PROKID - THE SAGA CONTINUES
I always like to be the guy that doesn't imitate
How has the response been for the new track?
The response has been great so far. I re- ceived a funny tweet saying "I don't know why people are going crazy over the track. Cuz Pro never disappoints. (Laughs). When I was reading it, I was like "aaaah, what is this guy saying?"
What was the idea behind the "new flow"?
It was just to show a bit of versatility you know? I was stepping out of the comfort zone. It was a bit of a challenge though.
Tell us about the album "Continual"
The ******* le of the album was inspired by a conversation I had with my grandfather. I didn't even know he was involved in exile. So we were just there just chilling and talking about giving a new and balanced sound that doesn't really segregate or put any other genre on the other side of the mar- gin. I'm messing with house/bounce beats and doing songs with Spikiri and even some tunes for the ladies. So it's a nice all-round album that is moving on to the next level.
Do you feel any pressure from the new gen- eration of rappers coming out?
Not really because my music is my culture and my religion. It's my lifestyle. I always like to be the guy that doesn't imitate.
Where do you want to see hip hop going and where is it in reality?
Currently, the people that have something in their heads when it comes to Hip Hop like AKA, Cashtime FAM, Khuli Chana, are doing something. We created our little society of our own be not forcing anything down people's throats. We're trying to bring the money and attract the corporate, Teargas, AMA Kip Kip and even with myself doing Fish Eagle. We're doing Miller tours to Mi- ami but at least we've got the corporate on board. It's not like before when we were knocking on doors and hustling for our own buses and sound. Now we act as mediators between the guys with the product and the message they trying to put out there. Every time we interact, numbers double and triple. At first it was farfetched now it's
lifting and upgrading.
Has that generation of rappers of yourself, Skwatta and Selwyn stuck together over time?
The cool thing about our era is that we never looked down on anyone who was doing it. Maybe there was a handful that had an issue within Kwaito but no one can deny that was our sound. We never showed any level of disrespect and we always bowed down to those big dudes that had been in the industry before. They're our mentors and reference. The youngsters don't want to listen (laughs) so we're trying to consti- tute it in that manner. We tell them if you want act stupid, sharp but eventually the big boys call us and ask"What do you think
of this boy?" So we always got to polist them anyway.
Do you ever feel that Kwaito IS hip hop, with the relationship being so strong?
There are a few Kwaito acts that have managed to branch out. It's funny be- cause •their saying "eeish... We should have" it's unfortunate because hip hop is attitude you know? So when we came with that attitude, they thought it was towards everybody. Until we started visiting the Gallo studios for the chill sessions and they realized we were cool. It was like Birdman doing things 18 years ago with Juvenile and then coming back with Wayne. Now it's all one big family. The head of the house has all the knowledge you need so you need a guru like that. So it's nice to see us all come together.
What goals do you want to achieve and accomplish as a musician and now, as o businessman?
My highlight would be me starting my own establishment for me and the gents to say "This our little trust fund". With that, we can create opportunity for youngsters who are starting out. I personally never finish a proj- ect without finding at least ONE new pro- ducer. That's why we positioned our busi- ness strategy the way we have. You must seek talent and admire it, mentor it, record it, then take it to the public. Those that are interested will know that once I reach that level, l'm sure someone is going to holler. So we can't keep hip hop to ourselves.
How is Red ******* on doing under your wing?
He's making money (laughs). He's a good example of someone who works and is serious. He is producing and writing for house music vocalists. There is a growth and it's at God's speed. Guys used to go to him for just a verse, now they go for. everything.
Is there anything else you would like try out as a musician?
Music wise, I'm done for now. The album is out sp it's just me promoting. Everything else is just ground work. I'm trying more to be the man on the ground and do work- shops as well as motivate. As rappers we often come off as a myth, whereby we are nowhere to be found. Every now and then we have to go back and show guys that it's real. Without our people, there is no support.
DRESSED BY: CROSSOVER
WRITTEN MOKOENA THABO
BY: PHOTOGRAPHY: SIFISO.M
PG 31>> Ispeak hip hop >> Cover Story:
I always like to be the guy that doesn't imitate
How has the response been for the new track?
