25K’s Loyal to the Plug Passes 35 Million Streams

Pretoria rapper 25K is marking two years since he released his 2024 album Loyal to the Plug, which has now been streamed more than 35 million times, according to SA Hip Hop Mag.

A thank-you to the fans

The rapper shared the news on Instagram, where he credited listeners for keeping the project going long after it came out. He addressed them as his “clientele” and thanked them for the streams, reposts and playlist additions. He said the milestone belonged to everybody who had backed the music.

He also thanked the people behind the scenes. His list included Golden Thread Africa, Warren Masemola, Big Les For Real, Zoocci Coke Dope and Sony Music Africa. He closed his message with the line “WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED”.

Background to the album

Loyal to the Plug was the follow-up to 25K’s debut, Pheli Makaveli, and was among the more eagerly awaited South African hip-hop releases of its year. Zoocci Coke Dope oversaw the curation of the tracklist. The result mixed reflective storytelling with the street-influenced sound and Pitori identity that run through the rapper’s work.

Several guest artists appear on the record. “Deep Waters” brings together Marcus Harvey, A-Reece and Maglera Doe Boy, while “Real Is Rare” includes a verse from Nasty C. SA Hip Hop Mag says these collaborations gave listeners further reasons to return to the album after its launch.

Recognition at the SAMAs

The album’s reach has not been limited to streaming platforms. It won Best Hip Hop Album at the 2025 South African Music Awards, the first SAMA of 25K’s career.

Two years on, the album is still finding new listeners and remains a central part of his catalogue. The streaming total is a measure of how long the project has stayed in circulation, and the rapper’s own message suggests he sees it as a shared achievement with the people who kept playing it.

This story is based on reporting by SA Hip Hop Mag.