Music geeks are on high alert as Mdantsane-born Afrotrap artist Sonwabile ‘Sosoboy Fosho’ Madonela and US hip-hop legend Jayceon Terrel Taylor, better known by his stage name The Game, and Olathe ‘Oceana’ Dlanga release their collaborative single Different Faces.
The song is being released worldwide by Asanda Empires later this month.
The announcement came at the same time Sosoboy Fosho celebrated two major nominations from the Eminent Video Music Awards.
Madonela is nominated for best hip-hop video and best video director, solidifying his place among SA’s most promising rising stars.
For him, the recognition is personal.
He said he started with “nothing but a phone camera and a dream,” and the nominations affirmed the stories he tells through sound and visuals.
“It’s not just my win, it’s a win for Mdantsane and every kid who thinks their environment limits their possibilities,” he said.
Taylor, who features on Madonela’s upcoming Afrotrap single, said the collaboration came naturally after his team discovered Madonela’s freestyle online.
He said he was drawn immediately to the young artist’s originality and hunger.
“He’s not copying anyone, he’s building something new. If it inspires more US-SA collaborations, then we did something historic,” Taylor said.
Their styles, West Coast hip-hop grit and Afrotrap’s global bounce merged seamlessly.
Taylor described the track as “LA-meets-Mdantsane in the booth,” while Madonela said hearing the legend’s verse for the first time was a defining moment.
It felt, he said, like “hip-hop shaking hands with Africa in real time”.
Beyond the excitement of working with an artist he has admired for years, Madonela said the collaboration represents something larger for the culture.
“The Game is a West Coast legend. For him to step into an Afrotrap world, shows the genre’s global potential. It validates the movement and signals that our sound is ready to compete internationally. For my own journey, it’s a milestone I’ll never forget.”
Known for weaving isiXhosa, lived experience, and experimental global sonics, Madonela continues to expand his artistic universe.
His EP, Pink Roses, marked a significant chapter, what he describes as a love letter to black tenderness. The new single pushes his sound into an even broader landscape.
With a growing fan base, international attention and a long list of goals, from global touring to cinematic visuals, Madonela said the mission remains clear: “Elevate Afrotrap and represent the spirit of Mdantsane on world stages.”
Madonela hosts a live show in Mdantsane on December 4.
It’s not just my win, it’s a win for Mdantsane and every kid who thinks their environment limits their possibilities
