Nasty C & Tellaman Discuss Their Apprehensions Regarding Music Reception. Nasty C and Tellaman have shared their thoughts on the doubts that arise when releasing music that does not align with the prevailing musical trends in South Africa.
Nasty C & Tellaman Discuss Their Apprehensions Regarding Music Reception“Always, yeah. Always,” Nasty C remarked when queried about his worries concerning whether his music will resonate with audiences if he ventures into new creative areas. “You get scared because you don’t know if it’s going to connect. Times change, people change.”
For Nasty C, this anxiety is part of being a continuously evolving artist. Despite his well-earned reputation in the South African hip-hop scene, exploring different musical styles can lead to uncertain responses from listeners.
Tellaman reinforced this viewpoint, noting the distinct challenges facing artists in the R&B genre—one he feels lacks significant mainstream traction in South Africa.
“The type of music that we make isn’t something that’s particularly popular in South Africa, especially from my side,” Tellaman stated. “R&B is a very tricky space to operate in. So, knowing that people actually care about what we do is amazing.”
His observations highlight the risks involved in crafting music outside of the most commercially successful genres. While amapiano and other leading styles attract considerable attention, R&B artists often face greater obstacles in building and maintaining their fan base.
Nonetheless, for both musicians, the fear of whether their music will connect has not prevented them from pursuing creative ventures. This uncertainty seems to be integral to their artistic journey, even without assurances of audience approval.
Their reflections shed light on the thought process behind T’s & C’s Apply, their collaborative album that merges Nasty C’s hip-hop roots with Tellaman’s R&B influences. The duo has shared a bond since their teenage years in Durban, nurturing their musical collaboration over a decade.
Rather than structuring the album around the sounds typically associated with Nasty C, the artists chose to emphasize melody and R&B elements. Nasty C has previously noted that the project leans toward R&B and fits well for winter, while Tellaman highlighted their aim to blend their respective musical styles.
Nasty C has earned recognition as a leading hip-hop figure from South Africa, and Tellaman has cultivated a loyal audience through his R&B work. Their collaboration not only allowed for experimentation but also brought them into a space where audience reactions could be unpredictable.
Ultimately, their comments illustrate that even with success, uncertainty remains a constant. Established artists can still question if a new creative direction will resonate. For Nasty C and Tellaman, embracing this uncertainty seems to be a fundamental aspect of what inspired the creation of T’s & C’s Apply.
