MARAZA
ONE on ONE with MarazA
1.Who is MaraZa, where are you from and how long have you been at it?
*Well, MarazA is a simple dude from KwaNyathikazi, just outside of Stanger. I grew up in various places including Jozi, Skhawini, Port Dunford, and spent a bit of time in Durban. I’v loved Hip Hop and Music for a while but only got really interested in MC’ing when I was 16, in 2005.
2.Last time i saw you perform it was in 2007 in Esikhawini K-ZN with your group Jus Dat, what is happening with that crew, is it just MaraZa right now?
*Jus Dat! is my life. It’s the crew that got me to break into the industry. It made a little crack that I’v managed to stick one foot in and pretty soon I’ll be in there whole, all because of Jus Dat!. The crew is alive and well. Me and Dezza are just focusing on our solo projects for now, but next year marks our reign for sure. We’ve got two albums that are available in stoes i.e Howz Dat? and Not Dat Again!
3.What projects has MaraZa been busy with in 2009 what should people expect in 2010 going forth? And what should people expect from your NEW AlBUM?
*I’v been hectically busy in ’09. We’re dropping my first solo album in December, if all goes well. The Album is called 20 : The album and boasts the most variety ever witnessed on a Hip Hop album in S.A in terms of Music style, Artist features and Production. I’ve got Malik, Ishmael, Nover, Yaw Bannerman, K-Masta, Blaze, Ngane, Catalyst, Hipe, Small, Cya, Svator, Mice, Brendan Jury, KG and, even myself on PRODUCTION. The artist features include Refilwe, K-Soul, Malik and Lerato on VOCALS (Singers) and Black Wyz, Driemanskap, Dezza, Young P, Mr. Caliber, SoniQ and Bobzin on the RAPS. I’m currently working on getting Zubz, Zeus, Proverb and P.R.O on as well. Schedules are just hectic this time of the year.
4.Your Stage performances are always electrifying and you are always in tune with your audience, how do you plan to carry that through your new project.
*Perfomance is very important to me. I feel like, if people wanna just hear your music, they will buy your CD and chill at home and listne. BUT, when they go to your show, they’re looking for much more than just lyrics. So, I’ve prepared a series of “Concept sets” . Each set has a storyline that weaves throught it and specific tracks that get perfomed. An example of these is “The Dream Perfomance”. Probably the most popular, which revolves around me having had a dream the night before. It helps keep the audience engaged and that is very important!
5.Hip-hop is as big in other African countries as in SA, but getting SA hip-hop material in other countries is a hustle and vice versa, how do you think artists and distributors can reverse this trend. Any plan of you releasing your Album beyond SA borders?
*That’s an interesting point. One that I’m finding more and more ways to overcome. The internet is king these days. There are many ways to distibute your music online which gives you instant access to the whole globe! I’m working on getting partnerships with distributors in some other African countries.
6.In theAug/Sep Hype 2009 mag you mentioned that cats like Oracle (Botswana) and C-real (Ghana) captured you, any future collabos with these cats, we should look out for?
*We’re working on one with C-Real and I would love to meet Oracle and organize something. I believe in showing love to other artists that deserve it. Too often the industry makes it taboo for an artist to express admiration for another.
7.You were South Africa’s MC Africa representative for 2009, briefly take us through what made you sign up, how was the experience and what did you learn from that.
*I actually knew about the competition for a while and did not want to sign up. I just wanted to watch. LEE KASUMBA told me she wanted me there and I hadn’t smsed. She said I should just come. So I went and found myself at the Botswana finals a few weeks later. I have gained a lot from that experience. People in Nigeria , Ghana and Kenya, even the UK, give me props for my work and that’s worth more than $10 000. However, I realised that I do not want to be known as a battle-cat. I’m an artist and I prefer making songs than dropping random punchlines. I love poetry and entertaining people. I probably won’t battle on such a platform again.
8.Most battle MCs struggle to reproduce the fire displayed in their battles unto their full length albums. How do you overcome this challenge.
*I don’t. I don’t want to reproduce that fire in my album. Such fire should be reserved for battles. That’s how I feel. An album is much more personal and should be something that can help you make sense of life for a whole year. With each experience you go through, there must be a song in an album that can help you understand it better. That’s what my album is. It’s a lifetime of entertainment, poetry and story-telling. Stories that you can relate to.
9.First time i met you was in 2006, it was in Hillbrow JHB with your Crew Jus Dat, you were holding a 9 to 5 and hustling your hip-hop agenda to the maximum. Explain what growth or changes that have taken place since then and also what has kept your hunger burning as well as your source of fuel as a hip-hop MC.
*LOL! I remember that. Life has been changing regularly since then. But, more than anything, my acceptance of my calling has kept me going. I’v had more downs than ups but I never shyed away from Hip Hop. Even with a 9 to 5, I’m loyal to my craft because I realise that I’m pretty miserable without it. Music is the only friend I have sometimes. Ikasi fuels me. The world inspires me. KZN pampers me!
