Brown Dash took a short break from recording his new album, Back to Kasi, to talk to Mshana about his industry journey

Ayoba', I shout when I finally meet Siphiwe Mpamile, AKA Brown Dash, of Phans' Komthunzi Welanga
fame, outside his studio in Wilgeheuwel. By the time I found it, I had spent close to two hours searching for his house in this quiet suburb in Roodepoort. Kasi to suburbs: it's been a long journey for Brown too. When he was growing up in Zola, Soweto,
long before he even considered a career in music, the kwaito star dreamed of becoming a police officer. I grew up in a rough area, where crime was heavy. I didn't want criminals around, I only wanted to arrest them, he says. However, he saw how gangsters got the respect of some youngsters in the community and admits that that this tempted him. Life wasn't easy for us
and I didn't have enough money to go to tertiary. It was bad, and I did crime stealing cars, but I was never arrested.

When I ask him what made him change his ways, I expect to hear about a fellow criminal getting shot, or arrested, but Brown's answer takes me by surprise. When you do something and your heart is not there, you'll never be free. As long as
you know you stole, that guilty conscience follows you, and I didn't like it. Music was on my mind all the time.
Brown's big break in music came after he had left his criminal ways, when childhood friend Mapaputsi featured Brown doing two lines on his hit song Izinja. Before that, Brown's only experience
had been entertaining locals at school events. It was my biggest break,' he smiles. I was scared as it
didn't was my first time working with a ted
white producer ,, he (D-rex).

The track became a big hit, (D-rex).' The track became a big hit, and people started recognizing Brown Dash. He also featured on Mzekezeke's first album, Sguqa, in 2003. Brown says even though he wasn't ready, he had no choice but to record an album, as people were demanding to hear more of him.

He signed with DJ Sbu's TS Records and released his debut album, Puff and Pass, which was produced by DJ Cleo. This was followed by Mthandazo Wabolova (which won a best-album SAMA in 2005) and Dashboard. Brown left the company earlier this year, but remains positive about their role in shaping his career. 'It was a blessing to work with Mzekezeke. The whole team at TS records was the best.' Brown has also formed his own company, Dash-line Entertainment.

One of his aims is giving kasi youngsters a chance to record their music, because he knows about the
struggles they face when approaching companies with their demos. 'Everything relating to the company is falling into place. Our aim is to do talent searches, as no one wants to do it. I's not easy for •
companies to accept demos, they get many of them. It will be easier for me to get talent, as guys can easily approach me. I believe in people with
self-confidence and I will listen to them and advise them on what needs to be done, he says. They just need to be different and creative' Owning a company comes with its own challenges, he found. 'To be responsible is hard. You need to be sure of what you do and be a hardworking individual. However, I learnt from them that it is in your hands to make it work.'

There have also been changes to his personal life - he recently got married, and has moved to the suburbs. I think one needs to be ready for this type of commitment (marriage) as we (artists) are always on the streets. As long as you have someone who understands, it is easy,' he says. And how has he adjusted to the suburbs? You get used to the life, but it is not easy because it is expensive,' he explains. The worst thing about the suburbs is that you don't have neighbours like ekasi. Some of them have an attitude, and are suspicious of us. When I ask whether living in suburbs has changed him, he smiles. 'I don't think so. I took kasi and put it in the suburbs!'

Brown sees a strong link between kwaito, and the township. To him, kwaito epitomizes kasi life, which is why he is always in the townships doing research for his next songs. I know we can teach people through kwaito. Each and every day, kasi people help to inspire my music.' Brown Dash is recognized as one of the artists who has pushed
kwaito to new levels, while still keeping the sound kwaito-lovers can relate to. His style is faster than
earlier kwaito and has thumping beats that make use of very creative production. I ask him whether he feels kwaito is under threat from other styles, such as hip-hop. *People feel like kwaito is dropping because producers have the same beat. I think if people can be more rative. kwaito will never die.. It's kasi people's pride, he says.