25K Reflects On ‘Deep Waters’ Success After Earning Official Plaque
25K Reflects On ‘Deep Waters’ Success After Earning Official Plaque. 25K has opened up about the significance of Deep Waters earning an official plaque, describing the milestone as more than just a personal achievement and calling it a victory for South African hip-hop as a whole.
Speaking in an interview after receiving the accolade, the rapper reflected on the song’s unexpected success, revealing that Deep Waters was never created with commercial ambitions in mind.
“I won’t lie, it’s a very special moment for myself,” 25K said. “This song is not really a radio-type single. I wasn’t intentionally trying to put the guys together on one song to chase a hit. It was a very sentimental record.”
The rapper admitted he was particularly moved by how audiences embraced what he considers one of the album’s deeper cuts rather than a conventional lead single.
“Having people actually gravitate towards the deep cut from the album and say, ‘This is the one from the album,’ says a lot,” he explained.
For 25K, the plaque represents something bigger than streaming numbers or sales. He believes the success of Deep Waters highlights the strength of collaboration within the local rap scene and serves as a powerful example of unity across generations.
“I feel like it’s a win for SA hip-hop,” he said.
The track features fellow South African rappers A-Reece and Kuli Chana, a collaboration that 25K says was symbolic of the genre’s evolution.
“If you know the story, it’s more about the OG passing the torch. Having the new generation on the same song shows the next generation that we’ve got to come together more in this thing that we call hip-hop.”
The success of Deep Waters has become one of the defining moments of 25K’s career, proving that authentic storytelling and meaningful collaborations can resonate just as strongly as songs designed for mainstream radio. For the rapper, the plaque is not only recognition of the record’s impact but also a reminder that South African hip-hop continues to thrive when artists bridge generations instead of competing across them.
