Damage Control RSA: Rising Stars of the South African Music Scene

Damage Control RSA is a Hip Hop duo from Langavile, East Rand, South Africa. The group has been making waves in SA having also shared the stage with the likes of Killer Kau, not only that but has also charted number 3 in Mozambique and Nigeria on the Shazam charts (Opera and Vocals) in 2020, and has also been nominated for Live your Dreams Youth Awards in 2019 and Mama Awards in 2021.

Damage Control RSA

The duo consists of Anele Mbele (Twista) and Nkosinathi Masango (Flowmatic), who met through Anele’s cousin, who was friends with Nkosinathi. The group was formed in 2017 after they parted ways with their previous group, which was called Devour’s Gang.

Having grown up in Langaville, it shaped their musical backgrounds by exposing them to diverse sounds, from traditional African rhythms to international hip-hop and pop. It doesn’t stop there; Flowmatics dad is a music fanatic, so is the family of Twista, who played a huge role in their life.

With the formation of everything comes the downside, which are the challenges faced and like any other artists or group, they had a difficult time in finding their unique sound, managing time, and building a fan base, which all was later overcome by hard work, determination, continuously making music to find that perfect sound and engaging with the audience.

Damage Control RSA

The name "Damage Control, which was inspired by the impactful and energetic performances of the group, as they used to rock every show and studio session, leaving a lasting impression wherever they go, truly resonates with the group’s mission and what they aim to do, which is striking the music industry by storm.

After spending time looking for their unique sound, they finally struck gold as they found what they later would be comfortable in. The sound of Damage Control RSA is a unique fusion of pop, hip hop, and other genres, blended into a distinctive sound that touches the hearts of people. “We are proud of our versatility, and our music reflects the souls and emotions of our audience,” said the group.

The group's music has gone as far as being playlisted on Mzansi's various radio stations, such as Tshwane FM, Pheli FM, and Denation Kasi Top 10 radio, proving that the music they made captured the ear of the listeners, and the achievements that they have made so far are what also makes them continue pushing, with the success of the “Fusion EP” showing how far the group is willing to go with their music.

In the digital age, social media has played a very vital role in helping the group get its name out there, connect with its fans, and also share its journey. The posting of updates about music, upcoming shows, and glimpses into their creative process is what has made a name for them and also made people eager to witness them perform live and listen to their music. To them, it is all about building a loyal community through engaging with their fans and responding to them as much as they can on social media. They even take it a step further to understanding their audience demographics and catering content that best relates to them.

Damage Control RSA 

As independent artists, they have learned to be proactive, adaptable, and resilient. Being independent is something that is not for everyone, and the group has proved that they can handle the pressure as they keep kicking in doors and breaking barriers, and also social media has helped in their growth.

“Stay true to your art, be authentic, and persevere. Build a strong team, engage with your audience, and continuously create and improve,” said the duo.

Having been influenced by Kasi rap legends like Siya Shezi and Maseven, the group’s future looks nothing but bright as they aim to knock on doors even more, continue making a name for themselves, put out more music, and also try to create space for other artists to share their talents with the world.

DamageControl RSA isn’t just a name; it’s a promise to leave a mark on the world through music. 

Damage Control Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064118525462

FROM SOWETO TO THE WORLD

 Thapelo Modiela, professionally known as Speeka, is a music producer, content creator, director and film maker born and raised in Soweto.

“If we talking musically my biggest influence had to be my mother,” said the super producer.

Thapelo "Speeka" Modiela. Picture taken from Soundcloud

His mother bought him a cassette tape of the American hip hop group The Fugees which featured the song Killing me softly. “She bought that tape for me thinking it was a soul album because she was into soul and gospel, but when we played it we discovered it was something different, this was hip hop,” he added.

It was at this time when he began to be curious about the sound he just heard and wanted more of it.

He has always been fascinated by music but never thought it could be something he can pursue as a career until he came across a music creating software called FL studio. Even though to him it started off as a hobby, the more he spent his time making music the more he realized that this is something he can actually make a living out of.

He explained that it him studying IT and wasting his money to realize that is true love and passion was music.

Down the line then came Sotra Cyphers which is a Hip Hop series that the producer claimed started accidentally. During a recording session in May 2016, with an artist who goes by the name of Maseven, who happen to be there to record songs with Big Zulu, Anzo, Nubian Queen Masisi and Zwes Tornado.

