Tbo Touch Shares His Bold Top 5 SA Rappers List—Leaves #1 A Mystery. In a candid and captivating sit-down with Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, veteran media mogul Tbo Touch sent ripples through the South African hip-hop scene by revealing his personal Top 5 rappers of the past 20 years, with one noticeable twist: he left the number one spot hanging in mystery.
“Can I give you the Top 5?” Touch asked mid-conversation, setting up what would become a headline-grabbing moment. With precision and storytelling flair, he began at number five, placing the legendary Soweto emcee ProKid in the spot, highlighting a jaw-dropping moment that still lives rent-free in his memory.
“I’ve seen Pro Kid at a concert where the lights went out, the PA system stopped working, and he was like, ‘bafethu, put me on top of the table, I’m gonna go.’” According to Touch, that moment showcased Pro’s raw talent and street-rooted versatility — the kind of resilience that defined an era.
At number four, Tbo Touch named Kwesta, citing not only the rapper’s lyrical impact but their shared personal journey. “I say this because of the experience and the journey I also had with him personally, and how I’ve seen him deal with pressure,” he shared.
Coming in at number three was none other than K.O — a choice Touch explained with emphasis on the rapper’s enduring presence. “Consistency, man, year after year, nonstop,” he said, nodding to K.O’s ability to stay relevant in a fast-evolving industry.
Then came a pause that shifted the tone of the conversation. “I gotta say this, I’ve got a lot of respect for…,” Touch trailed off, leaving viewers leaning in — only for silence to take the mic. He soon resumed, revealing that “AKA” was given to him at number two. While the wording hinted at outside influence in that placement, it came with no less respect for the late Supa Mega’s legacy.
But just as anticipation reached its peak, Tbo Touch pulled the ultimate cliffhanger move. “My number 1 will be revealed next time you invite me,” he told Sizwe with a smirk, sending fans into a frenzy of speculation. He even teased hip-hop OG Tumi Molekane, now known as Stogie T: “If Tumi is watching this, don’t get mad because you might be number 1. Tumi is a machine.”
