Power and Progress: Rapper StaticFlo Slowly Coming to Her Own And Using Her Voice
Rooted in the rap scene of Eastern Cape and a vibrant voice of the female sect of the game, hip-hop artist StaticFlo’s evolution has been one that proves growth, maturity, and change are things that are chosen and aspired towards rather than milestones that reach an artist passively through the passage of time.
With over a decade of experience, the rapper took a courageous plunge to soft-reboot her career by moving to Johannesburg in 2022. Born Nwabisa Sume, she talked about the jump which came after her 2020 extended play, The Completion, followed up by Iphupha and Flight ‘31, released 2022 and 2024, respectively.
“I’ve been in the game for quite some time, twelve to thirteen years, to be exact. Been pushing despite the hardships I’ve had to face along the way. All this time I’ve been pushing in the Eastern Cape in Gqeberha before relocating to Jozi in 2022, a transition that needed me to start afresh despite having over a decade of experience in the game. That called for me to renew myself and to build new connections and new people because it’s a new city and all,” she said.
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StaticFlo spoke about the things she has learned over the years. A participant in the male-dominated space of hip-hop, the move for her has been about finding her footing in South Africa’s economic and cultural hub, which means making the most of the experience she has racked up back home to show out in the new proving ground. For her, this translated into placing a premium on industry connects.
“You definitely need to be connected in the game. That’s number one. You need someone inside who will help you because it’s not easy as one would think. Over the years, I saw that talent is not everything. It’s important, yes. I know I’m talented, that I kill it, and that I’m good with the bars. I’ve got stage presence and I can write. But you can’t go on talent alone. So it’s been about putting myself out there, meeting the right people, saying all the right things, and making the right moves that will benefit me in the future,” she said.
The emcee talked about the spotlight of being special as a female rapper, citing that she relished the pressure of being different in the game and flipping it to positive energy to help reinforce her creativity.
“Most people say that being a female rapper is a disadvantage because people tend to overlook you. From the way I see it, I would say there’s an advantage because you stand out already. People already want to know what you want to say—what this woman wants to say. That’s something I’ve used to my advantage. Like, if I’m in a line-up and there’s ten cats and I’m the only woman, people will be most curious about me and ask, ‘Why her?’ Such things call for me to pull up my socks and to give it my all,” she said.
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Speaking from a standpoint of being an empowered female rapper who’s been around and seen things, she shared some of the negatives of occupying the space.
“We are classified as marshmallows in the game because we tend to look to the next person to do things for us. For example, before moving to Jo’burg, I literally had to get myself studio equipment so I can control everything that happens in my music. You see where the problem is already? With others, they’d have to go to other people to help them with recording and to put their stuff out there by using favours. Now with the favours come other things, where women are abused or taken advantage of,” she said.
Starting out as a booked artist slated for performing at the 2022 and 2023 installments of hip-hop festival Back to the City, StaticFlo vied for top honours in the fan-voted 10K Challenge. Going up against 3500 entrants, the wordsmith’s run ended with a top-eight finish—a feat she was proud of as she reflected on the experience.
“Being used to being at Back to the City, I couldn’t miss it for the world because I hadn’t gotten a booking. So I decided to enter the 10K Challenge because over the years I’ve come to a point where I questioned myself as to what have I not done. So for me, it wasn’t about the cash prize only but about challenging myself, being in a competition, and to seek backing from my fans, which is something I never did in the past since the contest needed votes and actively asking your fanbase for support. It was important in making me see if I can get people on my side and to interact with my people,” she said.
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Having recalibrated herself, she spoke about her plans, hinting at an album.
“I feel excited when I think about my music and future releases. I was actually telling my producer this just the other day. I am currently wrapping up my album, but I don’t have a release date as yet. I’m also pushing for a single for that album that will be coming out very soon,” she said.
No longer indebted to paying her dues, she shared her desire to be a complete musician capable of doing music as an artform to be appreciated rather than going for bangers and hits and rapping to prove herself.
“I’m also trying to be mindful to make music that is musical rather than going for hits. I want my music to be something that can be appreciated by everyone, from the young to the old,” she said.
A believer in things blooming at the right time, StaticFlo advised against making quick moves and taking shortcuts out of desperation.
“Don’t be a desperate artist. I’ve learned that if something is for you and is meant to be, it will all happen in God’s time. Never force things. This is something that’s been echoing in my mind of late. Along the way, I’ve gotten opportunities but lost them as well. Everything happens in its divinely appointed time—sufosta kakhulu. We all want this in the game, but don’t be that desperate person. Because desperation is what causes you to make all the wrong moves,” she said.
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StaticFlo decried the lack of faithfulness in artists sticking to their guns, causing them to chase fads and trends.
“One of the things that irritate me the most about our industry is moving with the wind and chasing the current direction of the hype. If today a certain sound becomes relevant, people move towards it. If something else pops the next couple of months, there’s a shift towards it. Doing that causes you to lose yourself. For me, it’s been important to stand my ground and to know my strengths because doing that has helped to me to stay strong and to keep pushing,” she said.
She shared where she wished to be in the future musically and as a person.
“I would like to be content and to not chase things. Being grounded. I would like to be in a place where I’m completely confident and I’ve finished my checklist. To be in a board room making boss moves and executive decisions. I want to be a voice for women in hip-hop so that I can pass on everything I’ve learned,” she said.