DJ Speedsta’s Album “120 Ocean View” Does Not Make Spotify’s Top 200 on Release Day. South African hip hop DJ and producer DJ Speedsta is encountering significant challenges with his new album “120 Ocean View.” The project did not debut on the South African Spotify Daily Top 200 chart on its release day. This news was reported by 2022 Africa, a reputable music stats blogger, igniting discussions online about release timing, genre dynamics, and Speedsta’s standing within the amapiano scene.
Fans quickly began speculating on the reasons behind the album’s lackluster debut. A common theory pointed to the unfortunate timing of the release—120 Ocean View launched on the same day as Kabza De Small’s much-anticipated 16-track amapiano album “BAB’MOTHA.” The two projects clashed in a genre face-off, with Kabza’s work trending extensively on social media and playlists nationwide.
“You can’t release music when Kelvin or Kabza are dropping that day, only A-Reece can go up against them,” wrote one user on X.
You can’t release music when kelvin or kabza are dropping that day, only A-Reece can go toe to toe
— 𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐄. (@sthedoingthings) July 19, 2025
However, the controversy did not end there. Another wave of criticism arose regarding DJ Speedsta’s previous comments about amapiano, which were perceived by many fans as dismissive. In a past interview, he stated, “I think people are tired of Piano. And I say this with utmost respect for what they’re doing. But I think people are just tired of Piano.”
His remarks were brought back into the conversation following the album’s disappointing performance, with amapiano enthusiasts accusing him of alienating the largest audience in South African music today. “Love to see it, man—you’re critical of Piano, you try to compete with it, and you drop on the same day as the biggest piano artist. You got shown dust.”
😭🤣Love to see it man, you hate on Piano, you try and compete with it and drop on the same day as the biggest piano artist, you are shown dust
— Bongani Radebe (@__elitejay) July 19, 2025
The 14-track “120 Ocean View” was envisioned as a significant release for Speedsta, featuring some of the most respected lyricists and producers in the country, aiming for a rich hip hop experience. While the album garnered moderate acclaim from dedicated hip hop fans, mainstream data reveals a different narrative regarding its traction.
