Most people don’t wake up to the kind of success that comes with being a worldwide phenom. TitoM and Yuppe didn’t envision it, only wanting to be the best artists and producers they could be, but a viral hit with “Tshwala Bam” has catapulted them onto the global stage. As a champion of African creativity and progress, Johnnie Walker honoured the winners, celebrating their creativity and also the impact of African music worldwide.
Reaffirming its commitment to culture, Johnnie Walker recently partnered with the Trace Music Awards and Summit. The brand ethos to keep walking is echoed in every artist taking a bold step forward and sees that progression in their creativity. “As African music continues to captivate the world, it’s crucial that we support and amplify the voices that are driving the culture forward,” says Ifeoma Agu, Group Head of Culture, Influencer & Advocacy at Diageo South, West & Central Africa. “At Johnnie Walker, we believe in the power of music to create change, to connect, and to inspire. Our involvement in the Trace Music Awards & Summit is a testament to our belief in African talent and our commitment to ensuring that the world takes notice.”
The world sat up and took notice of the winners of the Song of the Year category at this year’s Trace Music Awards, TitoM and Yuppe. In an interview with the duo, they talked us through the making of the song, their own creative process, and what led them to this point.
Growing up, the Mamelodi based duo were surrounded by the kind of music that were the building blocks of what we know amapiano to be today: bacardi, deep house, broken beat, kwaito and hip hop. Venturing an arm into the production pool was a result of that communal influence and wanting to be a part of it by contribution.
“It’s a background thing, an environment thing. It’s how we grew up, around music; [re] utlwa di pina, re skeema le batho ba ratang music, re tsamaya [ka] di Quantam tsao rasa music, dilo tsa ko Mamelodi.“
The maelstrom of music in Pretoria is such that there are almost always a few degrees of separation between artists – both established and upcoming – and once the duo began making music and putting feelers out about their production work, the community embraced them and they began making a name for themselves.
The making of “Tshwala Bam” was a cut and join of sorts. The beat was done (and disregarded) by Tito before Yuppe got his hands on it. Taking the S.N.E’s vocals from an entirely different beat, he explains the process around its production, saying, “Tshwala Bam was actually one of TitoM’s songs and it was finished [but] nna ke rata bo stout, go kgotlha-kgotlha. Pina e, e ne ba e latlhile and he didn’t care about it. Nna, I heard the full potential and I took the song and extracted the vocals.” After a few changes to the original, he says of the finished product,“Ya tlhakana, ya make’a sense.”
Nothing prepared them for the popularity of the song. After a TikTok challenge going viral, casual listeners and celebrities alike have embraced it, including Kai Cenat, Davido, Channing Tatum, and Jason Derulo. Over a year since it’s release, the song still sits atop the TikTok Viral chart and is in the top 10 of the TikTok music chart. Chris Brown has included the song in a dance break during his “11:11” global tour and Burna Boy has also hopped onto a remix.
“Tshwala Bam” is now also an award-winning track, taking home the Song of the Year title at the 2025 Trace Music Awards that were held in Zanzibar. As a brand that has long celebrated progress, creativity, and those who keep walking, Johnnie Walker proudly presented the night’s most coveted awards, recognising the artists who are shaping the future of African music.
The success of the song has changed the way the two have approached their music making, with Yuppe saying, “I learnt that simplicity is key. There’s no need to complicate things.”
With the recognition and backing from Johnnie Walker and the Trace Awards helping them they’re excited for the next stage of their careers. The prize extended to them by Johnnie Walker includes a $15,000 cheque and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Brand Home of Johnnie Walker in Scotland. They revere the ethos of “Keep Walking”, saying of their careers, “Tsamaya ka pace ya hao. O ska jaha. O sa stop’a. Wena, tsamaya fela. Keep Walking.”
