2 days ago
WATCH: New beat drops in Kagiso
Kearabetswe Mathibe, a young artist from Kagiso, is using his music to spotlight local talent and give his community a voice. Performing under the stage name Rabbit MK1, he primarily works in the hip-hop genre and hopes to inspire fellow artists to follow in his footsteps.
• Also read: WATCH: Kagiso artist takes the music world by storm
He discovered hip-hop at a young age and says it became a powerful outlet, helping him find direction, grow creatively, and shape his identity.
'My journey as an artist started in the streets of Kagiso. I was just a kid with a lot on my mind and no real outlet to express it, until I discovered hip-hop. It gave me a voice,' he says.
'Over time, that voice expanded into music, poetry, radio, skate culture, and eventually event organising. I wasn't trying to be everything, I just followed what moved me and allowed my creativity to branch out naturally.'
Influenced by artists like Tupac Shakur, Kanye West, and South African icons Pro Kid and HHP, Kearabetswe says their music taught him that hip hop is more than entertainment, 'it's a tool for truth and storytelling'.
A turning point in his journey came when he co-hosted his first youth radio show, Youthful Hour on Westside FM, alongside Palesa The Mentor.
'That platform showed me the power of voice and how many people are impacted when an artist speaks from the heart. It widened my lens, I saw the good and the bad of Kagiso, and that shaped how I tell stories and create art.'
Growing up in the township, he says, instilled values of resilience, creativity, and community.
The township is full of untapped stories, talent, and culture. I saw beauty in the struggle, and I try to reflect that in everything I do. Whether it's in my lyrics, event themes, or visuals, there's always a piece of where I come from.'
Describing his creative process, he says it begins with a feeling or a street moment that sparks introspection.
'It might be something I saw, or a beat that hits a nerve. I'll write down a hook or a few lines, then build around that. I record a rough version, let it sit, and come back with fresh ears. From there, it's about refining, sometimes adding layers, or stripping it back to its rawest form. I also visualise how it lives beyond the track, in a live show or a visual campaign.'
Recently, he launched a youth-driven movement called For The Kids By The Kidz, aimed at mentorship, empowerment, and cultural ownership.
'My work touches on growth, mental health, self-awareness, community, love, loss, and legacy. I want to inspire people to be real, to heal, and to dream beyond their circumstances.'
He emphasises that everything he creates is drawn from lived experience.
'Everything I make is autobiographical in some way, whether it's a song, a festival, or a radio segment, my truth is in it. I've lost people, struggled financially, battled mental health, experienced joy, and built a name from nothing. I channel all of that into my work.
I don't just want people to hear my art, I want them to feel that it's lived. And I hope young people find their voice through this movement, too.'
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