Black Twitter Claims Kelvin Momo Is Underrated. Kelvin Momo (born Thato Kelvin Ledwaba in Diepkloof, Soweto in 1994) is a leading light of “private school amapiano,” a variation of the genre that employs elements of jazz, deep house, and lounge. In 2019, he released singles such as the atmospheric “Abantu Bethu” with C.A. Souls as well as the breezy smash “Yelele” with Luu Nineleven and DJ Stoks, and was featured heavily on the ninth edition of the influential label House Afrika’s Mzansi House compilation.
He may not be as well-known and commercially successful as his other big-name peers Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa and De Mthuda, but his projects show that he’s right up there with the best of them. Black Twitter also took to social media to share that the star is underrated as they showed him love and appreciation. “I hope Kelvin Momo is trending because he’s the goat!! Uyimbuzi,” one fan wrote.
Kelvin is among the genre’s most productive artists. “Ivy League” is his third project in 18 months. His previous projects, “Momo’s Private School” and “Bayeke”, teased the mature, jazzy vibes that he effortlessly masters on “Ivy League”. Each guest appearance on here seems carefully curated by Kelvin, with the likes of TBO, Ch’cco and Sino Msolo blending seamlessly with its rich sounds.
The producer’s 2020 debut album, Momo’s Private School, released under amapiano pioneer Kabza De Small’s label Piano Hub, is driven by darting keys and lush pads, replaced amapiano’s customary grit with a refined sheen, resulting in a stone-cold classic. That same year, he followed the record up with the EP Bayeke, released in collaboration with his partner, the producer/vocalist Babalwa M. “Ivy League” joins Young Stunna’s “Natumato” as yet another flawless amapiano album to drop in the final quarter of the year. If this end-of-year flourish is anything to go by, then 2022 promises to be another excellent year for the booming South African genre.
