AKA: slain South African rapper was a once-in-a-generation pop culture sensation

AKA: the slain South African rapper is a once-in-a-generation pop culture sensation

AKA, South Africa’s most recognizable name in hip-hop, was shot dead – along with his friend, celebrity chef Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane – outside a restaurant on Durban’s popular Florida Road on February 10.

AKA was reportedly killed in a drive-by shooting, a recurring theme of gangsta rap culture. The gruesome death, which was clearly an orchestrated hit as captured by CCTV footage, was a first for the South African music industry and had international reverberations.

The 35-year-old AKA was born in Cape Town as Kiernan Jarryd Forbes – and would later tag himself as Supa Mega or Bhova. He is based in the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, where he has hunkered down the hip-hop food chain for more than a decade. From the start, with his 2011 breakout single, Victory Lap, it seemed AKA was born for the role of top dog in the competitive and adversarial hip-hop scene.

Cape Town is considered the birthplace of conscious hip-hop in the country. The Johannesburg scene largely follows commercial imperatives, often cloning US rap culture.

Commercial US hip-hop, generally speaking, is defined by conspicuous self-aggrandisement, photogenic babes and bling. It has been marked by fierce rivalry between the city and the stream, and guns, gangs, drugs, misogyny, violence, prisons and death.

AKA fulfills his self-proclaimed mission as a hip-hop star wholeheartedly. Undoubtedly, the African music landscape is diminished by his untimely demise. He puffs his chest about mega status and freedom – however undeserved – is also inimitable. He may not be the most lyrical rapper or the most gifted musician of his generation, but he certainly has the guts to become a once-in-a-generation pop culture icon.

Undoubtedly, AKA’s single-minded drive to reach the pinnacle of the hip-hop scene has done many wrongs. He bruised some fragile ego on the slippery slope up. In these aggression-driven scenes, he will have many daggers pointed at him.

Beef and fame

AKA, like most of his hip-hop peers, hasn’t done much to separate himself from the violence of US rap. It looks cool, irresistible, loaded and gives a lot of street cred to the winners – and the record labels.

AKA flourished in many beefs (hip hop spats) with his main South African rival, Cassper Nyovest and smaller fish such as re-emerging star Ifani. Since the 2019 xenophobic riots in South Africa, when many foreign African migrants and their businesses were violently attacked, AKA has had a beef with his former friend, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy. But in a recent interview, he has been quite conciliatory about Burna.

Negara Massa – tipped for release at the end of February – has become AKA’s fourth album. It follows his debut Altar Ego in 2011, Levels in 2014 and Touch My Blood in 2018. He also released a collaborative effort, Be Careful What You Wish For, with South African rapper and producer Anatii in 2017.

These releases have earned AKA numerous awards across the country and across the continent, including the South African Music Award for Best Male Artist in 2012. Together, they are an undeniable statement of SA hip-hop greatness.

Just a few days before his death, AKA reiterated that he is the best South African hip-hop producer ever on account of various hits. A few years ago, he claimed that he was the biggest rapper in the country apart from the last proKid who died in 2018. The provocative accusation not only got a lot of media coverage, but certainly caused outrage in the country’s hip-hop. community.

For the price of fame, AKA must not only act, he must also be associated with the “girls” of the nation. Masculinists and egos whose size cannot be freely performed such as The World is Yours and Congratulate.

Controversy and tragedy

In 2021, AKA suffered a major tragedy when his fiancee, 21-year-old Anele Tembe, was found dead while on vacation with him. He allegedly threw himself from the 10th floor of a Cape Town hotel. Before his death, allegations of drug abuse, domestic violence and infidelity marred the poor relationship. His death attracted a lot of media attention.

Normally, a tragedy like this should end a rapper’s career. But AKA voluntarily stepped back from the limelight for a while only to come back with renewed vigor.

Of course, he is always supported by a legion of fans called “Megacy” with AKA being the unmistakable figure of the group of fanatical loyalists. According to his supporters, he is almost a god who can do no wrong. Even after the release of his new music it really failed.

AKA seems unfazed by musical miscalculations, like his last EP, Bhovamania. In these lackluster offerings, the artist seems to be asking for inspiration and direction.

However, AKA continues to entertain his fans with outrageous looks and announcements on Twitter – such as, female rappers should fight amongst themselves because that’s the nature of hip hop. She even hosts a reality TV show focusing on celebrities and cooking.

National pop sensation

Despite the many controversies and beefs, AKA is also one of the best brands in South Africa. He snagged a well-heralded deal with Reebok and Cruz Vodka before Tembe’s unfortunate death.

As part of expanding his dominance in the South African hip-hop scene, he released an unexpected hit, Lemons (Lemonade) featuring another rap star Nasty C in 2022. The track revived AKA’s spirit and pushed him to release his next album. He claims his latest suite is meant for all music lovers and not just hip-hop heads. He’s been telling everyone who cares to listen that he’s outgrown hip-hop.

AKA’s sudden death is a tragedy and a deeply disturbing development in South African hip-hop. Previously, fierce competition between rappers was led by verbal insults and nothing more. But murder is a different area. AKA’s life and music are changing the game. I hope his death doesn’t portend worse things to come for the music industry.

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