IN CONVERSATION WITH OSMIC MENOE - Mr Hip Hop and founder of Back to the City
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Osmic Menoe has long been celebrated as the “Godfather of South African Hip-
Hop,” a title earned through nearly two decades of shaping, preserving and
expanding Johannesburg’s urban culture. A DJ, entrepreneur and cultural
custodian, he has built platforms that not only uplift artists but also reinforce
10:10
the city’s creative identity.
His most iconic contribution is the Back to the City Festival, Africa’s biggest hip-
hop and street culture gathering. What began in 2007 as a small, gritty
gathering under the M1 bridge has evolved into a powerhouse annual event
attracting more than 20,000 people to Mary Fitzgerald Square. The festival has
become a vital stage for rappers, DJs, graffiti crews, dancers and street artists,
helping cement Johannesburg as the continent’s hip-hop capital.
Determined to ensure the culture is preserved, Osmic also founded the South
African Hip-Hop Museum in Newtown. The museum documents the evolution
of local hip-hop through archives, memorabilia, photographs and oral histories
— a living record of the movement’s origins, milestones and future.
In recent years, Osmic’s influence has extended beyond music into the broader
social and cultural revival of Johannesburg. He is now one of the featured
community “champions” in Jozi My Jozi, a civic-urban movement dedicated to
reimagining and revitalising the inner city. Through campaigns like Babize Bonke
(“call everyone”), Jozi My Jozi spotlights individuals who contribute
meaningfully to the city’s renewal. Osmic’s inclusion recognises him not only as
a cultural pioneer, but as someone who embodies Johannesburg’s resilience,
creativity and community spirit.
His partnership with Jozi My Jozi aligns perfectly with his lifelong mission: using
hip-hop as a tool for hope, identity and transformation. Whether through
festivals, museums or civic collaboration, Osmic Menoe continues to shape
Johannesburg’s cultural heartbeat — proving that the city’s stories, rhythms
and dreams are worth fighting for.
Hop,” a title earned through nearly two decades of shaping, preserving and
expanding Johannesburg’s urban culture. A DJ, entrepreneur and cultural
custodian, he has built platforms that not only uplift artists but also reinforce
10:10
the city’s creative identity.
His most iconic contribution is the Back to the City Festival, Africa’s biggest hip-
hop and street culture gathering. What began in 2007 as a small, gritty
gathering under the M1 bridge has evolved into a powerhouse annual event
attracting more than 20,000 people to Mary Fitzgerald Square. The festival has
become a vital stage for rappers, DJs, graffiti crews, dancers and street artists,
helping cement Johannesburg as the continent’s hip-hop capital.
Determined to ensure the culture is preserved, Osmic also founded the South
African Hip-Hop Museum in Newtown. The museum documents the evolution
of local hip-hop through archives, memorabilia, photographs and oral histories
— a living record of the movement’s origins, milestones and future.
In recent years, Osmic’s influence has extended beyond music into the broader
social and cultural revival of Johannesburg. He is now one of the featured
community “champions” in Jozi My Jozi, a civic-urban movement dedicated to
reimagining and revitalising the inner city. Through campaigns like Babize Bonke
(“call everyone”), Jozi My Jozi spotlights individuals who contribute
meaningfully to the city’s renewal. Osmic’s inclusion recognises him not only as
a cultural pioneer, but as someone who embodies Johannesburg’s resilience,
creativity and community spirit.
His partnership with Jozi My Jozi aligns perfectly with his lifelong mission: using
hip-hop as a tool for hope, identity and transformation. Whether through
festivals, museums or civic collaboration, Osmic Menoe continues to shape
Johannesburg’s cultural heartbeat — proving that the city’s stories, rhythms
and dreams are worth fighting for.
