Flvme’s ‘Blvck and White’ album surpasses 2 million streams in first month

South African rapper Flvme’s sophomore album, “Blvck and White,” has been out for a month and is already making waves, amassing over 2 million streams across all digital platforms.

​“Blvck and White” isn’t just another album for Flvme, it’s a fully realised artistic statement.​

The hip-hop artist, songwriter, and producer, whose real name is Lesego Kyle Mnyandu, broke down the creative process of making the album in an interview with IOL.

​The album took approximately eight months to create. “Blvck and White” is a masterpiece and among the strongest South African hip hop album releases of 2025. The addition of choir voices and sound clips adds a new level of sophistication to the music.

​Flvme revealed that his creative process is "very simple" and not overthought. He never plans how a song will sound; instead, he allows his feelings in the moment to guide the music.

The inclusion of choir voices, he shared, was a spontaneous decision made during the production, born from a feeling that "little layers from the choir" were the "1% that felt was missing”.

“Blvck and White” is deeply personal and a diary of sorts with Flvme pouring out his emotions. The rapper explains that his albums are different chapters of his diary, with music being his "greatest escape" and a "therapy session."

For Flvme, it's easier to articulate his feelings through music than face-to-face conversations, and he uses it as a way to express what he's feeling in the moment.

"Blvck and White" is a fusion of hip-hop and RnB, a blend that reflects the artist's musical journey. “This album, I feel like it is a hip hop album, but there are certain sonic moments that kind of make it feel like a fusion of RnB.”

Flvme sees hip-hop as a genre that allows for the incorporation of other styles, making it easier for him to express himself.

RnB is a genre he grew up hearing, growing up in a family of gifted singers. “I've never really looked at myself as ‘oh you're just a rapper’, my music is alternative.”​

The album features 20 songs, though initially, there were 22. Two songs were removed due to a sample being taken down and another to maintain the album's hour-long runtime.

​“I've always wanted to have a clear message in whatever project that I'm putting out, and somehow the messaging came through.

​“I just love making music and I think when it comes to putting it together and generating a storyline.”​

“Daddy Issues” is Flvme's favourite subject on the album. While he may sound like he's dragging the girlies, he laments that he is raising awareness.

Flvme produced many of the songs on the album, a natural extension of his prolific beat-making. He explained that he makes "way more beats" than songs, often developing song ideas while creating beats.

This self-sufficiency provides convenience, as he doesn't have to keep bothering people to send him beats.

For the album cover, Flvme went with a black and white image of himself emerging from water, rich in symbolism. The water represents "tears, pain, hurt, fear," while emerging from it signifies "rebirth."​

“It's more like a reintroduction of myself because I believe I'm not the same as I was a few years ago.”

​Flvme has hopes of performing the album in an "intimate" tour setting, creating a significant experience for the audience.

​The album is an independent release, a partnership between the artist's New Regime Sound label and The Valhalla, who handle distribution.

When asked why people should listen to "Black and White," Flvme explained that it can aid in "people's development generally," impacting "character development," thinking, and reactions to situations, ultimately improving the "quality of your lifestyle."

The album has already garnered 2 million streams, a testament to its reach despite a less active focus on playlisting.

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