Chronicle Editor
Mbulelo Mpofu ,
BARELY a month after winning the Outstanding Music Video (Across All Genres) gong at the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA), Bulawayo artistes, Da_Kudu and KBrizzy aren’t holding back. It’s full-steam ahead for the pair as they moot the release of their second single, “Awe Tsotsi” on Monday.
Da_Kudu, who has been in the game for a long time told Chronicle Showbiz that getting the award was a significant step in his career since he has just being known as a figure behind the scenes. “It’s a milestone (winning the award). I feel so blessed because I only have a couple of songs with visuals out as an artiste and it’s good to see that both of them are gaining traction. Getting recognised by your own is just splendid,” he said. On the other hand, KBrizzy Bermuda, a perennial winner in the hip-hop scene meant that the collaboration was indeed an “iron sharpens iron.”
“Awe Tsotsi” takes the listener to the township and opens a window to how youths live and interact with each other. The song sees the marriage of is’gubhu and hip-hop in harmonious fashion as the pair lyrically transverse and comments on social, youthful pleasures. To sweeten the deal for their fans, “Awe Tsotsi” will be accompanied by visuals which will drop simultaneously with the audio on YouTube and different streaming platforms. His debut album, “AfroJams Labangane” features some of the most-prominent local acts in form of Asaph, Indigo Saint, and Brucella.
He has in the past worked with UK-based Daecolm and, Rymez BPM, as well as Simi (Nigeria) having performed at the Rands Music Festival alongside Black Coffee and is an Avid ProTools certified operator. Having spent most of his time producing, and sound engineering in events, Da_Kudu conceded facing challenges.
“For most of the time, I’m the guy responsible for making people sound good but lately, with my career as an artiste being at the fore of what I do, I’ve had to make sure I’m up to speed with performing as it’s something I last did quite a while ago. “It’s a wake-up for me and it’s time for me to expand, especially given the fact that at my studio, AfroJams Studios, we do everything in-house so it’s a blessing in disguise for me,” he said.
Having spent most of his time in South Africa, coming back to Bulawayo has taught Da_Kudu that, “our music has its own feel musically and one has to understand their target audience to thrive in this business.” Moving forward, Da_Kudu will be reconnecting with friend and fellow artiste, Daecolm who is famous for being the song composer for elite global talent Chris Brown. – @MbuleloMpofu
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