Arnold Mlotshwa born 1996 18 June, known by his stage name Brace Thorn Shirimani. I’m a South African Xitsonga Hip hop Singer/ Rapper and Record producer born in Pretoria, Gauteng province in South Africa.

Who or what got you into hip hop?

My Dad who’s known as Dr Joe Shirimani has been my biggest inspiration, of which led me to get involved in the music industry. but yet I can say that the person who led me to be loving the Hip hop music industry is Mthembeni Ndevu known as Emtee.

If you were not a Rapper, what would you be?

Honestly before I even got to my teenage stage’s I’ve always wanted to become a Musician/ Rapper and music producer. so I’ve never seen myself dreaming of becoming a doctor, lawyer or something else I’ve always wanted to see myself doing what I love most and being an inspiration to whoever doubts their capabilities of becoming a musician.

Which song would you say a lot of people knew Brace Thorn by and why?

A song that made people know who Brace Thorn Shirimani Is, it’s a song Called Mawaza meaning Danger. The reason y I called it danger is because i wanted people to reflect on My life as someone who’s dangerous when it comes to music; not in a negative way but a positive one, I wanted people to see me as someone who can inspire them to do good in whatever they wanna accomplish in life, motivate them if they ever feel like giving up and be a rainbow in their darkest rainy days.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of being a Rapper around your hood according to your experiences?

The advantage of being a rapper is Making the industry contacts that can help advance your career in other performance areas. Making a contribution to the artistic community. The other advantage is that you get to enjoy your art and earn an income while following your passion and doing what you love. You have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists, travel and have a variety of new experiences, often while courting an admiring fan base.

And the disadvantage Is You dont have time for anything else which is really sad, because you sometimes don’t even get time for your family due to being full time on the road. Sometimes Everyone is going to laugh at you until you prove them wrong, so people don’t believe in your music or dream until the light shine on them, but it’s up to you to stay strong and always tell yourself it’s gonna work out. You also have to be nice to people you might not like.

How is the response from Family and Friends towards your music?

Knowing that I’m from a family of music, me being in the music industry has brought love, joy and endless support through thick and thin. I even feel like my dad is more proud of me because he believes there’s someone to take the legacy of the Shirimani empire going when he’s no longer on about. but it brings mental peace that I’m not alone in the journey of music, I have people who got my back and believe in me. Which is my family, friends and fans.

The response is amazing, coming from my family and friends I can never wanna trade them for anything, because surely if it wasn’t for them, I would never be where I am currently with this music business, they live what I do, they support what I do, they encourage and motivate me to be a better version of what I am everyday, so it sometimes feels like my teachers never ended at school only but I carry them everywhere I go in life

What makes a Good Rapper in your opinion?

In my own opinion of what makes a good rapper is someone who never limits their talent by doing one type of music genre, being a good rapper is someone who chooses to be different, someone who has an incredible good feel for language and words. They weave stories and messages with incredible artistry. And also if I may give at least practice on delivery, Write every day, Record your raps, Get a manager… these are some of the things that help being a good rapper. There’s a lot of things that make a good rapper, just cutting the story short.

What is One thing that you love about your fans when you are performing on stage?

One thing that I love about my fans when I’m on stage is that they are always curious of what I’m about to do, first the love is real, I can see it with the joy and fun they have when I’m performing, some choose to stand a listen to the flow and the message of what I’m delivering to them. as I get off stage I would get motivation that i should always keep pushing, they loved the performance, some choose to exchange numbers to work on something, some take pictures/videos to appreciate me and my craft, so that shows that I’m on the right track and I’m a inspiration to them. That’s what I love about them.

What is your favourite TV program and why?

My favourite tv program is music channels, cartoon’s and news. What I love about music programs is it helps me keep myself updated with what’s trending. It helps me perfect my sound and craft and with cartoons, I love that most of what’s happening in the world is told by a Joke and most people are blinded to see. I love the poetic side of it’s deep messages that can be turned into a songs
And With News, We Always Need To Be Updated With What’s happng around us so yeah those are my favourite channels.

Follow Brace thorn Shirimani On:

Facebook - Brace Thorn Shirimani

Instagram - @bracethornshirimani_sa

Shout Outs

I would like to give a shout out to my family, friends, fans and mostly God Who’s always giving me a chance to live and try again to become a better version of myself.

