@YoungstaCpt x @LOOPSTAMAXYKMS - How To Make It In South Africa

"My sister can't rap but she'd come up with better lines that most of you guys..."

There are just too many quotables in this tape that if I decided to write them all, I might as well forfeit a write up. This, my dear hip hop head, is YoungstaCpt and Loopsta's universal project titled How To Make It In South Africa where we get a glimpse of what it means to be a young South African. This tape is much more energised than Kaapstads Revenge which is a more specific dedication to an ideal audience (Capetonians). 

The production on HTMIISA is so well done by Loopsta as he fuses elements of boom bap, some kwaito undertones and a universal "snap your fingers" vibe sprinkled all over the tape. I don't know how Youngsta managed to pull off a bit of an aggressive welcome in the opening title track, and El Chapo Guzman (which is my favourite on the tape by the way), while he manages to have an approachable spirit as he settles into Hamba. Doesn't this track give you some Fugees Ready Or Not vibes? This is magic! It specifically works well with the title of the tape to have Youngsta sound more "South African" as opposed to his prominent Kaapstad flavour. Just when you thought you had a favourite track, In The City with Skyy's infectious personality and voice swings in and your heart comes to a standstill at once. Youngsta delves straight into the social issues of his people country wide while Skyy has that "Zulu attitude" in her hook and the ad-libs she adds subtly in the background. This is music that any South African can pick up and not struggle to understand. Bravo! 

We need to big up the Kaapstad N%!ier for the inclusiveness on this tape with the classic South African slang and vernac throughout the body. From the socially conscious In The City, we delve into an interlude that carries on with the spirit of the working force of the country as they are getting this work. Mwanangu is a perfect set up to the closing track Better Than Money. Similar to his first tape, Kaapstads Revenge, Youngsta once again paints the image of him kneeling on one knee to pay tribute through thought. He shares a personal account of how far he's come but he doesn't completely base it on his music career as much as he bases it on the needs of a regular South African as he talks about not having enough food to eat and other relatable struggles. A brilliant display of humanity, musicality and that thing that I always look for in our rappers - AFRICAN STORYTELLING. All hail the Moses of SA Hip Hop!