One of the many things synonymous with South Africa is Dance music. From Durban’s Gqom, popularized by the likes of Distruction Boyz and DJ Lag, to Amapiano, which has dominated the 2020s so far, South Africa has consistently produced captivating Dance music. Now, the country’s latest iteration of Dance music is making waves, known as 3-Step.

3-step is a hybrid of Amapiano and Afrohouse, another one of South Africa’s popular dance subgenres. The subgenre typically combines Amapiano’s weightless bass and log drums with the elegance of Afrohouse. It also sometimes infuses elements from other subgenres like Afro-Tech and Deep House. Even though 3-step is a fusion of other styles, it has its own unique groove and signature feature: a three-kick-drum rhythm.

3-Step pulls from a bunch of genres: Afro-Tech, Deep House, Afro-House, and Amapiano. Similar to Amapiano’s defining log drum, 3-Step has a similarly unmistakable signature feature: a three-kick-drum rhythm. While there are plenty of arguments about what is strictly Amapiano and what isn’t, you can’t miss the three kicks of the 3-Step, and that’s what makes it so special. 

Dlala Thakzin, a DJ and producer from Johannesburg, is credited as the mastermind behind the rising genre. He created 3-Step back in 2020, but it wasn’t until 2022’s viral “The Magnificent Dance” that the genre began to receive national attention. Heavyweights like Shimza and Black Coffee bought into it soon after, popularising it even more. 

Today, 3-Step has taken over airwaves and dancefloors across South Africa and beyond. Dlala Thukzin, one of the hottest DJ/producers in South Africa at the moment, is a big ambassador of the rising genre. His continental hits “iPlan” and “Ama Gear” have helped the genre transcend South Africa’s borders, with his recent headline set at Lagos’ Group Therapy one for the books. 

Thukzin’s wins at the most recent South African Music Awards—Best Dance Album for ‘Permanent Music 3’ and Best Collaboration for ‘iPlan’—are testaments not only to his talent and rising popularity but also to the institutional recognition that 3-step is beginning to receive. 

CIZA, Jazzworx & Thukuthela’s hit single “Isaka (6 am)” is also helping the genre break new ground. Powered by a viral TikTok dance challenge, the single currently boasts over 30 million streams across different streaming platforms since its release in April. It has undoubtedly become a continental hit, reaching the No. 1 position on Spotify’s Viral Chart in Nigeria and No. 1 position on the Apple Music iTunes charts in countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Namibia. 

“My Confession,” Da Capo’s latest single from his upcoming album, ‘Indigo Child II: Love & Frequency,’ is another 3-step gem setting dancefloors on fire. The single finely blends Da Capo’s unique sonic aesthetic with R&B star Elaine’s hypnotic melodies and soulful vocals. It’s both soothing and groovy, showing just how expansive 3-step can be. 

Other songs like Jazzworx, Thukuthela & MaWhoo’s “Uzizwa Kanjan,” which is currently the most Shazamed song in South Africa, and Issa Sisdoh’s hit single “Vuma Dlozi Lami” are also a couple of other dancefloor favourites. Many more South African acts are also championing the blooming subgenre, keeping alive the country’s long history of innovative Dance music.