Mapanaki or Rhythm Child?

With so much growth in our small hiphop industry, it is not a rare thing to find crews breaking, either from jealousy, misunderstandings, propaganda and basically anything that would make other crew members feel un-easy around others.

Mapanaki with their manager 

Motheea Mpharoane in the centre.

A few years back a small rap crew made it's name in the streets of Maseru, this streetwise rap crew was called Mapanaki, long before the Mapanaki that you know today, though we cannot state for sure, rumour is; Mapanaki was founded by 24 years old rapper and graphic designer Rethabile Kelane aka Brutal Saint, it was quite a large group of more than five and yet less than 10 rappers. They built a name for themselves to some extend it can be said, with songs like "Buka Le pene" and "Chelete" just to mention a few, but it wasn't long before the crew's foundations and were shaken to the core. In 2016 the crew was rewired thereby giving birth to a new hiphop trio Rhythm Child and leaving behind a weakened Mapanaki. For over two months after the split sparks were seen between the patriotic Mapanaki and "the sell outs", it even went to as far as songs being released to address the matter. As we get it from the streets, the problem came with their then manager Motheea Mpharoane (Still manager of the new Mapanaki) who imposed a new way of running which the alleged founder of the rap group did not approve. It boiled down to a harsh split and ever since then the two teams have not seen eye to eye, while Kelane's hands were full with him tryna run and organise the newly found Rhythm child, Motheea was out working day and night with the remaining Mapanaki to create a better group with or without "The Saint" and his disciples. Today Rhythm Child has become one of the best groups in the country musically, that being said however does not mean we should sleep on Mapanaki, truth be told, they are bringing the best project this year when visuals are concerned, with Motheea being creator of the newly launched LNBS soap "Our Times" you know they have a professional on their side when videos are concerned. 

Rhythm Child: 

Brutal Saint on the far Left

Now here is something amazing, this coming weekend, 16th to 18th June 2017, both crews will  release new songs. Mapanaki are finally releasing their long awaited "Lala" and Rhythm Child is bringing in "New Levels" following their most recent release "Do the Wine". Some say Mapanaki will beat Rhythm Child 10/nil because of their organisation and strong held management, yet; others say Mapanaki is no match for Rhythm Child. You find one crew that has become two crews going on a weighing pan a year later and still people are not sure who has the upper hand. I say all we can do now is wait, not for too long though, tomorrow, we will know once and for all who comes in the hardest. Mapanaki or Rhythm Child??? you will decide. 

I am personally a fan of both squads and no matter the reactions of the society on Friday after hearing the two songs, it's nothing but love from me Moddaw oa Mochini and the rest of The DoubleH266 team. We know where hiphop lives