We took a walk around the village ka chavani searching for rappers to ride on a random beat.

We found three rappers who had interest in the idea and started spitting…

The session took place at Chavani Village between the Tribal office and Clinic

Session - Ride On My Beat

Host - Jabulani Jay

Video - Em Jay Za

click the link below for the full clip ⬇️

Growing up in Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, K.O (real name Ntokozo Mdluli) dreamt about becoming a world-renowned MC, looking up to West Coast greats like Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg from an early age, in the hopes of forging a similar path that spearheaded his culture.

It was only when K.O met future Teargas members Ntukza and Ma-E at Vaal University of Technology, that the Soweto-born rapper made the decision to pursue music as a full-time career. Without a blueprint for success, Teargas blazed their own trail and laid the foundation for the next generation of SA hip hop to thrive.

Their four critically acclaimed, award-winning and commercially successful albums K'shubile K'bovu (2006), Wafa Wafa (2008), Dark Or Blue (2009), and Num8er Num8er (2012), ensured their status as SA hip hop royalty and established K.O as a charismatic, breakout star.

Alongside Teargas member Ma-E, K.O formed entertainment and lifestyle company Cashtime Life in 2013, releasing his scene-changing SAMA-winning debut album Skhanda Republic (2014) soon after. But it was the album’s second single “Caracara” that completely changed the game, capturing a mood and signalling the birth of The Skhanda sound. Mixing kwaito and hip hop, The Skhanda sound defined an era that many consider to be the peak of SA hip hop.

We took Talk2Jay to the Streets of Chavani village to discuss the Hip hop support system in the community, where we had the likes of Shumza, G-Ice and Lester Matthews to talk to.

We had a very long conversation and the rappers sharing their experiences concerning the music support system in the hood.

Full interview on the link below:

INTRODUCING THE NEXT HOTTEST DUO TO COME OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA

Bafana Ba Maths is a South African musical duo consisting of two Limpopo born brothers, Mag (Polokwane) and Dusty Loola (Mokopane). The pair found an affinity in their musical tastes through their prior collaborations as solo acts on their respective projects, which led to this combination.

Highly influenced by the African samples and punching melodic raps, the duo is looking to bring a new mixture of sound, lingo, style and approach that will see this proudly South African sound on the world stage.

Fusing Hip Hop with Kwaito and cultural elements to bring that real nostalgic feeling to your ear is what Bafana Ba Maths are all about!!

#bafanabamaths #PediRap #Upnext #Limpopo

Whats the story behind the name of this Duo… “Bafana ba Maths”?

- It's always interesting to answer this question because people think there's a very deep meaning behind our name, which is funny. We are the "Mathematician Boys", we put one plus one together and solved our problems. When we got together we saw our gifts multiply. That's the formula!! That's what the name stands for. One plus one ke Mmetse!

Which song received a lot of love from fans in this Duo?

- Honestly, at this moment it is the aesthetics which is getting the fans more excited... Mainly because we have not released any music yet. So the fans are enjoying the visual content on our socials, as well as performances and our style of drip.

Are you guys only dropping singles or also working on an EP?

- We are currently just pushing singles. We do have more music recorded, and still recording more, however we do not want to rush a project.

What do Fans love most about Bafana ba Maths?

- Bafana Ba Maths is like a dream come true... It's a balance of many things and the fact that we are inclusive in our music, we cater for everybody. We also have a sound that's very ear candy and enjoyable.

What do you guys write about in most of your songs and why?

- We write about real life stories. Issues that an everyday person goes through on a daily. We always want to make sure that our music is relatable. Our purpose is to create a playlist for your every mood.

What makes the Crew strong according to your experiences and opinions?

- The fact that we know why we are together, the Bigger Picture. Understanding your role in the crew is also one of the most important elements. And obviously respect. Respecting one another and the work.

Where can people get your music?

- Our music will be available on all major digital streaming platforms and our website, which we will launch soon.

Few years to come, where will Bafana ba Maths be?

- Hopefully still going strong, grown and exploring bigger and better avenues.

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Who are the brands or big names have you worked or collaborated with in this journey of music as Bafana ba Maths?

- We are currently in collaboration with an amazing platform called "The Climb Up" which handles our content, management and interests. We have a partnership with "Syde Ero" apparel.

