About Us – Born Fire Rebelz

Born Fire Rebelz

Born Fire Rebelz is a hip hop duo composed of AV, just a guy and Malcolm The Psychedelic. The two artists met in May 2019 at a cypher sparked by a mutual friend at African Beer Emporium in Pretoria, Gauteng. Their first interaction was through freestyle—trading verses and building instant creative chemistry. Two months later, Born Fire Rebelz officially formed.

They describe their sound as alternative-boom-bap-conscious-psychedelic-hip-hop-and-rap. The music blends nostalgic textures with futuristic experimentation, grounded in a deep exploration of consciousness and the inner world. BFR puts lyricism at the heart of their work and believes in the transformative power of words.

Born Fire Rebelz functions as more than a music act—it’s a vessel for radical self-expression, self-responsibility, and DIY creativity. They make their own beats, design their cover art, shoot and edit their visuals, and maintain full creative control of their world. Their message is clear: you can create your own reality. Mistakes and bloopers are often left in their work as part of the philosophy—to show you that you can do it too.

Their lyrical themes often touch on interdimensional travel, time-bending, abstract ideas, science fiction, and magick. Born Fire Rebelz is a portal for both imagination and introspection.

Projects & Initiatives

1. The Life of an Artist (2022–Present) A mini-documentary series exploring the art and music scene in Pretoria Central. Captured during the duo’s journeys through weekly open mics and the city’s creative underground, it reflects their passion for community and grassroots storytelling.

2. This Is Not What It Looks Like (TINWILL) (2021–Present) An online music show started in Malcolm’s backyard, created as a response to being denied stage time. It became a training ground for live performance, mic control, and beat-sharing—a space to hone their craft outside the traditional industry gatekeepers.

3. 1 Hour Rebellion (2022–Present) A live performance concert concept where the duo performs for exactly one hour, weaving a cohesive and compelling story through music. Hosted multiple times at Botaki Ba Afrika in Hatfield, it’s a proving ground for independent concert production.

4. Live Experiment Experience (2025–Present) A breakaway experimental band project. Formed to explore live instrumentation and creative collaboration beyond hip hop. This initiative bridges their sound with broader genres and the artistic community that has grown around their movement.