Interview: A Perfect Collaboration - @akaworldwide and @costatitchworld Come Together For New EP, #YoureWelcome

Multitalented, multi-awarding winning artist, SupaMega also known as AKA, recently collaborated with a leader of the new wave pack, Costa Titch, on an EP titled, "You’re welcome". In a time where audiences have been calling for a revival of SA hip-hop, You’re Welcome could not have come at a better time. Those who have heard the album have expressed great excitement and appreciation for the album that also symbolizes two different eras coming together to create amazing music.

Whilst many people have called for OGs to take a break and make way for the new school cats, this joint album is an example of the magic that can come out of a collaboration between the two. Not only are there lessons to be shared, but the merge enables for different people from different schools of music and audiences to coexist and have a good time together. AKA describes it as a project that was seamless and exciting for him to do because it allowed for him to explore another side to himself, and for him to still contribute to the culture in a positive way.

“The collaboration started out with us making a lot of records together towards the end of last year. The Nkalakatha remix was the jump off point. I did that with Costa, he came over to the crib and then started working with Dubs, Elcino, his old clique and crew. Before we knew it, we had 6 records and thought this could be something. 

We kept working at it and I thought it would be a really cool idea because Hip-hop is a young man’s sport (not that I am old), but I like to look for different inspirations, different cues of mental states and different levels. I thought this would be cool for the culture and cool for me to experience. I’m fantastically happy by the way it’s turned out and what we’ve managed to do,” said AKA.

#SuperSoft This Friday ???????? pic.twitter.com/0Ey04AMmkl

— AKA (@akaworldwide) August 17, 2021

Finding out AKA knows me - Costa Titch

The collaborative effort on You’re Welcome stems from years ago when Costa Titch was performing at a YFM gig and whilst hanging out, he heard someone boldly call out “Yo Titch.” Titch was taken by surprise but also thought that the voice he heard sounded familiar. Indeed, it was the confident megastar, calling Costa Titch to join him in his section. This first encounter would see the two mega stars form a bond based on respect and appreciation for each one’s strides in the game. What makes this relationship exciting to witness is that it tells people that there is no reason for people in the industry to be divisive and sit on opposite sides of the table when they are much more powerful when sitting together and next to each other.

Kiernan’s open mindedness about collaboration with new younger artists has not only earned him longevity in the game, but it has also helped him to constantly reinvent himself and become a better person and a better artist, with each song he makes. His Baddest remix which featured some of the hottest female MCs such as Nadia Nakai, Moozlie, Gigi LaMayne and Rouge is yet another example of AKA wanting to see the hip-hop game progress but also actively contributing to the evolution. Once again, the collaboration came at a time when there was a huge cry for women in the hip-hop game to be recognized, respected and made room for.

For Costa Titch, his eagerness to learn from an established artist and not jump on the “make way for the wave” bandwagon has only set him up for greater success. His collaboration with Riky Rick on Nkalakatha which saw Titch soar as the leader of the new wave, speaks to his drive, hunger and most importantly, his love for making good music.

“Well, you know, I’m a nice guy like that. That’s kind of a full circle because once upon a time I was sitting in his car. That’s what hip hop is about, bringing up and working with new people, and bringing new people into the spotlight. That’s what I’ve always been about and I’m happy that that’s the kind of spirit we’ve embraced,” AKA shared warm heartedly.

The AKA and Titch synergy

An independent, young artist working with an award-winning established artist can be overwhelming particularly for the younger artist who wants to be recognized and have a big project with the established artist, but without having to change who they are, being a pushover and doing things how the bigger artist wants them done. The AKA and Titch relationship appears to be a strong relationship guided by common values and leaving room to learn from one another.

Artists on the come up often get promised collaborations that never see the light of day and believing that You’re Welcome would actually happen only appeared to be real for Costa Titch, as they were about to submit the song for release, until then his main focus was on creating a brilliant joint project. You’re Welcome is a bond of chemistry that has been beneficial for Titche’s catalogue of music, the music industry at large as well as for AKA who has been healing from the loss of his fiancé. This project allowed him to have lighter moments, to laugh, have fun and get in touch with his younger, high energy and vibrant self.

“We would talk so many times in the process of making the project. As the project got deeper into the final steps, I kept saying ‘I can’t believe this is real yet- like this is actually happening?!’ Before we knew it, we were at the final camp ahead of the release, we realized that we had to submit really soon and that’s when things started to simmer and sink in that this is really happening,” said Costa Titch.

“I think we have a great chemistry. This is the second joint project I’ve made. Once I make an album, project or tape with you, it’s a meeting of chemistry and it happens for a reason. There’s a reason why this happened and I’m very happy because I’ve had a very difficult year. Coming out of that, I didn’t want to have people hear me sad, depressed and introspective, there will be a time for that when my album comes out. I’m thankful that this allowed me to come out and be smiling again, have energy, get back on it and have a positive energy about it. I’ll forever be grateful to Costa and his team for that.

