Kid X has spent years building a respected name in South African music, earning recognition for his lyricism, calm presence and commitment to the culture. Now, the veteran rapper has responded to a comparison between himself and Amapiano heavyweight De Mthuda, highlighting the similarities between two artists who have never appeared overly concerned with chasing the spotlight.
During a recent interview with SA Hip Hop, where the interviewer pointed out an interesting connection between Kid X and De Mthuda. The conversation came after De Mthuda released cover art showing himself holding a crown rather than wearing it. For the interviewer, the image reflected an attitude he associated with Kid X – someone who remains reserved while allowing the music to speak for itself.
Kid X understood the comparison and explained that his approach to his career has never really been about pursuing a title or positioning himself as “the king.”
“I think there was a level of not pursuing the crown,” he explained. “I don’t think for the longest time in my career that what I was pursuing was the title of king or the title of being…”
For Kid X, the journey has always been much deeper than status. He described his career as an ongoing process of self-discovery, with his music serving as an honest reflection of who he is. He said, “It was really about getting to the depth of who I am and that knowing that musically once I have a concrete knowledge of self, then the music that I will be able to make will be a more honest reflection.”
“But also it will be as authentic as music can get and for me that always been my pursuit more than wanting to be the guy who wears the crown,” he expained.
“I think the journey was more about self-discovery,” he continued. “It was really about getting to the depth of who I am and knowing that musically, once I have a concrete knowledge of self, then the music that I will be able to make will be a more honest reflection, but also it will be as authentic as music can get.”
That perspective has shaped Kid X’s approach throughout his career. Rather than focusing on being recognised as the biggest or most important artist, he has prioritised authenticity and personal growth.
“For me, that’s always been my pursuit more than wanting to be the guy who wears the crown,” he said.
Kid X also offered another perspective on his reserved nature, explaining that it comes from his broader outlook on life and his desire to contribute to the culture.
“I think a lot of my outlook is based on the fact that we need more people who want to serve the culture, who want to serve the game, who want to contribute,” he explained.
He added that he believes artists should constantly ask themselves what they can do to contribute and move the culture forward.
That philosophy creates an interesting parallel between Kid X and De Mthuda. While they operate in different spaces and have distinct musical identities, both artists have demonstrated an ability to let their work speak louder than their public personas.
The comparison may therefore be less about who wears the crown and more about who is willing to carry the responsibility that comes with contributing to South African music.
For Kid X, the crown has never been the destination. The music, self-discovery and service to the culture have always mattered more.
