South African rapper and former member of the iconic hip hop group Teargas K.O released his third single of the year, Shumi, featuring artist Blue Pappi, today, 23 October 2026.
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K.O releases ‘Shumi’ for summer
The 46-year-old rapper is kicking off the summer with yet another hip hop banger. Out now, the rapper teased the new single earlier in the week with an Instagram post of a woman, captioning the post with the release announcement.
The song features young Ladysmith rapper Blue Pappi, bringing together two artists at different stages of their lives and music careers.
The member of the Qwellers collective, joining K.O, has a growing catalogue, which includes the 2025 album Emadlelweni Aluhlaza and the Ehlane mixtape, further establishing his presence in the local hip hop scene.
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Fans speculated about the collaboration for months after footage of the two artists surfaced on social media.
The collaboration is a wonderful mash-up that brings together two different sounds and styles that create a fresh, new sound. Blue Pappi’s style puts K.O’s into a state of evolution, and K.O’s established style polishes Blue Pappi’s developing one. This creates something the local hip hop scene hasn’t yet heard.
The song is electric, with a vibrant and upbeat tone and beat, setting the tone for the summer. It is a feel-good song that incorporates the autotune sound in Blue Pappi’s music and K.O’s rap style.
20 Years of K.O
The former member of Teargas celebrates 20 years of being in the game this year. Although he has already celebrated the momentous milestone with the first two singles released this year, 20 Summers and Hotela, this new song shows that he has no plans to stop anytime soon.
Feature image: Instagram/@mrcashtime
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