Durban - Dubbed one of the best female MC’s in South Africa, 21 year old Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney, who goes by the stage name Gigi Lamayne has won the Best Female South African Hip Hop Award for two years consecutively in 2013 and 2014. She also holds the honour of being the first female to make it to the finals of the Sprite Uncontainable Challenge and the winner of Jack Scouts Challenge last year.
Lamayne released her third mix-tape on Friday titled Ground Zero. IOL spoke to her about her latest offering.
She says the title of her mix-tape was born through the many transitions she had in her life and to losing someone very close her.
“I was going through many transitions in my life ranging from completing my studies at Wits University, to a growing musical audience to even losing someone very special in my life. My emotions were everywhere and as usual, I used my pen to escape from it all. This is how Ground Zero was born.” says Lamayne.
On her latest offering, the former Wits graduate, added a song titled “Fees Must Fall” inspired by her involvement in the #FeesMustFall campaign, which she actively took part in last year.
“I felt obligated to make a statement, a statement that would last forever” adding that one of her favourite tracks in the album is “Fees Must Fall”.
Lamayne says her sound has matured in terms of lyrical content and beat selection from her previous mix-tape “Colour of Reign”.
“Its no longer only about making us feel good but, music making is a journey into many spaces at a time” says Lamayne.
In “Ground Zero” Lamayne worked with Durban group Witness The Funk and female rapper Xtatic.
When asked when an album would be coming out, she says she will be dropping her album on her birthday 7 July 2016. For her album, Lamayne says she has saved the likes of Khuli Chana, Riky Rick and Proverb as artists she would like to collaborate with.
IOL MOJO