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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

With a history of firsts, Cardi B adds one more to the list

The first time I’d heard Cardi B in an interview was almost four years ago with the legendary Combat Jack. If “palms are sweaty, knees weak, lisp is heavy” were a person, Cardi was the [adapted] lyrics personified. Her nervousness was palpable, but as she eased into the conversation more and more of her personality […]

Love & SA Hip Hop – Our Valentine’s Picks

It’s that time of year again when your timeline is filled with either cynical thoughts on the capitalist drive behind Valentine’s Day or the sweet mushy stuff between lovers celebrating each other. Hip Hop is not averse to the mushy stuff, the rappers usually don’t wanna let you know that they’re some of the biggest […]

Music and gaming intertwined

Gaming rules the entertainment industry. It has risen to become a behemoth that eclipses both music and film. Globally, music (R273bn) and film (R590bn) combined couldn’t reach the lofty heights of gaming (R2 187bn) in revenue generated and South Africa is no stranger to its rise either. Whilst the scene here is not boasting the mouthwatering […]

Gigi Lamayne’s “Jou Stad” is a tale of three cities

Repping your city is far from a novel concept in hip hop. A genre rooted in identity presentation, it’s almost unheard of to *not* let your fans know which city you’re putting up for. In 2010, Bittereinder released “A Tale of Three Cities” off the album ‘n Ware Verhaal. With all three members of the […]

The New Wave’s new normal

In its evolution, hip hop’s newer entrants are taking the genre in a different direction. Misa Narrates defines and interrogates the “New Wave” in 2020. South Africa’s hip hop community has grown in numbers over the past five years. This flood of newcomers genre-bend with ease, and wear a lofty, devil-may-care attitude towards the dysfunctional […]