Zakwe has been a fixture in South African hip-hop since his early days on Clever ungagivaphi. Years later, he’s still standing strong, driven by a deep love for music and the community it builds. As he preps to drop his upcoming solo project—his first independent release—we caught up with him to talk evolution, legacy, and letting the music speak.
You’ve been working since the Clever ungagiveaphi days—that’s how long I’ve been following your journey! You’ve had a successful career by any measure. What keeps you going after all these years?
Zakwe: To be honest, it’s the people and the drive more than anything. Of course, we all have families to take care of, but at the end of the day, it started with us just wanting to pen our thoughts and live out the dream. That’s what keeps me going—I genuinely love the music. Beyond the money, it’s the craft and the people that keep me alive. I log into social media, and people are always asking, “When are you dropping?” That support is powerful.
Your debut dropped in 2011, and Elisa was your last full-length in 2018. What message or theme are you anchoring this new project on?
Zakwe: Growth. This new album is about maturity and evolution. I can’t still be rapping like I’m trying to prove I’m the dopest. Life has changed—I’ve got a family now, and I’ve been through the ups and downs of the game. So, this album is me pouring my heart out—talking about how to navigate fame, contracts, and mistakes. It’s more personal. It’s education through storytelling.
You recently released a track with Big Zulu. Is that the lead single for the album?
Zakwe: Funny enough, it wasn’t meant to be. I had another track in mind as the lead, but after we posted a short video on socials, the response was crazy. People kept saying, “Drop this!” So I had to listen. These days, you don’t just drop a song—you test the waters. And this one hit, so it’s on the project now, because of the people.
Are you releasing independently, or is a label involved?
Zakwe: This will be my first fully independent project. I’m distributing through Orchat, but otherwise, it’s all me. Me, myself, and I.
With so many new artists emerging, do you think today’s audience still has the attention span for the kind of storytelling you’re known for?
Zakwe: To be honest, attention spans are short these days. A lot of my team were like, “Drop a double disc!” But I know better. I’ll probably keep it to 10 or 12 tracks. You drop a project today, and people ask, “What’s next?” a month later. Even I don’t have a favorite album anymore. I listen for a bit and move on. So yeah, maybe I’ll do the album, then drop an EP soon after—stay in people’s minds that way.
Your contributions to the culture—especially your work in opening doors for Durban MCs—can’t be overstated. Do you feel like you’re getting your flowers?
Zakwe: Honestly, it’s never been about that for me. If the love and respect come, great—but I’ve made peace with just living the dream. Seeing others shine, knowing I played a part, brings me happiness. That’s what matters.
Who are you collaborating with on the project? Besides Big Zulu, who else should we expect?
Zakwe: I’ve got Duncan, Beast, Priddy Ugly, Youngsta CPT, and Touchline on the project. It’s a powerful mix of voices from different corners of the game.
Two years ago, fans were asking you to collaborate with Nasty C. Any chance of that happening soon?
Zakwe: We’re from the same hood, but we’ve never really built a relationship. The scene in KZN has always been a bit divided. Nasty and others blew up on one side, while guys like me and Duncan held it down on the other. But if a collab does happen, it would be a big win for the culture.
Which new artists are currently on your radar?
Zakwe: There are a few. OBMagiK and Celestial Mike are definitely on my playlist. Celestial Mike even won MC of the Year at a competition I hosted—he’s industry-ready. I believe in those guys. They deserve a shot.
Speaking of the competition, are we getting another edition next year?
Zakwe: We’re working on it. This year, I needed to focus on myself and the album, but we’ve got some potential sponsors coming on board. The only reason we stopped was funding—I was running it solo. But the support is building, so hopefully we’ll bring it back stronger next year.
We’re wrapping up now, but before we go—when can we expect the album?
Zakwe: October. I’m in Joburg finishing the last few tracks. The plan is to wrap everything in August, handle the final touches in September, and drop in October.
We can’t wait. Thanks for your time, bro. Let’s definitely do a follow-up when the album drops—give people the full story behind the sessions.
Zakwe: 100%. Thank you so much, my king. I appreciate it.