Let me tell you a secret. Promise not to tell anyone. In the Eastern Cape of South Africa lies a Hip-Hop talent factory hiding in plain sight. Durban, the city that keeps producing stars with staying power. Nasty C, Blxckie, Zakwe, Okmalumkoolkat and the latest name drawing serious attention is Usimamane.
Born Omuhle Mxolisi Simamane in Umlazi, Durban in 2003, Usimamane comes from a home where music was part of everyday life. His family sang, listened to, and created music. That sense of rhythm and melody shaped his early outlook. His name, Usimamane, isn’t an alias. It’s his surname, and he uses it with intention. For him, it’s about building something lasting. About honouring where he comes from and the people who raised him.
As a teenager, he had a diverse playlist listening to everyone from Drake, The Game, 50 Cent, Brenda Fassie and Boom Shaka. That mix of international and local influences formed his style, melodic but grounded, emotional but sharp. He describes his music as “fate music”, hopeful, honest, and made to connect with people from every background. What stands out is how he balances melody with lyricism. There’s a softness in his voice, but his delivery is precise. The sound lands somewhere between trap and R&B, with a cadence all his own.
His breakout moment came in 2024 with Cheque. The single took off almost immediately and is certified 3× Platinum in South Africa. It was the kind of track that cut through everything else at the time, effortless in its hook, but heavy with intent. You could hear both ambition and vulnerability in it. That song introduced Usimamane to the mainstream, and he didn’t let up.
In June 2024, he was named Apple Music’s Rap Life Africa cover star, featured on the platform’s flagship Rap Life playlist curated by Ebro Darden. For an artist that had only just broken through, the recognition mattered not just locally, but globally.
Then came the album. 20th: Days Before Maud, released in September 2024, is a striking debut. It quickly broke the record for second-day streams on Spotify South Africa. One week later, Uvalo, his collaboration with Sjava, climbed to No. 1 on the Local Streaming Top 10. The album is personal, reflective, and often raw, a detailed look at the world he comes from, and the one he’s trying to reach. Across the tracks, he blends rap with textured production and rich melodies, delivering songs that feel lived-in.
Production on the album is tight and modern, with contributions from MashBeatz, Shane Jacobs, Mo.Rena, and Lungelo Msomi. Each brings something distinct, but together the sound remains cohesive. There’s an urgency in the beats, but also space for introspection. Nothing feels rushed. The guest list on the album includes some of the biggest names in South African music Nasty C, Okmalumkoolkat, Sjava, K.O, YoungstaCPT, and ANATII among them. Earlier this year, he took a significant step toward global recognition by collaborating with Rick Ross on Dangerous II.
Now honoured as one of Rolling Stone Africa’s Future of Music Cover Star’s Usimanane share’s his thoughts on this milestone.
"We stay true to our roots".
Rolling Stone: You’ve been selected as part of Rolling Stone Africa’s “Future of Music.” What does it mean to you to be recognized as an artist who represents the future of music?
Usimamane: Truly an honour means a lot as a kid from a small township called Umlazi where a lot don’t get a shot or these kinds of opportunities. It means success, breaking through and being the voice of my hometown.
Rolling Stone: How do you see the evolution of Hip Hop music in recent years? What excites or challenges you about these changes, and how do you imagine the future of Hip-Hop music? Are there any artists or trends you think we should keep an eye on?
Usimamane: The sound has developed and evolved in a spectacular way especially the young talent we have in the country the challenges are there especially in the hip hop scene where the supporters don’t allow the artists to experiment new sounds that is challenging coz it doesn’t allow the artists to have new ideas when it comes to composing, production and song writing , but what is exciting is that hip hop young artists are coming through and they have found a platform to get they music across the masses, the new trend is the sampling the early 2000 house music that sound is going up
Rolling Stone: If you could imagine a truly futuristic or unexpected collaboration or simply one you’d be proud to share with your community in the coming years, which African or international artist would you choose, and why?
Usimamane: I’d choose Rema he is so young and doing big things we never thought were possible alone that is so inspiring. His sound is still not too different from when he started and it represents where he’s from which is something similar to my sound
Rolling Stone: You come from Durban, one of the biggest musical landmarks on the continent. Why do you think is the reason why South Africa keeps on producing global talent in the music industry?
Usimamane: I think it is because we stay true to our roots. A lot of things change but our sound remains the same.
It’s safe to say Durban has done it again. Another Hip-Hop maestro set to take over the world. When it comes to the future of music on the continent make sure to keep your notifications on for what Usimamane has to offer.