Follow Bafana ba Maths On:

Facebook - Bafana Ba Maths

Instagram - @bafanabamaths

Twitter - @BafanaBaMaths

Shout Outs

- Shout out to all the Mathematicians (our fans), our housing La Familie Records, shout out to Raw Raised Visuals, Azul Beatz for the production and DJ, Phuthega Traveling Solutions for transportation, Mohlakanyo, Afrimabona,The Climbers, Menyonyo TV, Limpopo, and most of all God, shout out to God.

Tony Macheke (born October 14, 1998), Better known as Payne iGor, and formerly known as Pain the Emcee, is a South African independent rap musician, singer and song writer based in Limpopo (Giyani). Payne started rapping, and writing his own music in 2013 at the age of 15.

Heavily influenced by the Golden Age of Hip Hop, Payne shares a combination of traits found in the likes of
Chino XL, Big Pun, Rhyme Asylum, Big L, Eminem Canibus, Proverb, Zubz, and many more. His only wish is to become the adhesive bond between the mainstream and the underground rap scene.

Who or what got you into Hip Hop?

My uncle got me into Hip-Hop, and since then hip-hop has become my way of contributing to the betterment of society

What do you write about most on your music and Who is the main influence behind?

Everything that I write is a reflection
Of my personal life, and things that I see on a daily basis

Most Rappers nowadays do Trap, Drill and some are sliding to Amapiano, what made you to stick to the type of hip hop you do?

Maybe is because I'm staying true to myself, and what I believe in.

What is the Good and Bad thing about Hip Hop in Giyani?

The bad is that there's lack of support
The good is that i exist lol

How is the Response from your Family and Friends towards your Music?

Both my family, and friends are very supportive, and they were the first to recognize my potential

Payne iGor, what’s the story behind this Stage name?

Pain comes from my favorite anime series Naruto Shipudden
iGor comes from my favorite rap album of all time by Tyler the creator

What makes a good Rapper in your opinion?

Lyricism, delivery, cadence, flow, and his image

What can fans expect from Payne iGor from now?

My debut album (There For Me)

Please share with us one embarrassment you’ve had during your childhood?

I still need time to think about this one Lol

Follow Payne iGor On:

Facebook - Payne iGor

Instagram - @payne_igor

Twitter - @Payne_iGor

Shout Outs

My best Friend Dylan, and my personal producer Henry BigGuy

Stream / Download Missing You on the Link Below

https://ditto.fm/missing-you-dizzie-vee

•The story behind this song begins with just me explaining to some girl how much I miss her and expressing my love for her at the same time

•How long i took on this one? I wouldn't say long... actually this is the quickest one ive ever made cause it took me less than an hour then everything was done

•And i think it's the only song I've ever truly expressed my in...about love

•Lastly… there are plenty coming out this year

Follow Dizzie Vee On:

Facebook – Dizzie Vee

Instagram – @dizzie_vee

Twitter – @dizzie_vee

https://raptypemag.com/old/heres-what-makes-dizzie-vee-different-from-other-rappers-around-bungeni-homie-more/

• SA hip hop comes from very far you know, but I’ll say, where it started to be on the mainstream, where it was really in a good space to compete with all the genres that were there, I think where it went more venac, was around the times of Pro Kid, going to Cash Time… I’d say during those times that’s when we really picked up, remember the song “Caracara” by K.O was the first song to actually reach a million views, so it was something huge and we celebrated. So I think it was around that time, but there’s a lot of other people but the ones that are on my mind; I would definitely mention those… Supa Mega (AKA), Cassper Nyovest coming in with “Gusheshe” with OkMalumkoolcat, i think that was the era where Mzansi hip hop really got super commercial… yeah

What were the Good and Bad things about Mzansi Hip hop back in the days according to Your Experiences?

• I think the Good was obviously during the times where the was more features, we saw the remix of Amantombozane by Riky Rick, we saw guys coming together, Boyz N Bucks, there was just so many collabs.

The Bad that I think it destroyed a lot is when all the guys became successful, they started arguing and they all went to their own corners and it became the thing of competing and more of “I’m doing my own thing” you know, I think that’s what really was bad about the whole thing because it kinda took a knock to being honest when that happened, where everyone decided to pull their own directions, and beefs were now there where the guys had a fight and no longer getting along, I think that was the Bad, and was them coming together and giving us the good music that they gave.

One of the Greatest Hits “Vura” by the Late Dj Citi Lyts, How did the song came about and what did it mean to you guys that the song took the whole South Africa by a Storm?

