From breakout debut to a posthumous finale, AKA’s discography charts the rise of a modern rap icon. Here’s how his albums stack up.
AKA was one of Africa’s most influential rappers—not just a South African icon, but a continental trailblazer. Born Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, AKA began his music journey in the early 2000s as part of the rap group Entity, alongside Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh and Nhlanhla Makena. The trio gained early recognition, earning a nomination for a KORA All Africa Music Award. Following the group’s disbandment in 2006, AKA ventured into a solo career and co-founded The I.V. League, a production collective that helped shape his distinctive sound. By the early 2010s, he had risen to prominence with a sharp blend of slick lyricism, infectious hooks, and production that seamlessly fused South African sonic textures with global hip-hop influences.
Both in life and after his passing, AKA’s presence in the culture remained unmistakable. He rapped with clarity, style, and precision, balancing introspection with bravado in a way that felt effortless. His voice cut through with purpose, whether he was reflecting on fame, love, or even personal loss.
His sound was both polished and deeply personal, blending American rap sensibilities with distinctly South African rhythms, slang, and references. Whether he was delivering club-dominating anthems or introspective storytelling, Kiernan Forbes had an uncanny ability to own the moment.
Over the years, his discography reflected different phases of growth, risk-taking, and reinvention. Some albums hit harder than others, but each one revealed something new about his artistry.
With that, here’s a look at his major projects, ranked from the least impactful to the most defining.
5. Bhovamania
Of all the albums in AKA’s catalogue, Bhovamania is the most divisive. Built as a genre-bending exploration of modern South African hip-hop, it never fully lands. The ambition is there—leaning into amapiano inflections, trap textures, and glossy synths—but the cohesion isn’t. Tracks like Energy, Monuments, and Casino still thump with swagger, but too much of the project feels like a patchwork of drafts rather than a unified vision. From an artist known for calculated precision, Bhovamania often plays like a mood board in motion. It’s not without moments, but it’s the one album where AKA’s usually sharp instincts falter.
4. Altar Ego
Altar Ego announced AKA as a solo force with something to prove. Before the awards and brand deals, this debut put his lyrical confidence on full display. From the victory-lap energy of I Want It All (featuring Khuli Chana and the late PRO) to the bold declarations on All I Know, it’s a project that balances hunger with polish. The album’s historic win at the SAMAs for “Best Street Urban Album (English)” made it clear: AKA wasn’t just a rapper, he was an emerging icon. Though carrying the rawness of a debut, Altar Ego set the foundation for everything that came after.
3. Mass Country
Released just days before his untimely death in 2023, Mass Country feels like a farewell speech wrapped in stadium sound. It’s simultaneously vibrant and valedictory. There’s Zulu-trap fusion (Mbuzi Freestyle), throwback sampling (Last Time), and the kind of high-level collaborations that defined his later years—Company with KDDO, Lemons (Lemonade) with Nasty C, and Prada alongside Khuli Chana. The production glows with South African textures, yet the songwriting remains precise and export-ready. It’s a fitting final act, introspective without being mournful, triumphant without ignoring the pain. Mass Country doesn’t just close a chapter; it etches AKA’s name deeper into the continent’s musical memory.
2. Touch My Blood
This was the album that cemented AKA’s mainstream dominance. Touch My Blood plays like greatness, equal parts pop, trap, and soul. Fela in Versace became a national obsession, while Beyoncé offered a rare peek into heartbreak beneath the designer armor. The project is full of hits, but it also showcases growth: more melodic choices, more experimental structure, more emotional range. AKA wasn’t just rapping anymore; he was curating moments. Star Signs with Stogie T is a lyrical flex, while Sweet Fire radiates sentimentality. Touch My Blood proved he could sustain his stardom at scale.
1. Levels
This is the one. The masterpiece. Levels wasn’t just a great album, it was a cultural event. From All Eyes on Me to Congratulate to Run Jozi, every track sounded like it was built to echo across arenas. AKA fused kwaito, house, and international hip-hop into something uniquely his, making rap feel glamorous without losing its edge. He wasn’t chasing American trends, he was localizing the global, turning South African slang into pop slogans. The project played like a greatest hits album on first listen, and a national treasure in hindsight. If you want to understand why AKA mattered, Levels is the clearest answer.
