Sliqour

Rappers are usually great orators, thanks to their inexorable use of words and spitting them out in ways which should be audible and interesting. Similar to comedians. And there’s a sense of confidence that comes with the gift of public speaking.

Rapper Joe Budden made headlines last month, when it was reported that he just penned a contract with Spotify, not for his music but for his podcasts. The partnership with Spotify will see Budden’s popular series exclusively on that platform. I wasn’t amazed by this, Budden is a good speaker who can handle himself in front of the camera. He’s a good broadcaster, who knows how to articulate his opinions in a constructive and authentic manner.

Not every rapper can make that jump though. It’s not as easy as it looks. You find dope kats who can’t even handle being interviewed, let alone interview someone. But for some rappers, they didn’t reap what they sowed in the game so they found luck in the broadcasting world. Thanks to their gift in public speaking. Here’s a list of some South African rappers, who’ve gone into broadcasting and found it more rewarding. If you’re a struggling emcee, maybe your (financial) calling might be in broadcasting.

SLIKOUR

Not only did this kat go into broadcasting, but he started his own online platform, SlikourOnLife. He was never a lyrical beast, but he can make music. His platform has been running for a number of years now and seems to have overtaken HYPE Magazine as the go-to local Hip Hop publication.

ZULU BOY

Does this nigga still rap? He’s a dope presenter and a decent actor who just has entertainment vibes flowing through him. But unlike a lot of people, I thought he was a cool rapper. His last album, Inqolobane was slept on. Before he had his own show on Ukhozi FM, he was contributor on the station’s drive time show with Linda Sibiya. He was also host on SABC 1’s Fan Base.

PROVERB

If you ask him, he’ll probably tell you that he’s still an active rapper. But the broadcast world has embraced him, probably more than anyone on this list. He’s the host on Idols SA and one of the producers and simultaneously holds two slots on Kaya FM where he hosts two radio shows solo.

SANDILE NQOSE

He might be the slick dressed sports anchor on eNCA, but this fella went by the name Seida Crook in his day and was a hostile emcee on the mic leaving no chance for imposters.

 

FLEXBOOGIE

He started out with Pretoria clique, Ba4za in the early 2000s. He then carved out his own career as a formidable live performer in the last few years. But the rapper is now an online personality on T-Bo Touch’s online radio station, TouchHD. He hosts a show that talks everything sex in the explicit mid-morning weekly program, ThePlayroom.