SA Hip Hop Awards 2021: Nominees and Winners

SA Hip Hop Awards 2021

The 10th Annual South African Hip Hop Awards ceremony was held in Johannesburg on Saturday 11 December 2021.

It recognized artists who stood above the rest with their artistic innovation and further defined their careers through what had been the toughest year for artists all across the globe.

The nominations were announced on Tuesday 2 November 2021 after the nominees had been selected from more than 2,000 submissions across 24 categories and reflected on the artists that defined the year in South African Hip Hop running from 15 September 2020 to 15 September 2021.

Online and SMS voting for the nominees opened on Wednesday 3 November 2021 and ended on Friday 26 November 2021.

To celebrate the 10th edition of the event, two new categories were added, “Artist of the Decade” and “Best International Act”.

There were nine categories eligible for public votes and these included: Song Of The Year, Best Collabo, Best Video, Best Male, Best Female, Best Radio Show, Best Remix, Artist of the Decade and Best International Act.

The winners were revealed on Saturday 11 December 2021 at an awards ceremony that radio personality Sol Phenduka hosted.


Date: Saturday 11 December 2021

Theme: “The Manifesto”

Location: Johannesburg

Sponsors: SABC 1, Arts Alive, City Of Johannesburg, Stylin’ Dredz, Hennessy, South African Hip Hop Museum

Hosted by: Sol Phenduka

Most nominations: Big Zulu (6)

Most awards: Big Zulu (7)

Broadcasted on: SABC 1

Status: no in-person attendance due to Covid-19 pandemic


Winners and Nominees

NOTE: The winner of each category is written in bold letters

Album Of The Year

  • Big Zulu – Ichwane Lenyoka
  • 25k – Pheli Makaveli
  • Costa titch – Made in Africa
  • Blxckie – b4Now
  • Emtee – Logan

Best Female

  • Boity
  • Gigi Lamayne
  • Hanna
  • Moozlie
  • Faith K

Best Male

  • Big Zulu
  • 25 K
  • Costa Titch
  • Blxckie
  • Emtee

Best Radio Show

  • Ligwalagwala – The Hip Hop Culture
  • You FM – Hip Hop With Towdeemac
  • Ukhozi fm – Ziyawa Hip Hop
  • Good Hope Fm – the Ready D Show.
  • Metro FM – Absolute Hip Hop.
  • Tru FM – The Urban Exchange
  • Motsweding – FM Rap Saga
  • Gagazi FM – The Fresh Cut.
  • Yfm – Three Waywith DJ Zan D, OG Samke & Fifla
  • 5fm – The Stir Up

Best Remix

  • Stino Le Thwenny ft K.O, Major League Djz Khuli Chana – Mshimane 2.0
  • Boity ft 25k, William Last KRM, Towdee Mac, Venom – 018’s Finest (Remix)
  • Flash Ikumkani ft Bravo Le Roux & Soul T iDyan – Mhluzi (Remix)
  • Rouge ft Costa titch, Phatom steeze, Tumi Tladi, Hanna & Blxckie – popular (Remix)
  • Maglera Doe Boy ft Dj Speedsta, Emtee, Gemini Major & Priddy Ugly – Bodega (Remix)

Best Freshman

  • Boity – 4436
  • 25 K – Pheli Makaveli
  • Costa Titch – Made in Africa
  • Maglera Doe Boy – 2 Player (The Digital Score)
  • Blxckie – B4Now

Best Video

  • 25 K ft A-Reece – Hustlers Prayer Directed by (Ayanda Mayo Sidibe)
  • A-Reece ft Wordz The 5 year Plan Directed by (SXMZX for Poison Cure Productions)
  • Big Zulu – Mali Eningi Ft. Riky Rick, Intaba, Yase Dubai – Directed by (Ofentse Mwase Films)
  • Miss Pru Dj ft Malome Vector & Blaq Diamond – Chillisi Directed by (Ambitiouz Visuals)
  • Nasty C ft Ari Lennox – Black & white Directed by (Kyle White)

Best Collabo

  • Big Zulu – Mali Enigi Ft. Riky Rick, Intaba, Yase Dubai
  • Big Zulu ft Mduduzi Ncube – Inhlupheko
  • Big Zulu ft Lwah Ndlunkulu – Umuzi Esandton
  • Dr Peppa ft Blxckie, Aux Capable, Chang Cello, Lord Script – Mntase
  • Blxckie ft Nasty C -Ye x4
  • DJ Mr X ft K.O, Cassper Nyovest, Loki, Roiii – Asambe
  • 25k ft A-Reece Hustlers Prayer
  • Khuli Chana ft TylerICU, Stino Le Thwenny & Lady du – Buyile
  • Riky Rick ft Focalistic, Tyler ICU – Unngazuncishi
  • Zakwe & Duncan ft Assessa & Just Bheki – AMA Level

DJ Of The Year

  • DJ Speedsta
  • Courtnae Paul
  • DJ PH
  • DJ Venom
  • Ms Cosmo

Honorary Award Winner presented by Hennessy

  • Watkin Jones

Lyricist Of The Year

  • Landmarq
  • Priddy Ugly
  • A-Reece
  • YoungstaCPT
  • PDotO

Mixtape Of The Year

  • A-Reece – Todays Tradegy, Tomorrow’s Memories
  • Boity – 4436
  • AKA – Bhovamania
  • Maglera Doe Boy – 2 player
  • DJ Switch & Bravo leRoux – The Rise of Istrato

Producer Of The Year

  • MustbeDubz
  • Lunatik Beatz
  • Herc Cut the Lightz
  • Zoocci Coke dope
  • Gobi Beast

Song Of The Year

  • Costa tich ft Riky Rick & DJ Maphorisa – Areyeng
  • Dr. Peppa ft Blxckie, Aux Cable, Chang Cello & Lord Script – Mntase
  • Blxckie ft Nasty C – Ye x4
  • Big Zulu ft Mduduzi Ncube – Inhlupheko
  • Big Zulu – Mali Enigi Ft. Riky Rick, Intaba, Yase Dubai
  • Khuli Chana – Buyile
  • DJ Mr X ft KO, Cassper Nyovest, Loki Roiii – Asambe
  • K.O – Khova
  • Big Zulu ft Lwah Ndlunkulu – Umuzi ESandton
  • Riky Rick ft Focalistic, Tyler ICU – Ungazinshi

Ubuntu Activism Award

  • Big Zulu

Best Local Brand

  • SkhandaWorld
  • Y?GEN
  • Butanwear

MVP / Hustler Of The Year

  • Big Zulu
  • Boity
  • Nasty C
  • DJ PH
  • Riky Rick

Best International Brand

  • Reebok
  • Sportscene
  • Castle Lite
  • Russian Bear Vodka
  • Old Mutual (AMP Studios)

Artist Of The Decade

  • Khuli Chana
  • K.O
  • Kwesta
  • Riky Rick
  • AKA
  • Zakwe
  • Gigi Lamayne
  • Emtee
  • Cassper Nyovest
  • Da Les
  • Nadia Nakai
  • Nasty C
  • Reason
  • Stogie T
  • A-Reece
  • YoungstaCPT

Best International Act

  • Sarkodie – Ghana
  • William Last KRM – Botswana
  • Little Simz – UK
  • Kanye West – USA
  • Drake – Canada

Best Digital Sales

Note: This award was powered by Capasso and went to the best-selling digital release.

  • Big Zulu – Mali Enigi Ft. Riky Rick, Intaba, Yase Dubai

NOTE: This year there was no “Promoter Of The Year” category due to the cancellation of events & COVID-19 regulations.

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