On: Tamia
Ahead of her South African tour, Tamia talks to Helen Herimbi about passion, penmanship and privacy “Umm,” she pauses to chuckle. “I’m not really a person who goes for overt gestures of love on a special day. I’m kind of into overt gestures of love on a random day. Just spending time together is what’s […]
Can I be a chameleon?
“It’s like you’re a chameleon,” said my nail technician. She was selling me the dream of multichrome grabbers. I wasn’t convinced but since she’s never steered me wrong, I went with it. After a few days of marveling at how my nails change according to how the light hits them, I was sitting at my […]
Only the people can count you out
The chants were thunderous. For the first time that day, they drowned out beats blaring from the stage upstairs. One word rained down on the bassement of the dilapidated train station: “Emtee! Emtee! Emtee!” At a glance, Stage 2 at Riky Rick’s inaugural Cotton Fest looked like the designated spot for emerging acts. Read: the […]
Flowers for Thabiso Khati
Thabiso “Hip Hop Scholar” Khati has always had a mean rep in the game. He’s not the kind of personality that can live in grey areas. But now, the manager/record exec is in a different place in his life. One that was brought on by introspection and the desire to be a better person. I […]
On: Loyiso Gola
Loyiso Gola reclines in his chair and places his Nike-clad feet on the chesterfield ottoman. He’s relaxed. And he should be. He’s a comedian who has travelled the world and put in enough work during the year, to earn a chance at putting his feet up in the last few days of 2018. His new […]
On: YoungstaCPT
YoungstaCPT and his team are in the basement parking lot of a Joburg radio station. Teargas’ breakout hit, Chance, is not a song that would typically be played by this station but it is blaring through YoungstaCPT’s car’s speakers. I’m surprised to hear the rapper blaze this throwback tune but he insists he loves it. […]
Flowers for Ishmael
There are very few artists who can claim to have the kind of success that transcends eras. From 80s hip hop to 90s kwaito and r&b to naughties crunk and afro-soul, Ishmael is a true South African treasure. And he’s got no qualms with opening up about the highs and lows of being that treasure. […]
On: Ishmael
“For maybe three years, I used to have these dreams of just dealing with my matric,” Ishmael Morabe tells me shortly after he’s sat down. The multi-talented artist who is simply known as Ishmael has just come back from a morning of visiting high schools to motivate the kids who are getting ready for exams. […]
On: Fifi Cooper
The motswako rapper talks about her new music, new company and new lease on life Fifi Cooper is giddy. When we meet, it’s been a while since she dropped her second album, Take Me Back. It is her first album since she acrimoniously parted ways with Ambitiouz Entertainment and hr first under her independent imprint, […]
On: Sho Madjozi’s style
Newly named the South African with the Most Innovative Style, musician, Sho Madjozi speaks to Helen Herimbi The last time I saw Sho Madjozi, we were in a large studio space where she was shooting a special for a popular brand she endorses. She swaggered in and, like a magnet, she drew everyone’s attention. Wearing […]