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Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
A king is born a king but not so for rapper Tatiana Chipondaminga who at the age of 15 is already gracing the world stage performing alongside some of the ‘‘A’’ listers in show business.
The United States-based hip-hop artiste born to Zimbabwean parents has already taken up music as a career and is slowly but surely, weaving her way up the ladder.
“I’m a female artiste but I go by the name of King Tatie for the simple reason that I want to take charge of what I do. I want to show people that you don’t have to fit in what society tell you to or being pressured to fit into what society says.
“It’s always that a king is born a king and dies a king yet for one to be a queen they have to marry a king. So now I want people to know that the king is here. It also has to do with my name Tatiana which also means a king in another language,” she said.
“She could have chosen law, medicine or engineering and we would still provide her with all the books and the best teacher there is. But since she enjoys music and that is what she wants to do we support her in every way possible.
“We make sure she records her music, get her the best producers, clothe her and also ensure that she goes on tour ,” her mother Florence said.
According to Florence, it was only good that she was studying as well as pursuing her music career at the same time.
“Music is entertainment and nowadays entertainment is business. If you look at most artistes they have issues with money because they didn’t go to school but with my daughter she is both bright in music and in school,” she said.
Although her parents were not musicians, Florence said King Tatie probably followed in the footsteps of her uncle Lawrence “Bhonzo” Simbarashe who was a part time musician during his hey days as a radio presenter.
“Besides Bhonzo I don’t there is anyone who did music,” Florence said.
Coming back to King Tatie’s music, she is hardly home as she will be touring the world together with international stars the likes of Souljah Boy (Tell ‘Em), T-Pain and YG.
Her most successful single to date “Bow Down” has topped the charts beyond Zimbabwean borders and earned a couple of interviews on prominent radio stations.
“It is pretty much difficult to get your music on radio in the US than when you’re here. I’ve been to almost all the stations in Zimbabwe including Star FM but that is not the case when you’re in the States,” King Tatie said.
Thanks to the 75 percent local content drive, King Tatie didn’t have to compete with the big names to have her music out on the Zimbabwean airwaves.
Her EP short for Extended Play is having spins on the national radio stations.
Titled “King of Spades” the EP features the hits “Bow Down”, “Got It” remix, “Coast To Coast”, “Goldie” remix, “My Type” and “Autobiography Pt 1”.
On the album King Tatie talks about things that relate to both young and the old.
“I don’t limit myself to just teen stuff but I also make sure that the music is relevant to the older generation. Every song matches a different situation and that is how I do it.
Some songs tackle serious issues and others are nice and mellow,” she said.
She performed in Chitungwiza this year and had the crowd singing along to her hip-hop tracks although she is yet to claim her spot at home.
She has also lined up shows in Ireland, Japan and Brazil. Only recently, she toured Mozambique.
“I’m not ashamed of my African roots. I was born in the United Kingdom but I live in the United States. Zimbabwe is a part of me because my parents are Zimbabweans. This is my home and this is why if I think of doing anything for charity I want to do it here in Zimbabwe,” she said
Despite rubbing shoulders with the stars, she says she is not ashamed of her Zimbabwean roots.
She said she would love to collaborate with other Zimbabwean artistes not just hip-hop heads but other genres.
“I wouldn’t want to offend anyone but I would love to work with other musicians it doesn’t necessarily have to be hip-hop but as long as they are good at whatever they do.
“Most people now know me as a rapper but not many people know that I’m also good at acting,” King Tatie said with a chuckle.
Online Reporter