Zakwe Calls For Rap Beefs To Keep SA Hip Hop Alive
Zakwe Calls For Rap Beefs To Keep SA Hip Hop Alive. Amidst the continuous rap rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar dominating news outlets and social media, South African rapper Zakwe suggests that the local hip-hop scene should embrace a similar competitive spirit to invigorate the industry, which has seen a dip in morale.
While some critics and even fellow rappers have pronounced South African Hip Hop as “dead,” Zakwe holds a different perspective. He argues that the country’s rappers must undertake proactive measures to renew the culture, infusing it with fresh energy and creativity.
According to Zakwe, this entails reclaiming the spotlight and reinventing the essence of SA Hip Hop to resonate with contemporary audiences. In an interview with TshisaLIVE, Zakwe, known for his hit “Benzani,” adopts a competitive stance, emphasizing that South African rappers must engage in rap beef to step up the game and restore it to its former glory.
“I feel like what can resurrect hip-hop in South Africa again is to have beefs, to keep the fire blazing in the genre. We all know the story of Biggie and 2 Pac and our generation is witnessing one of the biggest and best beefs between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, all the attention is on them.” he said.
“Big Zulu did it when he released his 100 bars single and it sparked a lot within hip-hop, it happened between AKA and Cassper Nyovest and they were at their peak, hence I feel we need beefs to keep the genre alive.
“There’s a beef I had with Duncan because we are too close and our families know each other well, so we ended up squashing it and now we record music together. We need beef to keep us recording new music. Two years ago South Africa witnessed a series of beefs from rappers which raised the bar of the genre to another level.” he added.
