In the build-up to U4REA Fest, the internet has been restless. Timelines flood with speculation, reels replay his past performances, and fans on X and TikTok swap predictions about surprise guests and dream collaborations. For The Big Hash, that digital energy is more than just hype — it’s proof that his vision is resonating beyond the stage.
When we caught up with him at Cotton Fest Exchange in Braamfontein — a space synonymous with South Africa’s youth culture — Hash spoke with the kind of calm confidence that comes from knowing he’s tapped into something bigger than a one-off gig. After debuting in Soweto at the Mint Venue in Zone 6, the event now makes its way to The Playground in Braamfontein, signalling both growth and a closer alignment with the city’s creative pulse.
U4REA Fest isn’t just a date on the concert calendar. It’s a platform Hash built to reflect not only his artistry but the community around him. For a rapper and singer who has always prioritised connection over clout, it feels like a natural extension of his ethos — a space where music, collaboration, and joy converge without pretence.
“What people can expect is to see me live in concert,” Hash says, breaking into a grin. “I have my brother Usimamane, Blxckie, Maglera Doe Boy, 25K, Dee Koala, Mochen. We got the whole gang, we outside. It’s a very, very exciting lineup. The most important thing that I want people to look forward to is to have a lot of fun.”
Fun is a word he returns to often — deliberately, almost defiantly. In a genre sometimes weighed down by posturing and competition, Hash’s emphasis on enjoyment feels refreshing. For him, U4REA Fest is about dissolving the barrier between artist and audience, creating a collective experience where energy is the currency.
A Young Prodigy With Old Soul Tendencies
Born Tshegetso Reabetswe Kungwanewas in Pretoria, The Big Hash officially entered the scene in 2018 with The Life + Times of a Teenage Influence, a debut project that was equal parts confession and declaration. At just 17, he revealed himself to be a diarist at heart, blending cypher-ready rap cadences with a melodic instinct that felt conversational yet elevated. It was clear he wasn’t interested in mimicking anyone’s blueprint — he was making his own lane.
By 2019, his career accelerated with YOUNG, a full-length debut mixtape that earned him nominations at the South African Hip-Hop Awards and the All Africa Music Awards. That same year, he became the youngest South African musician to sign as a global ambassador for Adidas, stood in BET’s Hip-Hop Cyphers, and later caught the eye of Sway Calloway, who handpicked him to freestyle on the #ColdCyphers stage at Castle Lite Unlocks.
And yet, Hash has always insisted that the spectacle isn’t what defines him. It’s the work — the studio hours, the self-examination, the willingness to be vulnerable in a genre that doesn’t always reward it. His catalogue of collaborations reads like a roll call of South African Hip-Hop royalty — AKA, A-Reece, Riky Rick, Nasty C, ANATII, Kwesta, Emtee — alongside international nods from Summer Walker and Tems. Still, the throughline across his discography is a refusal to dilute himself.
Heartbreak, Growth, and Recognition
His sophomore album, HEARTBREAK HOTEL, is a snapshot of that refusal. Released under his own label, DEVO MUSIC GROUP, it’s a record that marries braggadocious penmanship with R&B tenderness. While critics hailed its expansive production and features from Kaash Paige, Flow Jones Jr., and Blxckie, Hash speaks of it simply as his most personal body of work.
“For the longest time, my favourite project was Young,” he admits. “But then I dropped HEARTBREAK HOTEL. That album, personally, I feel like it’s relatable to a whole lot of people. It’s a personal favourite but I also think it’s a fan favourite, cause it is nominated for a SAMA.”
Recognition has followed him consistently, but he doesn’t take it for granted. “I’m very proud and honoured to be considered for something this special,” he says of his South African Music Award (SAMA) nod. “Despite it being my second nomination in a row, it still feels like a pinch-me moment. I’m thankful and grateful. I thank God for everything.”
Staying True in a Shifting Landscape
If there’s a thread tying Hash’s story together, it’s his resistance to compromise. Hip-Hop, by nature, evolves — sounds morph, aesthetics shift, trends sweep through with dizzying speed. But Hash is clear on his stance: “In all honesty, I feel like Hip-Hop changing has nothing to do with me. As Hip-Hop changes, it’s going to evolve into whatever it’s meant to be in that time. It evolves with the times. But you have to stay true to yourself as an artist.”
He pauses before continuing, choosing his words carefully. “Trying to evolve by changing your sound to go with the evolution could involve having to give away a piece of yourself creatively. My advice will always be: if you have a sound that you really love, stick to it.”
It’s this philosophy that makes Hash such a compelling figure. In a climate where many artists bend towards whatever is trending, he stands still — not stubbornly, but with conviction. His sound balances R&B lushness with rap sharpness, but more importantly, it carries his fingerprints.
U4REA Fest: A World of His Own
The upcoming U4REA Fest embodies that same ethos. Where many young artists might chase festival slots on existing stages, Hash chose to build his own. Last year’s debut was a revelation — fans raved about the intimacy, the lineup, and the way Hash himself seemed overwhelmed by the love pouring back at him. This year, he’s intent on making it even bigger without losing its essence.
“It’s really about energy,” he says. “I want people to leave saying they had a great time, not just that they saw a good performance.” That distinction matters. For Hash, U4REA Fest isn’t a vanity project, it’s a community celebration — one that brings peers like Blxckie, Maglera Doe Boy, Dee Koala, and 25K into the fold, making the stage a microcosm of South Africa’s flourishing Hip-Hop scene.
As the date approaches, the anticipation is twofold: fans want to see what Hash will bring onstage, and industry observers are watching to see what this festival could mean long-term. Could U4REA Fest grow into a staple on the cultural calendar? If the first edition is anything to go by, the answer is yes.
More Than Music
At just 25, The Big Hash has already weathered label politics, personal reinventions, and the ever-shifting landscape of South African Hip-Hop. He’s an artist who can command a festival stage and still speak candidly about gratitude. He’s as comfortable rapping alongside Kwesta as he is crooning on a track that lands on a Netflix soundtrack. He’s young, but his trajectory already reads like a blueprint.
What makes him magnetic, though, isn’t just the accolades or the collaborations. It’s the sense that he’s building something sustainable, rooted in authenticity. With U4REA Fest, he’s creating a space that mirrors his own journey — fun, vulnerable, unafraid to experiment, and deeply connected to the culture.
And when the lights go down on 3 October in Braamfontein, and the first beat drops, the message will be clear: The Big Hash isn’t just here to perform. He’s here to remind us that staying true — to your sound, to your vision, to your joy — is its own kind of revolution.
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