Inside SPeeKa’s highly anticipated ‘Organized Grime 2’ release
With just 10 days left until the highly anticipated release of Organized Grime 2, SPeeKa, the virtuoso behind the beats and rhymes, is poised to unleash his latest masterpiece on the streets. Before the speakers start thumping and the lyrics start flowing, let’s take a deep dive into the essence of this highly anticipated project, set to drop on May 10, straight from the source.
Taking us back to the origins of Organized Grime, SPeeKa reveals that the title has been simmering in his mind since the release of his debut tape, The Insane Maestro, back in 2010. “Organized Grime is just a cool title that was in the back of my mind shortly after the release of my first tape, The Insane Maestro in 2010. I’ve always been a huge fan of films centred on organized crime like Goodfellas, The Godfather, Donnie Brasco, and so many others. What I did was replace crime with grime, which I thought sounded cool. I knew then that my next project would be titled Organized Grime. I only started working on it in early 2016, then released it in January 2017,” he says.
Discussing the diverse lineup of collaborators on the project, he explains, “There wasn’t a particular criterion in terms of who I chose to collaborate with. I was making music with people I was already fans of – some of which I had already worked with on previous occasions. Except for the super gifted singer/MC Firdy, whom I first met at a Heartbeats Worldwide event in 2023, I had been in contact with every artist featured on Organized Grime 2 for some time.”
As the release date approaches, fans can anticipate nothing short of lyrical brilliance and sonic innovation from the project. With a lineup featuring heavyweights like The Hymphatic Thabs and N’veigh, SPeeKa promises a rollercoaster ride through the South African hip-hop landscape.
“Lyrically, listeners can expect sheer brilliance – there isn’t a single wack verse on the project. This isn’t a surprise considering the calibre of MCs I was fortunate enough to link up with such as The Hymphatic Thabs, N’veigh, Mickey-M, Ntombela, Jimmy Wiz, Fergason, Sizwe Alakine, Mthizo, and more. Sonically, I messed around with elements of Boom Bap, Kwaito, Amapiano, and Soul to give a full-on South African Hip-Hop experience,” he explains.
As the mastermind behind the SPeeKa Presents series, he shares his collaboration manifesto. Drawing inspiration from the Blended Babies’ playbook, he set out to craft musical masterpieces with artists he genuinely admires. From Soweto Tshepiso to Jef and beyond, each project is a testament to the power of mutual respect and creative synergy.
“The initial inspiration behind the SPeeKa presents projects was the EP by American production duo Blended Babies titled The Anderson .Paak EP, where they produced four tracks all featuring Anderson .Paak – who I am a huge fan of.”
“When I first bumped that EP, I thought it was a dope concept and decided to borrow it and find a dope artist I’d collaborate with. The first artist I linked up with to work on a project was Soweto Tshepiso. We then released The Soweto Tshepiso EP in October 2017. The plan was to name every collabo tape thereafter as SPeeKa presents: The [artist’s name] EP, but I eventually decided to give each tape a unique title – hence The Craft with Loux Artiste, Lethabo with Bantu Speaking, Hook, Line & Sotra with Jef, Shoot The Messenger with Mreja, etc.”
In the digital age of hip-hop, platforms like Sotra Cyphers are pillars of artistic expression. SPeeKa sheds light on his brainchild, emphasizing its role in celebrating the art of lyricism—a nod to the golden era vibes that keep the culture thriving.
“Sotra Cyphers is a platform that celebrates lyricism. While other platforms probably focus on other aspects of the culture, we shine a light on the very element that made most of us fall in love with Hip-Hop – the art of lyricism. I was inspired by previous movements and shows in South African Hip-Hop history that championed lyricism above anything else, such as the Slaghuis sessions and The Full Clip (more specifically The Unsigned Hour) on YFM.”
His journey through cyphers, documentaries, and beyond has shaped his musical evolution, infusing Organized Grime 2 with a potent blend of passion and purpose. It’s a love letter to hip-hop—a testament to the enduring power of the culture that raised him.
While a specific theme doesn’t bind Organized Grime 2, it’s deeply rooted in SPeeKa’s journey. From poignant family tributes to nods to hip-hop’s storied past, every track is a piece of evidence of the love and dedication poured into this labour of love.
“The project is a love letter to the culture that has given me a purpose. I included a personal touch by having my late pops on the album artwork (as with the first Organized Grime EP, when he was still with us) and also having my sister and mother make appearances in the form of short skits, just as a nod for all the noise they had to put up with when I was finding my feet as a music producer at home.”
While crafting beats comes naturally, he admits to the occasional struggle with penning verses, “Now and then I feel the need to express myself lyrically, but I don’t consider myself a rapper. That’s a discipline I find the hardest to get into as I tend to sometimes take weeks to complete a single verse. For me, it’s more challenging than making beats, that’s for sure.”
As a torchbearer for South African hip-hop, SPeeKa hopes his new project sparks a renaissance in the local scene and beyond. It’s a rallying cry for artists and producers to reclaim their narrative and push the culture forward with unbridled passion.
“I hope the project serves as a reminder that South African Hip-Hop music is far from dead. We have countless artists and producers who are still out here putting their hearts and souls onto records and have a whole lot to say. My other wish is for more producers and beatmakers to put out music with them in the driver’s seat, instead of always relying on the hope that producing a record for an established or more popular artist will make them blow.”
With OG2 on the horizon, SPeeKa’s not hitting the brakes anytime soon. From Mthizo’s debut album to collaborations with Siya Shezi and Chaka The Grate, the future is bright for the man behind the beats.
“I’m looking forward to Mthizo’s debut album Legend Of The K.I.D. which I produced. The album will be dropping shortly after the release of Organized Grime 2, a collaborative EP with Siya Shezi, and a collaborative project with Chaka The Grate. We’re also working on something special for Sotra Cyphers that I’m excited about – but more details on that will be made public at a later stage.”
So there you have it, folks—straight from the source. Get ready to dive headfirst into the world of Organized Grime 2 as SPeeKa takes you on a sonic journey like no other.
