Mr Selwyn Breaks Down ‘Formula’ In A Powerful Exchange With DJ Lemonka

In a candid conversation with DJ Lemonka, South African hip hop pioneer Mr Selwyn opened up about his creative process and the lyrical meaning behind his track Formula. Known for shaping the country’s hip hop landscape and influencing countless artists, Mr Selwyn shared the story behind the song, shedding light on the meaning of one of its most talked-about lines being “what about ikwaito?”

“That line highlighted that it was a suggestion and not me saying I don’t like the genre,” Mr Selwyn explained. “What about ikwaito? That what about was a suggestion; it was not me saying I don’t like it.” He reflected on the Voice of Soweto (VOS) era, recalling how platforms like VOS played a key role in introducing and promoting emerging artists in different genres most importantly Kwaito. “There was a dude who was a record executive at Voice Of Soweto who used to come at the time it was popular. It used to bring boMdu, Trompies, and those kwaito big names… they were big at that time, so this record executive pushed his music through this platform,” he said.

The conversation moved naturally into his perspective on hip hop and the expectations around creating hits. “Kunabo mrapper daar and he looks at us with what Emtee said ngoK.Keed and what Cassper is saying about under-grade rappers bolyrical, biblical, typical about when are you gonna make hits. So the mindset was, you’re talking about this rarara, angeke nithengise imusic nga lento; it’s too much. People just want three lines on this stuff, then you will come and do your thing,” he shared.

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Breaking down the song line by line, Mr Selwyn offered insight into the opening verse. “Dead end still stand still,” he said. “That meant dead-end streets, stand-still. My brain ifasekile, my plans to be a rap star are spoilekile…so that is all negative, that is all pessimistic.” He described a moment of frustration and reflection, a time when opportunities seemed scarce and his inspiration to write rhymes felt stifled.

When the idea of merging or acknowledging kwaito within the track arose, he admitted it initially conflicted with his narrative. “My brain ifasekile, and to a point where I say my plans to be a rap star are spoilekile, no record deal, zonke izinto zimile, the inspiration to be writing rhymes zesifile, then someone says, ‘what about ikwaito?’ I just didn’t understand that narrative. Hence I said that line. It wasn’t a thing of we don’t like it; it was a think that don’t come with the narrative yokuthi, just because I’m giving you a thousand lines, they are not having a market yet, that we can’t open a market. We will open the market,” he said, highlighting the tension between artistic integrity and external suggestions.

He elaborated further: “What about ikwaito??? Nah, I don’t like it that much ukuthi I’d stop this noma ihiphop inama flop.” For Mr Selwyn, the line embodies resilience. Even when faced with advice to explore other genres, he remained committed to hip hop. “No matter how people would suggest something, I rather stick to it. Even when you suggest this platform, I still believe in myself enough that I’ll be like a drop of water on the rock; eventually, I will penetrate a hole, and we did that. That’s what the line was.”

Mr Selwyn’s story is a testament to persistence, creativity and staying true to one’s vision. His reflections offer fans a glimpse into the thought process behind Formula while honoring the culture that nurtured his early career. The discussion with DJ Lemonka not only revisits a significant moment in South African music history but also celebrates the dedication and insight of one of hip hop’s most influential figures.