Kwesta’s latest album, DaKAR II, and his hit single Ngud’ featuring Cassper Nyovest, went gold within three months of release. This makes him arguably the biggest rapper in the country at the moment. He chats to us about the secret to his success, what he would still like to accomplish and why a lot of South African rappers are choosing the independent route.
1.Your album went gold within three months of its release, what attributed to its success?
My album is a great body of work. I wanted to make it better than my previous one. The great singles that I’ve put out so far also played a big role; people bought it knowing that they would get good music.
2. You, and a lot of local rappers, are choosing to go independent and start your own labels. Why?
Big record labels have created policies that exploit artists. Their sole purpose is to make profit. When you go independent, you gain control over everything, from the money that comes in to the money that goes out.
3. Who is your target market, and what would you like to accomplish through your music?
My target market is anyone who loves hip-hop and good music. I now want my album to go platinum. Hopefully, I can also get a few awards. Right now, I’m just watching my album manifest into whatever it can be.
4. Which rappers inspire you, both locally and internationally?
Eminem is the main reason I rap. Nas and Kanye West have also influenced my music. Locally, it’s ProVerb and Pro Kid.
4. SABC recently announced 90% local music across all its stations. What else do you think can still be done to promote local talent?
This is a great initiative, but a lot can still be done. We need more local content on TV. Generally, the arts need to be represented more. We are in a situation where it seems as if we prefer international, rather than local content.
5. Are there any local artists you would like to work with?
I have recently opened up to working with more artists across different genres. I would like to work with HHP, Nasty C and Shikanah. When I do a collaboration, I don’t look at how popular someone is; talent is the most important thing.
