Holy Alpha
 
Tuesday 16 August
 
Born and bred in Khayelitsha, 22-year-old rapper Holy Alpha, or ‘Mama Ghost’, is one to watch within the South African Hip Hop scene.
 
Her 2020 single ‘Ghost’ took off on social media and got recognised by local household names such as Reason, DJ Dimples, and Busiswa. The music video for her popular single was the first video she has ever recorded. “It was shot by my manager. We didn’t plan it, it just happened,” says Holy Alpha.
 
“I didn’t think I’d be here today because of that song. That song is like my matric certificate,” she jokes.
 
The young rapper won the sportscene Put Me On competition last year. One of the prizes was a recording deal with Def Jam Recordings Africa, produced by Zoocci Coke Dope. Her latest single, ‘iNkunzi’, is the product of this deal.
 
Holy Alpha admits she was nervous to record with Zoocci Coke Dope. “When I got inside the studio with that guy… He’s so great! But he doesn’t smile,” she says.
 
Mama Ghost already has plans to release another single. “When I’m done with iNkunzi, I’m going to drop another single that will blow everybody’s mind. I’m going in hard!”
 
With captivating Xhosa storytelling techniques, Holy Alpha often pays homage to her roots in Khayelitsha. “I always rap about what happened to me, or what I’m going through right now. About my family, about everything… I’m showing off Khayelitsha,” she says.
 
She doesn’t like to be boxed in by the label ‘rapper’. “I’m going to do a lot of things, man. I’m not a rapper, I’m an artist.”
 
Follow Holy Alpha on social media:
@holy_alpha / Holy_Alpha / @Holy_AlphaSA