You know it’s almost festive season when rappers start dropping tracks that make you move and pay attention to the bars like you’re in a cypher. Orieblxckmaestro is no stranger to South Africa’s new-wave hip-hop community, especially in Pretoria, where he’s been making noise for a while.
His new single, “Shikabala,” featuring Trophy, is proof of that. The chemistry between the two is undeniable — the kind that makes you wish for a joint album.
Even after ten years in Pretoria, I still don’t fully understand some of the local slang, but best believe the bars are elite. One of my favourite lines goes:
“Ngwanow a tshwenya okare Ndlondlo / Full set Nike ke lekompo, the great Shikabala, Shandi mama.”
It’s a slick reference to the footballer Ndlondlo and a nod to Lekompo, one of South Africa’s freshest sounds — a movement tied to Nike’s street culture where artists and fans alike pull up fully dripped in the swoosh.
Trophy closes off the second half of the song with precision and energy, raising the bar even higher.
Go stream “Shikabala” on all DSPs and let us know what you think — Pretoria’s got another anthem on its hands.