The Suspicious Rise of Usimamane.

Usimamane’s rise in the South African hip-hop scene has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride filled with controversy, intrigue, and drama.

From the instant success of his breakout track “Cheque” in March 2024 to his debut album outperforming industry giants like A-Reece on the charts, Usimamane has rapidly become one of the most talked-about figures in the South African rap scene.

However, his journey hasn’t been without its fair share of accusations and rivalries, fueling the narrative of a young artist with the ambition to rival the likes of Blxckie and Nasty C.

But, is there something more sinister at play behind his swift rise to fame?

Before embarking on his music career, Usimamane had aspirations of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

This dream was driven by his desire to help his father, who often found himself in legal trouble.

However, it was the influence of artists like Young Thug, Gunna, and South Africa’s very own Nasty C that would ultimately lead him to choose a career in rap.

In 2022, Usimamane started his musical journey under the stage name “Santon Jay.

” After honing his craft for a year, he rebranded to “Usimamane” in 2023, marking the beginning of what would become a rapid rise to prominence.

His track “Better” gained early traction, allowing him to open for established acts like Blxckie, but little did anyone know that these early moments would set the stage for his dramatic clash with industry giants.

Things began to escalate when Usimamane shared a now-infamous WhatsApp status post in which he allegedly claimed that he was surpassing both Nasty C and A-Reece.

This simple post ignited a firestorm of tension within the South African hip-hop community.

Although it may have seemed like a throwaway comment, the implications were much more significant, especially given Usimamane’s rapid rise in the game.

Blxckie, who was one of the first major artists to give Usimamane a platform, soon became embroiled in the drama.

Rumors surfaced that Blxckie had dissed Usimamane on his track “GMG Freestyle,” which led to an online feud and heated exchanges between the two.

This sparked a wider debate about Usimamane’s style, with some accusing him of copying Blxckie’s flow and overall sound.

As the accusations of “biting” Blxckie’s style continued to gain traction, tensions between the two artists deepened, and Usimamane’s rise began to take on an even more controversial tone.

The WhatsApp post had now become a symbol of his alleged arrogance and ambition, which some interpreted as a threat to the established order of South African hip-hop.

Just when it seemed that things couldn’t get more intense, Usimamane found himself at the center of another beef—this time with Lucasraps.

The rapper allegedly had a diss track aimed at Usimamane leaked before its official release, and the fallout was immediate.

Lucasraps and Usimamane exchanged barbs, both online and through music, further stoking the flames of the rivalry that was slowly engulfing the young rapper’s career.

But it didn’t end there.

Many people began to speculate that there were larger forces at play in Usimamane’s rise—forces potentially working behind the scenes to position him as the next big thing in South African hip-hop, even at the expense of overshadowing established names like Nasty C.

His meteoric rise, combined with accusations of industry manipulation, led to questions about whether his success was truly organic or if there were powerful people in the industry pulling strings to make him the face of the new generation.

In September 2024, Usimamane dropped his debut album, Days Before Maud, to mixed reactions.

The album’s success was undeniable, with the project performing well on the charts, even outperforming A-Reece’s mixtape in its early days.

However, this success was soon met with accusations of bot streaming when some of Usimamane’s streams were called into question.

In response, Spotify removed over 164,000 suspected fake streams from A-Reece’s project, further adding fuel to the controversy surrounding Usimamane’s success.

Despite the backlash, Usimamane remained unfazed, doubling down on his position in the industry.

The release of a deluxe version of his album, which included a diss track aimed at A-Reece, set off yet another round of drama.

A-Reece responded with a surprise track titled “MAD,” taking direct shots at Usimamane, further escalating the beef and sending shockwaves through the hip-hop community.

As tensions continued to rise, Usimamane made headlines once again by going live on Instagram with American rap legend Rick Ross.

This unexpected collaboration added an international dimension to his career, giving the impression that his rise was being propelled by more than just local success.

For some fans, this moment cemented Usimamane as an artist with global aspirations, but for others, it raised questions about the authenticity of his journey in the local scene.

In the court of public opinion, Usimamane’s journey has been a tale of mixed feelings.

Some see him as a product of calculated industry positioning, while others view him as a young artist determined to make a name for himself in an ever-evolving musical landscape.

Regardless of which side fans take, one thing is clear: Usimamane has undeniably shaken up the South African hip-hop scene.