For years, Uncool MC has been a familiar presence behind the microphone, commanding crowds, working alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry and steadily building a reputation as a versatile entertainer.
Now, the Kwa-Thema-born artist is putting his own journey at the centre of the music.
Uncool MC, born Thando Sibeko, releases his debut EP, “Sesikude,” today through gamma., marking a significant new chapter in a career that has taken him from the east of Johannesburg to stages around the world.
The title, which means “we have come far,” captures the central theme of the project. It reflects not only the distance Uncool MC has travelled geographically, but also his evolution from an MC into a DJ, performing artist and recording artist.
For Sibeko, the EP is a personal account of the experiences and relationships that have shaped his career.
“The title meaning is centred around the journey I have taken through my art of music. This is a reflection of my decision to transition from an MC into a full performing artist and DJ. I’ve decided to share my story of my experiences throughout my childhood memories, growing up in Kwa-Thema and moving up north to rub shoulders with my fellow colleagues in the industry and going on to travel the world.”
That transition has been years in the making. Having spent much of his career working behind the microphone and collaborating with established artists, Uncool MC says those experiences helped him recognise the qualities he could bring to his own recordings.
“Throughout the years of collaborations, I identified certain elements of myself that I saw as my strength to be able to start putting together my own music, which I later decided to express into a story that I’d put into a project. This means everything to me because I put my all in order for people to experience Uncool MC the artist,” he says.
The track has since reached the No. 1 position on South African radio and continued to chart ahead of the release of “Sesikude”, providing an early boost for the project.
The EP was also given an early public airing at a listening session held last night at CÉ LA VI in Sandton. Media representatives and industry guests gathered at the venue to hear the project ahead of its official release, with Uncool MC also taking to the stage to perform “Setla” live.
The listening session served as another milestone in a journey that has already included performances at major events such as Cotton Fest, Piano People, Afro Nation and Fact Durban Rocks.
His reach extends beyond live performance. Across his own releases and collaborations, Uncool MC’s catalogue has accumulated more than 140 million Spotify streams, underscoring the scale of the audience he has built during his career.
Yet, despite the numbers and the growing list of major stages, “Sesikude” is ultimately about the person behind the performer.
Rather than simply documenting his professional achievements, the EP draws from the experiences that have shaped Sibeko — from his childhood in Kwa-Thema and his move north to Johannesburg’s wider entertainment industry, to the relationships he has developed and the opportunities that have allowed him to travel internationally through music.
The project therefore represents both a musical debut and a personal statement.
For Uncool MC, the lessons contained in that journey are just as important as the music itself.
“I want people to take positivity, endurance and consistency from the project, cause those are the elements that helped me come this far in this journey.”
With “Sesikude”, Uncool MC moves beyond the role that first introduced him to audiences and gives listeners a more direct introduction to the artist, DJ and storyteller behind the microphone.
The EP stands as a reflection of how far he has travelled — while signalling where he intends to go next.
He began his career as an MC before moving into DJing and later expanding his work into songwriting, recording and live performance.
Known for his energetic stage presence and ability to command a crowd, he has performed at major events in South Africa and internationally. His work has also seen him collaborate with prominent figures in the Amapiano and broader South African music scene.
With the release of “Sesikude”, Uncool MC enters a new phase of his career — this time with his own story firmly at the centre.
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