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| South African rapper and singer Sho Madjozi |
The “John Cena” hitmaker revealed her intentions in a heartfelt interview with The Citizen, citing the toll of industry pressures and her desire to preserve her authenticity.
“I feel like I’ve said all I wanted to say through music,” Madjozi shared, a statement that has sparked mixed reactions online.
Madjozi opened up about the challenges of navigating the modern music landscape, where staying relevant often demands constant visibility on social media.
“The way that the music industry is set up at the moment, you spend more time trying to get attention,” she explained.
“I don’t have the energy to play that game and constantly be performing for attention or calling for attention. I’m not really good at that.”
The news comes following the recent announcement of her soon-to-be-released album, Limpopo Champions League Vol.2.
Some fans praised her for knowing when to bow out gracefully, while others jokingly wondered if she was ever fully in the game.
The rapper, who gained fame for embracing her Tsonga heritage and creating music that celebrated her identity, has in the past said she often faced pressure to conform to mainstream demands.
After signing with Epic Records in 2020—a label that boasts stars like Mariah Carey—Madjozi encountered challenges that led her to reconsider her path.
“I’m being told I need to add more English or I need to wear fewer clothes, and I’m just like, ‘This was not part of the plan. This is not me. It was never me,’” she said.
Although she acknowledged the label’s intentions were not malicious, Madjozi felt the partnership was a poor fit. “They wanted a star they could Americanize, and I couldn’t be that,” she admitted.
Despite her decision to step back, Sho Madjozi leaves behind a crazy/good catalogue. Bursting onto the scene in 2018 with her debut album Limpopo Champions League, she quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with.
Her breakout single “John Cena” propelled her to international fame, earning her an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show alongside the wrestling icon himself.
In 2019, she was crowned BET’s “Best New International Act” and performed at the Super Bowl in Miami the following year.
Recently, she delighted young audiences by appearing on South Africa’s popular educational show, Takalani Sesame.
As she steps away from music, Madjozi is shifting her focus to her hair brand, Sparkle, as does her ambition to write children’s books and venture into film—a field she studied before her music career took off.
by GEOFFREY MBUTHIA