One Mic is a South African freestyle rap-battle reality competition television series that showcases upcoming and underground rappers battling each other through the show's different competitive elements: The Written Material, The Lyrical Subject, Pass the Mic and The Freestyle Battle.
In the first season, each week four MCs compete against each other in a two round knockout battle. In the first round they're given a word and they have to spontaneously improvise a rap/poem/hip hop performance around it. They do this with a beat - and without a beat.
The judges choose the two best MCs who move on to the second round where they perform their own track in a battle to win the episode.
Ultimately one winner is determined by the resident hip-hop judges and the studio audience.
Season 2, comprising 32 rappers, features a different format to the first season. This time the rappers battle each in a league-type of format, with one rapper eliminated each week.
There are four regional groups with eight rappers in each group. Each week, one of these four groups competes against each other; one is eliminated and the others move on to the next round.
Hosts
Season 1: DJ Doowap
Season 2: Bontle Modiselle
Season 3: Anele Zondo
Resident Judges
Season 1
Pro
Big Zulu
Aewon Wolf
Season 2
JR
Big Zulu
Aewon Wolf
Season 3
JR
Big Zulu
Aewon Wolf