As we near the two-month mark since the start of the nationwide lockdown many have come to terms with the temporary reality the country finds itself in because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but for artists the order of the day is the show must go on.
Local rapper, Kwesta is taking this quote seriously and hasn’t stopped dropping hits.
The rapper recently released Njandini and The Finesse featuring Riky Rick. Of the two Njandini is set to get tongues wagging he concedes, but in a good way.
Speaking to DRUM the rapper explains the controversial title being rooted in the ridicule of the so called ‘Njandini’ [dog] in the community, a person who is considered a lowlife. In the song the outlook is of this lowlife who eventually amounts to something.
"I wanted to take the title and flip it to something positive to say yimi uNjandini [I’m the dog], I do this in a more positive light. To basically say uNjandini [the dog] made it," he says.
The juxtaposition of titles and message has become synonymous to the rappers and he references his hit Ngud’ as another example of taking something looked down upon and putting a positive twist to it.
"That’s really what I was doing with that song I just wanted people to have a good time as much as they are in lockdown and things like that, to just get out of it a little bit and picture a world outside of who they are. Abo Njandini [The dog’s] who come from previously disadvantaged or looked down upon places, but can now take on the world."
The feel of success is carried through to the next single The Finesse with Ricky Rick. “"That’s when uNjandini [the dog] has made it" he says with a laugh, "and now has friends like Ricky Rick."
The Spirit hit-maker admits to his creativity being hampered during his time indoors, "I draw a lot of my inspiration from places, people and experiences and all those things have been cut. You can’t see people anywhere, I can’t hear their stories so it’s been hard to draw from personal experience and also drawing from the dynamic of my relationship with my own family."
His lockdown creative process includes taking himself out of his space to view it through a third lens and that will be the catalyst to finishing his surprise project which he is working on and the release of his album Dakar III which he says is done and will be dropping soon.
