A weekend that set new bars

For almost a month the Lesotho hiphop scene went silent, I remember reading tweets and facebook posts about how the industry had gotten boring. Anticipations were however raised when Snurd, formerly retired Axo-Mind, the long disbanded hiphop crew Mechini announced that they were releasing new music soon. In the begining not all the release dates were set, it only got denser when it got clear that all songs were set to be released on one weekend, 21-23 April 2017.

And yes, this has been one of the most fired weekends in our small industry, bars were set, high bars for that matter. We have come to a time when we can now proudly say we produce world class music.

Wave by Snurd feat T-Mech

This passed weekend Snurd sure took his home city by a WAVE with a song called wave, coproduced by him and Slick. Here is what Snurd had to say about the song,

" This Song was co-produced by myself and Slick. Slick sent the original beat but it was too similar to what I was doing for my later projects,so we tossed the beat around between us to make the sound a bit different. It was ambient at first as opposed to the later trappy sound... The post production was tricky cause I was introducing a different vocal range that required some tug and pull on the vocals (mine). So I handled the overall vocal mixing and arrangement cause I don't trust too many people with my voice and Mech was busy with clients. The beat mix was a joint venture 4 ways, between myself, Mech, RMC, and Slick. Mastering was Mech and RMC, it was also tricky because the mix was hollow and needed warmth and saturation in the mids. So yeah, they handled that quite well... The song moved between 3 engineers, 2 producers, and a listening audit who choose to remain anonymous..."

This song is one dime of a song that features, MIP's number T-Mech who as usual did not disappoint.

Turn You On by Mechini

Of many good songs that hit the fans this past weekend was "Turn You On", produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Nejah, "Turn you on" is Mechini's first single since they announced their reunion in mid March. An international sound this song is, Listening to it takes you strake into the world class music realm while at the same time keeps you grounded in Lesotho. It was Moddaw oa Mochini we spoke to about he song since he works with us and as a result is easy to contact, here his say about their new music.

"You understand that Mechini has not been in action for the past 3 years right? Two of these brothers being Palvo and Lemeke were musically inactive for all these years with the other three pushing solo hustles, I was out making rap songs all this time, Nejah was busy with college work and L-tweety was not even a member of the movement then. So here you have a group of musicians who haven't worked together for a long time. So we had come up with something great, and we had to also challenge ourselves, and only a pretty unusual topic would challenge us, so we went for a sex song, and I think it was the greatest choice we ever made, in what better way can an artist express themselves better than in a love or sex song? We nailed it.

Oouu Yeye by Axo-mind ft L-tweety

In the same weekend but on a Sunday, more worm was put out by our stars, Axomind of KOL productions released song called "OOUU YEYE", produced by Skreambeats an mastered by take Beats, this song is one of the game changing songs from last weekend, it is also an uncountable proof that our game has upped a whole lot since last year, asked about OOUU YEYE
" 'ouu yeye' is a complimentary song like "Oh my god" like the chorus as it says, i'm counting up this money like Oouu yeye, so i'm counting this money like oh my God, now they wannna ride with me, oh my God, substitute Oh my God for Oouu yeye, that's what it is, aint nothing more to it, like you get surprised that people been watching me from the start, they ain't even supported me, people that ain't even been around me, now they wanna be around me because i'm with people that are actually helping me elevate people that are motivating me and directing me into some proper positions, now they wanna ride with me, these girls wanna ride with me, oh my God, you know what i'm saying? That's the whole concept of the song, but then at the same time it tutors rappers that you guys are in the wrong lane, this is the right lane, you know what i'm saying? Word"

After hearing these three songs we can now proudly say, we have news bars set, we can sound as any international artist, with songs like this, one can't help it but wonder what the Ultimate Music Awards will be like.

Download all these songs herehere;

Wave by Snurd ft T-mech
Turn You On by Mechini
Oouu Yeye by Axomind

24, Malome Vector's new Album ready for Shelves

The Khosi hit maker has more to say, he is yet to show it wasn't by luck that he made hits these past years, one of our bloggers at DoubleH266 had quite a lengthy chat with Mr Skelekeqe. 

