| Zulu Boy |
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The year is years ago, it’s Thursday night, hip hop night at the Bat Centre - as many who come from this coastal end will know - all you see from the parking lot to the dance floor are hip hop heads rhyming and showing off their skills. On stage, this dark, badly dressed boy with pants hanging halfway down his legs takes the mic. And with his rhymes in Zulu, he proceeds to let everyone know that he has arrived. I find it odd that this boy rhyming in Zulu is infact known as Zuluboy. The second time I see this Zuluboy he is our waiter at New’s Café, I take the chance to tell everyone on my table how good this guy is at what he does (and he was not such a bad waiter as well.) Zuluboy, real name Mxolisi Brian Zuma, a 23 year old boy originally from kwaNongoma, northen Zululand - still admits to going down to the rivers of his home of origin to bathe when he gets a chance to. Now a “rockstar” as he loudly calls himself around his friends, everyone is asking ‘who is Zuluboy?’ I spent some time with him to answer but a few of these questions. After that night at News Café, through the life of hip hop, we meet again, then become acquainted. I learn that he is actually a smart boy, in that he is analytical when it comes to life, the pain and joy and how people are in this world we now live in. (Listen to how he describes his late uncle on track 11 in his CD). In 2005, Prokid launched his CD at Bat Centre where Sipho Sithole, former Gallo Deputy CEO, was attending, Zuluboy was the opening act, and lets just say he made such an impression on the man that he was offered a recording deal. And so he went on to be the first release from the then newly established independent label, Native Rhythms. I remember the excitement in his face when he told me that he had been signed. It was a big thing especially taking into consideration that he had his first demo in 1998, but couldn’t get a deal because he didn’t do kwaito. Kwaito was very big those days (still sells more that hip-hop to date) and big labels were not willing to put their money in something that wasn’t popular with the masses. I was equally excited for him and positive that he would no doubt make his mark once he moved to the plek van goud. It’s 2006, the album is out Masihambisane - da first hip-hop lesson. Cats bow down and give some love, the album is hot! With names like Jah Seed - the long dreaded brotha from Bongo Maffin who brings in the reggae feel to the group as well as mad fire on the track he does with Zuluboy called “Zion Train”. Prokid - most people will remember this young man from his bass filled track “Wozobona” from his debut album “Heads & Tails”. Young Nations - who introduced himself on the track he did with Dumisani Dlamini called “Win” which got international acclaim when it was played on CNN on freedom day in 2004 and Sipho Sithole, the man himself doing some vocals on track 3, yes the album is hot, much love. After weeks of trying to catch up with ‘Mr rockstar’ I make a joke to him over the phone about wanting his personal assistant’s number so I can schedule an appointment with him. The next morning I get an sms at 06:00am simply saying “I’m at da flat, hola”, it’s six on Saturday morning and I’m sleeping!! but I am quite aware that if I miss this chance, I wont be able to see him for some time. So I take a walk to his place in Berea where he used to live with his grandma before he moved to jozi, he is back here for a show he is doing. He opens the door and I can see he is very tired “Beng’se studio until 4am” he tells me just before I voice out my thoughts on how tired he looks. “It gets busy” he tells me, “but I still make time to read” and he is currently reading “The dead will arise - Nongqawuse and the Great Xhosa cattle killing of 1856-7” by Jeff Peires and “Understanding Power - The indispensable Chomsky” by Noam Chomsky, contrary to the popular belief, - especially from our elders who believe that hip-hop means smoking weed, listening to loud music with tons of swear words and all that jazz - ‘Mr rockstar’ reads!! We then proceed to spend that whole Saturday together, going pass the Bat centre where everyone just wants to speak to the rockstar. For me, it gets a bit tiring, I’m not used to so much attention. One thing that I have noticed though is a lot of change from Zulu, whether it was the death of his mom before the album was released, or some other positive occurrence, Zulu has changed to be more of a (still mischievous) person determined to make his voice heard. And the rest, like they say, is HIS-story. FM: Why the name Zuluboy? ZB: they mocked me al around the country of being typical zulu ...hence zuluboy FM: Is there a difference between Zuluboy, Mginqeni & Mxolisi? ZB: yesssss – Zuluboy is an artist, Mginqeni is a ghetto boy, and Mxolisi is a reader, focused capitalist FM: Your writing is inspired by ……. ZB: nas,blaq thought and maskandi FM: Do you think people understand you and what you are trying to say? ZB: yes they do and I’m telling it like it is... FM: How was growing up in Ntuzuma? ZB: I wouldn’t change a day of it, it made me who I am today. FM: What was the first CD you ever owned? ZB: fugees FM: Your 3 guitars? Zithini? ZB: I love playing that weapon, all I can say is watch the space. FM: How is your album doing? ZB: it's over 10 000units in 7months. Never done before on a hip hop debut album, you tell me. FM: Love life? ZB: couldn’t be better. FM: From News Café to the studio with Jah Seed, how much FIRE was there? ZB: fire burns but see us on stage for more fire.. FM: Ubab’uMdletshe ne hip-hop mntam? ZB: that was a tease of the beginning of Rhythm And Poetry. FM: What’s up with the Mr Rockstar loudness? ZB: Jimi (Hendricks) was the king of rock I’m just a zuluboy claiming it back black. FM: Tell me about Yeoville and Black Sunday, then? ZB: I was on the streets in Yeoville and da fada's took care and blaq sunday i love Hem'za from Dk for that platform, Vikinduku and all the cats FM: I heard you on Shon G’s album…..’’uZuluboy owuskhotheni owagcob’irhyme ey’thweni’’? ZB: durban hip hop will rise Copyright Fezisa Mdibi 2007. Contact Fezisa on fez_prototype@yahoo.co.uk |
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