“Cool, Calm & Copacetic — Inside the Mind of Khaya DoomAKU”

text by Wavy.Sasso

Before we even talk rap, you have to understand one thing — Khaya DoomAKU is different.A creative from Odendaalsrus, Free State, he’s proof that hard work and faith still cut through in a scene chasing trends. I first caught wind of him through young cats bumping “BUCKET” in the streets — that moment said it all.

In this conversation, DoomAKU opens up about his journey, the grind, and the patience it takes to build something undeniable. This is Khaya DoomAKU, raw, grounded, and carrying the Free State with him every step of the way.

Before we even talk rap — describe Khaya DoomAKU.

Hardest question right at the beginning, I mean how do we know, basically I’m just a creative from a small town called Odendaalsrus from a city named Welkom, from a not-so-talked-about province of Free State.

I was actually introduced to you by Youngins I met in the streets bumping one of your songs, couldn’t help but ask them “Who’s that?” With excitement they told me it’s you... they were bumping “BUCKET”!!! You understand why I went crazy. What was happening when you made that tune?

I feel like one thing that sets the mood is the beat selection, so the beat was fire and I just came up with the hook. I was thinking of a catchy hook so that I could go in on the verse. On “Bucket,” I had already written a verse for a different song, so I just came up with the hook and used that verse because that other song wasn’t working.

In that Hype Mag piece, you said you’re carrying the torch for traditional hip-hop. But do you ever feel torn between that and the newer trap-driven sound that’s running SA streets right now?

I mean I am carrying the torch for traditional hip-hop. Kind of, but I wouldn’t say that’s my whole style — I have my own style. I don’t think it’s traditional even; it’s just my own style, the way I rap. People compare me to a lot of great artists — your HHP, Tuks, Ab-Soul — and there’s no way you can put Ab-Soul and Tuks in one bracket, see what I mean? So I feel like it’s my style, and other people would say I combine it, but really that’s just my style.

You dropped “Cool Calm Copacetic” — that title already sounds like a mood board. What inspired that?

With the title, I just liked the alliteration of “Cool Calm Copacetic,” because normally it’s “Cool Calm Collected.” I went differently with it and thought, let me add a bit of my twist and added “Copacetic,” which actually means being okay. So I was cool, calm, and okay with everything going on around me, you feel me? When you look at the cover art, you see it’s just me holding the back of my head, signifying calmness.

From “N.A.P (New Age Pantsula)” to “I Can Rap” — there’s a lot of self-affirmation in your titles. Was that intentional?

Haha, it’s not really self-affirmation, I’m just mentioning facts. I’m just saying I can rap, and when you listen to the tape, you can hear this nigga can rap for real. It’s not like “He’s believing he can rap, so much so you have to accept he can rap.” Nah, read the title and listen to the tape — you’ll hear. “New Age Pantsula” is just a play on the title of the sound I was making. It’s not any affirmations, just facts, you feel me.

What’s your weirdest writing ritual — something people wouldn’t expect from a rapper from Odendaalsrus?

Nah, there’s no form of ritual I follow, haha. I just get into the studio and do my thing, you get me.

How is Odendaalsrus receiving you as an artist? Are people showing you love, or is it mixed feelings?

My hometown is receiving me well, people are showing me love — always been the case. I never moved out because there was no love; I just moved out because people show love, and the best they can do is tell you to keep pushing. But in a different city of opportunities, people will show you love and they’ll put you on a higher platform. I wouldn’t say there’s any form of hate I ever got in OD — I’m a hard person to hate on ‘cause I’m really putting in the work. When you’re doing it, people will acknowledge that and respect you for that.

I like how you’re moving in terms of connecting with other creatives. How do you manage to be on the radar of other artists out of Free State? I mean you were on PdotO’s album, you appear a lot on Pretoria cats’ projects — my favourite feature by you is on “Ghetto Memoirs,” and the latest verse you dropped on Trophy’s project “Hunnid Fold” was an incredible performance, man. So how do you get your name out there?

Shout out, man. I would say with the way I’m moving — initially my first thought was to come to the city, do my thing, and people would love me automatically. But when I first came, I was looking for a lot of validation and acceptance. Then I realised that I just got to do my thing. I shouldn’t beg to be seen; I just work till I’m seen. People see me, and when you’re working, it’s undeniable to not be seen. Work at it until it’s undeniable. People will gravitate towards you — you don’t need to force anything. It’s really just putting in the work and trusting God with everything else.

