On the 8th of March 2025, the city of Mbabane played host to an exclusive listening session for Bear With Me—the highly anticipated mixtape by Eswatini rapper and producer GRIXXLY. This release marks a significant moment for the artist, whose last project, As the Fruits Ripen, graced our ears in 2021. The mixtape’s title, a clever play on his name inspired by grizzly bears, hinted at a blend of strength and introspection that would soon unravel.
The session took place at Yini Loku, an award-winning hub for creatives in Eswatini, renowned for its artistic ambiance. The venue was tastefully adorned with captivating artwork and photographs of GRIXXLY, alongside the cover art of the mixtape. These elements created a pathway leading to a central TV screen displaying the cover art and a QR code for the mixtape’s pre-save link ahead of its official release on the 14th of March. The room buzzed with anticipation as prominent figures in the Swazi creative scene gathered, including podcaster Mzion, model Sakhile Simelane, Upscale Music’s Sibusiso “3T” Simelane, and a lineup of artists featured on the mixtape—Amarii, Swiss, Sarnilo, Lyrikal Busta, Mzwaa, and producer Fezi Simelane.
The session commenced at approximately 16:30 with the intro track, “Bear With You”. Here, GRIXXLY laid bare the emotional weight of navigating doubt and disbelief—from both himself and those around him. What initially seemed like a narrative on romantic relationships quickly unfolded into a broader reflection on his journey through the music industry and life. The track, self-produced and layered with introspective lyricism, offered a raw glimpse into the artist’s psyche.
Following this, the atmosphere deepened with “I Talk to God About It”, a boom bap-inspired collaboration with Swiss. The track echoed GRIXXLY’s steadfast faith and conviction, reminiscent of earlier works like “Musawenkhosi”. The lyrics were confessional yet triumphant, weaving spirituality into a gritty hip-hop framework.
Between tracks, GRIXXLY and the session’s host, Mainstream, shared insights into the creative process behind the mixtape . The artist candidly revealed that Bear With Me was an exercise in creative freedom rather than a conceptually driven project. Experimenting with diverse rap styles—boom bap, trap, drill—GRIXXLY embraced versatility, proving that artistry flourishes without the confines of rigid themes.
The mood lightened with a trio of tracks: “Si Kasa” featuring labelmate Mzwaa, “No Mistakes” with Amarii, the recently released “Where I’m From” with PDotO and “Musawenkhosi”. These songs, previously released between March and February 2025, invited the audience to reconnect with GRIXXLY’s evolving sound. The lively sing-alongs were punctuated by questions about his signature “Ekse it’s too much” ad-libs—a hallmark that sets him apart in Eswatini’s hip-hop scene.
The energy surged with “Sheleni” featuring Lyrikal Busta and Sarnilo—an anthem about the pursuit of money . “Sheleni,” a SiSwati term for 10 cents, transformed into a metaphor for ambition and resilience. Sarnilo’s vocals soared, adding depth to the song and solidifying the track as a crowd favorite. This momentum carried through to “Nhloko”(Head in English ) featuring Oriiginelle, a fiery collaboration reminiscent of their previous works “Brema to Rio” and “A Thou Nyana”. The audience’s demand for an encore was a testament to the duo’s undeniable chemistry.
GRIXXLY’s willingness to explore diverse sounds was epitomized in “Sweep”, a track featuring Eswatini hip-hop DJ, Bay Bash. Its infectious beat, inspired by the likes of Drake’s “Sticky”, blended Jersey club influences with deep basslines, setting the stage for what could very well become a TikTok dance challenge, as suggested by the crowd. The fast-paced rhythm and hypnotic hooks hinted at GRIXXLY’s ambitions beyond the local scene, aiming for a global audience.
The mixtape concluded with “Kuanini”, a track produced by Fezi Simelane that seamlessly melded rap with the log drum. GRIXXLY’s heartfelt verses spilled over the beat, delivering a poignant yet uplifting close to the session. The fusion of genres not only showcased his versatility but also paid homage to the dynamic soundscape of Southern Africa.
As the final notes hung in the air the room breathed in a shared silence—heavy with admiration and the promise of more. Conversations got lighter and the audience was quick to appreciate the mixtape. With one attendee praising Grixxly for his versatility and another for his growth. If there’s one thing I learnt from Grixxly is that having fun while doing what you love is rewarding.
With this mixtape, Grixxly goes above and beyond ; inviting us to bear with him the weight of dreams not yet realized but fiercely pursued. Bear With Me is indeed the resurrection of the Grixxly Bear. The question is: are you ready?
Presave Bear With Me here :https://paradise.ffm.to/bear_with_me_
