Nasty C is The Most Streamed South African Hip-hop Artist on Spotify in 2020

Nasty C tops the list of the most streamed South African hip-hop artists on Spotify in 2020.

December 01, 2020

Nasty C is the third most streamed South African artist across all genres and the most streamed SA hip-hop artist on Spotify in 2020.

Image courtesy of artist.

Spotify recently released their respective lists of the most streamed artists, songs and albums globally and in South Africa.

While amapiano cornerstone Kabza De Small topped the list of the most streamed SA artists across all genres, the Durban lyricist is the most streamed South African hip-hop artist on the platform in 2020. Nasty C has been appearing on the platform's lists since they started sharing the statistics in 2018, their year of launch in the country.

In 2018, Nasty C was the most streamed South African artist across all genres. In 2019, Nasty came third after Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa. This year, the same three artists occupy the same positions on the list of the most streamed South African artists on the platform.

Nasty C has had a great run since breaking into the mainstream in 2016 with his single "Juice Back". He has gone from just being one of the country's most talented lyricists to being a star across the continent and a notable name in the US and the UK. He has since collaborated with the likes of Runtown, Cassper Nyovest, Davido, Major Lazer, A$AP Ferg, T.I., French Montana among many others.

He released two documentaries this year—Origins on Apple Music and Zulu Man in Japan on Netflix.

Read: Interview: 'Zulu Man With Some Power' Is Nasty C's Victory Lap

His latest album Zulu Man With Some Power is among one of the most streamed South African albums on Spotify in 2020, coming fourth after, interesting enough, albums by Kabza De Small's solo album I Am The King Of AmaPiano: Sweet & Dust and Scorpion Kings Live and The Return Of The Scorpion Kings, albums Kabza released with his partner in beats DJ Maphorisa. Cassper Nyovest's latest album A.M.N (Any Minute Now) is the only other hip-hop album to make the list which is dominated by dance music.

2020 has been a massive year for Nasty C as, earlier this year, Zulu Man With Some Power broke the record of being the biggest pre-add in South Africa and the biggest globally for a South African artist on Apple Music. The rapper also appeared on Spotify's New Music Friday billboard at Time Square prior to the release of Zulu Man With Some Power in August.

Nasty C's 2018 sophomore album Strings and Bling was among the most streamed South African albums on Spotify by South African audiences in 2018.

Making the list of the most streamed South African hip-hop artists this year are usual suspects A-Reece, Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Kwesta and Emtee, alongside the likes of Shane Eagle, YoungstaCPT and newcomer Focalistic. Afrikaans rapper Early B's appearance on the top 10 may surprise many, but those who are hip on Afrikaans rap and Early B's ability to appeal to markets out of hip-hop know what time it is.