Fearless and unstoppable – Pepsurah’s rise in hip-hop
Fundiswa Khumalo, known to her fans as Pepsurah, is a hip-hop artist from the township of Mpumelelo in Pietermaritzburg, KZN. Her journey from a young girl with a love for music to a rising star in the South African hip-hop scene is a testament to passion, perseverance, and unyielding determination. She is quickly making a name for herself in the music industry.
Pepsurah – the rising star from Pietermaritzburg
As the eldest of three siblings in a household steeped in music, Pepsurah’s early exposure to various genres shaped her musical taste. Her mother’s collection of CDs and DVDs, coupled with her uncle’s constant radio play, ignited her love for R&B and hip-hop. By grade Four, Pepsurah had already begun documenting her favourite lyrics in a music book, and her diary became a sanctuary for her thoughts and emotions.
Her affinity for hip-hop deepened in 2011 when, as a Grade Seven learner, she heard a female rap for the first time. This pivotal moment came through Nicki Minaj’s song ‘Last Chance’ which left an indelible mark on her. Although she admired Nicki Minaj, it wasn’t until a classmate challenged her to write her lyrics that she considered rapping herself.
“I didn’t have a phone then so I used to borrow my uncle’s phone just to listen to music and this one time on his playlist I came across a Nicki Minaj song called Last Chance. I was in love but never at one point had I ever thought I would become a rapper. In Grade Eight I decided to start writing poems which was easy cause I had been writing artists’ lyrics and documenting my feelings for a couple of years.
That same year I joined a school choir and was also part of my church choir. In Grade 11 I was already a huge Nicki Minaj fan, and I would rap her lyrics in class word for word at this point I would fantasise about being a rapper I just did not know where to start. This one time a boy in my class who was in a rap group called Double SBO challenged me to write my lyrics, he sent me a beat instrumental and I started writing right away.
He couldn’t believe what I wrote and called his team members to come and listen to my verse, they all loved it and asked me to come with them to record the song and later asked me to join their group which I agreed to and that’s how I started rapping. The following year I was doing matric, and I decided to pursue my music career as a solo artist because my love for doing music was growing beyond what I had imagined,” says Pepsurah.
Nicki Minaj remains a significant influence on Pepsurah, inspiring her rapping style with intricate rhyming lyrics, wordplay, metaphors, and vibrant vocal delivery. Another major influence is Teyana Taylor, whose essence, swag, and stage presence have shaped Pepsurah’s image and performance style.
She finds the writing process fascinating, as it allows her to transform her thoughts into actual songs. However, performing is where she truly comes alive. “The stage offers me a unique thrill, transitioning from stage fright to a euphoric ‘stage high,’ where I tap into my maximum potential and view the world from a different perspective.”
Her latest release, Sab’lutho, is a powerful anthem about fearlessness, inspired by her personal experiences. Overcoming fear and imposter syndrome, Pepsurah embraces her creative freedom and fully believes in her capabilities.
“Sab’lutho is my second release this year, it’s a nice and powerful bop. The song is basically about being fearless and it’s inspired by my personal experience. When I first started rapping I used to have this fear of how I was going to be perceived and received by other people as an artist and I also suffered from imposter syndrome. I had to do a lot of internal work as I grew in this industry.
I had to confront everything that was holding me back including fear, and that helped a lot in building confidence in what I do. I’ve taught myself that when it comes to my dreams and goals, I will do it no matter the fear and just trust the vision and the process because I’ve learned that sometimes the things we’re afraid of, are the doorway to our dream life. The song Sab’lutho reflects on overcoming my fears and being in a space where I’m embracing creative freedom and fully believing in capability.”
As a female artist in a male-dominated industry, Pepsurah has faced numerous challenges, from having her skills questioned to dealing with sexual harassment. Despite these obstacles, she remains steadfast in her values and beliefs, refusing to let negativity deter her from her goals.
“As a female in this industry, I’ve had cases where I’ve been undermined. My skills as a female hip-hop artist have been questioned because there are people who believe that I am not capable enough merely because I’m a female.
In a recent example, somebody asked if I write my lyrics because they did not believe that as a woman I could write rap lyrics and the whole time I write everything that I spit myself. Another major issue I’ve faced is sexual harassment, there are people in this industry who overlook the talent you have as a woman and they just view you as a sex object and try to use their power or position to fulfil their wicked desires.
One would argue that I invite that type of energy by portraying a sensual image, I believe we all have the freedom of expressing and representing our brands the way we want, and this thing of blaming victims is sickening. There’s nothing wrong with admiring but know the limits and have self-control because this is business and I’m never going to bend my values and beliefs for corrupt individuals. Shout out to real men in this industry though! I’ve worked with some of them who keep things professional,” she adds.
Pepsurah’s growth as an artist has been remarkable. She transitioned from rapping for fun to becoming a well-rounded artist and brand. Embracing discomfort and pushing her boundaries, she learned the importance of believing in her potential and staying consistent. Her journey has taught her that everything needed to reach her goals is within her, and patience and gratitude are key. “I’ve learned that everything you need to reach your goals as an artist is already within you; you just need to believe in yourself enough to start DOING and be consistent.”
Looking ahead, she aims to commercialize her music and make a living from her passion. She is excited about her upcoming projects, including her first official music video and an EP set to drop next year. While keeping collaborations under wraps, she promises exciting surprises for her fans.
Outside of music, Pepsurah has a keen interest in fashion and fitness. She envisions venturing into fashion, drawing on her hidden talent for designing clothing. Her fitness journey, which includes strength training, has become a lifestyle, offering numerous health benefits, including mental well-being. Additionally, she enjoys cooking and makeup, though she admits her passion for these hobbies isn’t as strong.
Her advice to young, aspiring musicians is simple: start now. She emphasizes the importance of doing research and utilising available resources like Google. Challenges are inevitable, but they should be seen as learning opportunities. Execution, consistency, and trusting the process are crucial for success. Most importantly, she advises musicians to love what they do and stay patient, as achieving desired results can take years. “There is this quote that says, ‘Don’t wait for the perfect condition to start, starting is the perfect condition.’ So if you haven’t yet started with your journey as a musician, my advice is to just start as long as you love this thing.”
Fans can stay updated with Pepsurah’s latest news and releases through her social media pages:
• TikTok
Pepsurah’s music is available in all digital platforms.
Photos: Supplied.
Sab’lutho, now that is rap.