# The 7 Best Amapiano Tracks of All Time

Gauteng's deep-house descendant, built on jazzy piano chords, shuffling percussion and a bending synthetic bass note called the log drum. Slow, spacious, endlessly extendable, and by the twenties the most exported South African music ever made.

- **Origin:** Gauteng, South Africa, 2012
- **Tempo:** 110–118 BPM
- **Also known as:** piano, yanos, log drum
- **Tracks:** 7
- **Updated:** 2026-08-29
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/genre/amapiano/

## The list

### 1. [Kabza De Small featuring Leehleza](https://waxonia.com/artist/kabza-de-small-featuring-leehleza/) — [Umshove](https://waxonia.com/track/kabza-de-small-featuring-leehleza--umshove/)

*2018*

One of the first amapiano tracks to carry a vocal, and the one that introduced most South Africans to the genre and to its most prolific producer. The log drum arrives fully formed.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Kabza%20De%20Small%20featuring%20Leehleza%20Umshove) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=WrOv0R6yc4o)

### 2. [Focalistic featuring Vigro Deep](https://waxonia.com/artist/focalistic-featuring-vigro-deep/) — [Ke Star](https://waxonia.com/track/focalistic-featuring-vigro-deep--ke-star/)

*2020*

Sepedi rap over a piano loop, and the record that made amapiano continental rather than national. The bassline does almost nothing and is the whole reason it works.

Also on: [The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Focalistic%20featuring%20Vigro%20Deep%20Ke%20Star) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ)

### 3. [MFR Souls featuring Major League Djz, Kamo Mphela and Bontle Smith](https://waxonia.com/artist/mfr-souls-featuring-major-league-djz-kamo-mphela-and-bontle-smith/) — [Amanikiniki](https://waxonia.com/track/mfr-souls-featuring-major-league-djz-kamo-mphela-and-bontle-smith--amanikiniki/)

*2020*

By a duo some credit with naming the genre. Platinum in South Africa, and a good demonstration that amapiano's hooks are usually carried by the dancers rather than the singer.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/MFR%20Souls%20featuring%20Major%20League%20Djz%2C%20Kamo%20Mphela%20and%20Bontle%20Smith%20Amanikiniki) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=r3UVw_SZbMs)

### 4. [Young Stunna featuring Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa](https://waxonia.com/artist/young-stunna-featuring-kabza-de-small-and-dj-maphorisa/) — [Adiwele](https://waxonia.com/track/young-stunna-featuring-kabza-de-small-and-dj-maphorisa--adiwele/)

*2021*

The vocal record that proved the form could carry real singing without speeding up. Notumato is the album most likely to survive as the genre's canonical statement.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Young%20Stunna%20featuring%20Kabza%20De%20Small%20and%20DJ%20Maphorisa%20Adiwele) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kjgzYp1Cm4Y)

### 5. [Mr JazziQ featuring Lady Du, Kabza De Small and Boohle](https://waxonia.com/artist/mr-jazziq-featuring-lady-du-kabza-de-small-and-boohle/) — [Woza](https://waxonia.com/track/mr-jazziq-featuring-lady-du-kabza-de-small-and-boohle--woza/)

*2021*

Amapiano at its most extroverted — five names on the credit, a chant instead of a chorus, and an arrangement that keeps handing the track to somebody else.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Mr%20JazziQ%20featuring%20Lady%20Du%2C%20Kabza%20De%20Small%20and%20Boohle%20Woza) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=7CCKGbuzrUM)

### 6. [Semi Tee featuring Miano and Kammu Dee](https://waxonia.com/artist/semi-tee-featuring-miano-and-kammu-dee/) — [Labantwana Ama Uber](https://waxonia.com/track/semi-tee-featuring-miano-and-kammu-dee--labantwana-ama-uber/)

*2019*

An early landmark, and the point where the log drum stops being one sound among several and becomes the thing the whole arrangement is built to display.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Semi%20Tee%20featuring%20Miano%20and%20Kammu%20Dee%20Labantwana%20Ama%20Uber) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=L50LDGb4rWg)

### 7. [Tyler ICU & Tumelo ZA](https://waxonia.com/artist/tyler-icu-and-tumelo-za/) — [Mnike](https://waxonia.com/track/tyler-icu-and-tumelo-za--mnike/)

*2023*

Number one in South Africa and unavoidable everywhere else within a month. Ten years after the genre started, its biggest record is still built from a loop, a chant and a bending bass note.

Also on: [The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred](https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Tyler%20ICU%20%26%20Tumelo%20ZA%20Mnike) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=IBOvTfcMfjY)

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