From AKA’s diss track to Cassper, “Composure” which broke the internet, to Black Coffee and Nakhane Toure’s boundary-breaking collaboration, to Dookoom’s unapologetic collaboration with David Banner and many more, September brought us exciting tunes from South Africa. Live SA contributors each pick their favourite songs and let you know why they are great.

Black Coffee ft. Nakhane Toure – “We Dance Again”

Black Coffee recently won two awards at the 2015 DJ Awards in Ibiza. He will be playing at one of the biggest music festivals in the world next year, Coachella. And he keeps dropping hot tracks. “We Dance Again”, which features Nakhane Toure, has been climbing local charts and it’s not hard to see why. The song is energetic, fast-paced and incorporates choral music while still keeping a distinct house music feel. Nakhane does not disappoint either.  This collaboration of two of South Africa’s forward-thinking musicians just makes you want to dance again. – Ayabulela Zisile

AKA – “Composure”

If Cassper doesn’t come back harder, then AKA’s diss track to him, “Composure” is the last nail in his coffin. AKA, as we said on our list of our favourite diss tracks, reduces Cassper to ashes. Anatii and Riky Rick also get mentions. Well-written diss tracks that hold nothing back are always a great listen and this one does not disappoint. – Sabelo Mkhabela

https://soundcloud.com/hwing_net/aka-composure

Zonke – “Reach It”

By now, you should have accepted that the Zonke who sang over house beats is gone. Her latest album, Work of Heart, is proof of this. “Reach It”, the first single off the album, sees Zonke crooning some motivational, but not corny lyrics, over a minimalistic beat that has been stripped off everything except for blunt piano keys and a rattling tambourine for a snare. Classy.  – Sabelo Mkhabela

DJ Switch ft. Tumi, Youngsta and Nasty C – “Way It Go”

The trap-influenced beat on “Way It Go” lets you know something big is coming your way. Then Tumi jumps on it to deliver some hot lines before handing over to Youngsta whose fast-paced raps seal the deal. I, however, feel like he should’ve used a different flow. Last is Nasty C who has impeccable timing and rides the beat like a pro. Overall, the beat is the main reason I listen to this song. – Bulumko Gana

https://soundcloud.com/motifrecords/dj-switch-x-tumi-x-youngsta-x-nasty-c-way-it-go

Elo – “Stare”

South Africa is sleeping on Elo. “Stare” is the type of song you play while chilling with friends and having a good time. Elo sings about self-love and self-acceptance. She croons about issues that some will relate to. The sincerity in her voice will make you nostalgic. This song is effortlessly amazing, no wonder it has been used as the theme song of the TV show “It’s Complicated “, which airs on Mzansi Magic. – Thabang Makhathi

DJ ID ft. Reason & Skwatta Kamp – “Brand New”

Reason and DJ ID go way back and this track is a culmination of their chemistry. “I got my big middle finger pointed at the f*ck boys,” as Reason bellows on the hook, sounds like a phrase ID could live by. In short, this song sounds like a deliberate collaboration as opposed to a producer sending a beat to a rapper and hoping for the best. The beat on “Brand New” bangs. Reason does what he does best – murdering every living thing. – Sabelo Mkhabela

https://soundcloud.com/kool-out-sa/brand-new-ft-reason-skwatta-kamp

 Patty Monroe – “Talk”

Cape Town rapper, Patty Monroe has it all: skill, swag, looks, a fanbase and banging beats. “Talk”, her latest single, will get you dancing and if you are an attentive listener, she got you too. She comes off as someone with no f*cks to give dropping lines with the kind of shock-value last seen with Eminem and Tyler, The Creator. This, bru, is my jam. – Sabelo Mkhabela

Dookoom ft. David Banner – “The Worst Thing”

Dookoom’s latest single, “The Worst Thing”, features Atlanta rapper and producer, David Banner. It takes off where their controversial song “Larney Jou Poes” left off. It’s direct and unapologetic. The hook goes, “The worst thing that ever happen to the African is the white man”. The painful synths make Isaac Mutant and David Banner’s crass lyrical content hard to swallow, which is pretty much the idea. In a hip hop scene like the one in South Africa, where it’s rare to hear a song that’s politically conscious, any attempt is to be celebrated.– Sabelo Mkhabela

Zahara – “Bengirongo”

Zahara has been gone for a minute and “Bengirongo” is not a bad song for a comeback. The voice is still there, producer Robbie Malinga is also holding things down on production making sure she comes off sounding fresh and a bit grown up but still maintaining the same flavour we know her for. It’s no secret that this song is always on repeat on my phone because finally, Zahara is back with a bang. – Siyavuya Khaya

What do you think of our list? What songs do you feel we left out? Let us know in the comments section or on Facebook and Twitter.