Zingah sparks a new wave of South African hip hop with ‘Yonda Way Vol. 1’

South African hip hop is getting a much-needed infusion of fresh energy. Veteran rapper Zingah has launched “Yonda Way Vol. 1”, a three-track project designed not just to entertain, but to create a movement, spotlighting the next generation of local hip hop talent.

With emerging voices like Kane Keid, Fistola Inecut, Horid The Messiah, Andy Maveric, Leo Brown, Buzzi Lee, ThatPrettyGirlYongz, and Leezy Lindokuhle under his wing, Zingah is doing more than releasing music, he’s nurturing culture. Veteran producer Tweezy joins him in shaping the sound, giving the project the polish it deserves.

 

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From a show to a movement

What started as a talent showcase called “Who Do I” evolved into something bigger.

“It was really about getting the new bright faces of SA hip hop to come in and show off their talent,” Zingah told Independent Media Lifestyle. “That then turned into a conversation of, let’s make a project out of this.”

Initially conceived as a mixtape, the tracks’ quality demanded more. A three-day studio camp became the foundation for “Yonda Way Vol. 1”, where young artists worked alongside seasoned talent and producers to craft something audiences could truly embrace.

“It was new talent I saw bubbling up, and I felt like if we put these new voices in the right rooms, with the right people, we could get something a bigger audience could actually consume,” Zingah explained.

 

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Collaboration over competition

For Zingah, collaboration is at the heart of hip hop. He believes the genre lost some of its magic as egos replaced collective energy.

“Hip hop was way cooler when people were coming together, blending sounds, blending brands. That spirit of togetherness is why I created ‘Yonda Way’,” he said.

A youth-led Sound Council played a critical role, providing real-time feedback on the music’s impact, ensuring the project resonated with the people who matter most—listeners themselves.

Zingah is also calling for an end to unnecessary rivalries between SA’s hip hop OGs and the younger generation.

“Beef is corny. It’s entertaining for a week or two and then people move on. Collaboration works better than competition.”

He pointed to lessons from outside hip hop. When DJ Maphorisa brought multiple producers and vocalists together in the early days of Amapiano, the genre flourished. Zingah hopes Yonda Way Vol. 1 will spark a similar spirit in hip hop.

A call to reconnect with music

Beyond the beats and bars, Zingah wants the project to remind fans what hip hop can be—a culture for people, not just for fleeting moments.

“The biggest thing right now is promoting collaboration. That’s something we’ve lost in SA hip hop, and I feel like that played a role in how people stopped consuming it the same way.”

With “Yonda Way Vol. 1”, Zingah is not only launching tracks, he’s launching a movement—one where emerging artists have a platform, egos take a backseat, and the focus returns to the music itself.

Social media has already been buzzing, with fans praising the project for its energy, diversity, and commitment to showcasing new talent. Many are calling it “the revival SA hip hop needed”, a sentiment that Zingah seems to have anticipated all along.