Hip-hop star drops City of Gold featuring local artist
Local rapper Jaleel 'Jay Wrighteous' Samodien celebrates Johannesburg's shine in hot new single, calling it a tribute to the city's golden opportunities.
Hiphop star Jay Wrighteous, real name Jaleel Samodien, has kicked off 2026 with a bang. He has released his highly anticipated single City of Gold on January 8, featuring longtime collaborator and producer Olefile ‘Fixinator’ Makganyane. The track, a tribute to Johannesburg, often called the City of Gold, captures the hustle, dreams, and energy of South Africa’s economic heartbeat.
Wrighteous, known for his conscious lyricism, describes the collaboration with Fixinator as a natural and inspired process. “The session came together naturally. Fixinator was already working on the beat and as he progressed, I was already refining the hook. Once the beat was ready, I went straight to the mic and recorded both the hook and my verse.”
Read more: Jay Wrighteous turns up the heat on South Africas hip-hop landscape
He added that the partnership was more than just the creation of a single. “I felt strongly that this needed to be more than just a beat. I wanted to work closely on a project with him, and my debut album will be curated and produced by Fixinator. City of Gold is out now, and we’re ready to take it to the next level.”
Rooted in Chaneng village near Rustenburg, Wrighteous credits his father for inspiring his passion for hip-hop. “He was a huge fan, especially of artists like Wu-Tang and KRS-One. That’s where my love for the culture began.”
His style leans toward conscious rap, heavily influenced by TDE’s Ab-Soul. “I see myself as an intelligent rapper. I’m drawn to artists like Ab-Soul because of the knowledge he shares in his music. That’s what I aim to do for my community and my fans.”
The collaboration with Fixinator is one built over years. “Fixinator and I go way back to my early days. He had a passion for producing, I had a passion for writing and freestyling, and over the years, we grew together creatively.”
Also read: Supstrumental drops a new beat
Highlighting the importance of production, he added: “The beat is the foundation of the song, which is why I always make sure to credit the producers. They’re doing the heavy lifting alongside us.”
City of Gold is now available for streaming, with Wrighteous urging fans to run it up and celebrate Johannesburg’s golden opportunities through the track.
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