Away from the stage, Rattex’s calm and quiet demeanor belies the intense fire that burns deep within him. Rattex takes his name from a well-known brand of rat poison. Like the poison, Rattex is known to lyrically kill any rapper foolish enough to test him.

1981, born Thabo Twetwa in Nyanga, Cape Town, Rattex (or ‘Rah’ to his friends and fans) came into the world during an intense period of political turmoil and racial oppression.

Rattex was raised by his grandmother, not knowing his father ...