BubblegumClub is proud to announce that today, South African multidisciplinary artist Muzi’s fifth studio album uMUZI is officially released through Fool’s Gold. This autobiographical collection explores Muzi’s personal universe and the journey that shaped it. The artist’s musical odyssey began amidst the rolling hills and coastal plains of Empangeni, a township just 140 kilometres north…
In a country like South Africa, where one music genre often takes the spotlight, it’s difficult to stand out and make an impact. Amapiano has dominated the music landscape all over the country and has managed to break borders to travel to international stages. The Amapiano beats are often what we hear, from club floors…
If we are being completely honest – in mainstream popular music right now – Amapiano artists seem to be some of the musicians who take very seriously the meaning of the words “world tour”. “Pitori to the World” or “Amapiano to the World” are not mere catchphrases of global superstardom ambition or marketing gimmicks. They…
Following a three year hiatus Naledia Refiloe Makhetha — more widely known as RHEA BLEK — has stepped back onto the music scene with a new single release ahead of her upcoming EP REDEMPTION. With a story that finds its roots in Durban Kwazulu Natal, her hometown, RHEA BLEK began cementing her professional music career…
About six months ago, towards the end of July, an email happened across my inbox introducing me to Langa born and bred SimulationRxps and his new single “Phez’kwezinto” — a hustler’s anthem straight outta Langa. The album’s lead single — which also happens to be one of the first songs on the track-list — introduced…
A sonic dive into funk, 80’s South African Bubblegum pop with a mixture of kwaito and contemporary electro-dance music is the best way to describe Interblaktic, the third album from Muzi. The triumphant and bold offering from Mzansi’s golden child of electronic music follows the MAMA EP that was released this time last year. Muzi’s…
While the exact moment when the two connected is difficult to pinpoint — with it having have occurred either at a recording session with a well known South African rapper or at a Mashayabuque show — this, depending on who you ask that is. What is clear is that producer/rapper Suup Zulu and rapper Kobayashi…
Over the last couple of years the sounds of Amapiano have been a mainstay in the South African house scene. Its unbelievably smooth rhythms and elements of jazz and kwaito bringing a sense of familiarity ultimately making the genre accessible across the board to lovers of electronic music. With this saturated splash of Amapiano filling…
The last decade has seen golden era kwaito give way to the likes of new age, future- and Durban-kwaito as well as a growing number of genre-fluid articulations of the style along with artists who count kwaito as one of their many influences. These artists are at the forefront of evolving the genre; moving away…
Khetsiwe Morgan, better known as Doowap first broke onto the scene in 2012 as a DJ and quickly made a name for herself thanks to her fresh sound and high energy performances. The British-South African artist would go on to host shows on YFM, SABC1 and Berlin Community Radio and perform at events such as…
It’s been 14 years since the iconic kwaito pioneers Bongo Maffin last released a full-length album but the quartet hasn’t missed a step with From Bongo with Love. Now, I get that for some of you, Bongo Maffin is Van Halen and you’re Billie Eilish, but whether you grew up with them or whether this…
The work of Sandiso Ngubane [who performs under the moniker Mx Blouse] is something I was first introduced to in my infancy as an intern at Bubblegum Club when I was asked to review their single ‘No Match’ which was released in January, earlier this year. Needless to say, I was impressed not only by…
