TBKS E169: The Episode About Nothing

About this episode

The episode explores the current tensions in South African hip-hop, focusing on competition between artists and the generational divide in the industry.

Is beef still about competition, or has it become performance? Are OGs creating space for the next generation, or competing with them for relevance? This week, we dive into the tension shaping South African hip-hop right now. From ongoing clashes between artists to the unspoken divide between generations, we question what’s really at stake: respect, relevance, or control of the culture. We revisit the SoundCloud era and its role in redefining the “underground,” highlighting how artists like PatrickxxLee and J Molley disrupted traditional pathways and shifted what it meant to come up in the game, and what that looks like 10 years later for new artists such as Kindly Nxsh, BabyDaiz, K1llbrady, and more. We also challenge both sides. Are OGs evolving with the culture, or resisting it? Are newer artists building something meaningful, or just moving faster without direction? Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

Topics covered

• South African hip-hop
• artist competition
• generational divide
• SoundCloud era
• cultural relevance
• music industry evolution

Keywords

• hip-hop
• competition
• OGs
• new artists
• cultural control
• SoundCloud
• underground music

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TBKS

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