggled to fill—a sign that even with the growing influence of the dance and electronic scenes, hip-hop wasn’t going anywhere. Dive into the era’s greatest hits here, and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.