Entertainment

Ta Longz embraces duality in new album The Lord’s Work

Ta Longz reflects on 15 years in the game, a renewed focus on lyricism, and an upcoming NWO Cyphers battle in Melville.

After 15 years grinding in the hip-hop scene, Ta Longz has found his stride by returning to the raw essence of the craft.
Known for his vivid storytelling and street commentary, he recently dropped The Lord’s Work with legendary producer Beat Mochini. “2026 marks 15 years of me trying to figure out why I do what I do. It’s been a mix of emotions, mostly painful, because trying to get noticed in a sea full of artists is a challenge.

Read more: NWO Cyphers grows as a place for raw hip-hop talent

“What’s changed has been focusing solely on the craft, the raps. I’m an audio engineer, I DJ, I edit and film videos, I manage artists, but none of those things ever yielded results compared to the last two years when I said: ‘All I wanna do is rap’.”

Ta Longz performs at the Illegitimate cypher. Photo: Supplied

Conversations with Beat Mochini and Stogie T helped him rediscover joy. As an artist celebrated for raw, narrative-driven lyricism, Ta Longz now treats rapping like therapy, aiming to write the perfect verse every time. “The Lord’s Work is all about contradictions. I feel like I’m a walking contradiction. I could pray for you or I could hurt you.”

The concept, pitched as ‘The Bible and The Rifle’, blends spiritual themes with gritty street reality. Tracks like The Lord’s Work (feat. N’Veigh), Phazed Out, and Let Cass Down deliver this duality through sharp, oxymoron bars.

Also read: Jay Wrighteous turns up the heat on South Africa’s hip-hop landscape

Working with Mochini was transformative. “Mochini has unlocked a sense of confidence in me. He’s helped me see that we don’t have to make commercial records to have success. We just need to be ourselves.” The project was completed seamlessly in just two studio sessions.

Ta Longz prepares to spit his verse at the Family Business cypher. Photo: Supplied

His advice to up-and-coming MCs is straightforward. “Find what you’re good at and try to be the best in the world at that thing.” For Ta Longz, it’s blending lived experiences with powerful writing that transports listeners into the scene.

On June 7, Ta Longz hosts NWO Cyphers #7 at Spilt Milk in Melville, themed around the new album. Fans can expect pure lyricism, with a battle against Devyn TragicMusiq and a guest spot from Kid X. “This event is about celebrating lyricism in its highest form. We care about raps.”

Looking ahead, Ta Longz remains guided by faith rather than rigid plans. “My only plan is to use this talent to open as many doors as I can for myself, Sizi S, and the guys I work with.”

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Nelson Kgarose

Nelson Kgarose is a Multimedia sports journalist and Digital Content Creator specialising in sports and current municipal news. I mainly report on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts with a focus on accuracy and thorough analysis. My commitment to objectivity and detail shapes my writing. Outside of covering sports, I engage with trending local news and interact with fans on social media.

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