• How “Vura” came about, it was Dj Citi Lyts’s concept where he felt like we needed to do a song that would be appreciated eKasi and again that talks about a car, remember we already had Caracara… that type of concept, then he came up with the concept and Lunatic was at the studio, remember; Lunatic is the one that did Caracara, so when he did Vura it was crazy because it was like “Haw Ndoda, wa phinda futhi”, you know, we even joked about it that VW must now give you a sponsor, but yeah, that’s how it came about and Saudi was in the cut, I freestyled my verse, so I remember we were still in Neerlandia in Midrand and Saudi opened the doors, he was like “Ey what is this? This sounds nice”. He listened and went out, when he came back, he also laced his verse, that song took not even more than 10 minutes to make and it stayed for a very long time because during those times when the things would keep us in a move so I think the label felt like if we take out something that’s hip hop it will clash with what I’m doing but we told them that no, actually there’s nothing wrong with that, let’s put Vura out so there were doubts and then finally they released Vura and it took SA by a Storm. This goes back to the issue of venac, I think that’s one of the things made it pop like that because everyone could understand what we are saying you know, so yeah it was a good feeling, I remember it was really something, so shout out to Saudi, shout out to Dj Citi Lyts… RIP

Would you Say Amapiano is slowly Silencing or Killing Mzansi Hip hop?

• Nah I wouldn’t say that, just like few days ago I was at Cottonfest, we saw hip hop shutting it down, the likes of Somnyama (Blxckie), Areece, Emtee, I also came through, did my thing, they came in… Kelvin, they did their thing, everyone did their thing, everyone is doing great but you must remember that you can’t really compare dance music with hip hop because it is known, shows like Tomorrowland whereby it is always packed, dance music will always lead because people love having fun, they love to groove you know. It’s different with hip hop, hip hop is more like listening than dancing, and all of that is really about relating to music, so most of the time there’s a lot of things that people don’t get to see them because they happen in private when you are listening to music, so I wouldn’t say amapiano is silencing hip hop because from those days from the likes of Dj Fresh, dance music has always been a leading genre in terms of commercial success, worldwide it’s like that, we see the likes of Pitbull, they put out songs and get to billion streams, and came to the likes of Drake to do the same, so I wouldn’t say it is silencing hip hop. People mistaken sometimes the attention when something new comes in, South Africans always have this thing of “Since this came in, it is getting so much attention and everything else is wack”, which is not a right mindset but I wouldn’t say amapiano silencing hip hop or it is showing it flames, amapiano is doing great, even worldwide they are doing great, mzansi hip hop is also doing great, so just because someone is doing great at that moment, it doesn’t mean that everyone else is bad, everyone is playing their part, but dance music will always be number one and South Africa is a country that loves to groove and dance, so I wouldn’t say it is killing hip hop, you understand, we see the likes of Sosh Plata… I thing another thing is that people don’t even go to the shows to get to see for themselves on what’s happening, and the new generation is open minded, they listen to everything, as long as it’s good music they’ll always give it a chance.
So my answer to that is No, everyone is playing their role and hip hop is doing great, amapiano is doing greater… so, yeah

How was the experience working with the Late AKA on Sponono?

• Working with the Supa Mega has always been amazing Because of his energy and he always knows what he wants, he’s not the person who struggles most of the time but when I was recording Sponono, he was not there, he called me up at the camp, I went to the camp, when I went to the camp, we didn’t record much, he was just playing me the music he already did, showing me the direction and showing how far he went, he played me Lemonade music video ft Nasty C, just putting it out as a single, so we didn’t record that day and when I came back the second time at the camp, he was not there, I was with Zedoc, that’s when I laced the verse for Sponono but on day he was not there. Working with him has always been amazing, I’ve had a couple of sessions with him, yeah he was amazing, his energy was really inspiring you know, so yeah man, shout out to the Supa Mega

What Makes a Good Musician in South Africa in Your Opinion?

• I think it’s Versatility you know, whereby even if you rap but you not really focusing only on it, there’s people that are great at that, that are successful at that but for me, when you use the word “Musicians”, because we are all musicians at the end of the day, but I think is versatility more than anything, I think that’s what makes a good musician because we’ve it with a lot of guys who are able to jump on amapiano, Somnyama is the best example when it comes to that, he can jump to on Amapiano, RnB, Hip hop and even the music when you listen to it, harmonies.. everything is always packed at all times, so I’d say what makes a good musician is versatility more than anything

What can Fans expect from Sjava in the Near Future?

