Khuli Chana makes the coolest, cutest, freshest hip hop in the land. This is why I chose the coolest, cutest, freshest venue for our interview.
Rubinella Cupcake on 7th street in Melville sells all sorts of delicious cupcakes, teas and fresh flowers. The interior is as sweet as the name suggests. Painted in bright colours, it has an Alice in Wonderland feel with a tiny tea garden at the back.
Chana was stoked. His always- smiling face, happy and boyish body fitted in perfectly with the shop.
But then again, aside from eating cupcakes on a Wednesday morning, he has lots to be happy about.
Along with JR and Jack Parow, Chana is the biggest hip hop artist in the country right now. His track with JR, No More Hunger, is huge, with the video on high rotation across all the music channels.
More interesting is that crowds will perhaps sing the words to your hits, and only your hits. The crowds Chana plays to sing every word to every song.
“I didn’t realise I was so big until I played Lesotho this weekend,” says the earnest young man. “I had to be escorted out by eight body guards. I haven’t seen something like that since (Khuli and I both say it at the same time) ‘the days of Zola’.”
We both pack up laughing.
We laugh because we first met during the heady days of Zola. Zola was South Africa’s biggest superstar and was signed to Ghetto Ruff. Chana’s Morafe had just signed to Ghetto Ruff and were part of the motswako explosion happening at the time. The Ghetto Ruff stable was on a nationwide Cell C tour that was led by Zola. I had the privilege of going on many of the tours dates and many a party was had by all.
“Then there was a time we hit a dead end with Morafe and there was also a lot of politics going on at Ghetto Ruff,” recalls Chana.
“Around that time Slikour was doing the Sprite Hip Hoop project and I gave him a song for it. Everyone loved the track and fellow Morafe member, Tody, encouraged me to go solo.”
Chana slacked off for a year doing the odd Morafe gig before the production team Ivy League, which includes AKA, gave him some beats. He released a few singles, won Best Newcomer at the Channel O Awards and still the record labels did not bite.
“I didn’t want to be about 10 years in the industry. I didn’t want to sulk. I wanted to be about being fresh, hence the song Fresshe.”
Knowing the power of the internet he started leaking his music online, resulting in huge success.
“I flooded the streets and finally Metro FM picked up on it. Now I had a problem because I had big songs, but no album.”
And still the record labels did not bite.
The innovative artist then started a campaign on facebook called Release Khuli Chana.
“Basically, I asked everyone to order the album and when it was finally printed I’d send it to them. I received 20 000 orders in two weeks. I took it to EMI and they turned it down, saying local hip hop doesn’t sell in this country. Ironically, as they were telling me this the cleaning lady was jamming to my song.”
The independently-made album, Motswakoriginator, finally received a distribution deal with Soul Candi in December 2009. Producers on the album include fellow Morafe members Kaygee and Tody, Ivy League, GI’s Bongo Riot and L Skills.
“L Skills is from the early kwaito days and I wanted to be just like him when I was growing up. I also worked with JR when he was still an underdog.”
The album, like the man, is a very happy affair. In fact, motswako hip hop is a much lighter, happier sound than a lot of the Zulu-based hip hop.
“Motswako is a culture thing. Tswanas are happy people. Zulus think we are softies. Back in the day we never fought wars. We make happy music.”
Hmm, have another cupcake, sweetie.
“Working on this album was stressful. I almost gave up, but I was helped by a life coach and everything I’ve achieved I had written down on paper. Gosh, I even won a South African Traditional Music Award. I beat Zuluboy!”
So with his present looking bright, what about the future?
“I am going to take my time with every album. I plan to be a legend at 50. Artists often choose the instant hit, but I am about timeless music. This is how I am going to be remembered so I am not going to make a two-minute-noodle song.
“I also want to be a great live act. I am working with the Relapse Dancers who I discovered on SA’s Got Talent. They’re like ninjas! I am working on making my show more theatrical. Right now I am focusing on my DVD which is my behind-the- scenes story from Morafe till now.”
And what a sweet story it is. Going back to 2005 when I first met Chana as a young, hopeful rapper, it’s noticeable how his confidence has grown with age and success. He has gone from a boy to a confident man with the South African hip hop world at his feet.
Let’s have another cupcake.