Nota Baloyi and Thakgi Clash Over Hip Hop Legacy and Industry Influence
A Fiery Exchange on Music Pulse
The landscape of South African hip hop discourse remains as volatile as ever, with a recent episode of Music Pulse—the revamped podcast hosted on the Podcast and Chill with MacG platform—sparking significant controversy. Co-hosts Nota Baloyi and Thakgi found themselves locked in a tense confrontation regarding the nature of influence, legacy, and the true architects behind the country’s most successful rap careers.
The friction began when Thakgi challenged the extent of Nota’s industry impact, bluntly asserting that his reputation is entirely tethered to the success of AKA‘s peer, Kwesta. This remark served as the catalyst for a defensive and impassioned rebuttal from Nota, who sought to reframe his historical contribution to the genre.
Defending a Legacy of Success
Nota, known for his unfiltered commentary, did not shy away from the confrontation. He countered the narrative by highlighting his financial and strategic involvement during critical junctures in the industry. “Sipho Tajane, yesterday, was telling his artists that Nota gave us 15 million rands in the middle of a pandemic,” Nota stated, emphasizing his role in sustaining artists during the industry’s most challenging period.
He further dismantled the claim that his career is defined solely by his work with Kwesta. By pointing to the massive success of Emtee’s hit single “Roll Up,” Nota argued that his influence extends far beyond a single artist. He boldly claimed, “Kwesta’s success is nothing compared to ‘Roll Up.’ I earn more for that.”
The A-Reece Connection
Perhaps the most contentious moment of the exchange occurred when Nota addressed the current generation of stars. He explicitly named a-reece as a primary example of his mentorship and industry guidance. “Your faves are part of my success stories. Your A-Reece that you put up on the posters is one of my success stories. That raised you. I raised you,” he declared, directly addressing Thakgi.
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By positioning himself as a key architect behind several major success stories, Nota has once again placed himself at the center of the South African hip hop narrative. As the debate continues to trend, it serves as a reminder that Music Pulse remains a platform where raw, unfiltered opinions collide, forcing the industry to confront its own history and the figures who helped shape it.