DJ Zan-D has shared his thoughts on iFani’s upcoming mixtape, Umsebenzi Wam, after attending an exclusive listening session ahead of its official release, praising both the production and the rapper’s renewed lyrical focus.
Taking to X after previewing the eight-track project, DJ Zan-D revealed that he had the chance to hear the mixtape in full, opening his post by saying, “Had the chance to preview iFani’s upcoming 8 track mixtape ‘Umsebenzi Wam’ and yeah… the brother has been cooking,” signalling his excitement about what listeners can expect when the project arrives.
Reflecting on the overall sound of the mixtape, DJ Zan-D highlighted the production quality, noting that the instrumentals immediately stood out. “The production is amazing: modern, hard hitting beats… I mean the beat selection is impressive,” he wrote, before adding that while the beats are strong, “the real highlight for me is the pen,” shifting the focus to iFani’s songwriting and lyrical ability.
According to DJ Zan-D, Umsebenzi Wam showcases an artist who is fully comfortable with his identity. He described iFani as “focused, hungry and comfortable in his own lane again,” adding that the mixtape features “no chasing trends, just Xhosa bars, storytelling and grown man raps,” a direction that places emphasis on lyricism and authentic storytelling.
He also pointed to the personal nature of the project, explaining that iFani “raps from the heart giving stories about his life journey,” before describing the mixtape as “really a love letter to the hip hop heads who’ve been waiting for that authentic iFani.” His comments suggest that the project draws heavily from the rapper’s lived experiences while maintaining the style that helped establish his name in South African hip hop.
Umsebenzi Wam is scheduled for release on 31 July 2026 and serves as a precursor to iFani’s upcoming studio album, The 3rd Quadrant, which is expected to follow in September. The rapper previously introduced the project as an eight-track mixtape that stands on its own rather than being part of the album rollout, giving fans a separate body of work before the full-length release.
Looking ahead, DJ Zan-D said, “‘Umsebenzi Wam’ drops 31 July 2026, and if this is just the warm-up… then September’s album ‘The 3rd Quadrant’ has my full attention,” before ending his review with a brief verdict: “My Official verdict: iFANi is BACK!”