24 years old Malome Vector born Bokang 'Moleli at Mangopoeng Roma has an album coming up, a multi-genre compilation which he says tells the story of his life Journey, named after the number of the years he has lived, 24 is Malome Vector's debut studio album after multiple feature appearances and single releases including Khosi Feat. Mega Hertz and Skelekeqe. A beautiful work of art to say, holding over 12 songs, you have an album that features some of Lesotho's most talented musicians like Mega Hertz , Sadon, Stlofa, Number 35, Feb Mosotho and Arc Flow. But as any music lover or student would tell you, rhythm plays a "Major Key" in the music, and for this super work of art you find Vector having opted for Sir EDI, Stunna ( Mega Hertz) and himself as producers, yes it seems every beat on this upcoming Penya Play offer is the work of these gifted producers. Often you find many local artists just recording a song everyday and then they wake one morning and say "I'm dropping an Album in a month" by just compiling what they call the best songs from all their recordings, but Vector is not the type, he sure took his time to nurture a childhood dream, an album called 24.

From this album Vector tells us he has about 14 songs and six of them are solo singles, I have personally never heard him on a solo so you know I will be looking out for these ones. Out of these 14 songs he keeps drawing our attention to a song called "Hlugana nam" which this Roma muso says it tells the story of his life since he began until now, he says it speaks of the Ups and Downs of the journey. As it stands, 24 is destined to be published and distributed by Penya Play, however Vector is very emphatic on the point that he would appreciate finding another company to partner with Penya Play to help him rich his prime through the release of this work of art. It is for this reason that the "Khosi" (King) says his work is desitined for hard copy market distribution alone now. So when you come across 24 in a music store out there; here is one thing you need to know, the image of this album like the cover and all marketing materials and everything visual was created by the same man, multi-talented star in the making is he not? Multi talented yes, after all he has created an album that's Hiphop, RnB, Kwaito, Housetrap and DanceHall trap, what more could we ask for? Nothing really, so prepare to cop yourself a copy as soon as it's released, I advise you listen to a song called Hlugana Nam before anything else. At the end of his interview Vector sincerely displayed gratitude to DoubleH266 for writing about his album, and we are grateful to Vector and all other artists willing to talk with us and help create a better urban music industry in Lesotho.

Hymphatic Thabs at Back To The City HipHop Fest

Back To The City is known to us as the biggest hiphop festival is the whole of southern Africa, this year over 10K hiphop maniacs will gather in Newtown Johannesburg South Africa on the 27th April 2017, performing at this huge festival is almost every established South African rappers. Amongst many performing me here is our very own Hymphatic Thabs.

And here is to one of our flag hoisters, The Hymphatic Thabs -born Thabiso Mohapeloa- Thabs is a mad Giant on the mic, and a clearly cultured rap veteran whose story begins in the mid nineties. Legend says this gifted young Thabs had to move down to Johannesburg due to his activism for hiphop against the system. As if the raw talent was not enough, the Golden city equiped this then young veteran with so much for his hiphop life. I first learned of Thabs when I was in high school as a hiphop todler, i read about him in a South African hiphop magazine Hype.

Winning some awards that none from of our nation has ever won after him, the Album of the Year Hype Award 2007. It was at this time that I learned we were really getting there as Lesotho hiphop. Only in 2012 I seeked his music out and i came accross The Age Of Horus, an album produced by Kanif for Lapetus Records. Truth is there is a story behind all greatness and today we only tell of his latest honoring. This all time underground defender and lover is once again flying the Blue White Greens, this year he is at South Africa's biggest Hiphop Festival #BTTC Back to the City, Taking Place in Newtown Johannesburg South Africa on the 27th April Along side homelander and Metro Awards Nominee Kommanda Obbs, Apolo Brown and Casper Nyovest just to mention a few. Feauring with Zola 7 in The Heritage Back To The City Festival Special Performance this should tell that Thabs is really a guest of honour in this Huge festival. Thisould serve as an example that even our kind can be the my gifted anywhere we all could work on our craft, we saw Kommanda Obbs and J-Cob there last year, i personally was hoping toee morehis year but sadly that was not the case, however Thabs is like 3 rappers and a half, with him and Obbs on the BTTC stages, Lesotho will be well represented.

