K.O Explains Why “Phara City” Packs A Punch With Just 14 Tracks. In a musical era where short, punchy tracks dominate the charts and attention spans are tested by an ever-spinning content wheel, K.O is taking a calculated step back — or perhaps, a giant lyrical leap forward.
Speaking in a recent interview on SlikourOnLife, the Skhanda god shed light on the creative reasoning behind keeping his latest album, Phara City, concise with just 14 tracks. While fans may have been left hungry for more, the decision wasn’t made out of limitation but rather precision.
“I wanted to get into my lyrical bag,” K.O revealed, emphasising the deliberate craftsmanship behind the body of work. “Some of the songs got 3 verses, which is something people hardly see these days.”
It’s a move that subtly challenges the current trend of minimalist rap, where two short verses and a hook often suffice. Instead, K.O delivers extended compositions, some stretching to the 4-minute mark, packed with bars that reward repeat listening.
The rapper, known for his pioneering role in SA hip hop through the Skhanda movement, added that the decision to cap the album at 14 tracks also stemmed from a desire to respect the listener’s bandwidth.
“We don’t wanna overwhelm people’s attention span,” he explained. “Some of the songs have to be like 4 minutes, so I ended up settling at 14.”
This approach gives Phara City its weight, not in length, but in depth. Each track is a layered experience, with no fillers in sight, just straight storytelling, reflections, and lyrical exercise from an artist still sharpening his sword.
K.O’s creative restraint might just be the new flex, proving once again that sometimes, less is more, especially when it’s done phara fresh.
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