THE FUSE

ProVerb Opens Up About Why He Stepped Away From Making Hip Hop Music. South African hip hop veteran ProVerb has opened up about the financial and personal crossroads that led him to step back from pursuing rap as his main source of income.

In a stark, candid recounting, the artist and media personality described a moment when the realities of parenthood, production costs and paltry royalty statements forced a life-changing decision.

“I asked myself, I’ve just spent R100K buying the masters, I just got a quote of R150K to record this whole thing, my kids’ school fees are about R100K each at that time. And I’m thinking to myself, am I going to pay for something that I’m not likely to make a dime from, or am I going to pay for my kids’ school fees? And I tell you that day was the crossroads. That day I decided that im going to pay for my kids’ school fees, and I haven’t been back there since,” ProVerb said.

ProVerb also expressed frustration at the reactions he receives from some hip-hop heads, who accuse him of abandoning the genre. He questioned their presence during the times he was funding his music and providing access for the community. “Where were you when I was paying to make this thing happen, to make it available for you, and you believe by hitting like on Facebook you have supported me?” he added.

He painted a vivid picture of balancing artistic ambition with real-life obligations. “Where are you when the school says the fees are due, when SARS says your PAYE is due, when the bank is asking you for the bond repayment? Who are you trying to please now when your kids are saying We need something to eat? Can I start a freestyle for them there? Can I go to the bank and take it off the dome?”

ProVerb emphasised that his choice to leave rap was not about abandoning his passion for music, but a pragmatic decision to secure his family’s future. He highlighted the difficult balance many artists face between creative pursuits and financial survival.