Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome
The post Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag. Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome. In a candid and emotional interview on 5FM, South African rap star Rouge opened up about her late friend and collaborator AKA. She painted a vivid picture of the superstar’s unwavering dedication to music and his fierce belief in her talent. Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her … The post Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
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The post Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome. In a candid and emotional interview on 5FM, South African rap star Rouge opened up about her late friend and collaborator AKA. She painted a vivid picture of the superstar’s unwavering dedication to music and his fierce belief in her talent.
Recalling the recording session for their track One By One, Rouge described a day when chaos swirled around Kiernan “AKA” Forbes. At that exact moment, he was trending heavily after a high-profile beef with Nigerian artist Burna Boy. Social media was flooded with harsh criticism and the most horrible things, she remembered.
Yet amid the storm, AKA remained laser-focused in the studio.
“I can speak from when we were recording the One By One song,” Rouge shared. “That was actually the time where he was trending, and he was beefing with Burna Boy. And it was happening that day, guys. So as it’s happening, I’m on my phone looking at Twitter. But he’s so locked into giving me the best. The whole time I’m telling him, ‘We don’t have to record today. I get what’s going on.’ He’s like, ‘No, we’re going to do this.’”
She continued, visibly moved: “He was always so locked into his craft. Somebody who loved music so much that it didn’t matter what was happening around him. When he was into the music, he was lost.”
Beyond his legendary work ethic, Rouge revealed how AKA constantly challenged her self-doubt and pushed her to embrace her own greatness. She admitted struggling with imposter syndrome despite her success as “Rouge,” something that frustrated the outspoken rapper.
“He would randomly call me and be like, ‘No, you’re that girl.’ He always tried to tell me to remind myself that I am that girl,” she said with a smile. “It didn’t matter who was coming out; I mustn’t steer away from the fact that I am the best at what I do.”
In typical AKA fashion, his encouragement sometimes came with signature bravado. Rouge laughed as she recalled him urging her to assert dominance over peers, at one point telling her to let fellow rapper Nadia Nakai know she was better.
The interview offered fans a touching behind-the-scenes glimpse into the man behind the Supa Mega persona. He was not just the larger-than-life celebrity known for his ego and lyrical prowess, but a mentor who instilled confidence in those around him and a true artist who found peace and purpose in the booth, no matter the noise outside.
Rouge’s reflections serve as a powerful reminder of AKA’s lasting impact on South African hip hop: a relentless creative force who demanded excellence from himself and inspired it in others. Even years later, his voice, both literally and figuratively, continues to echo through the industry he helped shape.
The post Rouge Reveals How AKA Battled Her Imposter Syndrome appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
