“I Still Miss Him”: Emtee’s Emotional Tribute to AKA as Murder Investigation Faces Scrutiny

South African rapper Emtee has opened up about the loss of a close friend, music collaborator and mentor — the late Kiernan “AKA” Forbes — in a heartfelt social media post that has stirred emotion among fans still reeling from the tragic events surrounding the rapper’s murder.

In a reflective tribute shared on X, Emtee recalled the deep bond he shared with AKA, reminding the world that behind the fame were two brothers who laughed, created music, shared stages — and more than a few blunts — together.

“Some of y’all idols don’t even know you exist. I shared stages, passed blunts, cracked jokes and won awards together,” Emtee wrote. “I’m talking about the one and only @akaworldwide.”

A Bond Beyond the Music

This wasn’t just an industry friendship. Their connection ran deeper, built over years of mutual respect, mentorship and lived experience in the whirlwind of South African hip hop.

On the L-Tido Podcast in 2023, Emtee gave fans a glimpse into the last time he saw AKA — during the recording of their track “Crown,” now a hauntingly powerful inclusion on AKA’s posthumous album Mass Country.

“AKA was one of the people who loved me for me, never judged me,” Emtee recalled. “His last words to me were, ‘Stay safe, stay alive.’”

He described their final embrace as long and heavy — the kind you only realise the weight of in hindsight. “That day he was humble,” Emtee added, his voice laced with reverence.

Big Up for Being a Dad

More than music, AKA — along with late rapper Riky Rick — also played a quiet but meaningful role in shaping Emtee’s approach to fatherhood.

“Ricky and Mega used to always big me up for raising my kids,” Emtee shared online. “Sh#t ain’t easy but we thrive, and I’m gonna thrive till the casket drops.”

In a genre often clouded by bravado, these moments of vulnerability and brotherhood hit differently. Fans on social media praised Emtee’s honesty, with one user writing, “You could feel the love he had for AKA in every word. This one hurts.”

Controversy Clouds AKA’s Murder Probe

Even as Emtee’s words offered fans a moment of warmth, the legacy of AKA remains entangled in legal controversy.

Just this week, a war of words broke out at the highest levels of South African policing over how the investigation into AKA’s killing has been handled.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made startling claims suggesting obstruction from within — accusing Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, of improper conduct. In response, Sibiya denied the allegations, stating on SABC:

“I am the one who was pushing for the arrest of AKA’s murder suspects, not Mkhwanazi.”

The back-and-forth has left many South Africans frustrated and disillusioned. Social media erupted with scepticism, with calls for transparency and justice growing louder by the day.

Justice Delayed, Memories Honoured

While the investigation continues to unfold under a cloud of internal tensions, tributes like Emtee’s offer a poignant reminder of the lives impacted by AKA’s death — not just fans, but real friends, real fathers, and fellow artists who continue to carry his memory.

In a country where the hip-hop community often wears resilience like a badge of honour, Emtee’s raw honesty stands out. His message wasn’t polished PR. It was pain, remembrance, and a quiet call to honour what was lost.

And as one fan poignantly replied to his post: “Legends never die. Thank you for reminding us, Emtee.”

Source:IOL

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