A conversation that began with the South African Music Awards Best Hip Hop Album nominees quickly turned into one of the most talked about genre debates after Da L.E.S and Maggz disagreed over whether Sjava and Danya Devs should be regarded as hip hop artists or placed in the R&B category.
During a recent episode of The Da L.E.S & Maggz Show, the longtime hip hop figures revisited the list of nominated albums before discussing which project stood out to them. Maggz praised Danya Devs’ Bayede album, describing it as his favourite among the nominated releases. That comment immediately prompted a different conversation when Da L.E.S questioned whether Danya Devs belonged in the category at all.
“He’s not hip hop,” Da L.E.S said, insisting that the artist’s music aligns more closely with R&B than traditional rap.
Maggz saw the matter differently and defended Danya Devs’ place within the culture. “The culture, the musicology, his aesthetics are hip hop. Those guys are hip hop. The style of the music is hip hop.”
The exchange soon expanded beyond Danya Devs as Sjava became another focal point of the discussion. Da L.E.S argued that while Sjava has undeniable talent and influence, his current musical direction places him outside the boundaries of hip hop. “He’s R&B. He’s not hip hop,” he said while comparing him with artists whose music is more firmly rooted in rap.
Maggz, however, maintained that genre is about more than vocal delivery alone. “He’s a melodic rapper. The guy raps,” he responded, explaining that an artist’s identity cannot be separated from the culture that shaped them.
Sjava has built a career by creating music that blends African storytelling with elements of hip hop, Afro soul, Afro pop and contemporary sounds. Since emerging onto the national stage, he has earned acclaim for crafting songs that speak to everyday experiences while refusing to be boxed into a single musical identity. That ability to move between styles has become one of the defining qualities of his artistry.
Danya Devs has followed a similarly versatile path. Recognised as one of the new generation’s exciting voices, he has developed a catalogue that effortlessly shifts between rap, melody and soulful influences. While his music appeals to audiences across different genres, his connection to hip hop has remained part of his artistic journey, making the debate surrounding his classification an interesting one.
As the discussion continued, Da L.E.S shifted the focus to award categories, arguing that artists should be judged according to the sound they currently make rather than where they began. “When it comes to categories, you put him in R&B. You don’t put him in the same category.”
Following the podcast discussion, Danya Devs appeared to respond to Da L.E.S’ remarks with a lighthearted post, writing, “Apparently I’m not hip hop according to hip hop heads 😂,” acknowledging the conversation that had quickly gained attention among fans.
Maggz highlighted that Sjava’s music has evolved over the years but remained convinced that his artistic foundation still belongs within hip hop culture. “His essence is hip hop. You can’t separate Sjava from hip hop.”
Neither host changed the other’s perspective before the conversation came to an end, leaving listeners with two compelling viewpoints rather than a clear answer. The debate once again highlights how artists continue to blur the boundaries between genres, making classification an increasingly complex conversation.
Whether audiences see Sjava and Danya Devs as hip hop artists, R&B performers or musicians who comfortably exist between both worlds, one thing remains certain. Their music continues to inspire discussion, proving that the most influential artists are often those who refuse to be confined by a single label.
