SA Hip Hop From Bars To Business

With the rand slowly but surely plummeting, having extra skills or an eye for business can help you secure a bag to enjoy for when you grow older. We've seen artists reach a dead end in their careers because they never thought about their future. It's not all of them though, thank God! We have some who define the term, "bars to business," who have made sure that they leave their mark in whatever field possible. Below we have a list, in no particular order, of the Top 5 rappers who continue to make major money moves.

1. Khuli Chana

"What's the problem? What's the solution? You got power but how you use it is the question." - No More Hunger Pt. 2

There was a discussion about the MotswakOriginator a few days ago and people were chatting about him falling off, pshht. Khuli has made a reputable name for himself over the span of his days with Morafe towards going solo and he continues to pull major moves to this day. He founded MyThron Records with MDB being the first signee and for a brief period, he dabbled in the business of making his own merchandise. Him, Stogie T and AKA went on to host The Hustle in partnership with Vuzu and KFC. After sealing a deal with Absolut Vodka about two years ago, Khuli made sure he and the alcohol brand benefitted a great deal from their partnership. He released the One Source album with Absolut, collaborating with numerous artists from around the African continent, which later landed him awards at the Cannes Lions. He also posted about heading to Ghana to shoot a film, we are yet to hear what he has planned next but it's bound to be epic.

2. Cassper Nyovest

"Who ever thought that I would make it far but those who hated, they saw potential in the boy and they delayed him." - I Hope You Bought It

Abuti Fill Up, the great, is one of the most celebrated rappers in the country. A Jesus freak, a pantsula and full-time Mufasa, Cassper has had one of the best come-ups in the industry; from winning Jika Majika and having HHP introduce him to the game, to becoming one of the best rappers to ever grace African soil. To think he was just an upcoming rapper less than seven years ago. In 2015 he signed a deal with MTN, he sealed another with AG Mobile later on where he had the opportunity to design his own smartphone. He then opened the Family Tree store a while after the Family Tree brand became official. After two successful fill up shows at the TicketPro Dome and the Orlando Stadium, Cassper is now preparing another show - this time filling the FNB Stadium with over 75 000 people. He's proved himself not only to Africans but to the rest of the world that he's a force to be reckoned with.

3. Slikour

 "From now all you need is follow your dreams because the future is ready and you just need to reach." - Kings & Kweens

From spitting crazy bars with the legendary Skwatta Kamp to being a respected pioneer in the business of music, and I'm not saying this because I work for him, chill. The first time I saw the phrase "Slikour Onlife" it was after he released a music video for I Got You with Tia Black, I thought he was going to create a blog and talk about his industry experiences, little did I know this "blog" would birth one of the leading agencies and online urban publications in the country. On one of his balcony interviews, he spoke about the dream he had of making money with music even without necessarily having to make any songs. His hustler spirit has gotten him this far and he continues to contribute immensely to the growth of the game, recently by introducing a group of young artists to the game; the SOL Incubator Class of 2017. 

4. Molemi

"Bona fela, ba ngadile ke ja ka plaas'i, mollo wa go tlola ditlhase." - Bona Fela

Mojo Man has been a pioneer in the SA Hip Hop industry for many years, initially starting off with Morafe and later going on to pursue a solo career. The name is not a coincidence though. He is, in fact, a farmer - always has been. Many people were introduced to Molemi after he collaborated on Dj Lemonka's MotswakoTape 1 on a track titled 10111, during that period he did farming part-time and also created the Blu Colla clothing. During the peak of his career, we saw him collaborate with fellow pioneers and release three albums before he decided to hang up the mic and become a full-time farmer. He now successfully sells fresh produce nationwide, he clearly personifies the term going back to one's roots.

5. Proverb

"I have a dream that real emcees will win awards, cats who've been ignored by the industry before." - I Have A Dream

A man who needs no introduction, a hustler and someone who I like to refer to as "makgonatsotlhe" (someone/ something that's' able to do anything). Proverb came on the scene as one of the few SA artists who rapped in English and with five albums under his belt, he has made quite a reputable name for himself in the industry, but that's not all. He's also the host of the South African Idols, an ambassador for Status deodorant and also hosts Kaya FM's The Winner's Circle. He, of course, didn't retire from making music but Proverb's transition from rapper to business man is highly praised by many people. Did I mention he's also the newest board member of Flight Centre Travel Group? What a guy.