Yugen Blakrok

Yugen Blakrok is a commanding, defiant, and lyrical rapper from South Africa. Born in the Eastern Cape and based in Johannesburg, she has been active as a performer since the mid-2000s and gained early regional attention with several appearances on a compilation mixtape released through the radio station of Grahamstown’s Rhodes University College. Working closely with producer and DJ Kanif the JhatMaster, she recorded her debut album several years later. Return of the Astro-Goth, issued in 2013 on Kanif’s Iapetus label, preceded extensive touring abroad, including numerous dates across Europe as a headliner and opening act for the likes of MC Lyte and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. Near the end of 2017, Blakrok was contacted by TDE, label home to Kendrick Lamar, about contributing to a track that became “Opps.” After she recorded her verse, she was informed that the track, also featuring Vince Staples, would be appearing on the soundtrack for Black Panther. Released in February 2018, the album topped the Billboard 200 in the U.S. and was a hit on a global scale. The blockbuster film itself included “Opps” in an action scene. ~ Andy Kellman