Gemini Major Explains Why He Thinks SA Hip Hop Is Struggling

Gemini Major Explains Why He Thinks SA Hip Hop Is Struggling. South African hip-hop may be producing better music than ever, but Gemini Major believes the genre is missing something crucial: a generation of artists and fans who genuinely live the culture.

Speaking during an interview on the Real Stuff Podcast with Da L.E.S and Maggz, the producer and artist reflected on the current state of SA hip-hop and argued that the genre’s struggles cannot simply be blamed on the quality of music being released.

“For me, we’re looking at hip-hop right now, right? Like, it’s not doing so well,” Gemini Major said.

However, he was quick to separate the genre’s current challenges from the music itself. According to Gemini, younger artists are continuing to push the creative boundaries of South African hip-hop, with the overall quality of the music having noticeably improved.

“And it’s not because people are not making good music, because these kids are definitely banging them out,” he explained. “The quality of music has actually improved, finally.”

For Gemini, the bigger issue is what happens beyond the music. He believes hip-hop has lost some of the cultural identity and community spirit that once made the scene feel like a movement.

“I don’t think there’s people living the hip-hop culture right now. They’re not living hip-hop,” he said.

Reflecting on the era when he, Da L.E.S and other prominent figures were at the height of their careers, Gemini recalled a scene built around strong artist camps, friendships and a sense of collective identity.

“It was different when, you know, in our prime time, because people were living hip-hop,” he said.

He painted a picture of a nightlife scene where artists and their respective crews would turn up for one another, creating an environment where supporting one artist often meant supporting an entire circle of creatives.

“When you go to the club, there’s that section over there, and there’s people had camps that would show up for each other,” Gemini recalled.

He explained that bookings were rarely viewed as isolated appearances. Instead, an artist’s performance could become a gathering point for an entire network of artists.

“If someone is booking me, they know it’s not just Gemini’s show. Da L.E.S might show up, Riky, you might show up, same thing,” he said, referencing the late Riky Rick alongside Da L.E.S.

According to Gemini, that culture of showing up for one another created a ripple effect across the scene, with different camps supporting each other’s artists and events.

“People were living hip-hop,” he reiterated.

His comments highlight a distinction between the health of hip-hop as a musical genre and the health of hip-hop as a culture. While Gemini acknowledges that new artists are making quality music, he believes the communal energy, loyalty and collective identity that once surrounded SA hip-hop have weakened.

For him, reviving the genre may therefore require more than simply making better records. It could mean rebuilding the sense of community that made hip-hop feel like a lifestyle rather than just a category of music.