MashBeatz Praises The Rise Of Underground SA Hip Hop: “It Feels So South African.” South African hip hop producer and visionary MashBeatz is turning his focus toward the underground scene—and not just with words, but with sound.
In a recent interview with Kreative Korrnerr, the If You Know, You Know hitmaker gave flowers to the new wave of emerging rappers shaping the sonic future of South African hip hop, hinting at their influence on his latest album, The Secret Frequency.
“I just appreciate the underground rapper,” said MashBeatz. “I don’t wanna name no names, I don’t wanna put myself on the spot like that. I love them all, as long as you’ve got good energy and you are coming with great music.”
For a producer known for sculpting some of the most acclaimed rap records of the last decade, MashBeatz’s respect for the underground is more than a casual nod—it’s an acknowledgement of the seismic shift happening beneath the mainstream.
When asked about the current state of underground SA hip hop and what it would take for these artists to bridge the gap with the mainstream, MashBeatz was candid and inspired.
“I like this sound that the boys got going on,” he said. “It even inspired me to make some tracks like that for my album. I feel like it has some sort of identity. It feels so South African. Even if the guys are rapping on there, at the same time, it’s like the sample makes you feel like it’s South Africa.”
In a time where authenticity and originality often feel scarce in commercial music, MashBeatz believes that the underground’s raw and distinct energy may be exactly what the industry needs to reach new heights, both locally and globally.
“Maybe that’s what we needed the whole time in the game,” he added. “And it has the potential to become international because it’s unique. So as long as the guys are consistent and with the help of the industry, it can get there.”
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