Tylor, also known creatively as Westsidexty is a South African rapper and producer who draws inspiration from his upbringing in the Westside, in Pietermaritzburg. He is a self-taught and free-spirited artist who experiments with different genres and aims to recreate the sweet sounds of the ’90s era he was born. With the hard work he dedicated to his music, Westsidexty has placed himself among the top upcoming rappers representing South Africa and has performed at events such as YAMS.
Tylor has always enjoyed music; it was an escape, his own space that got him away from the harsh realities of the world and gave him the courage to continue moving forward despite the struggles he faced. Through his music, he strives to tell stories that inspire others to push forward and keep their faith.
When asked who his inspiration was, Westsidexty spoke very sentimentally about the late artist AKA and how it felt to see someone who looked like him and came from the same background as him, make his way into stardom and become a beacon that others, including Tylor, can look up.
Westsidexty’s journey is compelling; at every turn, he reminds himself to keep pushing. As I sat down with him to understand the person behind the artist, I asked what message he wanted to spread through his latest single “Keep Tha Faith” and to the people who look up to him:
‘I want to show people that you can make it out of any place,’ he says, ‘you just gotta keep pushing. I’ve been through some terrible stuff growing up in the hood, but I didn’t let that get to me, and I kept looking ahead. “Keep Tha Faith” tells my story; it tells my journey and how I managed to get where I am, and I hope other people can listen to it and feel inspired to overcome their struggles.’
“Keep Tha Faith” is a song about rising and overcoming obstacles in your life; it is an anthem to every kid who’s been beaten down by life to keep pushing and keep persevering and never lose faith.
Listen to “Keep Tha Faith”, now streaming on Spotify.
