The post “It’s all Politics to all this sh*t,” 25K’s Honest Thoughts On His SAMA Win appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
“It’s All Politics to all this sh*t,” 25K’s Honest Thoughts On His SAMA Win. Pretoria-born rapper 25K has spoken candidly about his recent South African Music Awards win, offering a grounded and honest take on what the accolade truly means to him.
Appearing on SA Hip Hop Reloaded, the lyricist reflected on the realities of the awards system while celebrating the deeply personal journey behind his winning sophomore album.
Known for his raw storytelling and sharp lyricism, 25K did not shy away from addressing the subjectivity of award recognition. “Everything is opinionated, if you really look at it,” he said. “That’s why I felt like it’s politics to all this sh*t.” His comments captured both frustration and clarity, suggesting that trophies often reflect industry dynamics as much as artistic merit.
Still, the rapper, born Lehlogonolo Ronald Mataboge, made it clear that the SAMA win carries weight beyond the trophy itself. For him, the award represents a demanding three-year chapter of growth and perseverance.
“What it really means to me is my sophomore album. A lot of people don’t really know the story behind it,” he explained. The project was shaped in the years following his breakthrough debut, Pheli Makhaveli, and marked a period of intense personal and creative development.
That reflection also came with a sense of irony. Despite its impact, Pheli Makhaveli has never received formal award recognition. Released in 2020, the album introduced 25K to a wider audience through vivid accounts of life in Pheli, short for Mamelodi, and quickly earned critical praise and a loyal fanbase. Its absence from award lists, contrasted with the success of his sophomore effort, reinforced his belief that accolades do not always align with influence or authenticity.
His second album, which secured the SAMA for Best Hip Hop Album, is widely seen as a more introspective and refined body of work. Building on the foundation of his debut, it dives deeper into themes of resilience, loss, ambition, and survival. The project has resonated strongly within South Africa’s hip-hop community, positioning 25K alongside some of the genre’s most respected names.
More than a personal milestone, the win signals a growing appreciation for township-rooted narratives within mainstream platforms. As SA Hip Hop Reloaded continues to amplify voices from the culture, 25K’s reflections stand as a reminder that success is not always defined by awards alone.
The post “It’s all Politics to all this sh*t,” 25K’s Honest Thoughts On His SAMA Win appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
The post “It’s all Politics to all this sh*t,” 25K’s Honest Thoughts On His SAMA Win appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
“It’s All Politics to all this sh*t,” 25K’s Honest Thoughts On His SAMA Win. Pretoria-born rapper 25K has spoken candidly about his recent South African Music Awards win, offering a grounded and honest take on what the accolade truly means to him. “It’s all Politics to all this sh*t,” 25K’s Honest Thoughts On His SAMA …
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