by Phil Chard

South African super producer and label head pH of RawX production dropped a tweet yesterday where he shared 5 of his favourite and most prestigious Hip Hop tracks to come out of South Africa. So I got hold of him to ask what significance each song on the list had from his vantage and this is what he had to say.

Please note this list is in no specific order.

Most prestige Hip Hop songs to come out of SA in my opinion are as follows:

— The Artist pH (@pH_rawX) June 3, 2016

1. TswaDaar - Khuli Chana Featuring Notshi

The beat, the raps, the DJ cuts, the video, and on top of that Lost In Time became the 1st hip Hop album to win Album Of The Year at the SAMAs. Making history in SA being the only album up to date to win that category. Hoping it changed in 2016.

2. All Eyes On Me - AKA, Burna Boy, JR and Da L.E.S

This song just showed what a good collaboration of great artist can produce. Tweezy messing with that classic Brenda Fassie sample just took it home for me. I think this song was the one song that really stabilized the relationships between SA artist & other African artist.

3. Caracara - K.O featuring Kid X

This song to me is the personification of what SA hip hop sounds, feels, looks like. Everything about this song was on point, from defining a new sound (Skhanda) by young king Lunatik, to the dress code, the dance & the VW caravan itself. Everything about this song was so South African. Than it did the numbers on YouTube hitting a Milli views.

4. Umoya - Skwatta Kamp

The video....GEEZIM bro!!!! The video at the time was a movie to me, the song was EPIC....EPIC in every way! Skwatta Kamp was officially LEGIT in every way, HIP HOP WAS LEGIT!!!....They became the legends they are with that song.

5. Harambe - HHP

This was and could still be SA hip Hop National anthem if we ever had one. It was such a powerful song at a time when hip hop was probably at its lowest...at the time it wasn't getting any easier for hip hop artists even though the game was growing. A time when hip hop was confined to a couple of hours a week, on 1 radio station, on one show. It reminds me of Bad Boy T & Lee Kasumba...if SA Hip Hop was a BEE Company, they would be the CEOs. Harambe is Just our anthem!!!