Kieran Forbes’ death made Shwa think about all the people we’ve lost who gave us hip hope.
Jabulani Tsambo, also known as Hip Hop Pantsula, committed suicide in 2018. He was a Motswako rapper from South Africa who sang and performed largely in Setswana.
Because it’s still delicious, Shwa was still jamming to the well-known Music and Lights in Dezemba. He actually created legendary jams.
Then I recall the late Flabba, a member of Skwatta Kamp who was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend in 2015. What a terrible way to pass away such a gifted performer and lyricist!
Then Linda Mkhize, best known by his stage moniker ProKid or PRO, passed away and left us without him.
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We miss your economy of words, brother. PRO was well renowned for rapping in a blend of English and South African township slang. In a century, will there be another PRO? we ponder. The songs, in which he rapped about township life, became viral after his self-produced album Soweto was released.
His rap skills are still unrivaled today. On August 8, 2018, he experienced a seizure while visiting his girlfriend and died at the age of 39.
DJ Citi Lyts, a hip-hop performer, also passed away in 2022. ProKid’s younger brother, DJ Citi Lyts, whose true name is Sandile Nkululeko Mkhize, was a DJ. Four men brandishing three firearms approached the 32-year-old artist and his companions.
In February 2022, Rikhado “Riky Rick” Makhado died in the same horrible manner. At the age of 34, Riky Rick took his own life, leaving behind a loving wife and lovely children.
His and AKA’s passing have shown Shwa that February is not a joyful month. Riky Rick, who popularised the (hip hop) culture, was a smart thinker as well as a phenomenal fashionista who set the trends. Still, his absence is keenly felt.
AKA, who had recently passed away, was brutally killed in Durban as the hip-hop community was still coming to terms with his passing. He did not take many steps to distance himself from the violence in US rap, like the majority of his hip-hop counterparts.
Hip-hop slices of beef between AKA and Cassper Nyovest, his biggest South African competitor, allowed him to develop. But Mzansi adored him and still does. He was truly larger than life, and it still seems surreal that he is gone.
The best of Mzansi, RIP.