Dee Koala, a Cape Town-based rapper from Khayelitsha, has a distinctive voice and authentic perspective. Her unique ‘new school spaza’ sound has placed her at the forefront of South African hip-hop. She recently celebrated reaching 1 million streams on Apple Music, thanks to albums like 4 The Khaltsha (2019) and singles like Anazinto (2023). She’s…
Ghanaian artist Ko-Jo Cue has carved a place for himself as a creative rapper for the people. An icon in his own right, he has become a role model to many since his emergence in 2014. Before his break in 2021, Ko-Jo had established himself as a versatile rapper who sheds light on life’s issues….
midwxst is one of many artists that burst onto the scene through Soundcloud. His musical style seamlessly skates the line between hyper pop and hip hop. Coming off the heels of his banging ‘BACK IN ACTION’ EP released last year, the South Carolina-born, Indiana-raised rapper is back with his new project, ‘better luck next time’….
Shanti Cullis (aka $tar Playa Nyaoza) — born in Cape Town in 2001 and living in Yeoville since his relocation to Joburg — may not be a household name, however, given his most recent releases, I wouldn’t be surprised if all that was to change sooner rather than later. There’s something about the hypnotic, off-kilter…
Eccentric, unapologetic, futuristic, powerful. Those are only some of the adjectives which come to mind when I think of Bophelo Tseki, a.k.a Skolleywood — a young and upcoming femme cultural icon — who is firmly solidifying herself within the local music industry, but also bordering into other artistic disciplines, such as fashion. Inspired by contemporary…
Bugzy Malone (real name Aaron Davis) is one of Manchester’s shining stars of grime. But he is not only known for his crafty words and immaculate flow but for his daredevil demeanour that makes him a fascinating and intriguing figure. However, his adventurous side almost put his life to an end. Last year, Malone was…
Since the mid-‘00s, Earl Simmons’ (DMX) career had been in decline. He had a string of legal problems, struggled with drug addiction and was jailed for various reasons. Prior to his death from an apparent drug overdose this April, he was set on a comeback trail. Today his album, Exodus, comes out in his absence….
Having known iJohn (John Van Rooyen) since his early days gritting rhymes between his teeth as a teenager at dingy cyphers in Obs to his evolving career now – marked by loss and love – two things remain clear; John is deeply self-aware and consistent in a way that only an underground MC can be….
Between the mirror and the self-portrait; there is a great abyss. Like still life, portraits and self-portraits are great classics in art history. Portraits were commissioned by people of great importance — and who could afford to do so — to mark their presence in the history of families and monarchies. Just as artists would…
The rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine had one of the most sordid rise and falls in the history of popular music. His initial fame was less rooted in his repetitive, but catchy trap bangers, than it was in his trolling image. 6ix9ine was known for his garish face tattoos, rainbow coloured hair and his constant feuds with…
Consistency is key to the success of most artists. I don’t mean doing the same thing over and over (although it’s a strategy that works for some) but rather regularly putting out engaging work that builds on what you’ve done before and shows your growth as an artist. Sure, there are one-hit wonders, but unless…
It might be counterintuitive, but I think you have to be pretty damn confident to call yourself Theleastimportant. Most rappers’ egos wouldn’t let them dare undersell themselves right up front like that. Bravado and being braggadocious are pivotal characteristics of most create-a-character rappers so just by his name alone, Theleastimportant is telling you that he’s…
