Sidumisile Mabena
Mbulelo [email protected]
THE “City of Kings” constantly reinvents its rhythm and one name is echoing louder than the rest. Professor Dinginkosi Nkala, known to the streets and the airwaves as AOK Prontoe, has just unleashed the visualiser for his latest single, “iFlow eSick”.
A straight-up hip-hop statement, the track is everything the culture has been craving: sharp lyrics, heavy energy, and a beat that hits with tectonic force. But it’s the visualiser that truly brings the vibe to life, syncing every pulse of the track with striking visuals that prove AOK is not just an artist, but a brand in the making.
The moniker AOK stands for “Abalova Originally from eKasi,” a nod to his roots and the community that raised him. His journey didn’t start in a high-tech studio but in the corridors of high school at the age of 14. For AOK, becoming a rapper wasn’t a “lightbulb moment” but a gradual evolution.
“I don’t have an exact moment. It was a process. When you start following your dreams, it becomes your habit, then your character. Everyone in the hood knows you’re all about hip-hop. When you stop moving, they notice and ask for new music—that’s when you know they’ve got your back,” AOK admits.
The “unbelievable” turning point came when he first heard his voice on the radio, a milestone that signalled he was no longer just a “boy who raps,” but a professional contender. His shelf now proudly displays the Pumula Royal Arts and Community Awards for Best Hip-hop Artist (2021) and Best Album of the Year (2022).
“In the song, I blended the Kasi rap energy with the new age trap hip-hop sound. The influence of the lyrics comes from the streets culture of doing whatever it takes to get money and being unapologetic about being myself, mixing slang and displaying how good I can be lyrically in IsiNdebele rap ,also pointing out the fashion sense in the Bulawayo youths in general,” is how he described “iFlow eSick.”
While Bulawayo’s rap scene is evolving rapidly, AOK believes the industry needs more than just talent – it needs a business mindset. He is vocal about the need for dedicated artistes who understand that modern music requires financial investment before it yields returns.
He also has a firm message for the platforms that showcase talent: focus on the craft, not the clout.
“I feel like drama cannot help upcoming artistes; it only destroys their career before it even begins,” he explains. For AOK, the relationship between a platform and a creative should be an exchange of energy and love for the culture, not a search for the next viral controversy.
Behind the sleek Instagram posts and the high-energy visualisers is a team that AOK credits for his upward trajectory.
He acknowledges The Music Lab and his producers, Ghawdzilla da producer and Leemzy Beatz, for not only mixing and mastering his sound but for teaching him how to carry himself as a brand. The success of the “iFlow eSick” visuals, he notes, lies squarely with the creative eye of Visuals by Corey.
Looking ahead, AOK’s vision extends far beyond the charts. Twelve months from now, he wants his music to be remembered as a catalyst for change. Whether a listener is struggling with school, business, or the heavy weight of depression and drug addiction, his message is clear: no one is coming to save you but yourself.
“My mission is to inspire the youth not to be afraid to be themselves. Once you decide to stand up and do it yourself, you start to meet people who are trying to achieve the same goal,” he says.
Having already collaborated with local acts like Collin Beats, Ryzon, and Freaky Dollar Beats, AOK Prontoe is no longer just chasing the dream – he is living it, one “sick” flow at a time. –Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
Online Reporter