Cassper Nyovest is not here for the amapiano vs hip hop debate.
Image: Instagram
The amapiano vs hip hop conversation has been bubbling in the industry for a while now, especially as one genre takes over the charts while the other fights for its space.
From debates around amapiano’s dominance to concerns about hip hop losing its mainstream grip, artists have been weighing in from different angles.
However, for rapper Cassper Nyovest, the comparison itself does not make sense. Speaking in a recent interview with “UpClose”, the rapper dismissed the idea of a rivalry altogether.
“Hip hop was never a South African thing. So when we were booming, and we were at the forefront of South African music, it was a special moment. But it was never the thing,” he said.
Nyovest explained that hip hop’s current position is not a decline, but rather a return to what it has always been.
“We just loved what we did, and we happened to carve a moment in history. And now it’s back to what it was. It was backpackers, it was a niche. And that doesn’t mean that it’s unhealthy.”
He also emphasised that comparing hip hop to amapiano misses the bigger picture.
“And putting it against amapiano, which is dance music, is not only unfair but it’s dumb. It’s part of us. Amapiano is not a hip hop rival. It’s a genre. It’s dope. If you can do it, do it. If you can’t, don’t do it.”
While amapiano continues to dominate, hip hop has shifted away from the spotlight and is finding its rhythm again.
The conversation has not been one-sided. Rapper Nadia Nakai previously shared concerns about amapiano’s fast pace, pointing out how quickly new artists are introduced.
“A lot of the amapiano artists are churned out too quickly,” she said, adding that it makes it harder for fans to form lasting connections.
Amapiano is a dominating genre; it’s a sound you hear everywhere, even internationally; the wave has been caught.
Hip Hop DJ Speedsta also once sparked a debate after suggesting that listeners might be experiencing “piano fatigue”.
“I think people are tired of piano,” he said, pointing to a growing interest in alternative spaces and sounds.
He added that the comment was not meant to discredit the genre, especially considering how much it has done for South African music globally.
Instead, he pointed to how oversaturation might be playing a role, with the same sound dominating most spaces.
According to the DJ, this is starting to push audiences to look for something different.
He referenced events and platforms that focus on other genres, saying people are becoming more intentional about where they go to hear a wider variety of music.