On Growth and Changes: Insight and Thoughts from Multitalented Music Star MarazA
Artistic maturation seldom trails longevity in the game, and there is hardly any better case study to observe this phenomenon than that of rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer S’phamandla Mhlongo, popularly known as MarazA. From being hands on in the theme song of Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Champions to remaining consistent with his solo career releases, it’s been a little over two decades since the hip-hop star spat his first bars. And with his upcoming album, UNO, set to drop in 2026 after the success of Village in the Trap Two earlier this year, the story continues.
MarazA shared what it was like living with an old soul, and how gradually filling out the mould impacted his music.
“From early on when I was still a young artist, I was already known for making mature music. That phase of being an old soul is something that took over long ago, so with me finally growing older, it’s just been a matter of me getting comfortable in those shoes as I fill them up with age. So, being a senior in the game isn’t something I find difficult at all,” he said.
MarazA | SUPPLIED
He also talked about the perks of maturity, and how the years he’s been stacking up have helped him shift the way he sees life and the things he regards as song-making material.
“I definitely have better perspective now than I did when I was younger. I see things not necessarily differently, but on a broader level now. I see so much more of the horizon and much more of my surroundings than I used to. And I believe because of that my message also got stronger along the way,” MarazA said.
MarazA also shared insight on how him evolving has taught him to prize moderation and the value of keeping a tight rein on his accessibility.
“One powerful thing I’ve learned that I would’ve applied in my younger years is learning to stay low. I was very carefree in the way I went about things and also in the sense of what I allowed myself to do. So teaching myself to be restricted, to some degree, has done wonders for me because you don’t want to be a person who is easily accessible,” he said.
MarazA | SUPPLIED
Powered by gratitude and the general appreciation of watching himself experience upgrades musically and in life, the singer-rapper expressed gratitude for his consistent growth curve and being an improved version of himself.
“I’m proud that I’ve been able to maintain my sense of identity. I might not have grown as quickly as I would’ve liked; however, in retrospect, I find myself quite grateful that I didn’t grow as rapidly as I initially hoped. Because at the current point I’m in, I feel like I’ll be able to show the world a better artist than I would’ve been able to conjure up ten years back. I’m better equipped. I write better. I tell stories better. I do interviews and manage my time better. I’m easily a better version of MarazA right now,” he said.
MarazA lamented the dilemma of nosediving original content within the music space as well as the choking hazard Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses to the minds of creators and the ability to churn out new and unheard-of art.
“I was having a conversation recently with someone and we started talking about AI, and how it wasn’t there in the past and now we have to adapt to it. In my opinion, I think it was better when it wasn’t there,” he said, chuckling. “Because I do feel like there isn’t much originality anymore. There’s a decline in that department. Nostalgia gets old at some point, but I do think there was more original stuff coming out in the past than now. In fact, today, I hear a lot of sounds that I first came across a decade ago. I really like the production of original thoughts and ideas. Sampling and remixes are cool and all, but can we have more fresh takes now?” he said.
MarazA | SUPPLIED
Far beyond what he has already accomplished for himself as an artist, MarazA spoke about his future and where he sees himself decades from the time of the interview.
“Twenty years from now I see myself on a farm somewhere in the South Coast of KZN, tending to cows, shepherding sheep and keeping ducks and all sorts of animals. I also see myself teaching a community class in my top-of-the-line studio, empowering kids from the village with my knowledge of music. That’s my life if God wills to give me that much time,” he said.