Alexandra’s ‘That Loud Guy’ is the voice of local hip hop
Alexandra-born host Itumeleng Nkoana, popularly known as That Loud Guy, is creating vital platforms for Gauteng hip hop talent through radio, live sessions and battle rap leagues while staying true to his roots.
Born and raised in Alexandra, Itumeleng Nkoana has grown from a hip hop fan into one of the township’s most recognisable hosts, playing a key role in keeping the culture alive.
Nkoana first heard hip hop in the mid-90s through albums his big brother brought home. “Consciously, in the 2000s, when I now discovered my own taste of hip hop,” he recalled. Although he admitted, “Rap is a skill, and I never acquired it; talking is my strong point,” he found his calling behind the mic as an MC.
His journey started around 2005 when his then-pastor allowed him to host Skillz Galore shows. That led to Riverside sessions and, in 2011, to battle rap through Art of War. “We all have different roles to play in hip hop, and I believe mine is a perfect fit in hosting rather than battling or rapping.”
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Today he hosts the hip hop radio show The Republic of Hip Hop, monthly Dark City Sessions, and the LevelUp Battle League. “We need platforms to showcase talents.”
His popular name, That Loud Guy, began as a joke. “It was a name I jokingly gave myself for the Dark City sessions poster, as when I hosted shows before, I was dubbed the loudest host… but people received the name surprisingly very well, and we stuck with it.”
Nkoana keeps his hosting style simple and energetic. “Get there and do what you need to. I don’t have a specific approach. You feel the energy in the room.” He respects the battlers highly: “Respect is given from the onset as we are aware of what went through the preparation of you giving the best three rounds of bars.”
All the events he hosts stand out to him. “All events that we host are unforgettable, all memorable. We always strive to be better than the previous event,” he noted, citing clashes such as Cerebro vs Heit as highlights. On a lighter note, he laughed that one challenge is: “Rappers are always late.”
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Influenced by unorthodox artists like Jim Carrey and Untshebe, Nkoana has grown with experience. Off stage, he remains the same. “I’m the same on and off stage, lol, otherwise just an average Joe in the hood. Keep indoors. I’m an introverted extrovert.”
Looking forward, he wants to expand his radio show as the voice of hip hop, reach bigger stages like BTTC, and secure sponsorships. “The hip hop community is doing very well and getting out of this slump.”
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