One thing about us is that his team and my team are the same team. Sbudah has worked with me for years and now works with him so there was great synergy there. Tshiamo, Sbudah, Nivo, everybody together. One thing about him, he’s got a nice team, a group of people who really want to see him succeed, care for him and want the best for him- the same happens for me on my side so this just made sense,” AKA expressed.

#SuperSoft ???????? available on all serious platforms Ya dig. Lock in! @costatitchworld ????????https://t.co/lF1164zqxP pic.twitter.com/yxUbZ7Mt6N

— AKA (@akaworldwide) August 26, 2021

I cannot lie, life only makes sense when I’m in album mode

Talking about the creative process behind You’re Welcome, AKA shared how much peace he finds in making music and at that point, the success, money and fame of it all can never supersede the peace that the studio time enables when he needs to express himself. Peace in different situations looks different for different people and for Kiernan with this project, peace was having fun, having and being in a space where he could vibe and not have to do or be anything else.

The seamless fusion of Amapiano and hip-hop that can be heard on this joint album, epitomises the mood of the project and how everybody in the studio sessions was clear on the intention for this project – to release “dope beats, catchy phrases and nice raps.”

“We wanted to make a non-musical project. We’re living in the Amapiano era and we thought ‘How can we make Amapiano without making Amapiano? Let’s strip everything down,’ sometimes we’d be making beats or music or producing and we’d get into the deep piano chords, then we’d have to stop ourselves from being musical.

The music comes from a place of feeling of good vibes but also structurally we didn’t want to make long songs either because 2 minutes 30seconds is the new 3 minutes in music. Just dope beats, catchy hooks, nice raps. Something you can just drop top and enjoy.

We’re coming into the summer time now. I also wanted music that I could perform- new stuff that would have a jig and have a vibe. With him, he’s got a young following, the kids, ‘the new wave’ as he likes to call it. The kids just want to rage and have fun. I thought this was the perfect moment for me to have fun and let loose, have fun and do my thing.”

“Yeah. Just straight to the point. Nothing too dragged out. Just a good time, not a long time” Titch added.

I ain’t got the summer but I got the SAMA. Who the fuck you know that’s stacking the numbers? - Yizo Yizo

The first song on the album Yizo Yizo sees Costa Titch break out of his humility- shell to own his greatness. From the first line he flaunts having been nominated for a SAMA award and being the only artist who was not signed to any major label in that category. Where artists have been told that they cannot get to the top without the backing of a major label, Titch is evidence it can be done. His popularity in the game came from his well-coordinated, well styled, well thought out and vibrant social media videos that have earned him the stripes of a content king. Phasing that virality into his music releases has seen him secure incredible numbers of streams, engagement, downloads, followers, fans and views which all add up and contribute to him being a leader of the new wave pack.

 Although he is known to be a humble somebody who is ultra-focused on his craft, in Yizo Yizo, Costa Titch can be heard flexing his muscles in a pleasant way.

“As soon as I heard the beat and drop, I knew the first line needed to be hectic. We’re really moving as independent artists so I thought let’s turn that into a positive for us.”

#YoureWelcome Out Now!!!???????????????????? Titch Gang x Megacy!!! Let’s go!!!!????????????????https://t.co/gDAnvjFEp7 pic.twitter.com/ntby4l0boh

— AKA (@akaworldwide) September 10, 2021

Collaborations offer a vast array of opportunities for self-development, career growth, an opportunity to dabble in something different and even more excitingly, opportunities to learn something new from the next person from a different walk of life. In this instance, Costa Titch’s background in dancing and film have given Kiernan an opportunity to learn how to do things with a different approach.

The perfection of this chemistry and the two artists being in the mind space to learn and allow for the vibes to carry the collaboration has resulted in some amazing lifelong lessons for each artist. Interestingly, although each has learnt different things from the other, they are actually the same thing. 

Kiernan has learnt to be meticulous about social media and curating content and creating music videos with an intention. On the other hand, Titch has learnt about the importance of being thorough with the craft of music itself – each line, bar, verse has to be intentional, well thought out and carry substance.

“I learnt a lot from the making of the actual music, I always say ‘I don’t think I’ll ever make music the same way again’ and I mean this in a really good way. I learnt a lot about the attention to detail and the importance of every single line, especially with the new wave, there’s sometimes a lot of nothingness in the lyrics. There’s a lack of attention to detail and taking the music seriously. I have just learnt that the music has to be good before we even roll out or think of a music video. The level of seriousness I picked up in the sessions was on a high level, like ‘no, we can’t just brush over that melody we heard in the background,’ we need to fix it” said Costa Titch. 

“I learnt to not be so stuck in my ways. I learnt a lot about myself and to be open, to not go too deep into your own mind. He’s a dancer and he taught me that I needed to be on stage and be able to perform the music, and translate the vibe to the people. 

So, I learnt that the vibe is important to get people to move to this music. I learnt about social media, content, music videos, TikTok, aesthetics and having a vision for how you want things to look. I learnt a lot about how his background in dancing and film influences his approach to doing things, so I learnt how to look at things from that perspective.”