When people talk about SA hip-hop, Free State rarely gets mentioned. What’s the most misunderstood thing about rappers from your province?

I don’t think Free State is misunderstood in terms of rappers, I just think it’s rarely mentioned in anything — especially in the entertainment industry. Free State is disregarded. I just feel grateful to be the one who might potentially put it on the map. When you think of other places like Maftown or Cape Town, there are names that come to mind automatically. Who else is putting Free State out there except of course Stino Le Thwenny? So yeah, it’s yet to be done the way it should be done.

Has the stillness and simplicity of Free State life shaped your patience as an artist — or does it push you to move faster?

I feel like reality has shaped my patience. There was a time when I felt like in a few years — in fact, not even two years — I was gonna be big, big, big. It just didn’t happen that way. But looking back to where I was and where I am right now, I’ve actually come a long way. So it’s a matter of reality, not where I come from. I moved out of Free State; I wouldn’t say I’m still fully affected by it, but of course I’m a product of my past environment. I mean there are a lot of mannerisms I’m still trying to extricate that I learnt from Free State that I’m now applying in my life.

I’ve seen a video of you performing at one of the Free State events as a headliner — must have been special. How do you feel when you’re getting acknowledged for your art in your hometown?

It felt really special. I feel like “acknowledgement” is the wrong word — I don’t feel like I’m being acknowledged, I feel like I’m being appreciated. Because when I make music, I don’t look for acknowledgement. I feel like acknowledgement music is the type you listen to once and say “yeah, it’s dope,” but never again. I make the “you need to put this on your daily playlist” type of music. The kind of song that helps you search for answers, even if it doesn’t give you the answers. So when people bump my music, it’s special — especially when they sing along. It means they listen to me, not just acknowledge that I’m dope. I really appreciate the love from my hometown — even if they’re not the ones that listen to me the most, they’re the ones that hear me the most. They understand me the most.

If I opened your Notes app right now, what’s the most random bar or concept you’ve written lately?

That’s a good one. Surprisingly, you’ll see a love song in my notes, where I’m like, “I remember the first time ke sao bona, I never seen anyone this perfect, neke sa kgolwa!” Which is so random because I barely write love songs — but yeah, your boy been on that mood lately, haha.

In the Dripcast interview, you mentioned being inspired by Nasty C and PdotO. Imagine both of them walk into your studio session — who are you giving the first verse to and why?

Yeah, I’ve been inspired by a lot of people — it’s not even Nasty C and PdotO, my biggest inspirations. Inspirations are people like my mom and pops and family, you know. So imma give a verse to my moms, ‘cause she’s literally the reason I’m alive. Nasty and PdotO can wait a bit, haha. But to answer the question — I think PdotO, because he’s helped me get off the ground. He’s given me a lot of exposure in terms of what to look out for and what needs to be done. And a lot of people tell me the first time they heard of me was on “Dooms’ Day.” Around that time, I was the talk of the town. Shout out to PdotO — I’d give him the verse. With Nasty, we’d have to work on the relationship first to get to that level.

What’s the biggest “Free State flex” you’ve pulled since the music started working for you?

Free State flex... not sure if I get it. But I think it would be the performances and the way I’m moving. I don’t think there’s anyone in the Free State doing what I’m doing — especially independently. Sometimes I don’t even understand how I’m doing these things, I just thank God it’s happening. You shouldn’t question your blessings — you should just count them and appreciate them. So I’d say my flex is my performances, my movement, and just overall who I am.

Which one of your songs would you use to impress someone you’re crushing on — and which one would you never play around your parents?

Eish bro, I don’t like rizzing with my music. I feel like it gets confusing ‘cause I don’t know if they like me or the rapper me. So I don’t like rizzing with my music — it comes with a lot of cons. If anything, I don’t even mention I’m a rapper, ‘cause they’ll be like, “Oh, you’re a rapper? You get all the girls, don’t you?” Haha. So yeah, I try not to mention I’m a rapper. And in terms of my parents, I play all my music around them. I’ll do the explaining, haha. That’s why I try to swear less in my music as much as I can — but if the “fuck you” is needed, I’ll say it and explain later.

Lastly — drop a line, a bar, or a quote that sums up where your headspace is right now. No explanations. Just raw DoomAKU energy.

“High class expensive living

We managed to do the most with the least we was given

Big big boss independent

I just dream baby I go get it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJxMZvUPDQ