I know, I know — I should be leading with Zim hip-hop. And yes, Saintfloew will be representing us tomorrow at Culture Fest. Glad to see the brother back on his feet after being reportedly unwell (and no, it wasn’t a stunt — close sources confirmed).
But this is Riddims and Raps, and I write about what moves me and the culture — and right now, that’s A-Reece landing in Harare.
Funny enough, the first time I crossed paths — digitally — with Malcom Mufunde, it was in a heated back-and-forth about “lyrical rappers.” I remember it like it was 2019 or 2020. I was busy vouching for A-Reece as one of, if not the, best lyrical rapper alive in South Africa. To spice things up (and maybe pull some extra clout), I’d throw ZimHipHop into the mix — mostly to poke the likes of Mufunde himself, who’s a lyrical problem in his own right.
Fast-forward to today: A-Reece is finally performing live in Zimbabwe — the first time ever — and the hype feels biblical. I’ve always said the boy has a loyal following here, even when my guy Dennis Shoko wasn’t buying it. Part of me wants to climb the Mbuya Nehanda statue and yell, “He’s here!” just so everyone who ever argued with me online shows up to prove my point.
Low-key, I wish he’d come through for Shoko Festival — my friends there would’ve made sure Riddims and Raps got that exclusive interaction.
South Africa’s lyrical golden boy A-Reece is finally touching down in Zimbabwe for the 263 Culture Festival, and for hip-hop fans, it’s a full-circle moment. His verses have echoed through our playlists for years, shaping a generation of rappers chasing pen precision and soulful storytelling.
It’s no secret that even some of our top acts — yes, including Holy Ten — have taken cues from how Reece carved his own path in South Africa’s cutthroat rap scene. When everyone else was jumping ship to amapiano for quick hits, Reece stayed rooted in the rap trenches — consistent, defiant, and unbothered by trends.
He’s often tagged as having a Drake-esque flair — that introspective bravado that makes you nod and think at the same time. But love him or not, Reece has built a cult following across the continent, and Zimbabwe has always been part of that wave.
Now, with A-Reece finally stepping onto a local stage, it’s a cultural handshake. Two hip-hop worlds that have admired each other from a distance are finally standing face to face.
Judgment day is here for the Slimes. A-Reece says he’s the best rapper in Africa and tonight, he gets to prove it.
The Boy Doing Things is finally here!
