10/08/2026
https://soldistro.lnk.to/Inthemorning
🎤 DIMBAZA HIP HOP CULTURE
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT — JOHANNESBURG EDITION WITH Paxxe Vandal
“From Dimbaza to Jozi: The Journey Behind the Music”
👤 ARTIST PROFILE
1. Tell us your name, stage name, and where in Dimbaza you come from.
🟢 My name is Afika Sapo and I go by the name Paxxe Vandal. In Dimbaza I live both in Miningburg & Polar Park
2. For people discovering you for the first time, who is Paxxe Vandal?
🟢 Paxxe Vandal is an icon in the making, a young hip hop phenomenon who likes to describe himself as an Apex Predator.
3. When did your journey with Hip Hop begin, and what inspired you to take it seriously?
🟢 I was inspired by my older brother Mzie, who was also a Hip Hop artist at some point in time in around 2010-11. I was 10 years old that time so I took influence from him and never looked back.
4. What does Dimbaza mean to you personally and musically?
🟢 Dimbaza means a lot to me because the persona “Paxxe Vandal” was born there and in 2017 I signed my first record deal with Home Base Music which is a label from Dimbaza.
🏙️ DIMBAZA → JOHANNESBURG
5. You’re currently based in Johannesburg. What made you leave Dimbaza and pursue your music journey in Jozi?
🟢 Ive always wanted to live in Johannesburg since I was young because that’s where everything happens and there was time in Dimbaza whereby you couldn’t pursue that kind of a career because of lack of resources. So you had to go Jozi as we considered it “The Hub” for musicians.
6. What was your biggest culture shock when you arrived in Johannesburg?
🟢 The way people moved was different everyone is fast and on the go. The different drip, the lingo and the freedom of expression most definitely was the biggest shock for me.
7. How different is the Hip Hop scene in Johannesburg compared to Dimbaza?
🟢 If you wanted your career to go further you had to go to Jozi it wasn’t an option and that’s how different it is because you won’t make it in a small town like Dimbaza. Everyone is in the city of gold.
8. Has living in Johannesburg changed the way you make music? If yes, how?
🟢 Yes it has because now I get to experience new things and the way of living is different compared to Dimbaza so yes it has changed the way I make music. The environment also contributes to an artists phase of writing.
9. What is one thing about Dimbaza that you miss while you're in Johannesburg?
🟢 9. Mostly my family because I don’t get to see them most of the time.
10. Do you feel that being from Dimbaza gives you a unique identity in the Johannesburg music scene?
🟢 Yes of course, it’s part of who I am and makes me stand out from the rest of the industry.
🎶 THE MUSIC
11. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music?
🟢 I’d describe it as ‘out of this world’ and definitely ‘hard hitting’ my sound is international
12. Which artists have influenced your sound the most?
🟢 AKA is the one who influenced me the most and maybe Drake.
13. What stories from your life or Dimbaza find their way into your music?
🟢 Most of my upbringing in life in general is in some of my songs, the song ‘My Time’ doesn’t say a lot but touches on the hardships of making it as a young kid from a small town.
14. What is the biggest message you want people to take from your music?
🟢 It is to enjoy life, make mistakes and learn from them but knowing that you only have one life to live
15. Which song in your catalogue represents you the most, and why?
🟢 ’My Time’ represents me the most because it sums up my life in 2 minutes in the best way ever.
16. What has been your proudest moment as an artist so far?
🟢 Having my song playing on Metro FM.
17. What has been your biggest setback, and what did it teach you?
🟢 My biggest setback was to trust my fellow industry musicians, it taught me to always trust my instincts and focus on myself.
🔥 THE JOZI GRIND
1. Johannesburg is known for being highly competitive. What has the city taught you about surviving in the music industry?
🟢 It taught me how to adapt and be within the motion, never too loud or too fast but moving in the right direction.
2. What is the hardest part about being an independent artist in Johannesburg?
🟢 You have to do everything on your own, you have to be your own manager, promoter etc. It has taught me how to stand on my own two feet.
3. Have you ever felt like giving up
🟢Yes a few times but what kept me going was my dream, it couldn’t let me sleep and also the people who have supported me always keep me moving.
4. What do you think Dimbaza artists need to do differently to compete on a bigger stage?
🟢 Unity, let’s all come together and work as unit. Everyone is doing their own thing but if we could collaborate and work with each other we can make a lot happen.
5. Do you think artists from smaller towns have to work twice as hard to get noticed?
🟢 Yes because nobody knows you or where you from so you have to show some skills and represent where you from.
🏠 REPRESENTING
23. When people hear the words “Dimbaza Hip Hop,” what do you want them to think of?
🟢I want them to think of the future and the next sound that’s about to be on everyone’s playlist.
24. How important is it for artists who have made it outside Dimbaza to continue supporting artists back home?
🟢 Building a relationship with your hometown is important, those are the first people to stream your songs, buy your merch or support you in anyway.
25. If you could change one thing about the Dimbaza Hip Hop scene, what would it be?
🟢The beef and looking over each other is not gonna push the movement forward. Let’s work with each other and find ways as a movement to elevate to the next level.
26. What advice would you give a young rapper in Dimbaza who dreams of moving to Johannesburg?
🟢 He/She must know what they want and be sure about it. Becoming something is nice but are you willing to sacrifice and endure what comes with it.
27. Do you see yourself bringing something back to Dimbaza through your music or career?
🟢 Change, I see myself bringing change and making it acceptable for a kid to dream of becoming a musician without being judged or ridiculed.
🚀 THE FUTURE
28. What are you currently working on that people should look out for?
🟢 I just released the remastered version of “Out Of Afika” EP and I’m working on a music video from the one the songs in the project. I’m also working on new music with Jaicy De Junior Rsa & Buddha Yung Beatz so there is a lot to look out for.
29. Who would be your dream collaboration — locally or internationally?
🟢 Right now it would be Nasty C or maybe AKA (rest in peace)
30. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
🟢 I see myself as the biggest the country has offered since AKA.
31. What legacy do you want to leave as a Dimbaza-born Hip Hop artist?
🟢 For me as long as the kids are creating and making motion, doing streams, creating shows and content then my job is done. We made it possible for the movement to grow.
🎯 RAPID FIRE — NO THINKING!
32. Dimbaza or Jozi?
🟢 Dimbaza
33. Studio or stage?
🟢 Studio
34. Old-school Hip Hop or New-school Hip Hop?
🟢 New School Hip Hop
35. Biggest Dimbaza Hip Hop influence?
🟢 Buddha Yung Beatz
36. One artist from Dimbaza people should be watching?
🟢 Teemy Oo Oo
37. One song every Dimbaza Hip Hop fan should hear?
🟢 My song ‘Hayibo’ feat.
38. One word that describes your journey?
🟢 Movie
39. One thing you would tell your younger self?
🟢 Proud of you.
40. Complete this sentence: “I represent Dimbaza because…”
🟢 I am a symbol of hope and way maker for the next generation to go beyond the levels we couldn’t reach.
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🎤 FINAL QUESTION
41. If the whole of Dimbaza was listening right now, what would you say to them?
🟢 Let’s support the kids!
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DIMBAZA HIP HOP CULTURE One Culture. One Voice. One Dimbaza. 🖤💛
