Khuli Chana Recalls How The Iconic “Baddest” Collab Came Together. In a recent interview with OkaySwisher, South African hip hop legend Khuli Chana took a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the moment he got the call to feature on AKA’s star-studded 2015 hit Baddest, which also featured Nigerian powerhouse Burna Boy and the ever-charismatic Yanga Chief.
“The beat came from Tibz, may his soul rest in peace,” Khuli shared, paying tribute to the late industry tastemaker who played a pivotal role in shaping SA hip hop. “It was around the time when there was that back and forth between AKA and Cassper. I was on my absolute run—I think I was in Angola at the time when I received the beat.”
Far from home but right in his creative element, Khuli described receiving the instrumental in his hotel room. “I was like, this beat is fire,” he said, his tone filled with nostalgia. Without wasting time, he laid down his verse, feeding off the energy of the track’s already electric foundation.
It wasn’t just the production that had Khuli convinced he was part of something special—it was Burna Boy’s hook that sealed the deal. “It had the hook by Burna Boy. It was one of those joints… you know when a joint is a classified classic smash hit.”
Released during one of hip hop’s most tense yet exciting periods—when the rivalry between AKA and Cassper Nyovest was dominating headlines—Baddest wasn’t just a song. It was a statement. It merged heavyweights from across the continent and reminded fans of the collaborative magic that can happen even amid the noise.
Khuli Chana’s verse on Baddest remains a fan favourite, and his recollection only adds to the legend of a track that helped define a golden era in South African hip hop.
Leave a comment