“It’s not SA Hip-hop without A-Reece:” Fans React To Back To The City Full Lineup. South Africa’s largest Hip-hop festival, Back To The City, recently unveiled its highly anticipated full lineup for 2024, igniting excitement and sparking passionate reactions from fans.
While the festival promises a star-studded showcase of the nation’s best talent, many loyal Hip-hop fans noticed one glaring omission: A-Reece. Known for his lyricism and consistent impact on the South African Hip-hop scene, A-Reece has been a crowd favourite and a staple name that fans have come to expect at major events.
So, when his name was absent from the final Back To The City lineup, many took to social media to voice their frustrations. The X timeline was flooded with reactions as fans rallied behind the Pretoria-born rapper, expressing disappointment over his exclusion. One user wrote; “you can’t spell S.A hip hop without A-reece I’m sorry…idgaf if Nasty C is there he should also be there noma bangashayana after the show but A-reece should be there noma kanjan!”
Others echoed the sentiment mentioning other SA rappers who did not make it on the lineup mostly Capetown rappers such as YoungstaCPT, and Shane Eagle. “So no youngsta , shane , early b , mr heinz , ziggy or a bushi bru? Haai ouens , we also wanna be by back to the city.”
For some fans, A-Reece represents a new wave of Hip-hop artistry in South Africa. To many, his absence from the lineup felt like a step backwards for the genre’s recognition of younger, forward-thinking artists. “How’s this HiPHOP festival without A-Reece,” another fan commented.
Despite the outcry over A-Reece’s absence, the festival is still set to deliver an unforgettable experience, showcasing a blend of old-school legends and contemporary stars. This year’s lineup includes Nasty C, Cassper Nyovest, Blxckie, Maglera Doe Boy, Big Zulu, Nadia Nakai, Priddy Ugly, Stogie T and many others.
As one of the longest-running Hip-hop festivals in Africa, Back To The City continues to serve as a platform for celebrating the culture’s rich history and evolving sound. The event, set for October 12, 2024, at its usual spot in Newtown, Johannesburg, will feature a dynamic mix of performances, freestyle battles, graffiti showcases, and dance-offs.