10.Despite being JHB based, you have always kept a close relation with your K-ZN counterparts, ie. Your feature in Zakwe’s Red tape, your presence @ the Liquid K-ZN and Abdus in store launch and your presence @ the Dila Phunk and Chyld launch Esikhawini, and the list goes on. Explain why you feel it is important to represent.
*I am a native of KZN and that is where I fell in love with Hip Hop. The province’s interpretation of the culture was the first one I understood. We have some of the dopest rappers in S.A so going anywhere else would just be a step down. I’m actually not from Durban but I’v got the biggest fanbase there and it’s all because of the shows and the tracks I’v done. Repping my people is at the core of why I do this. I have no reason for it. It’s just second nature.
11.Most successful American Emcees glorify drug dealing, pimping and the glamour of bling which in some cases it is believed to be a reflection of their society by some listeners, in your opinion what should a typical African emcee reflect, if one is aiming to take their music and culture beyond African borders.
*I firmly believe that we are all citizens of the world and what happens in America or Asia, happens on the same planet. So, when it comes to subject matter, accent, or even dress-code, I have no beef with any style. I feel like, if you sound like Jay-Z or Lil’ Wayne or Proverb or M.I, it’s only because the two are also artists on the same planet as you. BUT, whatever you do or say, make sure it’s something you can live with and wont hide from your kids tomorrow.
I am totally against the glorification of crime and drugs, but I don’t expect the next person to feel the same. We’re all entitled to opinions.
12.Your home boy Mxolisi ‘Zulu Boy’ who had been bubbling in the Durban underground scene for a while, with the like of Jus Dat, Sho G, Mic G, Kay Blaq, Abdus, Skye Wanda, Siyamatic and Liquid KZN to name a few had to move to J Section to blow up, can the same be said about you? Would you advice other artists outside J-Sec borders to follow suit?
*My move to J-sec was not inspired by Hip Hop. Infact, when I started working on 20, I was in Durban. I then found employment in J-sec and moved there. I won’t lie, being here has made a whole lot more things happen quicker because of accessibility. But, I feel like if you’re talented and hard-working, you will find a way to penetrate without having to migrate.
13.Who should people look out for in 2010 apart from yourself?
*Jus Dat!, Crazy Collabo, Flowsik, Pheonix, Charismatic, SoniQ, Dezza, Dash, K-soul, Abduss and B-Weezy. Im telling you now, that’s the dream team. That’s the future. Best believe!
14.Is there anything you don’t like about SA hip-hop artists?
*Well, only the fact that we don’t get as much out of it as we put in. WE PUT IN A LOT!
15.Lifting your left hand who are you feeling right now locally and internationally?
*I’m feeling M.I from Nigeria and Drake from the US too. They’re really inventive and multi-faceted. Charismatic man, Flowsik, Black Wyz and Musa Ndelu are also doing it for me.
16.Lifting your right hand who are your top 5 producers?.
*In no particular order:
Yaw Bannerman, Nover, K-masta, Ngane and No I.D
17.Dj Premier or Kanye West?
*Damn! That’s a tough choice! But, I’m all about moving with the times so, Kanye!
18.Any advice to anyone wanting to join next years’ MC Africa battle competition.
*Keep it clean or prepare to be censored!
19.What last thought would you love to leave our readers and your fans with? Thank you so much for giving EMP the opportunity for a one on one. Much respect and wishing you the best in your endeavours respect and God bless.
*Thanx y’all. I really appreciate the opportunity. I’v got a company I started, MUSE Entertainment, with my friend and manager: TUMELO MAILULA. We’re a multi-platform Entertainment company. That is the label under-which my album will be released. LOOK OUT FOR THAT. Rappers must start OWNING THEIR STUFF!
You can listen to my first single, “One foot in the game ft. K-Soul and Bobzin” (click on the link above)
And lastly, I’v been nominated for “BEST NEWCOMER” at the MTN HYPE AWARDS. You can vote for me by texting the word “NewcomerMaraza” to 40979, it will cost you R2, or click on the link below: It will cost you R2.
Thank you so much for giving EMP the opportunity for a one on one. Much respect and wishing you the best in your endeavours, respect and God bless.
Thanx for the love and support. Skhawini H1, H2, J1, J2,Madlankala, Nyathikazi, Stanger, Darnall, Durban, Bat Center,
REPRESENT! WATCH THE RIZE!
VOTE FOR MARAZA
FOLLOW MARAZA ON TWITTER
JOIN HIS FACEBOOK GROUP
CLICK BELOW TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE
 |
One On One with MARAZA
"...i told the North am the worst with the word play but only South heads comprehend what my words say"