So MTV (USA) announced that they’d be bringing back the oldie-but-goodie YO! MTV Raps! for a one-off special on December 4 2011. The classic show, which aired from 1988 to 1995, strongly influenced the spread of Hip-hop culture.

Tapped among the artists to appear are: Q-Tip, Scarface, Ice Cube, Wiz Khalifa, DJ Khaled, Questlove, Busta Rhymes, Mac Miller, Machine Gun Kelly, Young Jeezy, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife, Fat Joe, Common, Mike Epps, Ice-T, Meek Mill, Tyga and Naughty by Nature. As a bonus, DJ Premier will also be in the house to remix the iconic Yo! theme song.

So I was thinking, if we had our own special show, a YO! MTV Raps Africa, these are the people who would be on the show:

K’naan (Canada via Somalia)

Waving Flag, his song used by Coca-Cola as part of their FIFA World Cup 2010 fanfare really brought K’naan to the mainstream worldwide, but his role as a spokesperson especially on the turmoil in Somalia even outside of his music is what has put him on the radar of the likes of Mos Def, and Nas and Damien Marley whom he toured with in 2010. Of late he’s featured on Western Union’s World of Betters program.

Tumi (South Africa)

Tumi Molekane is arguably the country’s most accomplished lyricist and definitely its most travelled. (We reviewed his Whole Worlds album last year.) He is also the lead of his band Tumi and the Volume.

Fokn Bois’ Wanlov and M3nsa  (Ghana)

When you separate the Ghanaian shock duo the two MCs are a force to be reckoned with in their own right. They would bring a fun, frank vibe to the show. Check out their pioneering Pidgen Hip-hop musical Coz Ov Moni.

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Banky W’s label Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E.) has Naija’s ”Star boy” as a signee, and could do much worse than this singing, rhyming young buck known also as the fastest rising player on Naija’s Hip-hop scene.

Tabi Bonney (US via Togo)

Based in Washington D.C., and born in his father’s native country Togo, this MC is not only born of afro-funk royalty, he is also the quintessential 360 artist: the Biology Masters’ graduate dabbles in fashion design, directs videos, and produces music for others as well as himself. Check out his The Summer Years LP, released this past September.

M.anifest (US via Ghana)

With his second L.P Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America out now, the Ghana-born rapper has already stacked an impressive resume of people he has worked with – from Damon Albarn to Tumi, with whom he collaborated as one-third of the band A.R.M.

Hiphop Pantsula (South Africa)

Southern African Motswako music came into its own with Jabulani Tsambo aka Hip-hop Pantsula at its helm. He made it hot to rhyme in Setswana, and he’s also made it a point in his career to actively promote pan-African Hip-hop collaborations, previously a rare thing.

Sarkodie (Ghana)

Even without the co-sign of Akon (whose Konvict Music label he’s signed to), Sarkodie had established himself as the fastest rhyming rapper in Africa.

Sarkodie – U Go Kill Me

Shad Kabango (Canada via Rwanda/Kenya)

Somewhere between Common and Phonte (but better) is Shadrach Kabango whose album TSOL is the Canadian Juno award winner for 2011′s Best Rap Recording.

Baloji (Belgium via DRC)

 Ten years into his rap career, Baloji’s profile has really taken off latterly as he plays up his Congolese heritage more prominently on the album Kinshasa Succursale.

If anyone fell sick before the show was filmed, I’d invite Wale and Tanzania’s Gsan and Nigeria’s Sauce Kid and M.I.

Who would make your YO! MTV Raps list? Please include francophone and Lusophone artists. And of course women!

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  A nomad-cum-journalist, Paula Rogo is a Brooklyn based Kenyan writer, photographer and videographer. This freewheeling and curious news-junkie has written for Reuters, Clutch Magazine and AOL Patch publications. She enjoys discovering the ins and outs of Africa with a special focus on African food. She hopes to treat her foodie habits to a whirlwind African food tour. For the time being Paula is happily hopping back and forth between New York’s skyscrapers, and Washington D.C.’s monuments planning her escape back to the continent. Follow me @rogo_p Read more from this author