Back to the City 2025: A Day to Remember!

I had the absolute time of my life at Back to the City this past Saturday, October 11th. Where do I even begin? It was a whole vibe from start to finish, and I’m still buzzing from the energy that filled the air!

Let’s talk about the Freedom Stage first. Artists like Iphupho Lika Biko were setting the stage on fire, but unfortunately, I missed their performance because the rain came down hard. I was chilling in the Henessy section (don’t judge me), but shoutout to the real hip-hop heads who stood strong in the rain and made the most of the moment! That’s dedication to the culture right there.

Now, onto my absolute highlight: Scoop Makhathini. Oh man, this guy is a whole vibe. Such a humble, sweet soul! If you haven’t caught the interview we did with him, it’s up on our socials—trust me, you need to check it out. Scoop is one of those people who has genuinely shaped the culture, and I’m grateful for the role he’s played in making hip-hop what it is today. Thank you, Scoop, for the wisdom and the vibes!

Another standout for me was Touchline—wow. Just wow. Hawemaaahhhh! Nkosi yam, I absolutely love him! Besides being good looking, his performance was next level. The mic was a little too loud in the beginning, so we couldn’t hear him properly, but once that got sorted, it was pure magic. This man’s energy is unmatched.

Now, I’ve got to address a moment that almost ruined my mood. A lady kicked us out of our spot because we were sitting in an area that was reserved. I mean, sure, we were in the wrong, but she could’ve been a bit more polite. Instead, she was rude and made comments about our shoes. Like, really? Kanti is there a “shoes police”? Anyway, no hard feelings, but I really hope karma hits her hard because that wasn’t the vibe.

But let's move on to the good stuff—Big Zulu. I had the chance to interview him, and let me tell you, he’s just as down-to-earth and kind in person as he is in his music. Thank you, Big Zulu, for sharing your words of wisdom with us. You’re a true inspiration. On top of that, we asked a few of the artists what they thought of Osmic and how far he’s come with Back to the City. The responses were so warm and sincere—it’s clear that everyone in the hip-hop community respects and appreciates what he’s done to shape the scene.

So, to anyone who's wondering if they should attend Back to the City next year, let me tell you—without a doubt, YES. I give it a solid 9/10. From the performances to the interviews, and the overall energy, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss. Check out our socials for more content from the event, and see you there next year!