WEEKLY READ

Sup world? Its your boy Jude aka Junchie aka let me just get to the point. This is my first blog post for Major League. I will be doing the Weekly read for them and also posting on my blog Young And Only (which is under construction). This is an interview I did for my boy from high school, Tebzphsics . It was for the first issue of his online magazine, PSHICSMAG . I thought it makes sense to post this as my first blog just that people are familiar with me and my interests in the music industry. It was done last year and a lot has happened since then but I guess this is the foundation of bigger and better things. Enjoy!

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Interview.

Who is Jude Mmolawa?

Jude Mmolawa as you know him is actually Oratile Pako ‘Jude’ Mmolawa. A 20 year old cool, calm and collected young brother. Born in Jozi, from Maftown doing my thing in BrisVegas (Brisbane). In a nutshell, I am the future!

Grand shap, what is it that you do?

I’m a student, currently doing a BA in International Relations and Political Science. Other than that, everything else I do, that people have either seen me do or associated me with, is out of my passion for music and my drive for success.

We’ve seen you in some of Casspers Nyovest’s music videos, is there affiliation?

Yeah. Cass is my lil brother, man. Haha. Well the age difference is only a few months but on the real – that is my brother right there. A best friend, family friend, brother, cousin, pretty much any sensible relation you can think of. We met in primary in 2002 and been friends wver since – chasing the dream, we are nearly there.

For those of us who don’t know…what is Motwako?

From what I have learned and experienced – Motswako is litarally translated to Mix/Mixture. So, its really a mix of English and vernac rap, which is also a sub-genre of hip hop, making it its own genre. Different people will have different definitions and explanation but that is how I identify with it. We may have to ask Jabba and Khuli about that one. haha.

What is your earliest memory of Motswako?

My earliest memory of Motswako would have to be Hip Hop Pantsula’s, I think first album titled Introduction. I was fresh from Australia in 2002 (after spending 3 years there), and I was visiting my cousin in Temba, Hamaanskraal, and I came across this CD. Since I always loved music and was interested in every single detail, as to who produced it, the distribution company – the little info that most people don’t pay attention to. I found myself listening to the CD and I think it had a song called Mafikeng or Mmabatho, and I fell in love. A song reppin my home town, I knew that there was something special about this type of music.

Can you give a mention of your Motswako greats?

Well, from your originators, Imma mention quite a few artists and a few new kats to look out for in the Motswako scene. Hip Hop Pantsula, Morafe (Khuli Chana, Towdee Mac and KayGee), Tuks Senganga, Mr Mo., Prof, L-Skillz, Thasman, Zondi... Your newer kats, my number one, of course, Cassper Nyovest, Ninja, K.T, the whole Sotho Mafia actually, Notshi, Element, J.R doing his thing, shouts to him, GreenFingures (producer). Shout outs to Andrianto reppin Sotho rap. There is a long list, but those are the people Im really messing with for now.

Where do you see the genre ten years from today?

It will be celebrated all over Africa and appreciated across the world. Motswako is breeding greats.

What is your take on the current state of South African hip hop?

I mean SA hip hop is growing, I see that progress BUT there are a few things that are affecting the overall progress. These issues stem from labels not investing enough, artists not taking their arts seriously. I do not think that dudes are hungry enough and the ones that are, are just not given the platform, the platform to strive and eventually succeed. We don’t really have any interesting success stories – thats why you gotta pay attention to Cassper, cause his story, his life, his message is what will change the state of hip hop. We need more artists to take advantage of the internet. Thats whats buzzing now – give people more of a reason to be online rather than merely Facebook and Twitter. We need more blogs, more official shit, more credible and reliable, not just cut, copy and paste blogs. Fuck, I could start my own blog and succeed off that but how fair is that to the actual blogger who’s got their ear to the street and is so so so official and I come up and make a mockery of their passion by succeeding off nothing? You get my point? We need more radio personalities and DJs, VJs, Tv shows that celebrate Hip Hop and show you that it is not just a genre but a culture. We need more upto date info and current affairs of hip hop. Im you average-more-than-average 20 year old but I feel like I am more upto date than a lot of the hip hop news in SA, and I mean I am forever on the internet, but how am I not in the country but I know bout whats happening there? That shit should be easily and readily available to me – I am tired of stalking profiles and groups and all that ish to keep in touch. I don’t wanna start my own lil movement and monopolise the industry – lets unite and share the knowledge and resources required in to makin SA hip hop bigger than it is.

And Australia? How is the hip hop scene there?

In comparison to SA hip hop, small. Haha, nah on the real, there is a market here. Its different, its new, its a reinvention of the old skool without losing the main elements of hip hop. I respect it and its something I would suggest you get onto when you have the time.

According to you, what is Sky Def.?

Sky Def? First time coming across that term, but I won’t even google it to answer the question. I will google it after to know what it is, haha.

I know you used to own the MIC. Will we ever see you in the booth again?

I think I will only be hitting the booth if I have to save hip hop.. haha. Yeah on the real, I will prolly to do songs for the streets, a few mixtape joints, nothing too serious. I love hip hop, always will – but Im looking more corporate and more of running things. Seems a bit farfetched but Bill Gates was not born a billionaire.

Lastly, Are you a leader of the new school? And if yes, why?

Of course! I have paid attention, enough attention to the leaders of the old school, to know that the day that they pass the baton I will be running first change in the relay. I’m focused, man. I got a vision and passion for this shit. I got a lot more to learn but I am content with what I have now – I am on a journey, a journey to succeed, through hard work, patience and God. POW!!!