“The recording sessions will usually take long hours when they were writing their verses, I got bored, and I was like can’t we do something to crank up our creative juices,” he recalls.

That’s when he picked up his camera and filmed the artists rapping over his beats. The next day he sat down with the footage and audio and started editing, that’s when he realized he was on to something.

Sotra Cyphers exclusive. Picture from Zkhiphani 

The 5th year anniversary of Sotra Cyphers went on to win an award for the best short documentary at the New York Hip Hop TV film festival.

Speeka said that winning this award was special to him because part of the story and how Sotra Cyphers came together, the late HHP had a huge impact to his decision to finally quit his day job and pursue music full time and it meant a lot to him that he got to tell that story.

It's not only Sotra Cyphers that Speeka has put life into, but also a show called Kasi Rap Records which first appeared on Gau TV for its first and second season, and with its third season appearing on SABC 1. Kasi Rap Records is a Hip Hop show that showcases talent especially in the underground scene and promotes local businesses.

Speeka added that it’s his love for hip hop that motivates him to push even harder because to him this is more than just a genre but it’s a culture that influences how he talks, dresses. The most important this is how it has introduced him to his confidence and it is the love that has made him to continue making music and the ideas that he comes up with.

“We all have ideas that pop up into our minds but are too afraid to work on them. Whenever Speeka has something in his mind, he will surely bring life into it no matter how ridiculous it may sound,” commented Chris Mcee Mayanda who is a digital creator and a longtime fan of Speeka.

The producer, said that the highlight of his career (via Sotra Cyphers) is having Stogie T in studio, and as long as you love what your doing it will eventually work out. If you love it and become successful at it, it won’t matter. If you get into hip hop with the expectation of making money it’s going to be rough for you, as long as you love what your doing it will eventually lead you to a path that you are made for.

Sizwe Alakine. Audio 2D: Dear Darkie Album

 By Lindokuhle Nkosi

When I saw that Sotra Cyphers exclusive with Sizwe Alakine (Reason) two years ago, it reminded me of what this man is capable of, but with a twist, because it's far from the Reason I used to listen to back then. What I heard sounded like a breath of fresh air—something you're not likely to get from mainstream artists.

Sizwe Alakine album cover. Image from google

One thing is for sure: that clip from Sotra Cyphers made me wish he would go back to more rapping and less Amapiano. Fast forward to September 2024, and I’m scrolling through Facebook when I see a post from Speeka talking about a new Sizwe Alakine album dropping soon, with him as a producer on some of the tracks. That really made me excited—why wouldn’t I be? I mean, one of my favorite producers and a rapper who’s really sharp with a pen are joining forces.

The album dropped on 13 September 2024, and man, it’s something out of this world. I wasn’t sure about the whole concept of bringing Alakine to hip hop and not just giving us Reason back, but I guess I was still caught up in the fact that I really enjoyed listening to Reason. However, listening to the album made me realize that I can relate to Sizwe Alakine more because he’s just a guy from the hood telling his story.

The album consists of 14 songs, and from the first track, which is F.O.M., you get a sense of the direction the album is going to take. This is what makes me say I can relate to Sizwe Alakine even more—with Reason, I was still too young, but here, I fully relate because now I’m grown up and I’ve witnessed some of the subjects touched on in the album firsthand.

What drew me even closer to this project is the Kasi Rap sound within it, thanks to the features and the production. The idea for the whole project came via the Sotra Cyphers freestyle, and if you know how Speeka gets down when it comes to production, then you know this project was bound to be fire. Producers are sometimes not given much credit, but with this one, Reason made sure everyone was aware—he even mentioned in interviews who he worked with. I like that most of the producers and artists are from the underground scene.

The album has production credits from Speeka, Infektist, Tweezy, Hopemasta, and 808 X. It’s not only the production, though—the artists who appeared on the album understood the assignment very well. Some of the artists who appear on the album are Ntombela, Lwamii, M.I.A, Vuyina, Espiquet, Umthakathi Kush, Infektist, Strictly BK, Bellinda, Chester, and Firdy.

This has to be one of the most solid albums to drop, not just this year, but possibly in SA hip hop for a while—from the first track to the last, with no skips. The best part is that it’s been a really good year for rap, and no, this isn’t about everyday mainstream rappers, but about rappers who are still willing to show us their lyrical ability without dumbing anything down.

If you haven’t heard this beautiful masterpiece yet, I suggest you give it a spin.