SA hip hop collective launches YONDA WAY project ahead of new album

The tracks mark the start of what is being described as the YONDA WAY movement, ahead of a full album.

The project brings together nine emerging South African artists under the creative direction of Zingah and producer Tweezy. The line-up includes Kanekeid, Fistola Inecut, Horid The Messiah, Andy Maveric, Leo Brown, Buzzi Lee, ThatPrettyGirlYongz and Leezy Lindokuhle.

Many of the artists were first introduced through Zingah’s interview series YONDR, which spotlighted emerging talent within the local hip-hop scene.

In August 2025, the group entered a three-day studio camp alongside established contributors including Maglera Doe Boy, Kwesta, Reason and Priddy Ugly. According to the project team, the sessions produced 24 tracks in a competitive format where artists worked to secure placement across songs.

Following the camp, Zingah and Tweezy oversaw a month-long refinement process, narrowing the material down to an 11-track project.

A youth listening group referred to as the “Sound Council”, made up of more than 250 participants, was also involved in previewing the material and providing feedback during development.

Several of the featured artists have already begun performing publicly as a collective. They recently appeared at a Nasty C event and are scheduled to perform at NotBenjamin’s StreetFest later this week.

Zingah said the project was designed to create space for emerging voices within the genre.

“This wasn’t just about making songs. It was about building a moment, bringing new voices together, giving them space to express themselves, and creating something that represents where SA hip-hop can go next. The energy in that camp reminded me why this culture matters,” he said.

The YONDA WAY project is positioned by its creators as a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the visibility of emerging hip-hop talent in South Africa. It combines studio development, live performance exposure and audience testing ahead of its full album rollout in 2026.

The three lead singles are now available on streaming platforms.