Bantwini calls for unity in SA music as Fassie drops ‘diss’ track

The rift was apparently triggered by Black Coffee’s remarks on 26 July, when he called for hip-hop artists to channel their anger into their music rather than twitter rants. “Now that's hip-hop," he tweeted, "not this nonsense some of our local hip-hop artists do, some even attacking tweeps. Put it in a song, we want MUSIC”. Seldom far from twitter controversy, AKA replied angrily that the house DJ (who recently completed a four-month world tour) had no right to tell hip-hop artists what to do. Accusations of arrogance and disrespect rained from both sides.

Other hip-hop heavyweights weighed in, with Cassper Nyovest saying AKA should be humble, while veteran Skwatta Kamp frontman Slikour took AKA’s side, saying Black Coffee should not compare artists and that South African hip-hop artists do work hard to make their music.

AKA has earlier this year had public twitter ‘beefs’ with rivals Cassper Nyovest as well as iFani, although they seem to have made up. A month after controversially assaulting a fan on stage at the Durban July, AKA this week took to Twitter to hit out at the price of fame, saying he "didn’t choose to be famous". Neither moves have endeared him to hip-hop fans, although he remains one of the country's most popular hip-hop exports.

The latest ‘twar’ seemed to die down when Black Coffee pledged to record a hip-hop track himself, which is set to feature local rapper Kwesta. Black Coffee will also reportedly feature at Cassper Nyovest’s ambitious Fill Up the Dome concert on 31 October, where he will attempt to be the first local hip-hop act to fill up Johannesburg's 20 000-seater Ticketpro Dome. The event is another attempt to unite the local industry, with Slikour and Ifani also showing their support by buying tickets.

With twitter feuds threatening to overshadow the great new music that is being put out by South African artists, Bantwini took to Instagram on 29 July after meeting with several leading hip-hop artists. He underlined the importance of supporting the local industry, calling for an end to genre divisisions: “It was dope sharing wisdom and getting wisdom with these artists (Kwesta included, who is not in the photo). I am so proud of hip-hop and how far it's come along. As someone who works at a major label like Sony Music Africa as Head of A&R, I understand the importance of supporting local music. There can't be any genre divisions - only music.”

Bantwini went on to compare the local music industry to other creative industry, noting how relatively few South African musicians have been able to make it on the global stage, unlike the country’s comedians, actors and models. “We have yet to achieve global mainstream success as African artists. Comedians have Trevor Noah, actors have Charlize Theron, models have Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel. Music - no one yet, although I believe by continuing to support one another, mainstream international success will be achieved soon. And we'll be saying there's … collaborating with Kanye, etc.” he wrote, signing off with the hashtags #Music and #Unity.

Following Bantwini’s gesture, it seemed like local musicians had taken note - until producer Bongani Fassie, only child of the late Brenda Fassie and former member of hip-hop crew Jozi, came into the picture. Apparently taking Black Coffee’s initial advice to heart, he channeled his frustrations into a ‘diss’ track, titled ‘Stretcher’ (subtitled ‘May the Game Rest In Peace’), released on Monday 3 August.

In the song he takes aim at the majority of South Africa's most prominent rappers, laying into AKA, Cassper Nyovest and Slikour, as well as K.O., L-Tido, Maggz, JR, AB Crazy and his former Jozi bandmate Da L.E.S. Some in turn have slammed his effort, claiming Fassie is simply trying to stay relevant.

Download ‘Stretcher’ here or listen below

With no end in sight to the apparent feud, fans of both house and hip-hop in South Africa will have to wait and see if their favourite artists can put aside their differences and work to promote the local industry by producing relevant music and supporting each other, instead of breaking each other down on social media.