Rising star merc$ ELEVN is out with his debut E.P., ‘Wavy Coast to Coast’, released today, August 20th, 2025. Hailing from Pretoria, South Africa, this self-proclaimed New Age King delivers a groundbreaking blend of Amapiano and New Age beats, infused with South African trap and old-school house classics. This EP is a heartfelt tribute to his late mother, who inspired his journey to find his unique flow.
In 2023, merc$ ELEVN, born Onkabetse, was sparked by his mother’s words after she heard his early Soundcloud track Rider: Find your own Flow Onka. Those words became his mantra, guiding him through the loss of his mother in March 2025 to create this deeply personal project. Wavy Coast to Coast channels raw emotion, transforming pain into melodies that resonate far beyond the studio, or in this case, the closet. Astonishingly, merc$ ELEVN recorded every track on his phone, using his closet for noise reduction, proving that creativity knows no bounds.
This compilation is a solo vocal masterpiece, with merc$ ELEVN freestyling every lyric in a conversation with the beats crafted by producers XKG and Tiny Zee. The result is a sound he describes as not of this world, where basslines and melodies intertwine to create a futuristic, timeless vibe. It’s a bold claim, but merc$ ELEVN backs it up with a style he calls merc$ talk, a mix of raspy tones, rockstar energy, and unmatched lyricism inspired by icons like Future and Marilyn Manson.
From his Pretoria roots to a growing social media presence, merc$ ELEVN has been building momentum since finding his musical style in March 2025. Influenced by childhood favorites like Eminem, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and T-Pain, he’s carved a lane that’s rockstar made, driven by a relentless spirit fueled by personal loss. His rapid rise, gaining 1,000 TikTok followers in under 24 hours after posting his first song, signals the world is ready for his vision.
Follow merc$ ELEVN on Instagram and Spotify. Listen to ‘Wavy Coast to Coast’ EP on all platforms here