When it comes to creating your own spaces for success, 20-year-old Durban-based rapper BackRowStar (Backrow for short) has been hard at work. During lockdown he hosted his live sessions from home, performed on South African broadcaster SABC 2’s news show Morning Live and released of his first major project, ‘Objects in the Mirror Seem Closer Than They Appear’. And since then, he’s kept his hustle high, ensuring that he’s the one shaping a new wave for the city’s hip hop sound.

Born Mduduzi Ngwenya in Johannesburg, he grew up in both the City of Gold and Durban, listening to modern day legends like Drake, J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar whose influence you can hear in his sound. Living in different cities allowed him to develop as an artist and learn new styles and perspectives. But Backrow credits his uncle for originally getting him into music. “He’s a musician, so I grew up watching him in his studio, making beats and recording other artists,” says the young artist. Lesson number one was to tell an honest story through his music. “It’s very important for me to write about my life because I write what I feel. I treat the studio like a diary,” he adds.

His flow is calm and easy-going like a warm day in Durban. His delivery is cogent but there’s also a stillness about how he raps. On his recent track, ‘Shawty’, which is an uncomplicated trap song, he rhymes like he has all the time in the world. Meanwhile on his latest single ‘Serious’ he keeps it woozy as he lures the object of his affection. One of Backrow’s strongest points is that he can turn up the tempo and have his audience going crazy for his club-like anthems and then turn it all the way down to provide a more vulnerable side of his artistry, such as on ‘Scars’, an R&B heartbreak number. His 2020 tape ‘Backrow Unmastered’ is where the artist really flexes the versatility he’s capable of. The two standout tracks, ‘IDGAF’ and ‘1409’ sit alongside a piano cover of Playboi Carti’s ‘Pissy Pamper’, which is here stripped down by Backrow, his voice lending a soothing aura.

A year and a half in the making, he dropped his album ‘Thanks For Being Patient. Sorry For Being Passionate’ last September exclusively on Audiomack, adding to the underground rapper allure. The release gives listeners a clear idea of Backrow’s vision, potential and the myriad of beats he sounds good on. It starts off on a strong note with ‘Thanks For Being Patient Intro’, on which he spits, ‘You can’t stop us, no, this ain’t a faucet’ and the energy keeps flowing throughout as he addresses relatable subject matter ranging from love and lust to mental health and the never-ending chase for money. At the beginning of his journey as an artist, what you’ll hear is a prodigy who’s making the most of the little he’s working with at the moment. From the wavy instrumentals to diverse flows, Backrow is well on his way making his mark on South Africa’s musical landscape.

Read our Durban’s Finest interview with Lex LaFoy here.

Words Lusanda Luthuli
Photography Paige Furness

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Published on 08/04/2022