YoungstaCPT Drops New Mixtape ’31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME’

YoungstaCPT has released a new mixtape titled ’31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME’. 

This release reflects his personal and artistic growth over the years and captures a period of deep introspection, life changes, and a visionary approach to music creation.

The mixtape offers a dynamic blend of futuristic sounds, poignant storytelling, and timeless messages that speak to both South African Hip-Hop's present and future.

Reflecting on this milestone, YoungstaCPT shares his thoughts on reaching his 33rd project. 

"I always knew this day would come, especially after my 2012 release ‘21 YEARS AHEAD OF TIME’. It’s surreal, but I’m not surprised. For me, every song is a story, a moment in time, and I believe all of them deserve to be heard. If they aren’t released now, they’ll stay in the archives, waiting for their moment. Finally putting this project out is like lifting a heavy weight off my shoulders. It’s crazy because these tracks were recorded before projects like ‘Dreams Don’t Pay Bills’ and ‘Suffer for Beauty’. It’s a testimony that things take time, and even though I’ve always felt ahead of my time, my music is meant to last forever."

The mixtape features tracks that are deeply personal to the rapper. This trilogy of mixtapes originally began as a singular project, envisioned to contain 31 tracks to mark YoungstaCPT's 31st birthday.

"Originally, I had planned to house all 31 songs in one project, But the delays and changes forced me to think differently, and I realised these tracks deserved their own space. 31Y?EARS is where it all started, with the songs I first began working on. 32 is more mid-tempo, laid-back but still impactful. And 33 is the most modern version of me. Together, they show different sides of my work as a musician. Each one is its own chapter in the story."

The mixtape also marks a significant personal evolution for YoungstaCPT, who became a father during the creation of the project. 

"When I started making these songs, I wasn’t a father yet, But I had this line in one of the songs where I said, ‘I am your father but don’t feel sorry 'cause you’re not my first son.’ Fast forward to now, and I’ve got a little boy. It just goes to show how sometimes my third eye sees things before they happen. Fatherhood has changed my perspective, and that shift seeps into the music. These projects are like time capsules of my life over the last few years."

The mixtape features a range of producers, from long-time collaborators to new connections.

"I wanted a wider range of production on this project. There are songs as old as 2016/17, tracks I had made for 3T and other earlier projects. It’s a good blend of past, present, and future. For fans who enjoy my older music, this will remind them why they fell in love with it in the first place."

YoungstaCPT’s focus remains on creating music that transcends the moment. 

"I’m not making music just for right now," he says. "Some of what I’m saying won’t be fully understood until much later, but one day, it will all make sense. Things take time, but I’m always thinking ahead."

Stream ’31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME’ below: