Moozlie’s new single "Push iDust" with Ma Ka Boi and Nomfundo Yekani celebrates kasi culture.
Image: Instagram
Rapper and media personality Moozlie (Nomuzi Mabena) is stepping firmly back into her rap era with her new single “Push iDust”, a gritty collaboration with producer Ma Ka Boi featuring rapper Nomfundo Yekani.
The single leans heavily into township energy, blending rap with kwaito textures in a way that feels both nostalgic and current. It’s also a return to the sound that first shaped Moozlie’s rap career.
Speaking to “Independent Media Lifestyle” about the single, she explained that the decision to revisit that side of her music came naturally after releasing “Go Getter”, a single she released in 2025, her first release after taking a hiatus.
“I think after dropping ‘Go Getter’, I’m feeling a lot more comfortable and really confident as well,” she said. That confidence pushed her back towards the sound that introduced her to hip hop audiences years ago.
“I know I’m my most confident when I’m making that sound. That’s actually the music that I was making when I first started rapping. So this being the follow-up single, it just felt really natural to go back to that."
On “Push iDust”, Moozlie also brings back the bold personas that have followed her throughout her career, including the “New Age Brenda Fassie” and the self-proclaimed “Dust Queen”.
The “New Age Brenda Fassie” nickname once sparked plenty of criticism when she first used it, but Moozlie says time has changed how people view it.
“When I first started calling myself that, people really hated it,” she said. Now, with more than a decade in the industry, she feels the title sits differently.
“After all this time, I’ve kind of built my own legendary status and made a name for myself. So I think it’s really great to be able to go back to that persona with a little bit more work under my belt.”
Referencing Brenda Fassie’s influence in South African music, Moozlie said she appreciates being able to reclaim the nickname now without the same resistance from people.
“I really love that I’m able to use that name now and not get so many weird stares,” she shared.
The “Dust Queen” identity, however, is one she said she’s always worn proudly. The name reflects the gritty township energy that defines much of her music from her Cashtime Life days.
With South African hip hop now often leaning towards global trap sounds, Moozlie believes it is important to keep local influences alive.
“South African hip hop is in a very westernised trap kind of sound right now. So for me to still be flying the local flag is really, really dope, especially as an OG.”
“Push iDust” also brings together voices from different townships. The single was produced by Ma Ka Boi and features Thokoza bred Nomfundo Yekani, creating a collaboration rooted in shared kasi experiences.
Even though they come from different areas, Moozlie said the connection in the studio was immediate.
“The thing about the hood is that different hoods have different vibes, but the hood is the hood,” she said. “The corner is the corner. The tuck shop is the tuck shop.”
That familiarity made the creative process feel effortless, as the synergy was already there from the beginning, according to the rapper.
Beyond the collaboration, Moozlie hopes the song reminds listeners about the roots of South African hip hop and the role kasi culture continues to play in shaping it.
“A lot of the time now creators are trying to use their talents to take over the world,” she said.
While she understands the ambition, she believes the most powerful stories often come from home.
“It’s always really good to celebrate where you come from, never forget where you started."
For the 33-year-old rapper, the essence of the song comes down to that sense of pride.
“That magic that you found at home, that’s the thing that people are going to relate to. The thing that you learned at home, that’s where the real dust is,” she said.