The extraordinary story of Mr Tagg

Sidney Baitsile
Correspondent | Thursday December 20, 2007 00:00

Mr T started his music career in 1997 in Orapa with a group called Geto Flava. The group released the now classic CD, Mr Chocolate, the same year under the tutalage of Soul Power Records. The album helped launch the careers of AK, Qbio and Brando Keabilwe. Tagg left Geto Flava in 1998 to form a hip-hop outfit, Ignition, with AK and Qbio. They released Project 2000 the same year. The next year he went solo and recorded Brace Yourself, one of the first Afro Pop albums to be released in Botswana. In 2002, he formed his record label, Real Deal and signed up an-all female group, Unik-Attractions who released the very popular afro pop/wedding album, Ke Nako. He also signed a kwaito group Rud Boyz, one of whose members was Qbio. However, the group failed to take off as anticipated. But the prolific Mr Tagg released his second album in the same year, The Real Deal.

Despite being a prominent politician's son, Mr Tagg is so down to earth that he never throws that into anyone's face, nor does he use his father's name to clinch business deals. Tagg believes that hard work is the key. He released the next Unit-Attractions album, Re Mmogo in 2003. In the same year he hooked up with Afro Pop singer Astley Gops to produce two songs Ausi Maggie and Lefufa for the latter's album, Goroga. He also released his third CD, Matshelo in the same year. In 2004 he released three albums - Re-Batswana, which was his fourth studio CD; Unik Atrractions (third album), Mma-Thabo, and Tshimologo by a new group he formed called D'Vyne.

His biggest discovery was Mapetla in 2005. The young star had spent the year dancing for D'Vyne. The album S'khokho set the tone for Mapetla. It was co-produced by Kenny who had hooked up with Mr Tagg as a production team. Tagg also released Thulie's first album in this year called Maphuthadichaba. In 2005 he produced the Month Of Youth Against AIDS theme song for BNYC. He followed that up with another theme song for Botswana's 40th Independence anniversary theme song in 2006. In the same year, he produced and released his brother's (Jay-R) debut album, Mopheme. Tlhaloso, one of his best albums to date was also released that year. The album won him the best Afro Pop Album at the BOMU Awards.

Thulie's hit was also nominated for Song of the Year. This year Mr Tagg released Thulie's latest album, Kakapa as well as Jay-R's second CD, Tlharantlhophe; Palukah second album Mr Chocolate; worked on Mingo's second album with Black Money Makers and his sixth album, Afro Tagg.

Afro Tagg contains 14 nice Afro Pop tracks - Afro Tagg, Are Opele, Lekgarebe la Motse, Lorato, Maria, Matlhogoputswa, Matlhomoleng, Matsale, Never, One By One, Re Bulele, Sophie, Sqapopo and Lenyalao. Currently, the single Lekgarebe la Motse is getting high rotation on radio and Btv. Tagg has also released a new Afro Tagg Clothing label. He says he will be performing songs from this new album throughout the festive season.