KiD X Critiques ‘Uncultural’ Trends in SA Hip Hop after Zingah & K.Keed Declined to Freestyle. South African artist KiD X has voiced his opinion on the current discussions about freestyling within SA Hip Hop, triggered by Zingah’s choice not to freestyle during DJ Speedsta’s 5FM Hip Hop Night.
In a recent interview on 5FM’s Hip Hop Nights, KiD X was prompted to share his views on Zingah’s abstention from freestyling: “What was your take on Zingah refusing to freestyle?”
KiD X was forthright in his response. “Uncultural. Very uncultural. For me, that moment connects to other significant moments in Hip Hop that give room for individuals to say I can come and play this card.
“Take Canibus in his battle against Dizaster. He pulls out an exam pad and starts reciting bars from it. Or when Drake freestyles on the radio and uses his phone, declaring This is what I’m doing. Most recently, J. Cole made a similar choice in a battle. All of these actions contribute to normalizing aspects that are not culturally sound.”
KiD X further examined the concept of freestyling, reflecting on its origins. “It’s crucial to delve into the culture of freestyle and get to its core. I came across an interview with Rakim discussing the history of freestyling.
“Freestyling originated with artists bringing prepared material. Its evolution has led to the present situation where rappers want to demonstrate their skills live, showcasing the moment. There’s a debate now about whether something is truly a freestyle if it incorporates someone else’s verse. However, if we listen closely to those present at its inception, we may need to reassess our understanding of that.”
Zingah’s choice to skip freestyling comes on the heels of K.Keed, who also opted out of the spontaneous freestyle segment on Speedsta’s show. This platform has traditionally allowed South African rappers to display their improvisational talents. KiD X’s comments underscore a mounting discussion regarding the discrepancies between contemporary rap methods and the foundational traditions of the genre.
