If you know anything about South Africa’s alternative music scene, you’ve heard of Underground — the genre-bending showcase founded by producer and tastemaker notbenjamin. What started as an intimate platform for left-field hip-hop and experimental sounds has evolved into one of Joburg’s most essential live music experiences. As Underground gears up for its 19th instalment, the movement continues to set the standard for what independent culture looks, sounds, and feels like.
Here are 10 reasons why you need to pull up to Underground #19.
1. NotBenjamin Is Curating Something Special
The mind behind Underground has built a reputation for breaking boundaries — from producing some of SA’s freshest sounds to cultivating a scene where experimentation thrives. Expect a lineup handpicked with intention and a setlist that reminds you why notbenjamin is one of the most exciting curators in the game.
2. The Energy Is Unmatched
Underground isn’t your typical show — it’s a gathering. The energy in the room is raw, communal, and electric. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, there’s something about that moment when the bass hits that makes the crowd move as one.
3. You’ll discover Your Next Favourite Artist
Each edition has introduced new names who later became mainstays in the culture. Underground #19 will feature a fresh wave of performers you’ll be bragging about having seen “before they blew up.”
4. Genre doesn’t exist here
From alternative trap to electronic experiments, Underground is a playground for sound. Artists are free to perform without creative limits — and the result is a sonic experience that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.
5. It’s more than music — it’s culture
Visuals, fashion, and style collide with the sound. The crowd is a mix of creatives, innovators, and culture-shapers, making Underground one of the most authentic reflections of Joburg’s underground scene.
6. The Venue Always Brings A Vibe
Underground is known for popping up in unique, unexpected spaces — warehouses, galleries, and secret spots across the city. #19 promises another immersive setting that perfectly complements the raw aesthetic of the show.
7. HYPE Magazine Is In The Building
As the official media partner, HYPE will be on the ground capturing the moments, interviewing the talent, and spotlighting the culture. Expect exclusive coverage, visuals, and behind-the-scenes access you won’t find anywhere else.
8. It’s A Safe Space For Creative Expression
Underground has always been about inclusion — a place where artists and audiences can show up as they are. No judgment, no politics, just pure art and energy.
9. You’re Supporting The Future of South African Music
Every ticket sold helps sustain an ecosystem built by artists, for artists. Underground is proof that local talent can create world-class experiences without waiting for validation.
10. You’ll Leave Inspired
Something about Underground stays with you long after the last set. It’s the conversations, the sounds, the community — the reminder that the culture is alive, evolving, and always pushing forward.