Kasi rap wrapped in kwaito

KWAITO never died, it just got better.

There's a new but familiar sound coming from the new age hip-hop boys, making it a joy to listen to.

Mzansi boys such as Cassper Nyovest, Zakwe, K.O., Riky Rick, Duncan, Pro and Dream Team are changing the sound that most of our parents complained about. Rap is no longer monotone and dreary - just listen to CaraCara by Teargas member K.O. This ghetto hit is causing havoc on the dance floor, taxi ranks and chesa nyamas. The song, with a video that takes you straight to the township, gives you an undescribable feeling - you forget your etiquette.

Like it says: "You can take me out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of me."

So enough of the Rick Ross and Drake swag and welcome kwaito and hip-hop fusion.

Mzansi's hip-hop boys are setting the bar high, moving away from the American agenda and making music that those in the kasi can relate to.

In a rap culture influenced by American artists such as 2Pac, Biggy, the rest of world followed and copied Drake, Wiz Kalifa, Big Sean, Rick Ross, and Kendrick Lamar.

Nyovest says he follows trends of what's hip and happening in the States, and creates similar beats, but with lyrics that fit in with local culture.

"I don't want to be creating music for the kids of Sandton only. We have musicians who cater for that. I want to be known as that guy who changed the face of hip-hop. It has kwaito flavour, and that's because we did it. deliberately. We need people to relate to what we're saying and we are a nation of dancers. We must be able to groove."

His hits Doc Shebeleza and Gusheshe and his latest single, Phumakim, are turning around the hip-hop hop sound and filling up stadiums.

"With the Gusheshe song, I listened to Kanye West's Mercy. It was trending at the time. I sat up all night trying to match the sound, and I succeeded down to the drums. I just had to get the lyrics right. And going kasi was the right choice," he says.

As Nyovest says: "If you sing only vernac, you lose out on a market. If you sing only in English, you're catering for the snobs. We do it mix masala - languages for South Africans by South Africans. I rap in Sepedi, English, Afrikaans and slang and people are relating."

They are sampling old kwaito songs and creating magic.

Tracks such as Duncan's Tsiki Tsiki has its origins in kwaito legend Mdu Masilela's 1990s hit.

Durban-born Duncan says paying homage to kwaito and acknowledging it as an influence to his lyrics and rhymes is a result of his upbringing.

"I had no idea that I was creating space for new hip-hop when I sampled Tsiki Tsiki. I wanted to revive this song as it reminded me of that old great kwaito sound I grew up with. I fused the old song with new vibes. to get back that kasi-style sound and get people to enjoy hip-hop," he says.

Amantombazane rapper Riky Rick says it's over for American agenda rap in Mzansi.

"People are waking up and doing local. How do people call themselves 'local artists' when they're trying to sound international? We can't be competing with Rick Ross - it is not necessary. It's time to come back home," he says.

Nyovest says that while artsists like AKA cater for a Sandton market, they will cater for the masses.

Riky Rick adds he does not call himself a hip-hop artist.

"Music is music. I don't put a name to something. Some people call it new age kwaito. All I know is that it's over for any American wannabe."

• sitholeb@timesmedia.co.za