Veteran South African rapper Duncan has expressed confidence in the future of local hip hop, saying the genre continues to grow thanks to the emergence of artists such as Usimamane and Qwellers.
Speaking during a recent interview on Your Durbs Plug, Duncan was asked whether he believes South African hip hop is growing or declining. In response, he pointed to the new generation of artists making an impact on the scene.
“You have your Usimamanes and your Qwellers. How can it possibly go down? For me, I see it as growing,” Duncan said.
The award-winning rapper explained that he believes perceptions about the genre often change when people’s personal interests shift. According to Duncan, that does not necessarily reflect the overall state of South African hip hop.
“The way I see it is that when people no longer like something, they want to get everyone else not to like it too,” he said.
Duncan acknowledged that the genre has faced challenges over the years but believes those difficult periods were temporary. He added that he now sees signs that South African hip hop is regaining momentum.
“I think we did have hardships here and there, but they were passing. We are coming back now,” he said.
As the conversation continued, Duncan praised several artists he believes are contributing to the genre’s current resurgence. He highlighted Qwellers for consistently delivering quality music and also recognized Usimamane for his contribution to the current wave of South African hip hop.
“Here are the Qwellers, there’s no song that isn’t dope, right? Here is Usimamane, Maraza and Zakwe is still to drop too,” he said.
His comments reflected a mix of appreciation for emerging talent and recognition of artists who have been part of South African hip hop for years.
Duncan’s remarks come as discussions around the directtion of South African hip hop continue across the music industry and among fans. While opinions on the genre’s current standing often differ, the rapper maintained that the continued rise of artists like Usimamane and Qwellers, alongside upcoming releases from veterans such as Maraza and Zakwe, is evidence that the culture remains active and continues to evolve.
