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This week on TBKS Podcast, we get into uMgaranto II, the latest collaboration between K.Keed and Orish. Three years after the first uMgaranto, the duo return with a more cinematic and intentional project rooted in isiXhosa storytelling, kasi life, friendship and the everyday details of growing up in South Africa. From childhood memories and township humour to sharp lyricism and a distinctly local sense of nostalgia, uMgaranto II feels like a love letter to the world that shaped them. We unpack the album, the chemistry between K.Keed and Orish, and what happens when you let your culture, language and lived experiences take centre stage. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week, we dive into APOP, the highly anticipated sophomore album from global superstar Tyla. Building on the foundation of her breakout debut, Tyla expands her sound across amapiano, Afropop, R&B and glossy pop, delivering a project that feels both proudly rooted and globally ambitious. The album features heavyweights such as Babalwa M, MaWhoo, and Liquideep. With critics divided on just how far she pushes her sound, we unpack the music, the evolution and whether APOP lives up to the weight of expectation. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week on The Best Kept Secret Podcast, we're unpacking one of the most talked-about South African hip-hop albums of the year, Mochen's NORTH Vol. 1 (The Prophecy). Hailed as a bold and deeply personal debut, the project has been praised for its cinematic storytelling, lyrical depth, and themes of faith, ambition, and perseverance, cementing Mochen as one of the country's most exciting new voices. We break down the highs, the standout moments, and whether NORTH Vol. 1 (The Prophecy) lives up to the hype. Tap in. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week, we dive into one of the most powerful South African hip-hop debuts of the year: NOSANGE by Lowfeye. Named after his late mother, the album has been praised for its emotional honesty, vulnerability, and fearless storytelling, while blending hip-hop, Afro-soul, and Durban influences into something deeply personal. Featuring a wide range of guest voices and some of Lowfeye’s most introspective writing yet, NOSANGE feels less like a debut and more like a statement. We unpack the music, the themes of ambition, grief and legacy, and why so many people are already calling this one of the standout SA rap projects of the year. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

Is beef still about competition, or has it become performance? Are OGs creating space for the next generation, or competing with them for relevance? This week, we dive into the tension shaping South African hip-hop right now. From ongoing clashes between artists to the unspoken divide between generations, we question what’s really at stake: respect, relevance, or control of the culture. We revisit the SoundCloud era and its role in redefining the “underground,” highlighting how artists like PatrickxxLee and J Molley disrupted traditional pathways and shifted what it meant to come up in the game, and what that looks like 10 years later for new artists such as Kindly Nxsh, BabyDaiz, K1llbrady, and more. We also challenge both sides. Are OGs evolving with the culture, or resisting it? Are newer artists building something meaningful, or just moving faster without direction? Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week, we get into 4LUV 2 from Blxckie, a project that sees him fully lean into his R&B bag once again. As a follow-up to his 2022 4LUV, this tape has been getting love for its emotional honesty, blending smooth melodies with themes of love, heartbreak, and vulnerability. With the project already making waves on the charts and showing a softer, more introspective side of Blxckie, we break down whether this is a natural evolution or a shift that really works. Tap in as we unpack one of the most talked-about SA releases right now. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week we’re talking about one of the most talked-about new voices in SA hip-hop right now. Usimamane recently dropped his EP G-Wagon Music: Baby Tai, a project that tries to capture the hunger, ambition and confidence behind his rapid rise. From luxury-rap flexes to more reflective moments, the Umlazi rapper continues to show why so many people are paying attention. In this episode, we unpack the music, the standout moments on the EP, and what this release says about where Usimamane is headed next. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

For our final episode of 2025, we’re taking a moment to look back. This episode is all about reflecting on the sounds, the artists, and the shifts that defined the South African hip-hop scene this year. From new voices making real noise, with the likes of BabyDaiz, Kindly Nxsh, BrotherKupa and more, to the ideas and energy shaping this current wave, we share our honest takes on what stood out and what mattered. We also turn our eyes to the future, unpacking what 2026 could look like across genres. From possible trends to artists and movements worth watching, this is our read on where the culture might be headed next. Thank you for riding with us through the year. Peace & Love! Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week we’re exploring Kristi Lowe’s debut album "a glimpse inside my mind," a project that feels raw, warm, and unfiltered in the best possible way. She digs into love, grief, healing, and self discovery with a kind of honesty that doesn’t try to impress you, it just tells the truth. The sound blends retro soul, pop, jazz, and RnB, but what stands out most is the emotional clarity. Some moments cut sharply, others feel tender and restorative, and together they offer a portrait of an artist finding her voice by refusing to hide. It’s a bold first statement from a new voice in SA’s pop space, and we’re breaking it all down Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week we’re turning the spotlight on one of South Africa’s most soulful voices, Langa Mavuso — and his first major release in years titled Therapy: The Other Side. The album marks a profound new chapter, rooted deeply in loss, reflection and renewal. Mapping grief, healing and spiritual reckoning, the songs read like letters to self, moving between raw confession and gospel-tinged uplift. The album features the likes of Marcus Harvey, Nkosazana Daughter, Yanga Chief, and more! Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week we’re talking about Nasty C’s long-awaited album FREE — his first release since going independent. The project captures a new chapter for one of SA’s most beloved rappers, as he explores freedom, growth, and creative control under his own label, Tall Racks. With features from Blxckie, Usimamane, and more, FREE balances sharp lyricism with introspective moments that show just how far Nasty C has come. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week, we’re diving into Painfully Happy, the much-anticipated follow-up to The Waiting Room from one of SA’s brightest R&B voices, Nanette. The album is a stunning blend of love, heartbreak, grief, and healing — finding joy right in the middle of the chaos. With tracks like Abazali, Nanette stretches her sound while keeping her storytelling raw and intimate. It’s vulnerable, soulful, and beautifully honest — exactly why we’ve been waiting for this one. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week, we’re all about Shekhinah, the beloved South African pop/R&B queen, and her unexpected new album, Less Trouble, the follow-up to her 2021 project Trouble in Paradise. Blending pop, R&B, Afrobeats and even Amapiano sonics, the project feels like her most honest and confident work yet. With features from lordkez, Moliy, Young Stunna and Mars Baby, some are already calling it her best work to date! Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

In this episode, SeezyRay sits down with rising South African pop artist Anica Kiana for a heartfelt and honest conversation about music, growth, and everything in between. Anica takes us back to her beginnings, from posting covers online to getting cosigned by pop duo Locnville, and eventually collaborating with one of Africa’s biggest hip-hop stars, Nasty C. We dive into her songwriting process, the emotional layers behind tracks like Narc Boy and Gotta Leave, and how her music continues to mirror the complexities of her real life. She opens up about what it means to be vulnerable in her writing, navigating love and loss through melody, and how live shows are shaping a new chapter in her journey. With new music on the horizon, this is a powerful check-in with an artist in motion, unfiltered, evolving, and ready for more. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram

This week, we’re excited to be unpacking 'Moments After', the latest EP from one of SA’s most consistent R&B voices, Rowlene. It’s soulful, reflective, and all about healing after the storm. With standout tracks like “Losing Sleep” and “Don't Give Up On Me” the project shows Rowlene stepping into her power, vulnerable yet bold. We unpack the sound, the story, and why this EP feels like her most personal work yet. Visit TBKS website · Follow TBKS on Facebook · Follow TBKS on Twitter · Follow TBKS on Instagram