Green; New Single by Chocolate Soul

Hiphop has become a curse for many of our young these days, more often you find youngsters quitting school ju to try and make it as rappers. It is very rare that one finds a rapper who is a professional in another field in this time age. Yes hiphop is alive and it has never been this alive in Lesotho before, there's not a day that goes by without one seeing a facebook post about either a new song dropping or a certain rapper being "Lesotho's Dopest rapper". As a lover and student of hiphop however; one has to take each and every of these posts and try to understand the reasoning, because truly so much talent has been neglected over the years and this could be a better way of discovering such talent.

Of many of these rappers however there are O'Gs that have been here for a minute, one of this is a Maseru born Gauteng based rapper Chocolate Soul, 30. A few days ago he made a post about him dropping music. And knowing how hard this Yellow beard rapper can go there was no letting this one pass by. Produced By Taks, recorded at Codeine Cool Studios and mastered by MIP, Green is the name of Chocolate Soul's new single. 

A trap song in it's own right, soaked in nothing but bars and wells arranged rhyme. Where i'm from Green can mean three things, either weed, money or the colour Green, in this song you find Choco making reference to all three. "Bottle green sipping on Heineken/rolling green getting high again" in this lines he speaks of green as a colour and as weed selectively, then as you listen to the song he comes back to say "i got green fingers I make grow" and you're certain he is talking about money here. 

Listening carefully to the lyrics one feels reminded that we have specially gifted rappers in Lesotho and we could be against the best of any country and leave em with deep scars. It is very important mention that in 2013-2014 was in his local television prime, there was not a day when his videos didn't play on our national television. Beautiful music videos for that matter, but then snap, everybody forgot about Chocolate Soul, one can only expect bigger things from this mid aged rapper when he says " I rose and fell like a Sea tide, now i'm back to claim what should be mine". With this being said it is quite evident that the video to this beautiful trappial will be nothing but great. 

Props to Taks Beats also, the producer, There's one sweet melody that runs deep in the beat at the chorus, sounds like string to me. Good lord, it makes me one keep throng playing on the chorus part. And then the well mastered 808's and snares, what does one say about a beat like this? Dope.

Green will be available soon. Be sure to check our facebook page HipHop in Lesotho and get the link once it's been given to us.

To have your Single, EP, LP or Album Reviews by DoubleH266 call +26656647868

Moddaw

When good lyricism and understanding of the hip-hop meets trap. Over the years hiphop has evolved so much and there are a few brothers who have changed or evolved with it like this brother here, Moddaw Oa Mochini. Having done underground rap, vernecular and now trap this particular rapper has been here for a minute, being a subliminal role player in the local hiphop industry as a whole, Moddaw is a rapper, an Initiator of the #Challenge_IGI and admin and founder of this very hiphop blog. One of our bloggers talked to him in detail, read below;

Bl; Who really is Moddaw?

Moddaw for me is an alter ego, it's that someone I become when musical power or street love take over me. I become someone totally different, like i had been sleeping, i awake when Moddaw takes charge. However as a person Moddaw was born James Themba Cambule but later switched to his mother's side and became James Ts'epo Kabi. 

I work as a graphic designer, a photographer, a Chairman at Msejah Media, and a rapper for the same company.

Bl; When did you start doing Music?  

It was back in 2001 or 2000 i think, i was very young back then but i was immitating the likes of 2pac, DMX, Jarule and many more whose tapes i used to steal from my brother's collection and listen to on my "stereo", in 2003 i was writing my own raps and i aint ever looked back.

Bl; Who Are Your Musical Influences?

Understand that I have switched styles so many times, that could only mean I have had many influences, first I was influenced by the very same guys I mentioned, then later the likes of Jay Z started making presence in my music, Talib too, I used to be a number 1 fan, in 2006 I had switched from an underground English rapper to a Sesotho rapper, here I was influenced by the likes of Papa Zee, Zola 7 and many others, lately my music is very much influenced by many Atlanta trappers.

