Emcee Africa II winner joins African hip-hop royalty for explosive new video!
By Nomphelo "Lelo" Ndzimela , 02 Oct 2009
HHP Peace Sign
Photo By Nomphelo “Lelo” Ndzimela
Titled ‘All Around Africa’, the spanking new video features Nyte with African hip-hop royalty and fans of Emcee Africa and hip-hop in general will not want to miss its first broadcast on YGA with the Twinz on Monday 5 October at 18:00.
Joining Nyte on this border-breaking video are five of the continent’s best - Naeto C (Nigeria); Nazizi (Kenya); Zeus (Botswana); HHP (SA) and Proverb (SA). What’s more, ‘All Around Africa’ features a cameo from co-host of Emcee Africa II Lee Kasumba as well as hot singer Tamarsha on vocals and chorus.
Going into the project, Botswana’s Nyte said working on ‘All Around Africa’ was like a dream come true. “These are all rappers that I really admire and it’s really an honour to be working with such hip-hop royalty on a video that would have been totally out of my reach had I not won the competition.”
But so potent is the new track and video that the honour was not just the newcomer’s. Says Zeus, “I’m honoured to have been a part of such a ground and border breaking project. It was an experience of a lifetime that enabled me to share thoughts, ideas and a passion for African hip hop with my fellow African emcees.”
“I’m honoured to have been a part of such a ground and border breaking project.”
Naeto C was as amazed by the ease of the collaboration. “Proverb and HHP are dope and talented lyricists and I’ve noticed what they’ve been doing for a while now. Zeus was performing his lyrics reading from his phone without even missing a beat! I’ve never seen that before - it actually looked different and cool. Nazizi came through for the females because it isn’t easy to deliver on a male dominated track. She’s a tough and witty emcee and she represented. Lastly, Tamarsha who sang the chorus has a lovely voice which brought a different flavour to the track which of course was produced by Dan Juan and pH from the Octave Couplet. I like the sound and energy they brought to the whole process.”
The power of ‘All Around Africa’ – which sees each rapper contributing their own rhymes - has struck a chord with everyone who worked on the track. Says HHP, “Every time I listen to that track I am always amazed about how each person’s verse makes it a different track. When Pro starts it has a very underground feel, when Naeto is on, it’s very crossover vibe and the chorus itself is very pop … and then I come on. Everything sounds so great: to put it simply I would say that track is a stew.”
‘All Around Africa’ was shot in Alexandra township and for the non-South Africans in the line-up, it was part of the pleasure. “I loved the whole vibe of shooting in Alex, because I felt like it could have been anywhere in Africa,” says Nazizi. “It had a funny vibe- not scary- but real, and having all those people in the middle of Alex - Jabba, Naeto, Lee - it was like a moment that I am not going to forget.”
Nyte’s future seems certain after working with some of Africa’s biggest names in hip hop on ‘All Around Africa’. As Zeus puts it: “He is hip hop! From the time he came in all cocky with attitude in the first round of the Botswana leg and dropped that sick verse I was sold. For a young man of his age he has amazing composure which will come in handy for the crazy ride he just bought a ticket for! With added discipline he is going to take African hip hop to new heights.”
In the end, for everyone, the most compelling part of being involved in ‘All Around Africa’ was the way it brought everyone together. Says Kasumba, “The video was shot in Alex where the xenophobic attacks happened like just over a year ago- and now here we are from Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria and South Africa all doing a video together. It was just a moment in history.”
* ‘All Around Africa’ makes its debut on ‘Young, Gifted and African’ with the Twinz on Monday 5 October at 18:00, exclusive to Channel O!
* Channel O is available across the continent on DStv channel 320.
