South African rap sensation Nasty C is redefining African hip hop with his latest album, FREE.
Released on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, the album marks a seismic moment for African hip hop and is the clearest signal yet that the Durban-born rapper stands in a league entirely of his own.
The album has become the first by a South African artist to hit number one in ten global territories, charting in 44 countries across all genres on Apple Music and an impressive 72 countries on the Hip Hop/Rap charts.
Explaining the meaning behind the album title FREE, Nasty C stated that it reflects his liberation from various things, including societal pressures and other burdensome matters.
“I’m free in a sense that I’m not signed to a label, I’m independent. Free from a lot of pressures; internal and external pressures. Pressures that people put on artistes; they expect you to live a certain way and that kind of guy that I do my own thing, I do what I wana do and I do it and sometimes some people take offence to that. Free from a lot of physical things like substances and habits like drinking every night and day; smoking every single day,” he told Joy Prime’s Roselyn Felli on Changes show.
He shared that he used to be a heavy smoker but has reduced his intake because it once made him paranoid and anxious, and he is now free from such habits.
On Spotify, FREE debuted at #1 on the Weekly Albums Chart in South Africa, with its anthemic focus single “Head Up” peaking at #17 on the Daily Global Top 50. These achievements are the kind of benchmarks global superstars are measured by.
He said ‘Head Up,’ is his favourite on the album, explaining the meaning of the song as a motivation to people who may feel down at some point in life.
“Head Up is one of those songs you listen to and you need to lift you back up whenever you feel like you’re very low. Head Up is one of those songs that encourages you to keep going, stay focused and keep your eyes on the price; not to worry too much about the noise and everyone else” Nasty C explained, rapping his favourite line in the song.
“I won’t hate no man for being on his grind. That’s just not the vibe. That’s just not what I do with my time. Let that nigga try. Let that nigga win, let him fly. If you wonder why his success is not a threat to mine.”
With FREE, Nasty C has not only reaffirmed his dominance at home but expanded it beyond borders, hitting #1 in key African markets including South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Liberia and Swaziland. He is the first South African hip hop artist to hit 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and with over 500 million all-time streams on the platform, his digital footprint is on par with some of the most recognised rappers worldwide.
The music world has noticed. Playlist covers on Apple Music and Spotify have placed Nasty C front and centre of the global conversation, with FREE tracks leading heavyweight playlists like Rap Life, Africa Now, and Afro Bars. His ability to move effortlessly between hard-hitting raps flexes like “Psychic” and soulful cuts like “Soft” speaks to a versatility that resonates with fans from Accra to London, Lagos to Los Angeles.
But Nasty C’s reign isn’t confined to streaming platforms. His Ivyson Tour has expanded into the largest hip hop tour ever staged by an African rapper: 11 countries, 18 stops, a cultural roadshow that has solidified his status as the definitive voice of a generation. From Durban and East London to Lagos, Harare, Accra, and Kampala, the tour is a testament to his magnetic draw across the continent. Full tour details are available via Billboard Africa music profile: https://youtu.be/nq138O0xIqg?si=FnXyAMPi7_K8GrmN
This is no longer just about being the best in South Africa. It’s about global positioning. With his fifth studio album, his own independent label Tall Racks, and a catalogue that now boasts billions of streams across platforms, Nasty C has cemented himself as the rapper everyone is watching. He is not on the rise. He has risen. The crown isn’t up for debate.
FREE is more than a title, it’s a declaration. Nasty C is creating without compromise, living without limits, and winning without question. Right now, in the world of hip hop, he is the name echoing in every corner of the culture.
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