“For Us to Become A Community Again,” Priddy Ugly on His Wish For SA Hip Hop

On a recent episode of The Element Podcast, South African rapper Priddy Ugly opened up about the current state of SA Hip Hop, reflecting on how the culture has evolved and what he believes is needed to bring it back to its roots. Speaking with honesty and concern, Priddy shared his vision for a more united and supportive Hip Hop community in South Africa.

He expressed that his greatest wish for the culture is unity and mutual support among artists and fans alike. “My wish for SA Hip Hop is that we all just support each other, I don’t think one man’s success takes away from another person’s success,” he said. Priddy emphasized that music should not be a competition but a shared celebration of creativity, adding, “We can enjoy this person’s music and the next person’s music and each other’s music collectively.”

Addressing the role of fans in shaping the culture, Priddy called for a shift in how people engage with artists and their work. “Fans stop acting like CEOs, stop caring about the metrics, stop caring about the numbers,” he said. He believes that the focus on statistics and social media influence has taken away from the genuine enjoyment and appreciation of the art form itself. “I just wish that we’d all come together as a community,” he added, urging listeners to return to the essence of Hip Hop connection and collaboration.

Reflecting on how things have changed within the industry, Priddy recalled a time when DJs played a vital role in discovering and promoting new talent. “It was so dope when like DJs discovered dope talent and dope music and played the music but now DJs are releasing their own songs so DJs are only playing their own songs, they’re not playing the next DJ’s songs and that artist’s song,” he said. This shift, according to Priddy, has limited opportunities for emerging artists to be heard and for the culture to grow collectively.

Closing his thoughts, he drew a powerful comparison between community and growth. “I just wish for us to become a community again,” he said, reinforcing his hope for unity within the culture. “I think us as South Africans, as black people can come together and remember that raising a child, we need a community, same as Hip Hop, raising this thing and getting it back to where we need it to be is gonna need community and us to come out and support each other’s thing so come out to DJ Speedsta’s thing, support the Hip Hop Floor, support that other event, support that guy on his tour, let’s become fans of Hip Hop and not just fans of the artists.”

Through his message, Priddy Ugly highlighted the importance of rebuilding SA Hip Hop through collaboration, support, and shared love for the culture.