One of the biggest surprises in this year’s Cotton Fest lineup is the absence of veteran rapper K.O. But that’s not all. None of the musicians signed to his record label made the list as well.
For some South Africans, this is a reason for outrage. And they criticized the organizers for leaving out key names in South African hip hop who have made a lot of buzzes this year.
These critics pointed out that K.O has done great this year, and his name is almost everywhere. And so had artists signed to his record label, including Roiii and Lucky.
The absence of K.O his Skhanda World artists from the lineup is but one of several sources of dismay and anger. Some critics of the show wondered why the lineup should be populated by amapiano musicians when Cotton Fest has always been known as a hip hop event.
It cannot be determined who put the list together. Riky Rick, who founded the music festival, is no longer on the material plane. The “Boss Zonke” rapper committed suicide on February 23 after a protracted battle with depression.
Well, it remains to be seen how the music festival will play out for the first time without its founder.
