Youngsta CPT holds on to Kaapstad rap baton

Youngsta collaborated with Cape Town based producers Loopsta for How to Make It in South Africa (HTMIISA) and J-Beatz on Kaapstad’s Revenge. Beats on both tapes are heavily influenced by trap sounds to which the youngster recites verses using the cadence popularised by the hip hop sub-genre. Despite his use of numbing instrumentation with kwaito and boom bap influences, Youngsta doesn't compromise on content.

In the title track of HTMIISA he takes the role of a sage imparting knowledge to upcoming artists. His advice is generic. His first rule to making it is “use your potential” yet he later says “it doesn’t matter if you come with the best bars”. But what if the newbie’s potential is rooted only in writing rhymes? Rule number two on making it in South Africa is that “they will use you”. The discussion can't go any further because this is not a rule.

Youngsta CPT reflects on his career and his life inbetween songs. In both mixtapes the last song speaks about his personal life and general feelings about the social degeneration of his neighbourhood and the country. While the songs are a far cry from being political, they display Youngsta CPT’s awareness about the socio-economic conditions affecting South Africans. This separates him from his peers that produce music in monotonous cycles of money, cars and girls… don’t forget the ice.

He boasts about his lyrical prowess to express how his personal identity is in sync with his rap alter ego Youngsta. He conveys this eloquently in ‘El Chapo Guzman’, where he likens himself to the Mexican drug lord. Except that he lives life of organised rhyme – not crime. Also, mentioning macho, mochacho, nacho and vato in succession does not mean that you’re speaking Español. For Youngsta to say "I look like a vato" is merely stating the obvious – vato means man.

Youngsta uses varying intonation for aural aesthetic, and to prevent his music from being one dimensional and sonically insipid on songs such as ‘Famous status’ on Kaapstad Revenge. Manipulating the voice to tell a story makes it more compelling, and in the absence of visuals it helps in understanding that there are multiple characters involved. It's surprising that he doesn’t try to hop on the trend of using mental illnesses like multiple personality disorder to look cool – it’s fashionable until you’re actually diagnosed.

Youngsta’s more playful joints such as ‘Floppy’ play on the familiarity the listener has with the subject – a bucket hat. This name for the unofficial national hat known as ispotty is contentious in South African popular culture. Friendships have ended because of those who insist on using the bourgeoisie terminology. This is patriotism of the petty. Youngsta holds a firm stand point as he reiterates that he will never call a floppy by its commercial name.

The listener is actually forced to hear Youngsta’s rhymes because of the range in content and the delivery of his punchlines and witty wordplay carried by a simple flow. If you’re into “Skrrr Skrrr” and turning up, you should avoid listening to this album. Save your data. It is expensive in South Africa. The last thing you want is to be bored by relevant music.

Artist: Youngsta CPT
Album: How to Make It in South Africa and Kaapstad revenge
Label, year: Boyoom Connective, 2017