Johannesburg - Trusted SLK recently walked away as the ultimate winner at the Put Me On music competition.
The rapper, whose real name is Sivuyisiwe Slinga, beat more than 4 000 rivals to scoop top prize. This was not the first time the rising talent had tried her luck at competitions as she made it to the top 25 shortlist for Vuzu’s The Hustle season 2 and also became a top 8 finalist for SABC 1’s hip hop show One Mic season 3, being the only female rapper to make it to that stage of the competition.
“I am a Capetonian artist so winning in Cape Town was a normal thing. Being involved in a national competition was stressful because you see other gifted musicians from other places. Now being in a competition with those people was nerve-racking but I decided to just be me through the whole journey and believe in myself,” says Slinga.
She started making music in 2008 and joined a neighbourhood crew that used to rap.
“I wanted to be as cool as them and when I started in it I was actually very good. I wasn’t shining too brightly with my skills in high school. After I matriculated I went to UWC (University of the Western Cape) to study my LLB which I am busy finishing off now.”
Slinga has had to balance her music and studies but her passion has continued to push her.
“It will always fuel itself. I was in competitions and my mom could see I was serious about this thing. She was shocked when I won this competition. I have been wanting to move to Joburg for years now but have to finish my degree. After I won the competition she was ready to let me go.”
Slinga describes herself as a boss chick. Her stage name Trusted SLK comes from a combination of her initials and how people have always trusted her to make good music.
“I make commercial hardcore music with catchy flows and punchlines and a certain finesse in my bars. I represent the bossy kind of female musicians. You get the girlie girl, the bossy, classy kind and I represent the boss chicks.”
Sportscene has been building up platforms for the new wave of musicians in South Africa. The creation of Capsule Fest, the Sportscene Studio in Joburg and the Put Me On competition have helped to push youth culture to a new level. The likes of Costa Titch, Lucas Raps, Indigo Stella and now Trusted SLK have all benefited from the clothing retailers interest in young artists.
“I am going to be pushing music full time in Joburg because that is where the music industry thrives. I will be using this rap game, being a woman in music to really expand my brand. I would love to work with the likes of Shane Eagle, Frank Casino, OKMalumkoolkat …” she enthuses.
Slinga plans to release her first single since her win next week but is still fine tuning it.
For the girls who are looking to enter the industry, Slinga advises them to keep working hard.
“Everything is hard work and looks glamorous. We see artists travelling and gigging and it looks good but it is hard work and exhausting. If you are hungry for it, you have to work for it.”
The Star