Every country that has a commercial rap scene has its own underground scene, and no matter where in the world you are, the traits of the underground are the same. It’s comprised of a virtually “lawless” music scene where artists are free to experiment with various sounds and flows. I used to listen to a lot of underground music at the start of my career around 2018, and I have since grown with those artists into the commercial space.
Lately, I have been making a concerted effort to listen to the new crop of artists that are spearheading the underground. One such artist goes by the name of Jaykatana. I found out about him a couple of years ago with a song titled ‘AMG C63’, and I was immediately taken aback by the aggressive sound the song carried. It built my intrigue in Jaykatana as an artist. Since then, I have kept tabs on him and his career. The year 2025 is poised to be a huge one for Jaykatana, with interest around his upcoming project, Mad Max, being at an all-time high. We caught up with the budding artist to discuss the genesis of his career, his development as an artist and so much more.
Your name is quite striking – Jaykatana. What’s the story or inspiration behind it?
I used to watch a lot of anime, and there was this one character whose favourite weapon was a katana. At that time, I didn’t really have a name like that, so I kept changing names over time until I eventually settled on Jaykatana.
What would you say is your earliest memory of hip-hop?
I grew up with uncles who listened to hip-hop, so I came in knowing of Lil Wayne. From Lil Wayne, I got into Young Thug. We also had DStv at the time, so I would watch channels like Trace and MTV, and that’s where the love for music grew. I used to record Lil Wayne’s music videos on TV just to rewatch them.
Commercial South African hip-hop has a unique sound and identity that is totally different from the underground scene. Have you faced any challenges in breaking into the commercial scene?
Some artists do see it and accept it. There is a lot of love because it’s something new, so a lot of people are drawn to it. At the same time, where there are a lot of fans, there is a lot of hate. We face a lot of hate, but as long as we have a vision, we keep moving forward. It doesn’t really slow us down.
There is a whole host of artists in the underground. What would you say is your X factor as an artist?
I kind of brought the South African vibe to rap. Since ‘Eish’, the first hit song I made, I would say I incorporate South African elements with trap music. Before that, it was done in a way that people would rap in Zulu or vernac, but we made the sound more universal, still carrying that South African element.
Your flow and delivery have a distinct energy. How do you approach crafting your lyrics and developing your sound?
I’m someone who punches in. The last time I wrote something was in Grade 7 when I wanted to be a rapper. I like punching in because I feel like you can come up with new flows on the spot. When I write lyrics, I feel like I’m boxed in.
Can you tell us about a moment or project in your career that you consider a turning point?
I would say around the time I dropped ‘Eish’, and following that, I dropped my first album, The World Is Yours. The album went number one on Apple Music in South Africa and Botswana. At that time, I didn’t really think that would happen. In the weeks following the release of my album, The World Is Yours, I would go to the mall, and people started asking me for pictures. I was like, damn, people really f*ck with me.
What role does your environment or upbringing play in shaping your artistry?
When I was younger, my family was the “bad family” who were involved in a lot of sh*t, so we used to move a lot. First, I lived in Florida, then a place called Westbury, before moving to Riverlea. I started rapping when I lived in Riverlea, and I started rapping because all of my friends at the time would freestyle every day. Behind closed doors, I would listen to Lil Wayne songs and write down his lyrics. When I’d go outside, I’d rap those lyrics, and no one would notice. From there, we moved to Northcliff, and that’s when the Sandton-villain era came. I’ve seen a lot of things in the areas I grew up in. I basically grew up in black areas, and all the things I can rap about, I’ve seen.
There is a huge amount of buzz for Mad Max. Can you tell me about what people can look forward to on Mad Max and why you gave it that title?
I titled the album Mad Max because I feel like I’m really Mad Max; I’m a young rockstar. On the album, I try to portray a young kid with a mad lifestyle. People can expect a whole new sound, and they can see how I perceive music. They will enter my head and see the things I think about when I’m not making music.
The post Catching up with Jaykatana appeared first on HYPE Magazine.
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