The Rise Of Tsuckidaddy: A Kasi Superhero Giving Township Culture A New Heartbeat.

In a world where trends come and go at breakneck speed, few creatives manage to capture the essence of an era and make it timeless. Tsuckidaddy is one of them. A multifaceted artist with an aesthetic rooted in nostalgia, he pays tribute to vintage township culture like no other—blending the raw energy of the past with a vision that feels both fresh and eternal.

More than just a stylist or a storyteller, he is a ghetto superhero, using fashion as his medium and authenticity as his superpower. Every look he curates, every narrative he builds, carries the weight of history while pushing the culture forward. In this conversation, we dive into his influences, his creative process, and how he continues to redefine what it means to be a true original in an era of mass production.

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Tell us a bit about Tsuckidaddy, where are you from and what is it that you do?

Well my real name is Reabetswe Motsaalore, that's where the name Tsuckidaddy comes from. Tsucki is short for Motsaks, a stylized version of my surname coined in the streets, it was actually Tsuckiboy before, and then I became a father so I had to grow up and be a daddy. I was born in Mogwase which is a kasi in Rustenburg. That's where my roots are planted and I guess that's also where my story begins.

I'm a multifaceted creative specialising in graphic design, marketing, fashion, creative direction & anything I put my mind to.

Your styling work is heavily influenced by vintage aesthetics, what drew you to that period and how do you reinterpret its essense for a modern audience?

It's honestly influenced by my love for fashion and research. I never used to dress like this, my style evolved into what you see now. Back in high school I used to wear Kofifi inpired vintage clothing. We even had a movement called Vantuka. I guess I was always intrigued on how to capture the essence of a truly South African aesthetic. I always felt like our current culture was too Americanized, it didn't represent what the country has to offer. My outlook was basically inspired by our grandparents, and the township grootmans who we grew up idolising. I took that aesthetic and gave it a youthful voice. It's a classic example of going against the grain. Like Mateki2shoes said "They found us", so we can't be offering them something they can easily find elsewhere.

There's a fine line between nostalgia and innovation. How do you balance staying true to the vintage aesthetic while keeping your designs fresh and relevant?

Not a lot of people are lucky enough to stay in a place that is a source of their inspiration. Johannesburg has always been a place that I admired for it's cultural vibrance. You get to learn so much on a random day downtown. Everyday is a constant class in session for fresh ideas. You just need to know where to look and how to look. That's how I manage to stay innovative. By taking inspiration from my surroundings and adding my own element to it. Truth is I wasn't even born yet during those times, so everything I do is my own personal interpretation of that era. I think this might be a calling. When I wear vintage inspired outfits thats when I feel more like myself.

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Pantsula Culture, Jazz, and the Gangster aesthetic of old Johannesburg all play a role in your creative direction. Which of these influences speak to you the most and why?

It has to be pantsula culture. Everything right now can be linked to the Pantsula aesthetic, from Amapiano, to Hip Hop, to the Skhothane subculture as well, Amapantsula have always been at the forefront of authentic South African storytelling. When you look back at Kwaito music and what it achieved, it was a movement that broke boundaries. Making it cool to be from the township. Our stories became heard and we could narrate them however we wanted to. Look at what Mgarimbe did with Sister Bethina or Mandoza with Nkalakatha, those songs broke racial boundaries and became national anthems.

How do you see the evolution of streetwear in SA, and where does your work fit in that narrative?

I pray for more authentic storytelling. I know that there's nothing new under the sun but I want us to focus more on putting South Africa on the map. We need to do more research on those that came before us instead of trying to imitate current trends. Creating a culture which we can own and curate without outside interference. A perfect example is the Zulu culture. How they never lose their values no matter where they are. Their culture is evolving yet still authentic. They wear modern brands like Vialli, Carvela & Fabiani but you can always tell whether it’s a Zulu man from how they style it. That's what I want for South African streetwear, I want to be able to go overseas and have people know I'm South African just by looking at the way that I'm dressed.

Your revival of vintage brands taps into deep cultural memory. How important is storytelling in your design and branding process?

I believe knowledge is power. I spend a lot of time researching vintage looks and subcultures that existed in South Africa back then. This is an important part of ensuring that my interpretation remains authentic and tells a compelling story. We currently live in a more digitally savvy time period. So I also have to make sure that I bring the products to the audience in a way that will resonate to the current climate. The internet is really our best friend and our enemy. Information has never been so easily available but people would rather focus on other things because they are more entertaining. Simple campaigns like taking it back to the streets and taking pictures of people wearing the brands that I promote was also an angle that was never done before. Giving your consumers a voice is more authentic than trying to convince new people to buy your product. I think that's where most people get it wrong. They focus so much on getting new clients they forget that their current buyers are their biggest advertisers.

