The age-old battle of genre supremacy in South Africa is heating up again — and this time, Reason is stepping directly into the fire.
The multi-talented rapper, who now also goes by his Amapiano alter ego Alakine, has announced a bold live event called #REASONvsALAKINE, where he’ll perform both his hip hop classics and his Amapiano hits — essentially putting his two musical identities head-to-head on one stage.
The highly anticipated showdown is set to take place on 27 September 2025 at Carnival City, and it’s already igniting passionate debates online.
🔥 The Hip Hop vs Piano Catalog Debate
What started as a promo rollout quickly turned into a Twitter war of catalog comparisons.
One fan tweeted:
“Man ain’t no way Reason loses to Sizwe? Like what!!! Check the catalogue…
Do It Like I Can
No Sleep
Bump the Cheese Up
Rigorous
2Cups Shakur
Yikikayay…
vs what?? From Alakine”
Reason, clearly not one to let that slide, fired back with his own list of Amapiano bangers:
“Bro….
Imithandazo.
Bafo
Dali
Skuta Remix
Khanda Shisa
After Tears….
I mean. Yo.”
And just like that, the timeline erupted.
Reason (real name Sizwe Moeketsi) has long been respected as a lyrical powerhouse in South African hip hop. Tracks like “No Sleep” and “Do It Like I Can” helped shape the golden era of SA rap in the 2010s.
But in 2021, he rebranded as Alakine and made a confident leap into Amapiano — collaborating with the likes of DJ Maphorisa, Mas Musiq, and others. Songs like “Khanda Shisa” and “After Tears” introduced a smoother, more melodic side to his artistry, proving he could ride log drums as effortlessly as boom-bap beats.
The upcoming event, REASONvsALAKINE, is set to be the ultimate stage for this duality. It’s more than a concert — it’s a statement.
This battle of sounds is not just about Reason vs Reason. It reflects a larger conversation in South African music: the shifting dominance from hip hop to Amapiano.
While some hip hop fans feel the genre has taken a backseat in recent years, others argue that artists like Reason/Alakine are bridging the gap — not abandoning hip hop, but evolving with the culture.
The event also gives fans a rare chance to witness an artist perform both styles with equal mastery, challenging the notion that you have to pick one lane.
Whether you’re a boom-bap purist or a Piano disciple, one thing is clear: Reason is about to test his own legacy against his reinvention, and fans are here for it.
Will the bars outweigh the beats?
Or will the log drums drown out the lyricism?
September 27 might give us the answer.