Tributes pour in for SA hip hop pioneer Ben Sharpa, but who was he?

Ben Sharpa. Picture: Facebook

Ben Sharpa. Picture: Facebook

Published Jul 27, 2018

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Veteran South African rapper Ben Sharpa died on Thursday, aged 41, after being hospitalised for complications with diabetes. 

After news of his death broke, fans and local celebrities took social media to pay homage to the man they believe was a "hip hop pioneer".

I just heard about Ben Sharpa right now. I know I'm late with this but what a shock. He stood lyrically high above most SA rappers.

I even collaborated with him once on LNN.

Shocking news. RIP Kgotso. https://t.co/2g603kTDag

— Deep Fried Man (@DeepFriedMan) July 27, 2018

RIP Ben Sharpa 💔. Thank you for the music.

— #VI #Twinkle #Iphupho #GigiGang (@Gigi_Lamayne) July 26, 2018

BEN SHARPA FOREVER. KAPTAIN MY KAPTAIN.

I'll always remember this verse. Big up to @DropXVI for documenting the magic. pic.twitter.com/E0A66AcPer

— Phlynt Phossy ©®™ (@PhilChard) July 26, 2018

However, there were some people who asked: who is Ben Sharpa?

only finding out about this ben sharpa person for the first time now, kante he was a big deal.

— Morena (@Mothupiii) July 27, 2018

I didn't even know this Ben Sharpa until today

— Shady🇿🇦 (@AvelaThunzi) July 27, 2018

Sharpa, real name Kgotso Semela (aka Oh Kaptin, My Kap’n - or simply 'Kap' to his friends and fans), was born in the rugged ghetto slums of Soweto.  

Sharpa experienced the full force of the brutal Apartheid regime and the revolutionary turmoil that surrounded the struggle against it. While Ben was still a young child, his father Dr. Jacob Semela, took the opportunity to escape the hardship of life in South Africa by relocating his family to Chicago, Illinois.

After returning to South Africa in 1993 for the first free elections, Sharpa quickly set about establishing himself as a major force in the Underground, forming cult crews Audio Visual and GroundWorks. Ben's music addressed themes of freedom of expression, social consciousness, politics, spirituality, conspiracy theories and the hustle to survive.

In 2003, Sharpa won a nation-wide freestyle battle competition sponsored by South African cellular network, MTN. This not only gave him notoriety and national exposure but also won him an opportunity to go to London and meet Eminem during his 'Anger Management' tour.

Sharpa earned his keep as a respected lyricist, whose music touched on social and political issues in South Africa. He has an acclaimed album under his belt, titled B. Sharpa, which was released in 2008 by the Cape Town-based indie label Pioneer Unit. The album boasted the massive street hit "Hegemony," in which the artist was rapping about police brutality.

In 2007, Sharpa caught the ear of the electronic maven and 'Queen of Dubstep', BBC Radio 1 DJ Mary-Anne Hobbs, who described him as "one of the most inspired and agile lyricists in the world today".

In 2012, he released an album called 4th Density Light Show (4DLS) with the production duo "Pure Solid".

Ben Sharpa also toured Europe extensively in his prime. He performed at festivals such as Glastonbury (UK), Dour (BEL), Paleo (CH), Extrema (NL), Riddim Collision (FR) and Rio Loco (FR).

#RIPBenSharpa

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