Zingah links up with a new wave of SA hip hop voices on 'Yonda Way Vol. 1', putting collaboration, community and the listener back to the centre of he culture.
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Hip hop artist Zingah has never been shy about where he stands when it comes to South African hip hop. With “Yonda Way Vol. 1”, he has built a movement.
The three-track project brings together new voices from Kane Keid, Fistola Inecut, Horid The Messiah, Andy Maveric, Leo Brown, Buzzi Lee, ThatPrettyGirlYongz and Leezy Lindokuhle, a group of emerging artists moving with intention under Zingah’s creative direction, alongside senior producer Tweezy.
In an interview with “Independent Media Lifestyle”, he shared that this isn’t just a collection of songs but a deliberate effort to shine a spotlight on new voices and to remind the country what collaboration in hip hop can look like.
What started as a platform to spotlight talent turned into something bigger. Explaining how the movement came to life, he shared that it started as a show called “Who Do I”.
“It was really about getting the new bright faces of SA hip hop to come in and show off their talent,” he said. “That then turned into a conversation of, let’s make a project out of this.”
The original idea was to put together a mixtape, but the music had other plans. “The music kind of came out so good that it turned into an album,” he added.
To further bring the project to life, Zingah and Tweezy hosted a three-day studio camp, which ended up becoming the foundation of “Yonda Way Vol. 1”. The selection of artists was never just about hype.
“I’ve always kept my ear to the ground as far as SA hip hop goes. I’m deeply entrenched. 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 that a bigger audience could actually consume,” he said.
Beyond the music, the project also reflects how Zingah sees his role in the culture at this point in his career. Having witnessed different eras of hip hop rise and fall, he believes the genre lost something along the way.
“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.”
For the seasoned rapper, hip hop thrived when movements mattered more than ego.
“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.
One of the more intentional choices behind the project was the involvement of a youth-led Sound Council. Rather than relying only on industry instincts, Zingah explained why he wanted real-time feedback from young listeners.
“It was a temperature check. A pulse check to see if we’re actually moving in the right direction, not just what we think is right.”
He also touched on the ongoing debates around the state of hip hop, especially between OGs and younger artists. “First and foremost, beef is corny. It’s entertaining for a week or two and then people move on.”
He believes many artists are still chasing the adrenaline of global rap rivalries that do not translate locally.
“People are still gassed by the Drake and Kendrick thing, but that’s between two of the biggest artists in the world. That impact isn’t a reality for most people here.”
Recently, Amampiano DJ and music producer, DJ Maphorisa, called for unity. When asked for his opinion on the matter, Zingah agreed, pointing to lessons from outside hip hop. He added that DJ Maphorisa has already proven what collaboration can do.
“He came into Amapiano when it was still a seed. Putting five or six producers in a room, multiple vocalists on one song. That’s why piano works the way it does. Collaboration works better than competition,” he explained.
As “Yonda Way Vol. 1” has rolled out, Zingah hopes listeners reconnect with the idea of music being made for people, not just for moments.