Hopemasta, From Behind the Scenes to Centre Stage
When Morpheus gave Neo the choice between the red and blue pill, we all understood that one choice had the likelihood of being severely underwhelming. But what if you had the choice to find your passion between two rooms? One being a homemade studio, and the other a mini-museum of South African pop and hip-hop […]
God and His Good Grace in the Making of Manu WorldStar’s MOLIMO
God’s grace is said to know no bounds. His voice is best found in the silence, the quiet. More importantly, he is said to live in the heart and mind, the trees and the sky; but specifically for Manu WorldStar, God has opened up the heavens to bless him with his favor… or at least, […]
Nadia Nakai. The awakening of SA’s rap queen
In many art forms, the pursuit of legendary status is the North Star guiding the trajectory of the artist’s career. James Baldwin spoke about an aspect of this in his collection of essays, Nobody Knows My Name. Exploring various themes over the six years that it was written, he also spoke of integrity as an […]
AKA’s “Energy” uses the “Summer Daze” sample to deliver a message
An element of hip hop production that goes back as far as the growth of the genre itself, sampling is fundamental to hip hop. In April last year, AKA filmed his episode of MTV Base’s Yo! MTV Raps where he spoke the use of sampling in his catalogue. Where our most prominent memories of hip […]
What Business Can Learn From Amapiano
Other than Siya Kolisi, amapiano was arguably the biggest thing to come out of South Africa in 2019. The name, amapiano, can be directly translated to “pianos” and is a genre of music that has taken the country and various places in the continent by storm. My first introduction to the sub-genre was when my […]
Of Pandemics and Artistry
How many times have you seen “The New Normal” when reading anything COVID-19 related? It’s marketing’s newest catchphrase and the disposition of sometimes blithely indifferent politicians, but what is the new normal to you? For essential services providers it’s longer hours and heightened awareness, for a 9-5er it’s working from home and requiring a more […]
The 10 Best KG Hooks, Ranked
KayGizm has delivered some of the most memorable choruses in South African hip-hop. In honour of his birthday, we rank the 10 best hooks he has contributed to in his legendary career. Often credited as Kay Gee, KayGizm or KG, Kgaugelo Choabi is one of the most skilled songwriters, with the most recognizable voices in […]
Bubbling under: popsnotthefather
He debuted an alternative single in 2018 titled “DTF” and subsequently featured on The Big Hash’s “Save Me” in 2019. Lungisani Siseko is known to most as popsnotthefather and is a rapper/singer that’s bringing a unique sound to the SA music landscape. Putting the work in over the past 15 months, he’s released his debut […]
In conversation with pH Raw X
With the recent release of his sophomore album, SENSE EXPERIENCE & EKEYOTO, pH Raw X asserts himself as one of the most exciting and innovative acts in the South African music industry. Through commendable self-awareness, resolve and commitment, pH Raw X has managed to become a mainstay in the game, wearing many hats, as a […]
J Molley releases “I’m Good” and ignites a lyrical battle
J Molley teased a single a few days ago on his social media titled “Deep In The Cut/I’m Good” and released the full track on Soundcloud yesterday. On it he says: Ironic how these homeboys wanna call my name out for cloutMeanwhile be on the phone calling me tryna hash this shit outGuess these are […]
Stogie T’s Freestyle Friday is a feast of rap flair
Stogie T began his weekly dose of freestyling a verse on his social media on the 6th March and nothing was the same. If you’re familiar, you’d know his pen is second to none in SA, so serving up lyrics like “Niggas blow their own horn, Ornette Coleman/ But can’t tell the pretty Tonys from […]
K.O: Defining a Decade
Image by Austin Malema of RTC Studios Styled by Cherné Africa Cover Design by Mzo Gcwabe