why thou

Lino Msengana, better known by his stage name BLXCKPRINT, is a rising 17-year-old hip-hop artist from Samora Machel, a township in Philippi, Cape Town. He represents the new wave of South African youth channeling creativity through music, born from the energy, pain, and passion of township life.

Growing up in one of Cape Town's most challenging but resilient communities, BLXCKPRINT turned to music as a form of escape and expression. Influenced by the rise of artists like Blxckie and Kindlynxsh, he saw what was possible when authenticity met sound. Their success lit a fire in him—showing that greatness can come from the same streets he walks every day.

BLXCKPRINT’s sound is raw, dark, and emotionally charged. It lives at the intersection of drill, trap, and experimental hip-hop—often touching on themes of struggle, ambition, mental health, and street reality. His voice, both literally and lyrically, cuts through with purpose.

At just 17, he’s already begun to make waves in Cape Town’s underground music circuit, with tracks circulating through SoundCloud and independent platforms. Despite his young age, BLXCKPRINT carries the voice of someone much older—his lyrics echoing the complexities of township youth life in South Africa.

With a DIY approach to production and a fearless creative vision, BLXCKPRINT isn’t just another up-and-coming rapper—he’s laying down the blueprint for what the next generation of artists from the Cape Flats can achieve.