SA duo Darkie Fiction gets featured on Apple Music

The Sobabini: A Mzantsi Evolution EP was released on 20 July and features five tracks that pay homage to South Africa's rich kwaito tradition. It features the widely lauded track ‘Bhoza’ and intends to break new ground by its representation of the evolution of kwaito.

“To say this is a dream come true would be an understatement," Darkie Fiction wrote on Facebook. "Apple Music has decided to make us their South African Spotlight Artist of the Month. This is just one of many testimonies for us on this very exciting journey and an incredible affirmation that we are on the right track.”

Influenced by legendary South African artists Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbuli, TkZee, Boom Shaka and Skwatta Kamp, Darkie Fiction aims to preserve the original kwaito sound of yesteryear in a fresh and exciting way.

“We constantly want to bring the past to the future and remind people that you can be 100% true to where you are from and still make great art that doesn’t have to be heavily influenced by a US hip hop sound,” Darkie Fiction said.

Darkie Fiction was founded in 2017 by rapper Katt Daddy and singer Yoza Mnyanda, who also draw inspiration from Afro-funk, neo-soul and hip hop. The duo has worked with various local producers such as DJ Fosta, Thor Rixon and Original Swimming Party.

Apple Music New Artist Spotlight is a development initiative that features a new South African artist each month, giving them four weeks of editorial support across the Apple Music ecosystem as a Hero artist, inclusion in the Mzansi Hits room, and key Apple Music playlists such as The A-List: South Africa, Best of the Week and Future Hits.

Previous South African artists featured on Apple Music New Artist Spotlight include Thandi Ntuli, The Big Hash, Emerger, Diamond Thug, Sun-El Musician, Shekhinah, Shane Eagle, Elandre, Sketchy Bongo, Amanda Black, Babes Wodumo, Sipho The Gift, Johnny Cradle, Tholwana, Lucy Kruger, Moonga K, Josh Kempen and Alice Phoebe Lou.

Listen to Sobabini: A New Mzantsi Evolution on Apple Music.