The response has been great so far. I re- ceived a funny tweet saying "I don't know why people are going crazy over the track. Cuz Pro never disappoints. (Laughs). When I was reading it, I was like "aaaah, what is this guy saying?"
What was the idea behind the "new flow"?
It was just to show a bit of versatility you know? I was stepping out of the comfort zone. It was a bit of a challenge though.
Tell us about the album "Continual"
The ******* le of the album was inspired by a conversation I had with my grandfather. I didn't even know he was involved in exile. So we were just there just chilling and talking about giving a new and balanced sound that doesn't really segregate or put any other genre on the other side of the mar- gin. I'm messing with house/bounce beats and doing songs with Spikiri and even some tunes for the ladies. So it's a nice all-round album that is moving on to the next level.
Do you feel any pressure from the new gen- eration of rappers coming out?
Not really because my music is my culture and my religion. It's my lifestyle. I always like to be the guy that doesn't imitate.
Where do you want to see hip hop going and where is it in reality?
Currently, the people that have something in their heads when it comes to Hip Hop like AKA, Cashtime FAM, Khuli Chana, are doing something. We created our little society of our own be not forcing anything down people's throats. We're trying to bring the money and attract the corporate, Teargas, AMA Kip Kip and even with myself doing Fish Eagle. We're doing Miller tours to Mi- ami but at least we've got the corporate on board. It's not like before when we were knocking on doors and hustling for our own buses and sound. Now we act as mediators between the guys with the product and the message they trying to put out there. Every time we interact, numbers double and triple. At first it was farfetched now it's
lifting and upgrading.
Has that generation of rappers of yourself, Skwatta and Selwyn stuck together over time?
The cool thing about our era is that we never looked down on anyone who was doing it. Maybe there was a handful that had an issue within Kwaito but no one can deny that was our sound. We never showed any level of disrespect and we always bowed down to those big dudes that had been in the industry before. They're our mentors and reference. The youngsters don't want to listen (laughs) so we're trying to consti- tute it in that manner. We tell them if you want act stupid, sharp but eventually the big boys call us and ask"What do you think
of this boy?" So we always got to polist them anyway.
Do you ever feel that Kwaito IS hip hop, with the relationship being so strong?
There are a few Kwaito acts that have managed to branch out. It's funny be- cause •their saying "eeish... We should have" it's unfortunate because hip hop is attitude you know? So when we came with that attitude, they thought it was towards everybody. Until we started visiting the Gallo studios for the chill sessions and they realized we were cool. It was like Birdman doing things 18 years ago with Juvenile and then coming back with Wayne. Now it's all one big family. The head of the house has all the knowledge you need so you need a guru like that. So it's nice to see us all come together.
What goals do you want to achieve and accomplish as a musician and now, as o businessman?
My highlight would be me starting my own establishment for me and the gents to say "This our little trust fund". With that, we can create opportunity for youngsters who are starting out. I personally never finish a proj- ect without finding at least ONE new pro- ducer. That's why we positioned our busi- ness strategy the way we have. You must seek talent and admire it, mentor it, record it, then take it to the public. Those that are interested will know that once I reach that level, l'm sure someone is going to holler. So we can't keep hip hop to ourselves.
How is Red ******* on doing under your wing?
He's making money (laughs). He's a good example of someone who works and is serious. He is producing and writing for house music vocalists. There is a growth and it's at God's speed. Guys used to go to him for just a verse, now they go for. everything.
Is there anything else you would like try out as a musician?
Music wise, I'm done for now. The album is out sp it's just me promoting. Everything else is just ground work. I'm trying more to be the man on the ground and do work- shops as well as motivate. As rappers we often come off as a myth, whereby we are nowhere to be found. Every now and then we have to go back and show guys that it's real. Without our people, there is no support.
DRESSED BY: CROSSOVER
WRITTEN MOKOENA THABO
BY: PHOTOGRAPHY: SIFISO.M
PG 31>> Ispeak hip hop >> Cover Story:
11 months ago
