Rapper ZULO takes centre stage on the July 2025 cover of South Africa’s #1 hip-hop magazine, HYPE Magazine, not just as an artist, but as a living tribute to the culture that shaped him. Dressed in a custom-cropped jacket designed in collaboration with streetwear brand Happyville, the cover is more than fashion; it’s a statement of legacy.
This unique piece features hand-illustrated portraits, by Reabetswe Moremong, of South Africa’s most influential hip-hop artists: ProKid, AKA, HHP, K.O, Riky Rick, Khuli Chana, Cassper Nyovest, Kwesta, and Da L.E.S- legends whose work laid the foundation for the genre’s evolution. Each portrait forms part of a larger narrative stitched into the jacket, transforming ZULO’s body into a canvas for cultural storytelling and a wearable tribute to SA hip-hop history. Captured by Majozi, ZULO’s new Z logo is centred between the jacket on his chain pendant, symbolizing a new chapter, one where ZULO doesn’t just represent South African hip-hop, but embodies it.
“We barely finished the jacket, and it was minutes before the shoot,” says ZULO. “We didn’t manage to get Stogie [T] printed in time, but he was the final artist. I just wanted to become SA hip-hop, especially since the Jozi cover back in the day impacted me so much. I hope this cover does for a young, talented rapper what the Jozi cover did for me.”
This moment arrives right on time as ZULO is gearing up to release new music in July and just teased a brand-new single this past Sunday across his socials. The clip, which features him dancing in a mall to a track sampling UPZ’s 2007 classic “Pure Surprise”, has already sparked some buzz and is poised to set the tone for a summer anthem.
This cover marks a turning point in ZULO’s rise from student of the game to symbol of a new generation of South African hip-hop. A documented moment in fashion, music, and identity that bridges the past and future of South African hip-hop.