Fresh off the success of her last single “can’t stop” — which climbed to #1 on the 5FM Top 40 and made waves across streaming platforms — Zimbabwean-Ethiopian rapper and lyricist Hanna returns with her brand-new single “tough crowd”, dropping on 22 August 2025.
Known as one of South Africa’s most exciting young voices, Hanna blends the raw storytelling of hip-hop with the smooth textures of R&B and polished pop production. On “tough crowd”, she delivers an empowering anthem for anyone who’s ever felt like their best still wasn’t enough. Sparked by the heartbreak of someone close, the song speaks to the universal struggle of people-pleasing and the liberation that comes with breaking free.
Her vocals glide between vulnerability and resolve, rising into a hook that feels equal parts pep talk and rallying cry. With sleek, confident production and a tight runtime, “tough crowd” wastes no breath — instead carrying a bold, unapologetic message: you can’t please everyone, so you might as well be yourself.
tough crowd is one of those songs I didn’t realise I also needed to hear until I was done making it,”Hanna explains. “It started out about someone else, then quickly became very close to home. It’s one of those messages that just resonates deeply and that almost anyone can relate to. Whether it’s feeling like you can’t catch a break no matter how hard you try, or for those in the public eye, always being damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Hanna
Hanna’s career has been on a sharp upward trajectory. From making her mark in Mr Eazi’s #emPawa100 and Nasty C’s Lift As You Rise, to a Best Female nomination at the South African Hip-Hop Awards for her debut mixtape The Girl in the Durag, she’s continued to cement her place in the industry. In 2024, her critically acclaimed Guilt Free EP earned widespread praise and landed her on Apple Music’s Africa Now Radio’s Big 5 with lead single “Pride.”
Now, with “tough crowd”, Hanna reinforces her new era — one that builds on the momentum of her chart-topping success while championing authenticity, self-assurance, and artistry that resonates deeply with her growing audience.
Stream “tough crowd” here: https://onerpm.link/tough-crowd
HANNA ONLINE
