Spotify premieres Beat School video series

The series brings together African music’s cultural leaders and rising stars to highlight three distinct sub-genres and showcase the full breadth of music coming out of the content.

In the first episode, amapiano artists Pabi Cooper and Mellow & Sleazy sit down for a discussion on the rise of the South African genre, talking through their influences.

With roots in Pretoria’s townships, amapiano has taken the world by storm. According to Spotify data, 43% of all amapiano is listened to outside of South Africa, with Pabi Cooper and Mellow & Sleazy ranking in the top 20 export markets for the genre in sub-Saharan Africa.

Music fans and makers makers should watch out for more episodes in the coming weeks, which will take them on a journey through African music and culture alongside big-name African artists.

“In recent years, African music has been on the rise as artists from across the continent have broken into mainstream genres with all-star collaborations and genre-bending fusions,” Spotify said.

Watch episode 1 below: