"Hip Hop. It's an emotion."

Happy Wednesday, Hiphoppas and Influencees. 

I went through the archives and came across a transcript of a short interview that went down last year actually. At Rosebank we met Gondo, asked him his opinion on different Hip Hop issues and got some dope perspectives from him. Gondo spoke on the current state of SA rap and how he feels we've still got quite a way to go before we can really fairly compete with international homies. I've gotten a few different perspectives on this as many people feel that we actually have reached that stage or on the opposite end of the spectrum, feel we need to alter our approach to the rap game and adopt more indigenous sounds before we can compete with people that we're "mimicking". Either way, I'm digging where we're at! I think most of our rappers have found the balance between being African but still coming through with the American influences. 

Below are two questions we asked and Gondo's responses.

What is Hip Hop to you?

Gondo: Hip Hop. It’s an emotion – it’s a feeling for me. Trap makes me happy. When I listen to trap it makes me happy so that’s like the happy subgenre. And for me Hip Hop is just… it’s a way of thinking I guess?  If you think like a hip-hop head it’s pretty cool because like there’s so much depth to Hip Hop that people don’t appreciate. It’s an art. Being able to put music out and have people like it and piece music together is an art.

How do our local rappers compare to international rappers?

Gondo: Um we can’t’ really compare them because we’re not in the same lane. Basically. Like, the Hip Hop culture in South Africa is really young and it’s still in its developmental stages. Like we still need to get there. We’re not there yet. American Hip Hop or other countries’ Hip Hop is way more advanced because they’ve had it for so long – the culture’s been there for way longer. So basically what it is, is that we’re getting there, we’re on our way to having a dope industry. I’m actually really excited for it! You see the smile on my face? It looks scary but I’m actually just THAT excited for it. People like Okmalumkoolkat, Nyovest, Reason. Like all of these people, kind of like are making it happen, and what’s cool is they’re doing it together, as a collective. I think once we’re all able to get there together we can then split up and have our own rivalries. But I think for now we need to stick together, and cut the beef for now until we make it and then anything else can come after there.

How do you feel about our rap scene?

PEACE, LOVE AND HIPHOP

KTTIB