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What do you think makes a brand timeless? Are there any South African brands from the past that you think deserve a comeback?

I think buidling a community is very important. That's what makes a brand timeless, having constant people who relate with what you are offering. Look at what Converse managed to do with the All Star, they created a silhoutte that withstood the test of time. Every generation had a community that related to the shoe. When it comes to South African brands that I think deserve a comeback, it has to be Loxion Kulca. That was the first ever brand which I wanted as a younging. They also did so much for the culture. It was in the name, the brand represented the township and what it stood for. There's another brand which I'm also working with called Durburg, I feel like it’s a sleeping giant and will take the streets by storm in the near future.

You seem to have a very close relationship with Maglera Doe Boy, how did that connection come about?

That's actually a crazy story. I started out as a fan cause the broer is too much I won’t lie. But I think we shared a connection through our passion for the township narrative. I actually tried connecting with him for the longest of time, maybe over three years. We just never got to lock in with work because he was always so busy. One day he followed me back and replied to a DM I had sent him about a possible collaboration and said let's do. When we met, we both realised how much we had in common. It was literally like we had known each other for years. I guess it's the code of the hood, we also from the same province and speak the same lingo so that kinda helps. But that's how the connection came about, from a DM I sent ages ago. So don't ever feel too shy to shoot your shot. Tsotsi ganke e tlhabiwa ke ditlhong.

Take us through a typical day in the life of Tsuckidaddy?

I wake up early in the morning before the sunrise, my dad likes saying the earliest bird catches the fattest worm, so I think I get that habit from him. After waking up I clean the house, prepare my lunch and then have breakfast. After breakfast I hit the gym for an hour or so and then go back home to take a shower. Then I vy to spaan. 1st thing I do at the office is read my emails and connect with potential collaborators. Then I head to the factory to check on production, afterwards I take content of the brands that we will be working on for the day. After work I attend my passion projects which include freelance graphic designing and creative work with Tswadaar, this allows me to work with other brands and expand my expertise. Depending on the day I might even end up DJ'ing at an event with MakeMeDance. My day is actually always busy. There's a bit of a routine but it's not really fixed. I guess being a dad has put me on a constant motion of hustling because I'm not just living for myself anymore.

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South Africa has a very diverse fashion landscape. Who are you designing for, and how do you want people to feel when they wear items you've created?

I'm doing this for the kids who need new role models. For South Africa as a whole. I don't descriminate, if you f*ck with the vibe then lets go. I want to take this international so the market is broad. People have to feel like an original whenever they wear anything I've worked on. The intention is to be the bridge that intersects South African township culture with the global market.

Many creatives struggle with making heritage-inspired work commercially viable. What are the biggest challenges you've faced in bringing your vision to the market?

A lot of people were confused at first. This aesthetic is usually associated with an older audience, so getting young people to relate to it was a complex task. The primary target market is also not on social media like that which makes curating campaigns harder than it should be. The biggest challenge was speaking about the past in a futuristic way. That's why collaborations with people like Maglera Doe Boy are so important because he represents the present and the future of township culture.

If you could sit down with one icon from South Africa's Kwaito hey days, who would it be, and why?

It would have to be Zola 7. Zola was everything I ever dreamed of being when growing. I also think he was the first Kwaito artist to become a commercial brand if I'm not mistaken. He was not just a musician but he also acted on an oscar award winning movie, he had his own TV show, brand deals with Cell C, the broer was online before it was a thing. Not to mention that Chrysler crossfire which he drove. I've met Jakarumba who was part of Trompies and I've asked him about life back then but I still feel like Zola is the epitome of that era.

What's next for Tsuckidaddy and what message would you like to leave for our readers?

I'm about to be the biggest in the country. The message I'd like to leave behind is ska ba sheba aggressive. Sentse ba tlo painelwa. Just do you and keep on operating. Our time is now and no one can take that way from us. Remember that everyone has their own problems so never expect pity.

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Tsuckidaddy isn’t just a creative—he’s a movement. His influence is undeniable, his storytelling unmatched, and his vision limitless. We can’t wait to see what he has in store next because one thing is certain—his voice needs to be heard, and his story is one that speaks for every dreamer who dares to keep it real.