YAMAs Hip Hop/Motswako award winner releases �Ghetto�

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Wednesday January 20, 2016 14:44

 

B-Blok Exclusive whose real name is Baboloki Dambe is the first ever Francistown based artist to scoop the YAMAs award.

The 27-year-old won the award with his third single Top Shambole after entering the awards for the first time.

The versatile hip hop/motswako artist said the single features one of his YAMAs competitor, Romeo Stunner, birth name Thuso Emmanuel.

B-Blok Exclusive said that Ghetto is self-explanatory and in the chorus the lyrics states ‘Ha mu shaka ku ti zhiba buyani ku ghetto’ meaning if you want to know us come to Ghetto (Francistown).

“People’s reaction towards my award at the YAMAs and even on radio stations gave a clear indication that they do not know the image behind the Top Shambole melody,” he said.

He stated that the single has played on a few local radio stations and Batswana are already in love with it.

The multitalented musician who has produced for other local musicians such as Touch, Zeus, Apollo D to name a few said that the single has already penetrated the market in Botswana.  He stated that Batswana have pleaded with him through social media to have more gigs throughout the country.

People in the music industry have been advising him to come to Gaborone where he could develop his talent.

 “I will not migrate to the capital city to look for better opportunities, but will create my own identity in the second city with other local artists in order to build the music industry in the north,” B-Blok said.

The hip hop/motswako artist ventured into the music career in 2001 and has so far released three singles, the first being Hotel La Fayette featuring K.e.b followed by Patiently Waiting featuring Dxl Damaj, Shay and Apollo Diablo and the award winning Top Shambole.

He said the single Ghetto is a build up to the envisaged 14-track album in which he will feature local artists. He added that the album will feature a lot of Francistown artists and will be released mid-year.  B-Blok Exclusive stressed that the issue of lack of recreational facilities in Francistown is a major hindrance to the growth of the music industry in the city. “My wish this year is to win a Botswana Music Union (BOMU) award. My biggest achievement was to win the YAMAs prize and the Northern Arts awards under the Best Newcomer category late last year.” He added that if one wanted to be successful in the music industry they should be patient. 

Apart from music, he is a manager at Builders Warehouse and owns a clothing label called F/town We Go Hard.