Bl; Do You Have a Formal Music Education?

Nope.

Bl; What's the difference between you and the next rapper i could meet in the streets of Maseru?

I understand the struggle, I trap and unlike many trappers I have been exposed to all hiphop being done in this country, or better yet I have done it before, so with that much knowledge of the basics, i'm not like any of these rappers, and soon this will be proven, very soon.

Bl; How Do You Handle Mistakes During a Performance?

Truth is I run by a code, if it not kill me it makes me stronger, so every flop on the stage is overlooked but sworn not to happen again. And this has helped me groom my performances over time.

Bl; Do male and female rappers generally get the same opportunities and equal pay?

No, I feel like female rappers have more privellege than any of us. It's only that their managers are sleeping, sex sells bro, sex sells more than anything, you feel.

Bl; What is the potential income for this career?

Personally I feel like there is no limit to the kind of money we can make, but locally, you see some rappers getting (bo ma) two thousand Maluti to fifteen thousand Maluti, I guess it all depends on how hard one is working.

Bl; Is there growth in this field? How do things generally look for new musicians entering the field?

Yeah bro, so much growth to be precise, understand that some of us were here long before these studios and equipment we have today, we come from a time where one could perform three shows in one night without pay but just to "promote" yourself. But today we spend days in studios and can charge for our appearances, that's nothing but a sign of growth I tell you.

Bl; What do you consider your greatest asset as a musician?

My Voice, God blessed with a very beautiful voice, it switches to at least 7 sounds, if you've listened to my music you know what i'm talking about. It's a Godly voice I swear to God.

Bl; Do you think you could make it in industries as huge as that of South Africa or Nigeria?

Yeah bro, I feel like i'm ready for bigger worlds now, and hey, watch this space.

Bl; Would you work with anyone from South Africa or Nigeria? If yes who in particular?

Yes, if ever I got a chance I would work with Ricky Rick bro, or this kid, Nasty C, and in Nigeria i'd work with Yung6ix.

Bl; What's your take on beef in general?

Beef is a complete waste of time man, trust me, I know.

Bl; Don't you think beef could create gang wars such as those of the famous blanket gangs ?

More often I tell n***s not to say on records and facebook what they can't say to my face, this is because I can get very physical at times, and I will tell you here and now, there is more like me out there, that means yes we can have gangster executions.

Bl; #Challenge_IGI is meant to create unity amongst other things, do you think this will be achieved through this initiative?

#Challenge_IGI is the dawn of a new hiphop era I tell you, you can't have so many gifted and celebrated rappers on one tape and expect things to remain the same, and yes, unity, being behind it youwill understand I can see already what is coming when unity is concerned.

Bl; What can you say about our music as local artistes, are we there yet, if not, what's missing?

I think we're here now, and further tomorrow, there's not much difference between us and those South African dudes except that they get better cheques. As far as sound is concerned we have now leveled up to international sound, but understand i'm referring to the upper bound here.

Bl; Whats the worst that's ever happened to you on stage?

A DJ at one event told me my CD was not working but I had tested it over three different sets before the show, I had to get off the stage after I was announced, I ain't ever felt that embarrassment I a long time.

Bl; Whats the craziest stunt you ever did on stage?

Daaaaamn bro, you know me and stunts, French kissing a woman during the performance of a song called "Mi ah go love you", that was hella insane man. Too bad I never got he pictures.

Bl; Whats to be expected the next time you release music?

(giggles) man, I feel like i'm about to explode right now, i'm bringing out so much heat ovens won't test me, wait, just wait.

Bl; Gig updates?

Korotlane Tape Launch, 31st March, Purple Haze Maputsoe, 

Msejah Media shows

Deej Rem's Bday bash, 15th April, same place.

Bl; One word for yourself as an artiste?

