Ban T finally finds Naomi
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday November 15, 2016 16:08
Real name Baanthata Mokgwathi, Ban T officially released the song and it debuted on Yarona FM last week Wednesday. The remix introduces Malawian producer Benito “Gemini Major” Kamoto and Tshego from Family Tree which is owned by South African Award Winning rapper, Cassper Nyovest.
Gemini Major originally from Malawi’s verse is unlike any other. The hard-hitting lyrics and solid delivery brings the fictional Naomi to life. Gemini Major who has a hot song out entitled Ragga Ragga ft. Riky Rick, Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai and Major League DJs is a good addition to the Naomi remix.
Tshego’s verse presents a different feel to the remix and gives a taste of what South African hip-hop and Botswana hip-hop feel like when combined. Tshego has a song out entitled Hennessy featuring Gemini Major and Cassper Nyovest and he also applied the same force in the Naomi remix. Speaking to the media during the launch of the single, Ban T said after the song and the video blew up, he had so much pressure. “Naomi flame was not dying out and I always wanted to do a remix,” he said. Ban T said Naomi is not inspired by true events like some people think. “It’s just fiction and it’s a song that guys my age can relate to,” he highlighted. He said he performed the song for the first at a friend’s birthday party.
He said he took Naomi as a fling, but the moment he realised the love from fans, he had to take advantage of that. “I then had to find a proper manager and that is when I met Zen,” he recalled. Botswana’s most successful artist Vee hailed Ban T. “Ban T is going places and he is already showing it,” he said. He advised Ban T to value collaborations. He said he started seeing the importance of collaboration last year at the AFRIMA awards. “I wanted a collabo with Diamond and I had nothing to show in terms of international collaborations,” he said.
Vee said he took all his savings and started to seek for collabos in South Africa. “I did it because I value my brand, even Universal signed me because of the collabos,” he said.
One of the artists featured in the remix, Tshego said he didn’t know that Ban T was an artist at first. He said he took two weeks to finalise his verse in the Naomi remix because he is a professional. “I hope this remix will exceed expectations, it will be better than the original,” he said.
For his part, founder and director of Urban Soul Apparel, Molf Nkwete said Ban T is young therefore everyone can take part to build him as a brand. “What he did with Naomi is amazing, so businesses should learn how to maximise by working with entertainers like him,” he said.
Ban T’s year is already going well after dominating the crop of nominees with seven nominations at the YAMAS XXL. He has been nominated for the best collabo, best Hip-Hop/Motswako single, song of the year, People’s choice artist of the year, best newcomer and best single male.
Even though he had released Why so faded anthem before, his first smash hit Naomi just took off to become one of the biggest hip hop songs in the country. He is undoubtedly one of the best breakthrough acts of the year. He performed the remix at Cantare (Monte Casino) in South Africa, and along with Gemini Major and Tshego, will officially launch the remix during the Naomi reloaded search party this Thursday.