• Expect Art from me, that’s what I do, I’m an artist, I’m not a “Watch the Space” kinda guy. All I can say is; Just expect more Art coming from my side… Yebo

What’s your favourite Food and Why?

• Chicken and Rice because it’s delicious lol…

• What are your expectations in the near future from this first African animation series by Disney?

Im hoping that it inspires more African storytellers to share the stories of their lives and their people with the world, but also for it to be inspirational to young African kids who watch these shows to feel like they are beinf represented on a global platform.

• What were the fun and challenging moments working on Kizazi?

This was my first time scoring for an animation, so the overall process was very challenging dor me. I was very lucky to have worked with a great team and I got a lotnof support from them throughout the process. The most fun for me was everytime Rethabile delivered new vocals. She is such a dynamic vocalists and added so much to my instrumentals.

• Who do you wish to work with on the TV and Film industry in the near future and why?
I am open to work with anyone at this stage as compostion is something Ive really enjoyed.

• What are the latest updates from Kay Faith Music?

There is new music in the piplines. I will be dropping some hot singles this year.

• Are you planning on writing or composing a story about Kay Faith’s life anytime soon?
Thats a great idea! A story of my life told through music… I might jusy consider doing that!

Follow Kay Faith On:
Facebook- KAY FAITH
Instagram- @kay_faith_sa
Twitter- @Kay_Faith_SA

‘Sponono’ forms part of the chart-topping album ‘Mass Country’, which has been the highlight of South African hip hop this 2023. The album has topped charts for over 23 weeks peaking at #1 on both the Apple Music Hip Hop albums charts and Apple Music album charts. ‘Sponono’ has already officially been certified Gold in South Africa and has garnered over 2.6 Million streams worldwide, proving it to be the perfect follow up single this winter season. In celebration of the milestone the single is officially being sampled to national radio, creating a platform for the featured artists to honour AKA through various supporting activities.
‘Sponono’ is the second single release to radio off of the award-winning album ‘Mass Country’, post its release on February 24th 2023. To date 5 singles from ‘Mass Country’ have been certified Platinum and Gold, with ‘Sponono’ being the 6th certification, proving that ‘Mass Country’ is the Megacy’s favourite art piece from the Supa Mega, certifying his undeniable talent that lives on amongst his fans.

‘Sponono’ is an ode to love, an unashamed expression of love and appreciation by a man in love. The term itself is a Sotho term, used to refer to the utmost beauty of a black woman, praising her beauty and affirming her. Living up to its authentic expression, Supa Mega’s verse is dedicated to his partner, Nadia Nakai, proclaiming that “this is real love, it’s ride or die… perfect combination, suit and tie, angel, halo see you in my dreams in porcelain white”.

He further goes on to state how she was God-sent and was his anchor and sense of peace during stormy seasons.
‘Sponono’ was produced by reputable producers 031 CHOPPA, Xivonaki Manzini as well as Tshupo Khutsoane who have worked with the likes of Sjava, Costa Titch, Phila Dlozi, Prince Kaybee & JR.

To date Mass Country has garnered the following milestone awards:
- Lemons (Lemonade) certified 4 x Platinum, which features Nasty C;
- Company, ft KIDDO certified Platinum;
- Dangerous which features Blxckie & Nadia Nakai certified Gold;
- Prada ft Khuli Chana certified Gold;
- Mbuzi (Freestyle) featuring Thato Saul certified Gold.
- Sponono certified Gold.

AKA’s mother had this to say about the release:
“Mass Country meant everything to Kiernan. He would be so proud of all the accolades and grateful to the Megacy for showing up for him yet again. His legacy continues with his music and his new single, Sponono, allows the world to reconnect with him again.” - Lynn Forbes

Speaking of the making of the song and the experience of working with AKA, this is what the artists had to say
031 CHOPPA
“Wrote this hook thinking about the love of my life, My Sponono. And on this song I’m expressing that I would do whatever it takes to be with her. I produced the beat with the gents think I was just gonna produce then me and Son started vibing out then Forbes walked in and said that’s the hook for the beat. The rest is history”

Baby S.O.N
“Sponono! What a beautiful moment.”