The 31st Annual South African Music Awards (SAMA31) have dropped their nominations, and the Best Hip Hop Album category is loaded with fresh talent.

This year’s lineup shows just how far SA hip hop has evolved, shifting from the dominance of AKA, KO, Kwesta, Cassper Nyovest, and Nasty C to a new generation of voices.

Nominees:

Blxckie – See U Soon Delux: melodic, versatile, and consistent.

Tony Dayimane – Red October: Induction: raw and hard-hitting.

LOATINOVER POUNDS – Pray 4 Pitori: Pretoria street culture on full display.

Sizwe Alakine – Audio 2D; Dear Darkie: lyrical depth meets experimentation.

25K – Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilograms: authentic storytelling from the streets.

According to SAMA spokesperson Unati Gwija, the awards represent “the wisdom of age meeting the exuberance of youth” — and this category proves it.

November 2025 marks the moment: SAMA31 will go hybrid, mixing a live show with a digital broadcast so fans everywhere can tune in.

With no clear favorite, this category is wide open. Whether Blxckie’s consistency, 25K’s storytelling, or a breakout from Tony Dayimane or Loatinover Pounds — the next chapter of SA hip hop is here.

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