Hot off the heels of his song ‘Sete’ reaching 81 million global streams, we had the honour of sitting down for a tell–all with SA’s G.O.A.T. The one. The only. Mr Cashtime!
Clear blue skies, rooms filled with opulent décor and casual indulgence and, of course, the vibrations of melodic hip-hop beats… All bets were off the minute he walked in: South Africa’s legendary MC was officially in the building. Dripping with swag, Ntokozo Mdluli (better known as K.O) ambled in smooth as silk, ready to pose for the camera.
“You know, designer clothes and materialistic things don’t define you or your status,” the Skhanda World clothing founder commented as we spoke about the fashion game. “You can still look successful and dope in a R300 T-shirt, and you can look poor in a R30k one. It’s all about perspective.” With the calmest demeanour and know-how, he stepped into frame.
IN HIS OWN LANE
With a career spanning over a decade, K.O. has gained a reputation for his unique sound, lyrical prowess and ability to blend various musical styles to create chart-topping hits. Growing up in Mpumalanga and then moving to Johannesburg, he developed a passion for music and pop culture.
He was heavily influenced by rappers like Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G. and Snoop Dog, but the prominent figure of success for the rising star is Jay-Z. “A powerful man with a powerful woman at his side. Jay-Z taught us [artists] how to age gracefully in hip-hop by doing what he loves and also evolving into other things,” K.O says.
“Outside of music, I’m diversifying my portfolio. I want to work on becoming an amazing fashion designer through my clothing brand, Cash Time Life, see my record label sitting in a better position, and invest in new things. For instance, tech geeks are on the rise, coming up with new opportunities for investment. I want to pivot in those spaces and continue building my portfolio – maybe even become a billionaire! These are some of the things that I’m still in pursuit of.” But there’s more to him than meets the eye.
Born with a big heart, the charismatic K.O’s end goal is to help others who can’t help themselves. As the shoot unfolds, he speaks of his legacy and how he hopes to make a lasting impact. “I want to be remembered as an individual who was blessed enough to bless others because, ultimately, that’s what I do this for. Yes, I do it for myself, but my cup runneth over, you know?” he exclaims.
“Everything outside of my own cup is to help fill other people’s, whether it is giving them an opportunity to be a manager, a new engineer, staff member or a new artist. I want to contribute to society because people have different gifts. Not everyone can be an artist or do things at the level I’m at. So, if I’m afforded the opportunity to help them put food on the table by giving them a job opportunity around my business. That’s what I want to do.”
“I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS BLESSED ENOUGH TO BLESS OTHERS”
SUPA DUPA LYRICIST
A decade after moving on from the music ensemble Teargas, K.O cemented his position in the music industry with hit singles such as ‘Caracara’, ‘Mission Statement’ and ‘Skhanda Love’. His unique sound, blending elements of hip-hop, kwaito and traditional South African music, has earned critical acclaim and helped establish him as one of our most versatile artists.
This ability to combine musical styles has made him a favourite among audiences across the country, and his music has been credited with helping to bridge the gap between traditional and modern African sounds. When asked about his favourite lyrics, the talented songwriter was torn.
“WITH ALLTHE CHALLENGES THAT COME IN THIS INDUSTRY, I THINK IMPACT, WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE, IS WHAT MATTERS”
“If I had to choose, I’d probably say the second verse on my song ‘Flight School’, from my third solo album Pty Unlimited. I think just the way that I crafted it and was speaking from the heart, and being vulnerable about sacrifices, stands out,” he explains. “The flow was impeccable, telling my story in a witty and lyrical way.
“Obviously, there’s the ‘Run Jozi’ verse too. Rest in peace to my guy AKA, for giving me the platform to showcase my craft. He’s one of the reasons why I always wanted to make sure that whenever I’m in front of the mic or in the recording booth that I bring my A-game and seize that moment.”
Securing seven nominations at this year’s Metro FM Awards is no small feat, although AKA’s posthumous album Mass Country nabbed most of the awards, K.O’s goal for 2023 is to stay in the studio and continue honing his craft, playing around with new sounds and recording another album, after dropping his fourth, SR3, in 2022. “I’m making sure that I spend a lot of time outside the country as well, just showcasing my craft and building my brand in different regions of the world.”
“TOO OFTEN PEOPLE GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN THEIR ‘CELEBRITY’ AND FORGET TO HAVE A REALITY CHECK”
PROTECTING HIS ENERGY
Calling himself a ‘fan of music’ rather than a ‘celebrity’, K.O feels he’s in a much healthier space these days, both musically and personally. “I’m not slowing down any time soon… Right now, in terms of my output, I’m churning out even better-quality music than before. I’m a more polished version of myself, and very proud of my maturity in the space,” he admits.
“It just speaks to my pursuit of greatness and how hungry I was for the opportunity to get on the map and showcase my craft, and I continue sharpening my sword even at the peak of my journey. With all the challenges that come in this industry, I think impact, when it’s all said and done, is what matters.” Calling hip-hop a ‘popularity contest’ is out of the question.
“You just need to know when to not make everything about competition. You need to play to your own strengths and be able to be accepting and open to the idea that there are certain things that you cannot do that the next guy can, and vice versa. That’s called ‘saving your sanity’. You don’t have an expiration date. No one can put that on your life or your career, except yourself. You can run with it till the wheels fall off!”
In the cutthroat and very public music industry, he’s been unapologetic about protecting his energy, private life and relationships. “When I’m on stage, I’m performing. If I’m in front of a camera, I’m performing. But when I’m at home, I want to be at home and be my real self. If I’m able to maintain that separation, it gives me the sanity that I need,” he says.
“One of the things that kind of puts me off these days is how people want to monetise relationships, kids and family. “I mean, I’m not hating or anything, but it’s not really something I think my soul can align with.”
In between outfit changes, K.O offered some valuable advice to budding artists who are afraid of compromising their personal life: “You need to know when to switch off your public character. You need to switch off that persona to deal with real life issues… Too often people get too caught up in their ‘celebrity’ and forget to have a reality check.”
RAPID FIRE Q&A
Style must-haves:
Nothing too complicated: white Nike Air Force 1s and some fly shades.
Signature scent:
Currently loving Louis Vuitton and Mont Blanc’s colognes and fragrances.
Best life hack:
Cellphones have cameras to record things I can’t remember and a built-in calculator, which makes on-the go maths so much easier!
Favourite colour:
Blue – whether it’s royal, sky blue or turquoise.
Man bag essentials:
A powered toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, a power bank and hairbrush.
Favourite food:
A toss-up between Turkish and Caribbean cuisine.
Biggest inspirations:
Nelson Mandela and Jay-Z
A quote you live by:
A Vietnamese proverb – “Men made money; money never made men.”
Words by Charndré Emma Kippie
Photography: Zhann Solomons
