“The Trap Temptations” has been welcomed by many fans as a long-awaited reunion between Ruff, Emtee, Sjava and Saudi, but not everyone is impressed.
Music executive and “Music Pulse” co-host Nhlamulo “Nota” Baloyi has shared his thoughts on the collaborative album, arguing that the project sounds more like a Sjava album than a balanced effort from all four artists.
Released on Youth Day, the album marks a reunion for the “African Trap Movement” collaborators, who rose to prominence during their time at “Ambitiouz Entertainment”. The project sees the four artists reconnect years later after building successful solo careers of their own.
As part of “African Trap Movement”, Ruff, Sjava, Emtee and Saudi became known for bringing a uniquely local flavour to trap music, mixing each of their street narratives, soulful melodies and personal storytelling in a way that helped define an era of South African hip hop.
While fans have praised the chemistry between the artists and the nostalgia the album brings, Baloyi believes the album lacks enough individuality from some of its contributors.
Speaking about the album on the podcast, Baloyi said it reminded him more of Teargas than a trap project.
“They are recreating the Teargas vibes by joining up together. They sound like Teargas, I won’t lie. It’s like if Teargas did a trap album. Instead of ‘The Trap Temptations’, it should have been the Trap Teargas,” he said.
He went on to suggest that the album relies too heavily on Sjava’s familiar sound and creative direction.
“You don’t hear Emtee adding something new. What’s the difference between that album and Logan? Sjava’s on it. It’s the same sound, Ruff, same producer,” Baloyi said.
According to Baloyi, the album does not do enough to separate itself from previous projects associated with Sjava and producer Ruff. He believes the formula feels too familiar, making it difficult for the collaboration to stand out as something entirely new.
His comments have sparked debate among fans online, especially as many listeners have been celebrating the reunion of four artists who played a major role in shaping South Africa’s trap scene.
Ahead of the album’s release, the group described the project as a reflection of both their growth and their longstanding brotherhood.
“This album represents our brotherhood, and we are also trying to give our people a picture of how much we have grown musically as a collective,” Ruff previously said.
Sjava echoed a similar sentiment, saying the music carries the weight of their individual journeys and experiences over the years.
Baloyi’s criticism has divided fans, with some agreeing with the music executive while others continue to praise the project as one of the strongest local releases of the year, applauding the reunion of the former ATM collaborators.
