The post DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism. What began as a routine music teaser in Johannesburg’s buzzing Braamfontein precinct has quickly spiralled into a fiery online debate about age, relevance, and double standards in South African hip-hop.
Rapper Stilo Magolide now finds himself at the centre of a cultural flashpoint that has divided timelines and drawn vocal support from fellow artists. The controversy erupted after Stilo shared a teaser for his latest single, They Talk, on X. The clip captures him posted up in Braamfontein, surrounded by masked revellers during what looks like a spontaneous street gathering.
Entertainment blogger Musa Khawula reposted the video with a caption that many read as dismissive, labelling Stilo a “struggling rapper” while promoting the single. The post surged past 300,000 views and set the stage for what followed.
The backlash intensified when a user, @kwets11, posted a comment that quickly went viral: “Being a Braam lord should get you jail time, but being a Braam lord at 40 should get you the rope.”
Though exaggerated and hyperbolic, the remark struck a nerve. It framed Stilo’s continued presence in Braamfontein’s youthful street culture as embarrassing or inappropriate for his age. Stilo is currently 35 and turns 36 in May.
Soon, criticism flooded in. Some accused the rapper of being stuck in a bygone era, while others mocked his aesthetic as dated and out of step with today’s industry expectations. What might have remained a passing jab instead snowballed into a wider conversation about how ageing artists are treated in South African hip-hop.
DJ Zan-D stepped in with a sharp rebuttal that shifted the tone of the discussion. “Stilo is a similar age to Travis Scott but you never say this about Americans,” he wrote, calling out what he saw as selective outrage. Travis Scott, now 34, continues to embrace chaotic stage energy and youth-driven culture without facing the same scrutiny.
The comparison resonated. Supporters pointed to global figures like Kanye West and the late Virgil Abloh, creatives who remained deeply embedded in street culture well into their thirties and forties without being dismissed or ridiculed.
Born Michael Chirwa on May 23, 1990, in Johannesburg’s Kenilworth suburb, Stilo rose to prominence as part of the Boyznbucks collective. His fusion of trap sounds with local flair, alongside standout tracks like Day Off featuring Nasty C, helped define a wave of alternative South African hip-hop. Beyond music, his W.A.T.E.R. fashion brand further solidified his reputation as a creative force.
For many fans, the “struggling rapper” narrative feels disingenuous. While Stilo may not command the mainstream dominance of names like Cassper Nyovest or exist within the towering legacy of AKA, his influence and consistency remain undeniable.
The post DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
The post DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism. What began as a routine music teaser in Johannesburg’s buzzing Braamfontein precinct has quickly spiralled into a fiery online debate about age, relevance, and double standards in South African hip-hop. DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism Rapper Stilo Magolide now finds himself at the centre …
The post DJ Zan-D Defends Stilo Magolide Amid Age-Shaming Criticism appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag. Read More
