With Tumi or Stogie T having represented South Africa and the continent well on Sway in the Morning this past week, the new week in hip hop circles began on a high note with the launch of Reason’s 14 track album, Azania on Tuesday.
The Rock Star of public speaking, Vusi Thembekwayo who is SA’s leading motivational speaker was quick off the mark going as far as describing Reason’ s latest body of work as “blazing”.
Granted, Thembekwayo is no hip hop pundit, but maybe this declaration of superiority which came just hours after the Eastrand born rapper launched his new album at 14A Kramer Road in Kramerville on Tuesday, would perhaps lead critics and hip hop experts to ponder the significance of the rapper’s album in the bigger scheme of hip hop things in the country.
It goes without saying the launch was a big one for the hip hop community with stalwarts such as Proverb, Slikour, having been spotted among “the tech savvy” guests who graced the launch in show hip hop solidarity.
The rapper’s much anticipated 14 track album features guest appearances from heavy hitters such as Gemini Major, Kwesta, KiD X, The Muffinz, Ginger Trill as well as American and Grammy Award-winning hip hop producer, Swizz Beats, who features on the last track, Azania alongside, South Africa’s biggest lady of song, Mama Sibongile Khumalo.
Speaking to MOOD online, the Top Seven hit-maker said he wanted to be the voice that does not exist in the current hip hop scene which led him into going back to his hip hop roots.
“We are all trying to forget our problems. We are all trying to forget our stresses. We are living the good life. We are celebrating. We are balling. There were not many people talking about why. The reason we spending money is because we hide the pain. To make ourselves feel better. We hide the stress to boost our confidence. There are other things happening right underneath all of this. That is why I call the album, Azania is because before we were called South Africa, before we were modernised, we were called Azania. The album is about celebrating everything that is unique” the rapper said.
The rapper says he wanted to create music that does not fit in the current hip hop scene and went for a unique perspective on the many things that affect him as an artist and as a person existing in the realities of South Africa as a country.
“I did not want to create an album or music that fits into the hip hip’s commercial scene, but am trying to create my own and touch on things that do not exist. I can’t be seen to be doing anything that is already out there and has already happened. I wanted to go further than what is already out there and not fit but cover a gap,” he said.
The rapper had good things to say about his mentor, Stogie T, formerly Tumi, whose freestyle on Sway in the Morning re-affirmed Tumi’s international appeal on the biggest platform any rapper could ever wish for. Though the veteran MC was the last to appear on the hip hop show with the likes of Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Nasty C having been featured there ahead of him, it would seem the saying: “save the best for last” is true ofTumi’s much anticipated appearance on Sway.
“I have had the opportunity of meeting both Tumi, who gave you 76, who gave you Maria and Stogie T who has re-branded himself. I am glad that people got to see Tumi in his natural environment,which is international environment. I gave him the shout-outs immediately after the freestyle and am glad he gave us the refined Tumi on Sway,” he said.
Written by: Siyabonga Sithole & Reitumetse
moodsa.wordpress.com 