Back To The City 2025 Unveils Final Line-Up With SA’s Rap Heavyweights
Back To The City 2025 Unveils Final Line-Up With SA’s Rap Heavyweights. Back To The City locks its 2025 final line-up and the countdown is officially on. The 19th edition of Africa’s flagship hip-hop festival lands in Newtown, Johannesburg on 11 October 2025 and the theme could not be clearer: Power in Numbers.
Headlining the international bill, Lupe Fiasco is set to perform the classics that shaped a generation. South Africa answers with a heavyweight roll call: Cassper Nyovest, Big Zulu, Blxckie, Kwesta, Emtee, Maglera Doe Boy, Priddy Ugly, Touchline, Wordz, K Keed and ZuluMecca among others sharing one stage on one historic day. The curation stretches across eras and cities to tell a full story of the culture.
Special moments are baked in. A Power Hour brings KindlyNxsh, Kane Keid, Babydiaz and Ziggy4x. Sixbynine presents a rising-stars slate including Brother Kupa, Flowjones Jr, Mfanatouchline, Babylowsky, Kiddo CSA, Jaykatana, Leodaleo and Killbrady. Pretoria gets its shine with a PTA Moment featuring 25K, Loatinover Pounds, Jay Jody, Buzzi, Lee n’Veigh, Blaklez, Mochen, PdotO, G-Tech and 2Bit B.O.Y Wonder. Heritage is celebrated through legends Mdu Masilela and Tuks Senganga. Live bands bring texture with Sun Xa Experiment, Iphupho L’ka Biko and Jae Nune, while competition winners Mthizo, Scar Stunner and Nicole Luv step onto the big stage.
DJs power the engine room all day, from Venom and Sliqe to Kyotic, Fifi Laa, Zan D, Lesedi The DJ, Kenzhero, Mr X and many more. Around the music, the festival expands into a city-within-the-city with graffiti walls, producer showdowns, MC and DJ battles, a skate park, basketball games, viewing decks, clothing and food markets, plus activation zones that turn Newtown into a hip-hop carnival.
Ticket momentum is real. More than 15,800 have already been snapped up, with the final wave live on Webtickets. If you know the festival’s history, you know this is the day where crews link up, classics ring out and new anthems claim their place. The streets are ready, the city is waiting. You can experience it in person or hear about it later at www.backtothecityfestival.com.
