Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu
“WHAT if they were still with us?”
That haunting question has gripped rapper GTi (real name Thamsanqa Nyathi) and pushed him to spill raw emotion on the mic in a soul-stirring tribute that’s got Bulawayo buzzing, and weeping.
Inspired by Yanga Chief’s South African smash hit “What If Mngane”, GTi has flipped the track into “What If?”, a chilling tribute to the city’s lost creative giants; Cal Vin, Clive Chigubu, and NguFidelis, while saluting living powerhouses like Awa Khiwe and Nitefreak.
“It’s more than a song. It’s pain. It’s memory. It’s the story of Bulawayo,” GTi told B-Metro.
GTi’s version, uploaded on YouTube, isn’t just a cover, it’s a lyrical time capsule. He raps about missed chances, crushed dreams, and legends who died before the world truly felt their genius.
“I had Cal_Vin. We made magic. And then he was gone,” GTi said, reflecting on their 2017 collab Selifikile, a hidden gem in Zim hip-hop history.
GTi burst onto the scene in 2016 with Spectacular Vernacular, earning a spot on Cal Vin’s Kontrol Tribe label. But the dream didn’t last. By 2018, he ditched the studio for scissors, opening a barbershop in the western suburbs. He later joined Zupco as a conductor.
But the beat never left him.
Now based in South Africa, GTi is soaking up fresh inspiration from the Sepedi community and blending it with his gritty hometown roots.
The result is a bold new sound laced with nostalgia, pride, and pain.
His latest track also name-drops game-changers like Kasi Lunatics and Amasalad’elokshini, underground heroes who gave township kids a reason to dream.
“These guys were raw, real and loud. They taught us to own our stories,” GTi said.
But this tribute isn’t just about the past, it’s a rallying cry to Bulawayo’s rising stars.
“Look at Awa Khiwe, look at Nitefreak, they’ve made it. You can too. Believe in your voice.”
GTi’s visualiser for “What If?” is live on YouTube now.
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Bongani Ndlovu