Ex-Global has thrown his support behind Nasty C, arguing that the rapper’s current approach could offer South African hip-hop a blueprint for reaching a new level.
The former Mabala Noise artist believes the next phase of the culture should be driven by collaboration, experimentation and artists working together to push the sound forward.
“I genuinely believe what Nasty C is doing is exactly what SA hip hop needs to reach the next level,” Ex-Global said in a post on Thursday.
He encouraged artists to build on that momentum by collaborating more, exploring different genres and creating new sounds rather than remaining confined to familiar formulas.
Nasty C’s studio becomes a meeting point for SA hip-hop
Ex-Global’s comments come as Nasty C continues his Speed Run studio series, a concept that has turned the normally private recording process into a live creative experience.
The sessions challenge participating artists to work quickly, develop ideas and record music under tight time constraints.
The format has attracted artists including Flvme, Tshego, Tellaman and Lucasraps, alongside members of crews such as The North Mob.
Fans can follow the creative process through livestreams, watching artists experiment with beats, lyrics and collaborations as the music takes shape.
Rather than presenting each rapper as an isolated act, Speed Run has created a space where different artists can share ideas and feed off one another’s energy.
Ex-Global says collaboration is the way forward
For Ex-Global, that collaborative spirit is at the heart of what South African hip-hop needs.
His message suggests that growth will not simply come from individual artists trying to dominate the scene. Instead, he believes the culture can move forward when established and emerging artists create together, experiment with unfamiliar sounds and expand the boundaries of the genre.
That could mean more cross-genre collaborations, unexpected partnerships and artists stepping outside the styles that first made them popular.
The idea also challenges the traditional notion of competition within hip-hop.
Instead of viewing another rapper’s success as a threat, the approach encourages artists to see collaboration as a way of strengthening the entire scene.
Nasty C’s recent work reflects that approach
Nasty C has increasingly combined his own music career with opportunities to connect with other artists.
His independent album FREE, released through his Tall Racks label in 2025, earned him a SAMA Award for Best Hip Hop Album.
His collaborative work has continued into 2026, including the joint project T’s & C’s Apply with Tellaman.
Across those projects and his recent studio sessions, Nasty C has demonstrated a willingness to move between different sounds while maintaining his identity as a hip-hop artist.
That versatility is part of what Ex-Global appears to be highlighting.
Is collaboration the next step for SA hip-hop?
Ex-Global’s comments ultimately raise a bigger question about the direction of South African hip-hop.
The genre has never been short of individual talent, but its next major leap could depend on how effectively artists work together.
Nasty C’s Speed Run sessions offer one possible model: open the studio, bring different artists into the same environment, experiment without overthinking the process and allow listeners to become part of the journey.
Whether that approach becomes a wider movement remains to be seen.
But if Ex-Global’s message is anything to go by, the future of SA hip-hop may not be about one artist standing above everyone else.
It could be about an entire generation of artists rising together.
