Apple Music: Latest Africa Rising recipient is South African Amapiano Star, CowBoii

Apple Music today announced South African producer and songwriter, CowBoii, as the latest artist to be selected for its Africa Rising artist development program.

“Being selected as the next Apple Music Africa Rising artist had me by surprise, because the last time I saw someone being selected for that was Tyla. It showed me the impact and influence of the work that I put out there each and every day,” he tells Apple Music.

Real name Sibusiso Mokone, CowBoii’s love for music started early in life, through his school choir and Sunday school classes. He has since gone on to collaborate with top artists, including Tyler ICU, X Duppy, DJ Maphorisa and MFR Souls, and has now announced a new fifteen-track deluxe reissue of his debut album THIS AINT’ A.I.

“I wanted people to grasp the whole album, the fifteen tracks that I had initially intended to release,” he tells Apple Music. “I dropped the first ten, and now I feel that it’s fitting for me to release them all together, out of gratitude to my fans and the love they have shown.”

He brings a distinct edge to Amapiano, textured by rich emotion, thumping bass kicks and upbeat piano interludes. And with a minimal approach to production, it leaves ample space for his creative persona to shine bright.

The new fifteen-track deluxe album THIS AINT’ A.I: Days After A.I is a testament to CowBoii’s hard work, and his dedication to his craft.

The latest music from CowBoii, along with that of Africa’s hottest new artists, is available now on the Apple Music Africa Rising Playlist. Discover Africa Rising here: applemusic.com/africarising.

Apple Music’s Africa Rising is an exclusive artist development programme and companion playlist geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent and introducing the next generation of African superstars. Africa Rising alumni to date include: Omah Lay, Manu Worldstar, Tems, Amaarae, Ayra Starr, Yaw Tog, Blxckie and Nikita Kering. Africa Rising sees Apple Music select six artists every year who each receive a minimum of two months of editorial support across the Apple Music platform including a launch interview with Nadeska on Apple Music 1. Nadeska has also launched a new weekly Africa Rising feature on her show highlighting the hottest new artists on the continent.

Africa Rising is the latest of many Apple Music initiatives aimed at taking African talent to the world. Now available in 33 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Apple Music 1 is home to Africa Now Radio with host LootLove which has featured interviews with some of the continent’s hottest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Cassper Nyovest, Mr Eazi, Patoranking, Rayvanny, Kiddominant, Mayorkun, Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, Master KG, Yaw Tog, Blxckie, Nikita Kering, Buju, FAVE, Nomfundo Moh and Moliy.

Apple Music also selected Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Tems as its Up Next artist in 2021, Nigerian Afropop star Rema in 2020, Grammy Award-winning Afrofusion superstar Burna Boy in 2019, and Nigerian singer and entrepreneur Mr Eazi as the first recipient in 2017. Up Next is Apple Music’s global emerging artist program.