Godly

I first met Moddaw in a Cypher in Butha Buthe back in 2007, We lost contact for a long time until early his year when he found me and asked me to join his team, his undying passion for hiphop has me startled, I quit rapping and took other adventures on but he has kept it locked for all these years, and now he is making more efforts to impact on and affect the local hiphop industry as whole and not on himself alone as individual. Download his latest release, a sex song called Back it Up

Waddysworth

Hiphop is one crazy school is it not, so many genres, subgenres, styles and takes. And lately everyone is a rapper here, everyone, there is just so many rappers i'm beginning to feel like there is too much, prolly one of reasons i chose to become more than just a rapper, but out of this many, there are a few exceptionals, and hailing from Leribe Peka is this one Exceptional brother called Waddysworth, an underground MC that I'll stop at nothing, when we were setting up the line for #Challenge_IGI we were unanimous that this brother has to be on it. One of our bloggers had a seat with him and they talked, here. What you didn't know about Waddy as I usually call him

Bl; Who really is Waddysworth?
Waddysworth is an underground rapper,lyrical evangelist.phenomenal lyricist. I was born and raised as Pitso Mokhoabane in Peka Leribe.

Bl; When did you start doing Music?
I fell in love with rap music back in 2007. Buh i only started doing records in 2012.  

Bl; Who Are Your Musical Influences?
Personally i am inspired greatly by many different underground rappers...but yoh, Nas and Kenn Star did influence a brother...

Bl; Do You Have a Formal Music Education?
No, i learned everything i know from the streets like many rappers around here

Bl; What's the difference between you and the next rapper i could meet in the streets of Maseru?
l'm deep rooted... I know the basics... Which very few local rappers know.

Bl; How Do You Handle Mistakes During a Performance?
communication with your crowd does it all...

Bl; Do male and female rappers generally get the same opportunities and equal pay?
All that speaks is delivery in our music so sexes say nothing...

Bl; What is the potential income for this career?
Doors are open... That is, when you're good at your thing people start to love your music... other artists start proposing features and you basically charge them for that, more features more fans and more income...they look out for you in music shelves, you could really get paid if you're good enough

Bl; Is there growth in this field? How do things generally look for new musicians entering the field?
Growth is present yes. It just depends on the work or effort one applies.

Bl; What do you consider your greatest asset as a musician?
My producer and DJ bro, t could i do without them.

Bl; Do you think you could make it in industries as huge as that of South Africa or Nigeria?
Yeah bro!!! I can make it, and I'm actually trying to go international as we speak

Bl; Would you work with anyone from South Africa or Nigeria? If yes who in particular?
In SA of course, I would work with Proverb

Bl; What's your take on beef in general?
I'm down for Beef sir, long as there's healthy beef i'm good

Bl; Don't you think beef could create gang wars such as those of the famous blanket gangs ?
Nah..I think our mindset aint the same as those of men in blankets, apart from that, we walking on the footsteps of hip hop's originators, The founders of these culture ofcourse.

Bl; #Challenge_IGI is meant to create unity amongst other things, do you think this will be achieved through this initiative?

Yeah! only if we all have one vision and understanding, initiatives like #Challenge_IGI would take us really far.

Bl; What can you say about our music as local artistes, are we there yet, if not, what's missing?
We are there I think, it's just that most of our production is wack, and many brothers are concerned about parties ,girls and money they don't even have, and cars instead of talking real facts that exist in their raps..

Bl; What's the worst that's ever happened to you on stage?
(Gigles) Not knowing your lines by heart could be a hell of a disaster, you end up moving your lips for nothing while giving performance.

Bl; Whats the craziest stunt you ever did on stage?
Craziest stunt huh? Murdering all my opponents in an open mic freestyle battle. The next dude couldn't have balls to take da mic and do the do.

Bl; Whats to be expected the next time you release music?
Bars, a lot of energy, I be the inspiration with that soulful music of all time.

Bl; Gig updates?
About gigs? Well for now it's silence, just creating new vibes and new music.

