Welcome To The Planet

Welcome To The Planet

In the 2010s, through their label Cashtime Fam, veteran South African rappers K.O and Ma-E launched the careers of young rappers Kid X, Smashis (now Zingah) and Moozlie. Throughout the decade, the label led with their innovative sound “skhanda rap”, which merged hip-hop with kwaito. In 2021, as K.O and Ma-E attempt to groom a new generation of skhanda rap with the label compilation album Welcome to the Planet, the proxy in South African popular music is amapiano. Throughout the project, ampaino’s defining log drum becomes a soundbed for raps on DJ Mr X’s “Asambe”, K.O and Nadia’s “Abalaleli”, Ma-E and Khuli Chana’s “Siyaz’wisa” and DJ Mr X’s “All I Want”. Just Bheki’s solo songs “Bameme” and “Mzala” take the Afro-pop route while Roiii jumps on a drill beat for “Lavidaloca” before his melodic collaboration with Focalistic. At the epicentre of the album is the label’s roster—K.O, Ma-E, Just Bheki, Loki, Roiii and DJ Mr X, but they are flanked by South African hip-hop royalty on AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Blxckie, Nadia Nakai and Khuli Chana.

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