A Quick Conversation With Money Badoo On Her New EP, 4PLAY

Following a period of growing international recognition, Money Badoo returns with 4PLAY, a genre-defying EP shaped by travel, collaboration and creative exploration. Blending alternative R&B, electronic music, hip hop and pop influences, the project sees the Johannesburg artist expanding her sonic palette while remaining rooted in the individuality that has come to define her work.

Featuring tracks such as RUDEBOI, $tranger and Madonna, 4PLAY moves between vulnerability and confidence, introspection and attitude, reflecting an artist increasingly comfortable creating on her own terms. As her audience continues to grow beyond South Africa, with Germany emerging as one of her strongest streaming territories, the project arrives at a pivotal moment in her artistic journey.

We spoke to Money Badoo about experimentation, artistic growth, international audiences and the experiences that shaped 4PLAY.

By Khaya Mnisi

All images courtesy of the artist

One thing that really stood out to me is how naturally the album flows between different moods and genres. I noticed a similar quality on MSRYLUV$CMPNY as well. For me, a song like So In Love feels worlds apart from RUDEBOI, but somehow the transition still works without feeling abrupt or disorientating. Was sequencing the project something that came naturally, or did you spend a lot of time figuring out how these different songs could live together in the same world? Can you take me through that process? 

It actually came together pretty naturally. The EP started out as a private SoundCloud link that I kept going back to every day, sometimes multiple times a day and every time I listened, it just felt right, even in its chaos. Because of that, I decided to keep the original track order. A lot of this project was about finding my natural flow as an artist instead of doing what I usually do, which is overthink every single detail. For once, I trusted my instincts, and I think that’s why the sequencing feels so effortless despite the different moods and sounds.

A lot of this project was about finding my natural flow as an artist instead of doing what I usually do, which is overthink every single detail.

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A song like “Madonna” feels like one of the boldest moments on the project. What drew you to that title, and what does it represent within the world of 4PLAY?

I made “Madonna” in Berlin with a UK audience in mind, long before I even got my first booking in the UK. Manifesting as usual.

It’s definitely one of the most experimental songs on the project. The production immediately made me think about what it feels like to be a rockstar to walk through the world like a superstar. And who better to represent that than Madonna herself?

When I need to tap into confidence, I often think about artists like Madonna. She was always fearless in her style, her performances, and her approach to music. She never shrunk herself to make other people comfortable. That’s something every artist aspires to, and that energy became the foundation of the song.

While listening to 4PLAY, I kept thinking about how creative freedom and experimentation require you to open yourself up to possibilities you can’t fully predict. And when you do that, you sometimes have to let go of things that feel familiar or comfortable in order to fully embrace that process. Was there anything you had to unlearn, trust less, or move away from while making 4PLAY?

So much.

I fell in love with playing with my voice in new ways, writing alongside a live band like Third Degree, travelling internationally for the first time, and creating music in places I never imagined I’d be.

More than anything, I learned to trust the process completely and stop confining myself to expectations whether they came from other people or from myself. There was something really beautiful about being uncomfortable and unfamiliar. It forced me to grow.

I’ve evolved so much through making this project, and honestly, 4PLAY is only a small taste of what’s still to come.

Germany has become one of your strongest streaming territories, and you’ve recently spent time there as well. I’m curious whether that experience changed the way you think about your audience. Did it make you feel like you needed to think bigger as an artist, or did it make you realise that what you’re already doing is enough to travel?

A little bit of both.

It’s an incredible feeling to travel the world while the world is simultaneously discovering you. Experiences like that naturally make you think bigger, but they also remind you that what you’re already doing has the power to connect with people far beyond where you come from.

Being on the same lineups as some of my favourite artists has shown me how much further I can take my art. Every time I travel, I come back with a new fire inside me, a desire to create more, dream bigger, and push myself further. You realise very quickly that the possibilities are endless.

I noticed that Rutger is the only featured artist on the project. Why was he the right person for this album, and what did he bring to the world of 4PLAY that nobody else could?

We met at my first international show at Reeperbahn in Germany, and from the beginning it felt like we were on a very similar mission creatively.

Since spending time in Berlin, I’ve met so many incredible artists and creatives, and Rutger was one of those connections that happened very naturally. We share a genuine love for creating and exploring new ideas.

H.I.T.A was produced by Lisa Kida, and the session where we made that song was honestly one of the best times. Everything flowed effortlessly. The song captures a really special moment for me, it represents my first time experiencing Berlin and all the inspiration that came with it. Having Rutger on the record felt right because he was part of that story.

Money Badoo with Rutger

Listening to 4PLAY, I found myself wondering what actually makes alternative African music “alternative” today. As someone who’s associated with that space, how do you define it, and where do you see it heading?

When I look back at South African music, artists like Freshlyground and Die Antwoord remind me that the alternative space here has always existed and has often found success internationally.

South Africa is such a culturally rich place with so many influences, sounds, and perspectives. Because of that, it’s difficult and honestly unnecessary to fit artists into one box. For me, alternative music is about freedom. It’s about creating without feeling limited by genre, expectation, or tradition.

I’m excited about where it’s heading because more artists are embracing that freedom and showing the world just how much flavour and originality exists here.

4PLAY is available to stream on all major digital streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.