Bl; One word for yourself as an artiste?
Psyched

I met Waddysworth, in High School, he wasn't a rapper then, but you could tell some how he was a Hip Hop Child already, it was only in 2013 when I heard he was working in the kitchen with one of my old friends and they were creating dope records, I checked them out and yes indeedhey were working, and them I kept re-meeting him at many of my shows in Peka, to me he is an underdog, he is not in the face of every local hiphop fan, but those who have listened to him will tell you he is different, I could not find much of his much on the internet but you can download one of his songs here

L-Tweety

Do you know what trap is? Ever heard a local trap song without a "but"? You should listen to a rapper called L-Tweety, many "hiphop heads" will many a times dismiss trap as hiphop, but should we care? They did it with every new style that came up, soon trappers will be called hiphop heads and a new style will emerge, being one of a few trappers on #Challenge_IGI L-tweety has a whole genre to fight for. Since he is currently South African based, one of our bloggers spoke with him on the phone and this is what it boiled down to.

Bl; Who really is L-tweety?
L-Tweety is a young artist from Maseru, aged 21 and working full-time on music
Bl; When did you start doing Music?  
I started doing music in the year 2011 Singing gospel music with a group called Charismatic worshipers
Bl; Who Are Your Musical Influences?
YG, YoGotti, Future and Lilwayne (all american rapper)
Bl; Do You Have a Formal Music Education?
No, I don't, but I'm a self made artist...
Bl; What's the difference between you and the next rapper i could meet in the streets of Maseru?
I do music based on my life and I do it knowing that it ain't a hobby but my daily bread. That's the difference.
Bl; How Do You Handle Mistakes During a Performance?
well I firstly apply wisdom of covering those errors with something's that would make a it look like it was part of performance or some typa style on stage.
Bl; Do male and female rappers generally get the same opportunities and equal pay?
It depends on the negotiations
Bl; What is the potential income for this career?
Well because the industry in Lesotho doesn't have much to provide, I'd say 10k-15k
Bl; Is there growth in this field? How do things generally look for new musicians entering the field?
well the industry is growing, generally its hard for every artist either a new comer or those who been there, but at the end of the day, things get better when you when you move accordingly.
Bl; What do you consider your greatest asset as a musician?
My skills & My passion.
Bl; Do you think you could make it in industries as huge as that of South Africa or Nigeria.
Yes i would, actually I've already started
Bl; Would you work with anyone from South Africa or Nigeria? If yes who in particular?
Yes,GEMINI MAJOR, MARAZA, AREECE AND B3NCHMARQ
Bl; What's your take on beef in general?
Ah beef neh (gigle) I think its a waste of time and bars
Bl; Don't you think beef could create gang wars such as those of the famous blanket gangs ?
yebo
Bl; #Challenge_IGI is meant to create unity amongst other things, do you think this will be achieved through this initiative?

Yea I do. Who ever came up with the idea is a born genius!!

Bl; What can you say about our music as local artistes, are we there yet, if not, what's missing?
Well I think we are there, but all we need is money. We financially lack. Actually there is money in ourr  country but its been used on wrong places and events not in this industry as it should be.
Bl; Whats the worst that's ever happened to you on stage?
(gigles)hell, you dont wanna know my n***a, one fan pulled my dreadlocks once, Jesus!
Bl; Whats the craziest stunt you ever did on stage?
 (gigles) forgetting lines bruv iiyoh
Bl; Whats to be expected the next time you release music?
 New sounds and more crazyness in lines and hooks
Bl; Gig updates?
Well i got the Easter Turn Ups @ Bethlehem coming up that features Areece and B3NCHMARQ and then Gigs around Joburg and Durban (MUSIC FACTORY TOURS)
Bl; One word for yourself as an artiste?
21. GREATER


Personally i don't remember meeting Ltweety, it was only recently when i heard one of his songs called Ngeke Balunge that i paid attention to him, but from facebook and whatsapp it seemed i had been talking to the brother for years now, he had been slot hunting on many of my past events, so what does that say, he wanted to talk and i stopped him, but his music talked directly to me on his behalf, shouldn't that be the story of a gifted musician??? Well you decide, they do not call him the Hook Lord for nothing, trust me this brother got it coming, download his music now, the same song I spoke of earlier, Ngeke ba Lunge