South African rapper Touchline has revisited one of the most memorable moments of his career, reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his appearance on STAY LOW’s No Paperwork Freestyle platform. The rapper recently shared his thoughts after coming across the performance on Facebook, offering fans a glimpse into what was happening behind the scenes before the freestyle was recorded.
The No Paperwork Freestyle series, created by STAY LOW, has established itself as one of South Africa’s leading hip-hop platforms, giving artists an opportunity to showcase their lyricism and creativity in a raw and unfiltered format. Over the years, the series has featured a number of respected rappers and played a role in highlighting the country’s thriving rap culture.
Looking back at his own appearance, Touchline revealed that the recording came at a difficult time. Sharing details about his preparation, he explained that he was not in the best condition when the session finally took place. “Ran into this on Facebook. I was sick and wrote most of the verse that morning,” he wrote, revealing that much of the material was completed only hours before the cameras started rolling.
The rapper also disclosed that the recording had already been delayed several times because of his demanding schedule. Rather than postpone it again, he chose to honour the commitment and proceed with the session. “I had postponed 3 times because of my schedule and I couldn’t do that to the fellas again so I put myself on the line lol,” he shared, describing the decision that ultimately led to the freestyle being recorded.
Touchline’s episode later became one of the most talked-about entries in the No Paperwork Freestyle catalogue. Delivered over Kanye West’s “So Appalled” instrumental, the performance attracted significant attention from hip-hop fans and helped cement its place within the platform’s growing archive of standout freestyle moments.
Despite the positive reception it received from viewers, Touchline admitted that his personal feelings about the performance were very different. Reflecting on his reaction to the freestyle after its release, he revealed that it took years before he could comfortably revisit it. “it took me 3 years to find the courage to watch this again because I hated this performance,” he wrote, highlighting the criticism he directed at his own work despite the response from audiences.
Although he remained unhappy with the performance itself, the rapper acknowledged the achievement it went on to become. “but it’s still the most viewed video on the platform so I can sleep at night,” Touchline added, noting the lasting popularity of the freestyle among viewers years after its release.
His latest reflection sheds light on the story behind a performance that continues to hold a significant place in the history of STAY LOW’s No Paperwork Freestyle series.
