In 2021, a viral moment during a club set established Uncle Waffles as a DJ to watch. As “Adiwele” blared out from the speakers, Uncle Waffles was in captivating motion in front of the decks, while the audience around her chanted “People are burning.” In a 30 second clip that epitomised the euphoria of amapiano, a star was born.
Yet while Uncle Waffles established herself as a performer, and has gained renown across the world for her entertaining performances, it is without a doubt her music that has sustained her global stardom. What began with “Tanzania” and the Red Dragon EP has become a catalogue to be reckoned with. Key to this being Waffles’ ear for collaboration.
The DJ’s debut album Asylum was led by the hit song “Yahyuppiyah” which had a global dance challenge participated in by the likes of Ciara. The project had a complimentary second chapter in Waffles’ sophomore album Solace, which presented a much softer and soulful side to the DJ and producer. A year later 4 Da Ho’s arrived, a barcadi laced gift to Waffles’ fans that featured the smash hit “Zenzele.”
Now a year later Uncle Waffles has delivered the collaborative EP 4 Da Streets, a second chapter to 4 Da Ho’s that sees her join hands with Royal MusiQ while celebrating the genre that made her famous. 4 Da Streets is an ode to amapiano dedicated to the underground, the sounds’ building blocks that don’t necessarily make it to the mainstream, and the artists at the heart of this. One being Royal MusiQ.
This is not a new collaborator to Uncle Waffles, with the two having worked together on the highly successful releases “Zenzele,” “Wadibusa,” and “Baphi.” Yet with 4 Da Streets the musical chemistry the duo has already showcased has an added dynamism to it. This project showcases Uncle Waffles as a taste maker, presenting the sounds of sgija, boots amapiano, gqom and latin house to her audience.
“Too Cool” kicks things off with a driving percussive edge that serves as a rallying call to the dance floor. At its beginning is a shout of “Turn me the fuck up!” and it echoes with a repeated chant from Shoes Meister. It centres production, and this seems to be the running theme of the project.
“Kwela” with CowBoii and Uncool MC arrives with the same dance floor ready percussion but it is far more layered in both production and vocals. It is particularly infectious, a feeling added to by its homage to Professor’s “Jimaphi.”
The EP’s best moment comes from “Cn I see u,” a gqom anthem that sees Uncle Waffles and Royal MusiQ tapping DJ Lag for assistance on the production and recruiting UK based artists BXKS and BarbieSZN for the vocals. The lyricism is intricate, the production both heavily percussive and ethereal, giving the track a distinctively futuristic feel. It is 4 Da Streets at its best.
“Woza Kim” sees a return to the realm of amapiano, with a near gritty atmosphere of drums and claps. This link up of Uncle Waffles and Royal MusiQ with Djy Vino and Xduppy is brought to life by CowBoii’s vocals. “imission” shifts to a driving percussion underlied by xylophonic sounds, which provides the perfect playground for Zee Nxumalo, Shoes Meister and JayJayy. This perfectly sets up the surprising twist in closing that comes from “Brazilian Funk,” a fusion of South African and Latin dance music.
4 Da Streets is true to its promise, it is the embodiment of the sounds that have driven and are driving amapiano forward. It is also a celebration of South African music across genres, one not meant for the mainstream but for those appreciative of the depth of sounds the country has and is currently producing. Uncle Waffles and Royal MusiQ excel in not only sonic exploration but storytelling.
House rating: 8/10
