Broadcaster Sizwe Dhlomo has come to Ma-E’s defence after the veteran rapper found himself at the centre of a heated debate over his contribution to South African hip hop.
The conversation started after TikTok content creator Xcalibar listed rappers he felt had fallen off in one of his viral videos.
Ma-E came in at number four and the TikTokker did not hold back, describing the rapper’s music as “trash”.
He also criticised the way he dresses and emphasised that there’s nothing the rapper is doing for the industry and that he did well by “leaving”.
“You had to go,” the TikTokker said.
The comments eventually reached Ma-E, who addressed them during an appearance on Podcast and Chill Network’s “Kasi Jam” podcast.
Known for his work as a member of “Teargas”, “CashTime Fam” and for solo projects such as “Township Counsellor”, Ma-E confronted Xcalibar directly about the remarks.
The discussion shifted from music criticism to a broader conversation about respect and legacy within the industry.
During the exchange, Ma-E repeatedly asked Xcalibar to repeat everything he said about him online, making it clear that he took issue not only with the criticism itself but also with how it was delivered.
Xcalibar doubled down on his infamous commentary and didn’t take his words back, saying his content is rooted in personal opinion.
The exchange has since divided social media users.
Some felt Ma-E was justified in defending his name and reminding the younger generation of the contributions he has made to South African hip hop.
“That’s a super legend there, one of the greatest hip hop artists to have a massive impact ekasi and beyond. Time makes people forget,” said X user @MathenjwaCyril.
Others argued that Xcalibar was simply expressing an opinion in the same way many content creators do online.
@TerenceTaoSA commented: “I love Ma-E, easily in my top 8 SA hip hop artists. He speaks to me, I relate. But I don’t believe the media scene needs policing. The young kids must get off what they want to get off their chest. Us older dudes can speak up for our acts. But no one must silence or caution any1.”
As the debate gained traction, other industry peers such as Dhlomo and Cassper Nyovest weighed in.
Dhlomo took to social media to defend the rapper’s legacy.
“I’ll say this, some of you young dudes treat the humble OGs with so much disrespect, simply because they don’t beat their chests about their accomplishments. Ma-E is a legend. Don’t let his calm demeanour mislead you,” he said.
The “Baby Girl” hitmaker shared a similar view.
“Ma-E is a legend for sure. Them n***** took the game soooo far, soooo so far.”
Ma-E is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of South African hip hop. As part of Teargas alongside Ntukza and K.O, the group delivered several hits, including “Chance”, before he went on to establish a successful solo career.
