DJ Sliqe Reveals How ‘Ntshepe’ Brought Loatinover Pounds, Sjava & Cassper Nyovest Together
DJ Sliqe Reveals How ‘Ntshepe’ Brought Loatinover Pounds, Sjava & Cassper Nyovest Together. DJ Sliqe has opened up about the unlikely creative process behind “Ntshepe”, a collaboration that brings together Loatinover Pounds, Sjava and Cassper Nyovest across three different generations of South African hip-hop.
“Crazy story. So when we were doing the Rash-Awa album, one of the lock-in sessions, one of our core artists was Pounds. And we created the tempo there, and then we just sat with it,” DJ Sliqe explained while reflecting on how the record came together.
According to the producer and DJ, the track was developed during a lock-in session for the Rash-Awa album, with Loatinover Pounds already central to the creative process. The song initially had no second verse, leaving the team with several possibilities for who could complete it.
The decision eventually came down to two heavyweight names.
Sliqe revealed that both Sjava and Cassper Nyovest were approached around the same time for the additional verses. In a remarkable twist, the two artists delivered their contributions almost simultaneously.
“It was a game of which one comes first. The verse is from Cassper and Sjava. So they both came at the same time. We just couldn’t leave one out. They were both fire,” he said.
Rather than choosing between the two, the team kept both verses, transforming “Ntshepe” into a meeting point between different eras of South African hip-hop.
For Sliqe, that generational crossover is one of the song’s defining qualities. With Pounds representing a younger generation, Sjava bringing his own era and Cassper adding another layer of hip-hop history, the record became more than just a collaboration.
“It’s like three generations of hip-hop being explained in one song, held by a young Pounds,” Sliqe said.
One of the biggest surprises for the team came from Sjava’s contribution. When asked why the award-winning rapper chose to rap in Spitori on the record, Sliqe admitted that he had no prior warning.
“I have no idea. He didn’t tell me. We were just as shocked when we received it,” he revealed.
The producer recalled being so impressed by the finished verses that he stepped away from the club to listen to the record in his car. What was supposed to be a quick listen turned into an extended session as he and those around him repeatedly played the track.
“We bumped for, like, maybe 15, 20 minutes. We even forgot that we’re at the club,” Sliqe recalled.
Cassper’s contribution also added another layer to the record, with Sliqe pointing to the rapper’s opening as another standout moment.
The success of “Ntshepe” has also come alongside another strong run for Sliqe, who was asked about having two hit records back to back. Rather than taking all the credit, he attributed the momentum to hard work, planning and faith.
“God is good. I’ll start there. Work hard, guys,” Sliqe said.
He went on to stress the importance of putting in the work, planning carefully and listening to what he described as the voice of God within.
For Sliqe, however, the bigger achievement goes beyond chart performance. He sees music as a vehicle for bringing South Africans from different cultural backgrounds closer together.
“The love is showing that there’s love for hip-hop. We’re trying to bridge all the cultures within South Africa, bring everyone together through music, because that’s what music should do, right? Bring everyone together,” he said.
With Loatinover Pounds, Sjava and Cassper Nyovest sharing the same record, “Ntshepe” has become a striking example of that vision, connecting different generations and cultural expressions through one hip-hop collaboration.
