Rappers Cassper Nyovest and AKA may have had the most publicised beef the South African hip hop scene has ever seen, but when the Company hitmaker was murdered in February this year, Don Billiato was also emotionally affected – contrary to some fans’ beliefs.

In an recent interview on The Episode podcast, Cassper – real name Refiloe Phoolo – opened up on the impact of his arch-rival’s passing on him, regrets concerning their beef and them working making music together.

Cassper on AKA’s death, their relationship : We have music together

 

 

 

CASSPER ON AKA’S PASSING
“People don’t understand how hard it was for me. It’s a sensitive matter and you have to really think about what you say. People have their own opinions. When we heard the news, I didn’t say anything for a few days because there was nothing I could have said that was not going to be turned around.”

AKA – real name Kiernan Forbes – was gunned down along with his friend and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane outside Wish on Florida road in Durban. Their murders are still under investigation.

Two days after their passing, Cassper tweeted: “My sincere condolences go out to Kiernan and Tebello’s families, colleagues and fans. May their souls rest in peace and their legacies be celebrated. May the good Lord be with all of you at this sad time.”

REGRETS AND UNRELEASED MUSIC
Asked about their beef and if he has any regrets, Cassper responded that he does, however, he acknowledges that they were both living in the moment.

Although Cassper and AKA were rivals, there were a couple of times that they were spotted together. In 2016, their respective fans were convinced that they had squashed their beef when they were pictured hugging at the Baby Girl rapper’s Fill Up Orlando Stadium at Taboo.

Six years later, the rappers shocked fans when a clip of them high five’ing each other surfaced. The clip was taken during fellow rapper Big Zulu’s Celebrity Soccer Games.

Cassper shared that he had hoped they’d get into a boxing ring to iron things out once and for all. He also shared that him and AKA have unreleased music together.

“I thought we were going to get into the boxing ring and handle it there. I thought after that we would be OK and make music. Well, we do have music together that people have never heard. We made a few records together.”