In Hip Hop money either comes with the raps or it comes before it. One of the few rappers on the local scene that move like they were accustomed to loads of it before even putting a project out is 25K.
25K is known for his heavy, believable, street influence and unique trap style in the language of S’pitori. His content is strictly based on kasi chronicles, mostly first hand accounts. That authenticity makes people, listeners and artists alike, gravitate towards him. This is the basis of the strong contact list he reluctantly boasts about.
Pheli Makaveli is 25K’s official debut album. He worked with Zoocci Coke Dope on production and composition of the album. Zoocci has proven time and again his exceptional ability to produce projects so that puts the ball in 25K’s side of the court to show how he fares on a full body of work .
From the intro it paints a picture of just how despondent the situation is in his surroundings. 25K gives a glimpse of his dealings and how his days unfold. The storytelling is captivating and maybe helped even more so by his style of delivery. The extended pauses give time for the lines to sink in. It's not an easy feat to pull off. The strater has a single verse which ends abruptly to entice the listener and leave them wanting more. His style feels calculated.
Once he broke out, 25K shot up quickly and raised anticipation for what more he has to give. Even though he gained a large following, there is still scepticism on whether he has the range for what has to come next. This project should go a long way in cutting down that scepticism.
As street as he is, 25K gets full credit for his trap skills. His content is quickly believable, it could be the slang but it also has to do with what he actually speaks about and just how he moves in general. Him being that street and still being good with raps is something we only see from a few other cats in SA Hip Hop.
He breaks down the code of silence that governs the corners he runs in on Omerta. He brings out his ability to dip into his arsenal of kasi slang and trap slanguage interchangeably. Trap Jumpin’ is a full display of how he shows off that switch between the two worlds, showing that they’re actually one to him. It’s this coupled with the riddles that leaves the listener to scramble to put the pieces together and figure things out.
The project is well thought out, well planned and well-produced. The content covers escapades with women in between dealings, tips on how to move about, cost estimates and lobbying for the release of Mashabela. All while constantly looking over your shoulder as a hustler. Oh and something serious against being called at quarter to six.
On a simplistic level, his style can be dismissed as being one-dimensional because of the flow. But he actually displays versatility with how he delivers. From Dusk Till Dawn ft FLVME is one of the stand-out tracks from the project. He is in perfect unison with the beat as he paints a picture of yet another day of ups and downs of the busy life he leads over two verses. FLVME does a good job on the hook
The features on the album hint at the contact list he mentions on the intro. It also shows how the game is lining up to show support. The album sees appearances by A-Reece, Emtee, FLVME, Killa-X, MDB and of course; Zoocci Coke Dope. It’s a healthy balance of solo joints and features which feels just as carefully calculated as everything else And he’s still holding back
He closes the project with Quarter To Six which features a dude with street cred to match, MDB. They drop playful lines as they reflect on how they’re sticking it to a girl who comes with a conflict of being their girl’s friend. Danger is always lurking and they can’t afford to be caught slippin’.
Many things about this album feel right. The album art is clean, impeccable. There may have been a lot going on behind the scenes but the roll out felt effortless. 25K is consistent with the storytelling. His content is more about what he has to say than killing a bar. The lingo may make it hard to follow for some, but that's just an opportunity to learn. You need good slang if you're moving product, good slang is equivalent to good encryption Pheli Makaveli will go down as one of the strongest debuts in SA Hip Hop
