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Phumlani S Langa spoke with a rap sensation who did not cool off after his second or third offering but appears to be picking up steam.
Durban-born rapper Sihle Sithole, also known as Blxckie, is still enjoying a run we haven’t seen since the early days of Shekhinah. Ever since his debut B4now (2021), this man has been called upon for an array of features, most of which he smoked.
This year, he dared to follow up his debut with two projects, small EPs, 4Luv and THE4MULA, which were both met with appreciation from audiences.
His latest project, THE4MULA, is perhaps a little more rap centric. #Trending was there on the night his debut album launched and as soon as he performed Sika - which he must’ve done like six times - label executives and A&R reps rubbed their hands warmly, the glint of prospects flashed in their eyes as this sound was one to explore further.
So, he has been relying heavily on that singer's delivery, but THE4MULA is a little more street than that.
He explains: “THE4MULA is just a fun project for me that I had put together for fans that missed the ‘rapping Blxckie’ cause for the most part of the year, I’ve been singing and making more mainstream music. THE4MULA is a bit rawer, and it’s just me expressing myself in a way that I came up doing so.”
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So, how does it feel to be a rapper who touches gold almost every time he grabs a mic?
The artful lyricist says: “It feels great. With the way things went in the beginning, dropping an album and multiple hits within my first year of being in the game, I had a fear of kind of falling off - being a phase. But I was able to push through and give people more and that’s gotten me to a comfortable spot where I can express myself freely without those fears anymore. It’s a good time.”
Having shed any doubts about himself is something that is audible in his latest project. He flows seamlessly on ominous beats like 'plug call (freestyle)' which opens this EP. A short flood of playful raps which are then switched for one of the best songs we’ve heard by Blxckie, 'ronda'.
It’s straight up mash out music, perfect to play in the car as you pull up to any spot. Guaranteed to shake the block or bang the basement.
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He doesn’t shy away from using the compilation approach to arranging his music. In fact, he embraces this wholeheartedly.
It has been a very busy year for Blxckie with most of his time spent crafting music and the accompanying videos. Sharpening his skills in the lab as regularly as possible. He is new to centre stage and tells us that one of the highlights of his short career has been performing at festivals and concerts now that we’re back outside.
“It’s exciting,” he remarks before adding:
THE4MULA only has three features if you exclude ‘Kwenzekile’, which is a bonus track that has been out for a while. He taps underground talents Mench, K1llbrady and Scumie. Blxckie says they may be on the periphery of the mainstream but still have large followings.
“I believe in all their talent; they are super special. That’s the main reason I have them. I need them to get a spotlight and at the same time, they fit perfectly on the songs I have them on. This reasoning lends perfectly to part of the idea of ‘THE FORMULA’: I can’t be selfish with my platform, especially if I believe in other talent. I’ve learned that and I’m practising it.”
His approach to music might be somewhat polarising. Singing over pop-like music on one hand and then spraying bars over trap and drill beats with the other. He brushes this off for the most part.
“I feel like my versatility has become a challenge to myself and my listeners, not a bad one really but just something to think about and tackle on my musical journey. That, combined with the fast rate at which I came from being a nobody, is a weight I carry and work with every time I get into any creative space. This project is just another way of reeling everything back to the basics and refreshing the listeners' minds as to what got me here.”
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This year may have put the fact that he carries a serrated sixteen or two on him everywhere he goes, in the back of the minds of some of his fans. The4MULA is a rugged reminder that he could probably have your favourite rapper catching a fade on a track.
The always controversial Nota Baloyi took exception to the raunchy lyrics on the song Werrkk.
Blxckie doesn’t take aim at the label executive and now arts commentator…or something. He plays the situation low by simply stating: “We knew there was going to be a conversation around it, but I don’t really worry, it's art.”
He has no intentions of tapering off as he looks to further fuel his momentum by headlining his own show in Durban next year.
“There are a lot of things I want to do but the most important thing is a show at Moses Mabhida Stadium next year. Everything I do from now is towards that.”
