Scumie dropping a 20-track album during Women’s Month might be one of the best things to happen to South African hip-hop in a minute. After going quiet for a while, she’s back — and she’s got a lot to say.
For fans who have been waiting on new music, this return feels even more significant. After catching Scumie on Mswenko’s podcast, it was clear that something had shifted. It felt like the music wasn’t far behind — and now, AVANT is here.
A 20-track visual exploration of hardship, transformation and self-reclamation, AVANT documents Scumie’s journey from hitting rock bottom to finding the strength to turn everything that tried to break her into something powerful. On Oh Dear, she says, “Carries stories nobody knows, if I smile doesn’t mean I’m free,” a line that immediately makes you pause. It makes you wonder just how much Scumie has carried behind the scenes while continuing to show up and create for us.
And that’s what makes AVANT hit differently. There are plenty of quotables, moments of vulnerability and sharp penmanship throughout the project. Emlotheni is another standout, and one that immediately connects — a reminder of just how effortlessly Scumie can put words together when she locks in.
Sonically, AVANT sits comfortably between hip-hop, South African jazz, neo-soul and rap, moving between vulnerability and confidence, darkness and elevation. It feels deeply personal without losing the musicality that made people fall in love with Scumie in the first place. This is Scumie confronting her experiences, her environments and her internal battles — but more importantly, refusing to let any of them dictate how her story ends.
20 tracks, one hell of a comeback, and a reminder that Scumie has always had something to say. AVANT is an album we highly recommend.
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