People who doubt K.O do so at their own peril. The Mpumalanga native continues to prove himself as a top tier emcee who is also a certified hitmaker of equal stature. In 2022, he ascended to the top once again by releasing what is undoubtedly the biggest South African song of the year, in the form of his Young Stunna and Blxckie assisted hit-single “SETE“. He then released a well received album SR3, which is the third instalment in his Skhanda Republic season and his 4th overall album in his solo discography.
As can be expected, with the success he has achieved, there was bound to be some naysayers. This is primarily why he has decided to release the very well done yet scathing “Forecast 2023”. On the song, he first gives an overview of the year he has had, detailing his feats, as well as thanking those who helped him (Young Stunna and Blxckie get shout outs). He then goes on to address his opps – primarily, former Teargas band mate Ntukza, and the amapiano singer and DJ Lady Du. Lastly, he promises that 2023 will see him be even more brutal.
The K.O and CEDES produced song is a traditionally boom bap cut, with a recurring vocal sample, minus the boom and the bap, which is instead replaced by thumping 808 drums. It’s characterised by sparse yet soulful production that allows K.O to float and deliver a near-flawless one verse onslaught. Some of the stand out lines include, “And trophy season coming up, it’s a couple SAMAs (summers) that belong to me, yiipolotik kulonyaka if it’s not a sweep…” in which he rightfully predicts that if he is not awarded handsomely for the year he has had, then it will just be industry politics getting in the way.
He also addresses Ntukza, saying:
“Uthando noxolo that’s what im truly on, Uyinja yam but fede asitshayisani iminyaka eyishumi yonke Every time I’m thinkin’ you wiser ntwana you prove me wrong
Asik’phenduli noma ungatshintsha uyibhari eyikhuluma iyodwa
Every chance oytholayo uhlala ukhuluma inyongo
Let the fans hear it from me, fuck a reunion
To think that I ain’t even spoken to you in four summers
When your lady said some shit angim’khohlwanga
Self-restraint ain’t even easy these days
I’m leaving Karen out of it, just proceedin’ with Grace…”
In the above lines, he admits that he has been estranged with Ntukza and effectively dismisses any possibility of a Teargas reunion. He does all this with impressive wordplay, given how he manages to include the word “chance” in the verse, which is incidentally the name of Teargas breakout single. He also makes reference to Ntukza’s caucasian wife by mentioning the word Karen.
Lady Du, who made some disparaging remarks about the certification of K.O’s smash hit SETE, is also addressed. K.O raps:
“Sneak dissin’ is some shit that I don’t wanna see a lady do
Khul’ uyek’ iy’tshele and be a lady tuu
You posted in your story uzama uk’claimer ukuthi iSETE wasn’t gold
But then a day or two RISA yathi platinum
How’d that made you look?”
It seems K.O is revitalised in all aspects. If “Forecast 2023” is anything to go by, he is not planning to rest on his laurels at all. Which makes it exciting to see what he has lined up for this year.
Listen to K.O on “Forecast 2023” here:
