Veteran South African rapper Ntokozo Mdluli, popularly known as K.O, did a pit stop at the UK Podcast Drinks with Noms in London, for an interview, in the midst of his UK Tour. Amongst other things discussed was Mr. Cash time’s legacy, which the host pointed out that a lot of people so not give K.O his due recognition for his contributions to the SA rap culture and music industry as a whole, as opposed to some other of his colleagues.
The Polokwane-born rapper stated that although his fans have love for him and he is not complaining about the reception, it is still true a lot of people always take him to the back seat when discussing SA hip hop hierarchies, and he believes he partly to blame for it.
“I’ve never done just the K.O concert back home like where it’s like okay, this is specifically if you walk through those doors you are solely going in there to see this man,” he stated. “My peers have done that, you’re talking about Cassper Nyovest, even AKA and all those kinds of people. I’ve never done that.”
He is referring to Cassper and Kiernan being the two biggest and most influential South African rappers of the last decade, due to their musical releases, collaborations, beef and concerts— the latter especially propelling into Supernova status in the industry.
Cassper has filled up about half a dozen stadiums in and around South Africa in his #Fillup concerts starting from The Coca-cola Dome and FNB stadium in Johannesburg to Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban and Kuisebmund Stadium in Namibia etc. Lst year Don Billiato also fillef up his hometown’s stadium, Mmabatho stadium in Mafikeng.
AKA on the other hand, before his demise had the Supa Mega concert that began in Cape Town and expanded. Ricky Rick had Cottonfest which is arguably the biggest annual music festival in Mzansi.
Even younger acts like Nasty C and A-Reece have done the Ivyson Tour and Reece Effect, respectively.
But K.O maintained that he still has a huge legacy regardless and nobody can touch his level of consistency and longevity in the game.
“Im ageing like fine wine in the music space, I’m setting a whole new tone,” he spoke about his introduction of new sounds like Skhanda and Maskandi at different times if his solo career, after beginning as one-third of the legendary Kwaito-rap group Teargas.
After ten years, the ‘Sete’ hit maker parted ways with Ma-E and Ntukza and went solo in 2014, with his classic solo debut album ‘Skhanda Republic.’
The Skhanda Republic’ franchise has spawned three different volumes in 2014, 2017 and the latest coming in 2022 and housed the international hit ‘Sete.’
“I think I’m really living the life a lot of hip-hop artists how would they like to see themselves. The longevity that I’m showcasing right now, I’m probably the first one in SA to be at it for this long and be this great for this long,” K.O said.
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