South African rapper 25K has officially achieved gold certification for his 2024 single “Deep Waters,” featuring Marcus Harvey, A-Reece, and Maglera Doe Boy. The track forms part of his sophomore studio album Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times Of Don Kilograms, which was released in 2024 and further established his presence in South African hip hop. The certification marks a significant commercial milestone for the record, which continues to gain traction across streaming platforms and radio rotations.
“Deep Waters” is one of the standout collaborations on the album, bringing together multiple voices within the South African hip hop landscape. The song features layered performances from 25K, Marcus Harvey, A-Reece, and Maglera Doe Boy, each contributing distinct lyrical styles that align with the project’s themes of ambition, struggle, and growth. The album itself is built around the narrative concept of “Don Kilograms,” a persona used by 25K to reflect his journey and experiences within the music industry and street culture.
The album Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times Of Don Kilograms was released under Sony Music Africa and includes a range of collaborations with established and emerging artists. It follows 25K’s debut project Pheli Makaveli, expanding his catalogue with more refined production and storytelling. Producers such as Zoocci Coke Dope contributed to shaping the sonic direction of the project, which blends trap influences with melodic and lyrical elements.
Gold certification in South Africa is awarded by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), the industry body responsible for tracking and verifying sales and streaming achievements. In the current certification framework, a single qualifies for gold status after reaching the required threshold of combined sales and streams, which reflects sustained commercial performance across multiple platforms. The certification is considered a benchmark of commercial success in the South African music industry.
For singles, RiSA certification incorporates both digital downloads and streaming equivalents, with streaming conversions contributing significantly to modern certification outcomes. This system allows songs that perform strongly on digital platforms to achieve official recognition based on audience consumption patterns.
The gold status of “Deep Waters” confirms its continued relevance in the market months after release. It also highlights the collaborative impact of the featured artists, whose combined fan bases have contributed to the track’s performance. The achievement adds to the growing catalogue of certified works within 25K’s discography and reinforces the commercial reception of Loyal To The Plug: The Life & Times Of Don Kilograms.
