It’s always a moment when artists, especially rappers, surprise fans by bringing out their collaborators on stage. It’s one thing to have the crowd take over Nasty C’s verse when Blxckie performs ‘Ye x4’ or vice versa, but having both of them present at the same time is always pleasing. So, when Nasty C brought out Blxckie to perform their moshpit starter at Johnnie Walker x Rocking The Daisies in Cape Town, it was a notable moment, an event within an event, in a way.
REAL HIP HOP ! WE OUTCHEA @blxckie___ @Nasty_CSA 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/BIesJQK2pL
— DJ D Double D (@DJDdoubleD) October 9, 2022
Daisies came with many such moments – Kehlani had an impromptu moment with Cape Town-based rapper Hanna, while A-Reece was joined by Jay Jody to perform ‘F*ck the World’ and 25K for ‘Red Dragon’. Maglera Doe Boy brought out both Yanga Chief and 25K during his set, and Herc Cut The Lights rocked the wheels of steel with Street Fest head honcho NotBenjamin.
As South African hip-hop goes through a phase of self-reinvention, it appears to be moving as a united force, the way amapiano has been lauded for operating.
https://twitter.com/magleradoeboy/status/1579256247752138753?s=46&t=jwKsg2tInth7DSgesz138A
But these moments weren’t just limited to South African artists. The Dreamville crew – Bas, Lute, Cozz, Nitrane – also had plenty of moments, including, most notably, performing their collaborative label hits ‘Down Bad’ and ‘Under The Sun – truly magical moments.
Beyond hip-hop moments, Rocking The Daisies lived up to the hype. Across all its stages, mainstream, left field, international and local artists dished out top-tier performances, while the extensive DJ line-up kept fans on their feet.
In the Johnnie Walker Flavour Lounge where HYPE and a few other publications were hosted alongside influencers and other guests, the tunes went from old-school kwaito to bubblegum and contemporary hip-hop and dance music, delivered by the likes of Ponahalo, Lelowhatsgood and plenty of others.
As usual, Daisies was a crucible of genres, ranging from amapiano to EDM, R&B and more.
Being the first Daisies since 2019, and the first one with Johnnie Walker as the main brand partner, the pressure was on to deliver – and they did. The festival ran efficiently without major hiccups and delivered a memorable cultural experience.
