DJ Clen & K-Rev Set the Tone with Explosive Mixtape The Only Way UP. South African hip hop just got a fresh jolt of electricity. DJ Clen and K-Rev have joined forces to release The Only Way UP, a hard-hitting collaborative mixtape that dropped on August 1 under Revenge Club Records. Packed with elite features and gritty production, the project is already making waves as one of the most talked-about drops of the year.
After weeks of teasing fans with snippets and bold promo visuals, the duo held an exclusive listening session at Rockets Menlyn in Pretoria on July 31. The energy was palpable. Artists, fans, and industry heads filled the venue as the speakers rattled with bass-heavy anthems and introspective lyrical fire. Social media lit up in real time, with fans hailing the mixtape as “a modern SA hip hop classic” and “proof the game is alive and well.”
And for good reason. From the moment “Montana” featuring Blxckie kicks in, it’s clear DJ Clen and K-Rev didn’t come to play. The tape flows seamlessly through bangers like “Put You On” with 25K, “How It Goes” alongside MPJ and O.te.ng, and the haunting “451 Effect.” Other highlights include the laid-back groove of “Patio Blinds” and the poetic punch of “Jackson’s Rose” with veteran lyricist Blaklez.
Clen, no stranger to crafting genre-defining moments, brings his signature polish to every beat. The rollout was as tight as the music: pre-orders, teaser posts, and a sleek social campaign.
Available now on all streaming platforms, the project is a bold reminder that hip hop in South Africa isn’t just surviving—it’s evolving. Whether you’re tuning in for the lyrical depth, the top-tier production, or the collabs that scream replay value, one thing’s clear: DJ Clen and K-Rev are pushing the culture forward.