We Need The Real Response From Emtee and Others Respond To Big Zulu’s “200 Bars” Diss Track

Big Zulu is not afraid to speak his mind in “200 Bars,” as he gives Duncan some particularly incisive and humorous remarks. A particularly funny line, “Une Chiskop kodwa use Afro kunzima nok’faka iSingle,” makes light of Duncan’s well-known bald head (chiskop) and jokingly implies that he’s wearing a “Afro.” This joke suggests contradictions or inconsistencies in Duncan’s career in addition to making fun of his appearance. Big Zulu adds fuel to the fire by accusing Duncan of stealing “Afro” accessories. Big Zulu uses the term in a figurative way, raising the possibility that Duncan is acting or appropriating styles in order to remain current. Fans are deconstructing every statement due to the internet’s fervor for this degree of wordplay and astute criticism.

But Duncan was never one to be quiet. Afrotainment artist Duncan retaliated to Big Zulu’s music by dropping his own diss track, “After Tears,” in a span of just 24 hours. Prior to the song’s 4 p.m. South African time release, Duncan shared his thoughts on Twitter, saying that Big Zulu’s “200 Bars” was getting too much attention and wasn’t deserving of it. Declaring, “Here in South Africa, you guys are not honest,” he made a suggestion that people in the business were scared to speak negatively about Big Zulu. You fear the Great Zulu. People sees this “diss tune” as been terrible. Let the truth be told guys.

Duncan’s song “After Tears” begins with a voice message that became viral on social media. After the introduction, fans made fun of Duncan for not stopping, but instead he delivered a full six-minute track that, in the opinion of many, totally refutes Big Zulu’s assertions. Duncan responds aggressively, questioning Big Zulu’s legitimacy in the hip-hop community and asserting that he is a paid trend-setter who doesn’t fully get the hip-hop way of life. Not only did Duncan address music in his reply, but he also touched on personal matters, making fun of Big Zulu’s purported lack of flair and raising doubts about his relationship philosophy.

Another musician who was criticized in “200 Bars,” Emtee, responded to Big Zulu’s comments in a different way. Big Zulu hinted that Emtee’s career had declined in the diss track, claiming that the artist hadn’t had a hit since leaving Ambitiouz Entertainment. Rather than responding with yet another diss track, Emtee handled the matter coolly and declared he would not be having a back-and-forth with Big Zulu. In addition to reminding followers that he has won more honors than Big Zulu in his career, he tweeted, pleading with Big Zulu to keep him out of the turmoil. In addition, Emtee teased listeners with the news that real music not diss tracks was on the way.

Fans of the genre are riveted to social media, waiting to see who will respond next and how this beef will play out as temperatures continue to build. In addition to reviving the rivalry in South African hip-hop, Big Zulu’s “200 Bars” have triggered an extensive discussion regarding the state of the business, the value of authenticity, and the significance of diss tracks in the culture.

The rapper Big Zulu’s choice to release “200 Bars” has undoubtedly upset the rappers in South Africa, and judging by Duncan’s prompt reply, the feud is far from finished. Some musicians, like Emtee, are choosing to put their craft first and rise above the controversy, while others are responding with music. There’s no denying that the hip-hop scene is booming and that fans can’t wait for this story to continue. As the drama plays out, there will probably be more comments, tweets, and maybe even more diss tunes in the days to come.

Hip-hop is competitive, and this developing quarrel demonstrates both that competitiveness and the variety of approaches artists take to handling conflict—from caustic lyrical repartees to more measured, calculated reactions. Fans keep wondering whether they will  be reconciliation at the end of this, or are we seeing the start of a new chapter in South Africa’s history of rap battles? when other musicians join the discourse. In any case, it’s an exciting moment to be a hip-hop fan in South Africa.