Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) has released his fourth album, YBA 2 NW, and he says this one affirms that he is here to stay. If he was ever to be considered a legend, it would start with this album because it shows how far he has come.
Jabba, as he is also known, is funny. That comes through when talking to him and in some of his lyrical content. But he also has a serious side to him that makes what he says or writes sound philosophical.
Songs like Go Diragalang and Harambe, which are both political, are testament to that. In Harambe, for instance, he talks about his view of the June 16 uprisings. I'm not the political type and I won't fake my persona just to sound politically conscious. When I was asked to do a song for the June 16 celebrations last year, what came to me was the fact that I can't relate to the event because I'm from Mmabatho. But I recognise the fact that it is because of that historical incident that I'm not forced to speak Afrikaans today. I say things the way I see them and that is what Harambe and all my music is about, he said.
The title of his latest album also has a political connotation to it. YBA was the car registration code for people living in Mafikeng during the Bophuthatswana regime. He says YBA 2 NW means that he is no longer limiting his subjects to Mmabatho only, but to the whole province. People have never really spoken about what it was like living under Mangope's system in Bophuthatswana. I'm speaking about it and I get the feeling people are trying to shut me up. A song of mine was banned on some stations because of what I had said in it. My record company was even skeptical about going with the title of this album. The song YBA on the CD says a lot.
In it HHP features rapper Mr Mor, who is one of the artists he will be releasing through his newly established record label, Lekoko.
Lekoko is more than just a recording label. It is also a movement for rappers rapping in vernacular and Motswako is our government.
The intensity of this venture will definitely take the industry by surprise.
A lot of our well-known rappers are involved in this as well. It is going to be an organised and disciplined thing that will be run like a party.
Take his word for it because ever since he got into the industry, he's been a mover and a shaker. His latest endeavours prove that he means what he says.
* HHP and Wikid launched their albums this past weekend at Germiston Lapa. The event could have been something to rave about had it had not rained and the organisers stuck to time schedules. The gates opened at 11am, from 4pm some music was performed but none of the headliners were on stage by 8.30pm. It was a real damp squid.