Emtee

Mthembeni Ndevu, professionally known as Emtee (stylized as eMTee), is a South African rapper born on 17 September 1992 in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, and raised in Rockville, Soweto. Regarded as one of the most influential figures in South African hip hop, Emtee began his music career at 17, participating in local talent shows before making a major impact with his breakout single “Roll Up” in 2015. Signed to Ambitiouz Entertainment at the time, he released his platinum-certified debut album, Avery, which also featured hits like “We Up.” Emtee was previously part of the African Trap Movement collective with artists Sjava, Saudi, and producer Ruff. His 2017 follow-up album, Manando, was critically acclaimed, named in memory of a late friend, and was followed by his second mixtape, DIY 2, in 2018. After parting ways with Ambitiouz, he launched his own label, Emtee Records, in 2019 and continued his success with the introspective chart-topping album Logan in 2021. He released the third installment of his DIY series, DIY 3, in October 2024. Emtee’s rise to fame was significantly supported by the late rapper AKA, who helped him during his early career and appeared on the “Roll Up Re-Up” remix alongside Wizkid. Known for his authenticity and perseverance, Emtee has earned multiple awards, including Rap Album of the Year and Song of the Year at the South African Music Awards and the South African Hip Hop Awards. Despite early academic setbacks, Emtee’s dedication to his craft made him one of the most played hip hop artists in South Africa and a respected voice in the genre.