K2, Priddy Ugly and Jay Makopo join Maftown Heights line-up

After 14 049 votes were cast over a period of six days, Priddy Ugly, Jay Makopo and Big Brother Mzansi’s K2 will perform alongside some of the country’s biggest hip hop acts at this year’s Maftown Heights.

The festival, set to take place on Friday, 27 November, at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg, began six years ago with the aim of uniting the Motswako family under one umbrella alongside the cream of South Africa’s hip hop music crop.

Since its inception in 2010, it has also been the aim of the show’s organizers, Dream Team SA, to showcase rising talent – a decision which had always been in their hands.

This year however, they put that choice in the hands of the fans by creating a competition and allowing fans to vote on Twitter for their top three “New Kids on the Block (NKOTB).”

The winners, who were announced a few hours ago, will be added to this year’s Maftown Heights line-up where they will perform alongside the likes of HHP, Khuli Chana, KO and AKA who also performed at the festival in his early days.

“We are proud to say that before people knew who the AKA’s and the Cassper Nyovest’s of the world were, they were performing at Maftown Heights as far back as 2010,” said Refiloe Ramogase, Dream Team SA Director and Maftown Heights co-founder.

“It is very close to our hearts in terms of curating a line-up of people that we think are then going to go on to be the next wave of South African superstars,” said Ramogase. 

Dream Team SA compiled a list of 9 finalists with the help of rapper Siya “Slikour” Metane through his website which often features new talent as well as links to download their music.

Besides the huge line-up and surprise act, Ramogase says festival goers can look forward to a smoother overall experience.

From 900 attendees in 2010 to an expected 13000 in 2015, they have worked on improving everything from security, ticketing and the bar to production and pyrotechnics.

He is also excited about the fact they will be partying with a purpose this year.

Dream Team SA was inspired by the Fees Must Fall movement to0 pledge to donate R10 from every ticket sold into a fund aimed at paying for the tuition of some deserving tertiary students. 

The First Lady of Motswako Fifi Cooper will be performing music from her debut album 20Fifi.

“I performed at the first Maftown Heights with Mr. Mo Molemi and every other time I have been there, I have been performing until I got invited to perform on my own this year,” said Cooper.

NKOTB winner Richard “Priddy Ugly” Moloi is already working on his set for the show.

“I think it’s amazing. It’s an amazing opportunity and I am very grateful to the supporters for making this possible. I also want to thank Dream team SA, Khuli Chana and everyone else who is involved. I just want to go out there and perform as though I am the headline act. To give it my all,” said Moloi. 

In addition to the new kids on the block and first ladies of Motswako, rumour has it that this year’s surprise act will be TK Zee.

Ramogase remained tight lipped about who the act might be but said, “just know that their cultural impact was massive and they were one of South Africa’s largest musical groups and if you don’t catch them here, chances are that anybody in this generation will never see them again.”

Tickets are available at ticketpro.co.za