The year 2021 has been an incredible year for some of our local and international artists and it's wonderful to see that some artists forged ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is no secret that the entertainment industry is a cut-throat? Creative practitioners are often forced to diversify their skills to keep the doors of income streams open since jobs are often scarce!
Throughout the year, many artists dipped their fingers into various successful business ventures in order to sustain themselves and even beyond their tenure in the industry.
We shared pictures of Black Coffee, Cassper, Wizkid, and Tems and asked our ZAlebs readers who they thought was the top artist of 2021. Let's first see who owned 2021.
1. Black Coffee
Internationally acclaimed DJ, Black Coffee secured multiple bags this year that have made him one of the richest DJ’s in Africa. The DJ owns shares in several businesses including a cleaning business, a club, and a record label.
This year he was definitely living his best life as he got to tour across the world. He released his first album project for the year titled Subconsciously. The DJ also partnered with HyperionDev institution to give out bursaries to the less fortunate students. These bursaries were worth R3.5 million
To close off the year on a good note. He recently bagged a Grammy nomination. Black Coffee is nominated for the Best Dance/Electronic Album for his hit album Subconsciously.
2. Cassper.
The multi-award winning rapper has been on a winning streak this year and we are here for it. In June he announced that he has bagged a 100 million deal with Drip Footwear CEO and Founder Lekau. Explaining the deal on MacG’s podcast Lekau said: "It's just a product and we signed a contract worth R100 million for the products. If it's a sneaker or a T-shirt worth R2000 we are going to make ones that are worth 100 Million. Up until that particular term ends. So that is how much it came to 100 million.
He was recently named by Spotify as 2021's top artist with most streamings in Nigeria. His album Made in Lagos was also the highest-charting Nigerian album ever on the Billboard 20 charts at number 28.
Wizkid also got to tour across the world this year and won several awards.
Fans believed Makhadzi should have been included, and there is no doubt that the Limpopo queen truly dominated in 2021. She recently won an AFRIMA “Artist of the Year” award in the Continental Category.
Makhadzi recently inked a massive R120 million deal with a local footwear company called Kokovha. This year she also got to tour around the world giving the world a taste of South African music. She also bought massive mansion. Nomcebo Zikode and Master KG also dominated 2021 with their international tours.
