Ntokozo Mdluli, known professionally as K.O, is a South African rapper who began his career as a member of Teargas. K.O recently released a hip-hop track called “SWave Freestyle” which is causing a stir. Let’s explore the layers of this masterpiece together and unravel its essential subliminal references.
Firstly, the K.O ’s Swave Freestyle does not only displays K.O ‘s lyrical talent. The song also delves into thought provoking topics such as God’s favouritism, justice, hard work, and the grind. More specifically to the economic and political landscape in South Africa. K.O makes a jab towards ministers who are eating the money of the poor, weakening our currency. He also jabs at them stealing votes for the upcoming 2024 elections. Agreeably, this jab is timely and shows his boldness to tackle uncomfortable topics.
Favouritism
In one line, on ‘Swave Freestyle’ K.O raps “We God’s favourites, He blessed us mucho”. In essence, he is saying that he and his producer “Lunatic”, are God’s favourite people since God has blessed them. It is a common belief that when someone is successful, then it means God has blessed them but, it is important that we provide clarity through these four points:
- Success is not always a measure of God’s blessing. Consider Job as a biblical reference. Job suffered the loss of his children, life stock, good health, and his whole livelihood. The Bible says that Job was blameless and upright more than most men in the world. Yet Job was familiar with suffering and loss. Jesus Himself did not “Pull up with a motorcade with tinted windows on the cars.” Jesus was a mere carpenter who endured the humiliation of the cross and yet He was God’s absolute beloved.
- God has no favouritism. Consider this verse from Deuteronomy 10: 17 which makes a similar point.
“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality [favouritism] and accepts no bribes.”
For those who believe in Jesus, the Bible tells us in Romans 8: 28 that all things work together for their good, even in the face of hardship. They may be hard pressed on every side, but they are not crushed, perplexed but not hopeless and struck down but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).
Hard work
Something good that can be taken from the ‘Swave Freestyle’ is K.O ’s acknowledgment of the necessity of hard work. Even for us believers, belief in God is not a substitute for hard work. This is what Proverbs 14:23 says on the matter:
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
This verse highlights the tangible benefits that result from diligent labour. Contrasting it with the futility of empty words and inaction. Diligent work yields and preserves people from saying that they are least loved by God. While when they themselves do not commit to their work as they should.
The lyrics which say, “My entourage is animals, Noah’s ark” by K.O is an acknowledgement of the people around him. They are exceptional and talented, just as the groups of animals which went into the ark with Noah. The animals were healthy and fit for preservation. Perhaps this can be an encouragement on the part of believers to ensure that we surround ourselves with good company – people who love the Lord and are diligent with what has been entrusted to them.
Even more, the reference to Noah’s ark should serves as a reminder of the importance of all of us in heeding the call of God to believe in Jesus and repent just as the animals heeded Noah’s call and came into the boat.
Justice
Finally, K.O ’s critique of ministers who deal unjustly with the poor aligns with Isaiah’s warning to unjust rulers who will face consequences, including hell unless they repent, for their unjust deeds before the Lord. This serves as a reason for us believers to do right by all people and live honest lives even in secret. Rulers, presidents, and kings are not the only ones reserved for judgment. We will all have to stand before our God one day when He calls us home or arrives on this earth to repay evil once and for all.
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