SA: Trusted SLK wins 2020 Put Me On contest

The rapper triumphed over 4 000 entries to claim the top spot and walked away with the grand prize, which includes merchandise worth R50 000 ($3 200), a six-month PR deal and a song produced by South African producer Tweezy.

“I’m over the moon, ecstatic and most of all, I’m ready,” Trusted SLK said. “I would just like to thank Sportscene and Puma for this great opportunity, I won’t let you down.”

Trusted SLK was selected from five finalists through public voting. The contest asked the participants to send an original track to the Sportscene blog. The entries were adjudicated by an expert panel of judges and reduced to 30 finalists. This was followed by a series of live-streamed roadshows in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and more elimination rounds before the final winner was announced.

Born Sivuyisiwe Slinga, Trusted SLK has been making music for more than a decade. She is also no stranger to competitions. Earlier this year, she was among the top eight finalists of SABC 1’s hip hop show One Mic, being the only female rapper to make it to that stage of the competition. In 2017, she made the top-25 shortlist of Vuzu’s The Hustle.

Now in its second edition, the Put Me On competition has assisted the music careers of artists like Costa Titch, Indigo Stella and Lucas Raps, who won the contest’s first instalment. Lucas Raps gained major attention after the competition, creating the track ‘Without Me’ featuring Gemini Major as part of his prize.

The competition aims to build platforms for a new wave of emerging musicians in South Africa. The fashion outlet also created Capsule Fest, a street festival held in Johannesburg that showcases urban street culture elements.