Introducing: Hurricane Dan Fischer

Born Andile Ngema in the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, Fischer’s story is one of sonic collisions – a tapestry woven from the dissonance of cultural tradition and urban reinvention. Since coming on my radar with his 2023 cut Minute Maid, the Natal-born artist has stayed on my playlist. His idiosyncratic sound is a result of being exposed to niche pockets, both continental and international. Ranging from melodic harmonies to tongue-twisting rhymes, the rapper's slim catalogue foreshadows a dynamic artist who we are yet to see what he holds in his arsenal.

From KZN to Jozi’s Skyscrapers

Growing up in KwaZulu-Natal, Fischer’s childhood was a symphony of contrasts. “Well, with KZN being a predominantly isiZulu-speaking province, my tastes were mostly around Maskandi, Mbaqanga, Scathamiya… however, more East African and Eurocentric music was played by my late uncle in my early ages. This influenced my undying affection for rhythm and composition.”

The move to Johannesburg in his late teens, alongside collaborator DoxThe_Maverick, was less a transition than a reckoning. “Coming to the melting pot of JHB with my hombre DoxThe_Maverick was [a] huge culture shock because of the vibrance of the city… Environmentally, JHB has one of the most traumatic [environments] for two insanely talented individuals with no connections, far from family and aid (financially).”

Poetry, Saul Williams, and the Birth of an Individualist

Before beats, there were words. A self-proclaimed “poetry club kid,” Fischer’s early muse was the raw, incantatory verses of Saul Williams. “[He] was one of my earliest inspirations; funny how I rap though,” he jokes. This literary bent lingers in his music, where lyrics alternate between confession and incantation, a trait that set him apart even as he navigated the collaborative chaos of the Art Bishups collective.

Formed in 2018, Art Bishups – a trio of insanely articulate misfits – became Fischer’s crucible. “Respectively, the collective’s members have an upper level of articulation” he recalls. Their debut Mix’d Feelings (2019), a kaleidoscope of sounds, won the Dolby Inspired to Inspire competition and caught the ear of The Fader. Yet, for Fischer, the collective’s true legacy was its demand for unfiltered authenticity. “Combining such different personalities and extraordinary talents created this edge in me to approach my craft in the most unfiltered and authentic way possible,” he says.

Solo Flight: Vulnerability as a Superpower

By 2023, Fischer was ready to stand alone. His solo EP, I THINK I LOVE YOU (2023) laid bare a paradox: a man wrestling with vulnerability while weaponising it. Notably, 2024 cuts like Eat Up Lil Ni**A received playlist placements from Annabelle Klinee-Zilles (THAT GOOD SH*T), a respected independent music curator based in New York, highlighting Fischer's expanding global reach. “It really helps to push the music in front of other tastemakers, fans, and future collaborators,” he asserts. This has “positioned the Hurricane Dan brand to a different calibre.” Yet, it is his most recent mixtape, Everything's Okay (out today), that marks his boldest evolution.

EVERYTHING’S OKAY: A Carefree Rebellion

Where past works leaned into introspection, Everything's Okay thrives on dissonance – bouncy production underpinned by lyrics that veer from sly social commentary to open self-portraiture. “As of my previous works, this project has more bouncier sounds, slightly disruptive/honest in the content.”

EVERYTHING'S OKAY cover art

The tape will feature DoxThe_Maverick, Careless, BABA KUSHI, Willing Listeners Forum, and Yuni VIII. Collaborators like DoxThe_Maverick anchor the project in spontaneity. “With Maverick being a long-time collaborator, it just feels weird not having him on at least one song on my projects. With the other stellar features involved, it just formed naturally via the net, sending vibes to each other.” Engaging further in dialogue regarding the mixtape, Fischer shared his sentiments in relation to his latest work. "The playback satisfaction when all the records run in sequence, also having to share it with the world."

“To be honest, this [project] stemmed from a place of self-comfort. I was in my head pretty much. One of the most carefree tapes I’ve compiled so far.”

Touching on Fischer’s production process, I sought to understand how he approaches creating a new song from concept to completion. “It varies really. It all starts from the instrumental I would cook up – that determines the mood and how the concepts formulate. I never necessarily sit on [a] concept as I believe I’ve become spontaneous at making records,” he confesses.

West Coast Pocket & Digital Kinship

Fischer’s influences are as eclectic as his sound. “I’ve been heavily into the West Coast rap scene, been tapped into a lot of Blue Bucks Clan, Iman Omari, AZ Chike, and Blxst, just to name a few. God willing, I would love to collaborate with all the above; however, I’m also cool with admiring my favs from the bleachers at times.”

Ever the iconoclast, Fischer has sidestepped industry norms, embracing direct-to-fan platforms like Bandcamp long before they became buzzwords. Eventually, the rapper hopes to be "involved in live interactive events, specific curations, and film exhibitions." With the current uprise in artist-centric platforms, he proclaims "[He] will be utilising the EVEN platform for the next project. It’s shown, just like Bandcamp, a DTC channel for folks to directly initiate gratitude straight to the creator’s pocket.” Yet for all his innovation, Fischer’s North Star remains human connection. “I really envision anybody who listens to my music to understand that I am human as [one] can possibly be.”

Through his innovative soundscapes and earnest lyrics, Hurricane Dan Fischer is steadily establishing himself as a formidable talent in the South African music scene. His unwavering commitment to artistic integrity and his ability to adapt to the ever-changing musical landscape suggest that his journey is just beginning, with much more to come.

Everything's Okay is out now on all major platforms.

Written by Kamohelo More