ShabZi Madallion Reflects on His Unforgettable Performance at the Back to the City Festival. For the artist, one of the festival’s standout moments was not solely about entertaining a large audience, but rather about sharing the stage with a pioneering figure in South African hip-hop, creating a connection among generations of lyricists.
In a discussion with Rapty Mag, the rapper from Johannesburg was asked which edition of the long-standing hip-hop festival provided him with the most remarkable experience. His response took him back to the night when Zubz invited him to perform the track “Heavy 8.”
“Where I performed with Zubz, and he brought me on to do Heavy 8. That was a crazy moment,” recalled ShabZi.
This moment took place in October 2024, when Zubz celebrated the 20th anniversary of his impactful debut album, Listener’s Digest, at Back to the City. The highlight of the night was the performance of “Heavy 8,” a well-known posse cut that featured various emcees delivering eight bars each.
In this special show, Zubz provided a platform for a new generation of rappers, with ShabZi joining the ranks of established artists such as Tumi, Reason, Amu, Ms Nthabi, and Menzi.
The significance of this experience lay in ShabZi’s chance to share the stage with artists who have significantly influenced South African hip-hop. The invitation arrived just days prior to the festival, transforming a late call from the veteran rapper into an opportunity to contribute to a momentous celebration of the culture.
Far from just rehashing a classic, the performance breathed new energy into “Heavy 8,” integrating a contemporary voice with the legacy of the emcees involved. For ShabZi, it represented the intersection of the music’s past and future on a single stage.
Back to the City is known for uniting different generations of hip-hop talent, yet certain moments leave a significant mark. For ShabZi Madallion, being invited by Zubz to perform “Heavy 8” stands out as a defining moment, illustrating the power of established artists to create opportunities for the next wave of talent.
