AMBITIOUZ ENTERTAINMENT’S STAGGERING R700 000

“Emtee and Fifi let’s make a milli.” Tkay of B3nchmarq raps on Washa. It was just a dream when Tkay rapped about it, but now it’s a reality! 

BIG SEAN_BLESSINGS FT DRAKE AND KANYE WEST

I'm sure other rappers wanted to quit rap after hearing these subliminal lyrics! 

CASSPER NYOVEST FT DJ DRAMA & ANATII_GHETTO

mp4 uploaded from Youtube.

TI FT YOUNG THUG_I NEED A WAR

When it's your time, no one can deny that. When Young Thug was still coming up naysayers criticized him claiming that he is mimicking Young Money boss Lil Wayne and no thought that at this time he would be this big.

RUN JOZI PARODY

This video was created by @IamVertigoMan and @cox1tau and directed by @Dro4real.

CARACARA PARODY

 

This video was created by @IamVertigoMan and directed by @cox1tau.

 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HATE AND OPINION IN HIP HOP

It is atypical to hear a hip-hop artist (even newbies) not bringing up the word "hater" when rapping. As a hip-hop fanatic, don't you get cheesed off by this corniness? Do they really being hated on or they just following the suit (oh yeah it's a hip-hip culture, let me rap about haters)? Or they can't distinguish between haters and people voicing their opinions? Or they refuse to receive an opinion, especially if it's an uncomfortable fact about their music?

The question that needs to be posed is: what is a hater in the world of hip-hop? To me, a hater is someone who refuses to see you prosper and never agrees (because of jealousy) that you good, talented or smart without stats and facts to back it up.

But it differs when it comes to opinion. I will take three artists that were on the top three in the MTV's SA Hottest MCs 2014 list that steered controversy, and form an opinion about them. AKA (who held number 3 spot); Cassper Nyovest (who held number two) and KO (number 1). My opinion is in twofold: about them personally; their 2014 projects.

A

KA is a great rapper who altered South African hip-hop and set new trends. Evidently, he made hip-hop cool: made girls listen to it though they don't really dig it. AKA possibly changed many South Africans' views (because of his looks) in seeing hip-hop as meant for gangsters or criminals. Moreover,  some people hate on him since he appears as this flamboyant, showy and confident dude who knows he's good at what he does. But sometimes AKA thinks he owns the hip-hop throne and he's solidify in it. Musically, Levels (which begins with a word-piece by rapper Tumi Molekane) is the best-produced album that has stupendous hooks; but there are only two songs that made buzz in 2014: Congratulate and Run Jozi. Hence, he is number three on the list. And one of the reasons that made Levels not to receive that much consideration is the fact that it was released in a year where there's a lot of competition in the game. So hip-hop fanatics, probably others of AKA's, jumped on other boats, and it's hip-hop so that's the way it's supposed to be. Hip-hop is all about who’s hot now.

C

assper Nyovest is a talented rapper that paints a picture of a hustler who in difficult circumstances believed and pursued his dreams and triumphed. People fell in love with his art and heard his story. Who wouldn't admire a person who believed in his art, quit school, got penniless and eventually succeeded the way he did? Of course, his story is a best-selling book itself and people envisage themselves like him. But Cassper is an immature rapper who just blatantly utter things in public without first thinking them properly. Then he later comes back and justifies his deeds after the mass he has already done. Musically, Tsholofelo is the great album. It kicks-off with a heartfelt track where the rapper pours his heart out telling his story. In my opinion, that's the only way you can relate and inspire many people in South Africa as an artist—telling your true inspiring story rather than flaunting about how much money or materialistic stuff you possess. In only 10 months, Cassper managed to put his name on the map and became the most talked about rapper. Tsholofelo topped sales; won awards and still winning. Skwatta Kamp member and record label owner, Slikour, said it all in a video posted on his website (www.slikouronlife.co.za) saying "In only two hours, Cassper crashed downloads by hitting more than 100 000 downloads". Those are facts and figures and if anyone disagrees—he hates Cassper’s success. That's why he's number two. But Cassper needs to stop mimicking and taking other artists' flows and lines. I'm definite that most of his fans, especially the younger ones, think he's the one who came up with those lines. If the flows and lines I'm referring to don’t ring a bell, let me help you out. Ifani's and Migos' flow he uses on Doc Shebeleza; "akitsibi kay ketsang" line by Thembi Seete he sings on DJ Dimples' Way Up. If he continues to do this, his fans will notice it and desert him.

K

O is a nonchalant dude who knows that he's been in this game for a decade now and he's been consistent in writing great verses; still relevant. What's the worst thing you can say about KO? Swag, he has it. Punchlines, you're in a factory of them. Years in the game and still doing it, he's there too bruh! This guy is all in one. He raps about stuff you never heard of and you won't get his punchlines if you too slow, or you not an avid hip-hop listener. The words he chooses when writing his verses clearly show that the guy is matured and intellectual. The way KO is laid-back, he's like: 'let the crowd decide man, I won't say a word'. He doesn't compel you to like him, he lets his art speaks for himself. Reason why he's number one. Musically, Skhanda Republic is the album when you listen to it as a South African you become proud of our music. The album incorporates South African style, culture, rhythm, beat, and tempo. There's absolutely no American leverage on the album. You can detect that KO 'o tswa ko Kasi monna' (he's from the township) and he's daring and proud to be different. The album kicks off with the kwaito influenced record, Delakufa, which starts with a male voice speaking in Sotho, a man who seemingly demanding his money back. The Sotho language and money marauding vividly depicts South African story: township life. Skhanda Republic is the best-produced album with kwaito and hip-hop rhythm which differs South African music from other countries. I'm sure when KO performs in other countries he introduce them in a new, different rhythm and style.

Another incident of this hating and opinion confusion appeared on Twitter. Radio and TV presenter, Sizwe Dhlomo, posted a tweet aiming at Kwesta. The tweet goes like this: "Be happy with number nine, your last hit was in 2011 @KwestaDaKAR. #SAHottestMCs." Days later that tweet, Kwesta dropped King Speech. King Speech caused a lot of buzz and trended in South Africa. Kwesta murdered the five minutes beat and proved that he's a great rapper. So, did Sizwe Dhlomo hated on Kwesta when he said your last hit was in 2011 or was he voicing his opinion—which is a very uncomfortable truth to handle? Yes, without  a doubt. Kwesta is a great rapper but he didn't put out a dope record in 2014 like other artists who are hot right now.  But King Speech, albeit it’s a freestyle song, erased all of that. 

After reading this article, do you consider me as a hater of AKA or Cassper since I had  an opinion about them; and a fan of KO since I didn't say any negative things about him and his album? But recall, I don’t personally know them but I like their art and entitled to form an opinion about them and their music so as you. And ooh, another thing I almost forgot to tell you, I listen to their (three of them) records every day.

If an individual says a particular rapper is whack and has his own reasons, he's/she's not a hater. He/she is entitled to say that. A person feels that way since a rapper is not relating to him or it's not giving him/her what he/she is looking for in a 'dope artist'. But that can change: when you start relating to him/her. Hence, I say there’s a huge difference between hating and opinion.