Khete la Morena raps God�s message
Tumelo Mouwane | Thursday January 26, 2017 14:58
Hip-hop and gospel music in the past were two separate genres, which usually did not even share a stage. Hip-hop, stereotyped to be a genre associated with violence, boasting, money and drugs was not something that many locally thought could blend well with the Christian message.
Khete la Morena’s message is about how these two blends can easily be decoded from his stage name, which means ‘God sent rapper’. The American culture referred to as ‘bo-cat’ or plural ‘ma-cat’ locally, has blended well with gospel. The national television has of recent also introduced a show dubbed The Verse which mainly broadcasts hip-hop gospel content, something which reflects that indeed gospel hip-hop has made its mark in the local music scenery.
The 27-year-old Pitsane born said ‘Motswako’ gospel, as he prefers to call it, sometimes “steals his soul while on stage”. The combination of good rhythm verses and the strong combination of the message rich content heals his soul. His late father inspired him to choose the genre amongst others because of the faith he had.
“I sing hip-hop gospel, but I prefer to call it Motswako gospel. Actually I do minister through my music. I released my first album God’s Love in September 2009 and my single Gear Up followed in September 2014. My late father inspired me to venture into gospel because of the faith he had. I chose to venture into motswako gospel because I love God and I love rapping. Hip-hop gospel steals my soul sometimes when I am on stage and if I combine verses well I heal inside,” he said.
The creative multi media Limkokwing graduate, who is now working on his second album titled Ratolago which will be released by his own music studio, KingKat Studio (Pty) Ltd in 2017, has experienced superbly good reception in the industry since he started. Khete la Morena has enjoyed television broadcasting of his content numerous times. He was featured in the prestigious BOT50 line-up national event.
He said people should draw a line between hip-hop and hip-hop gospel music.
“There’s a huge difference between hip-hop the genre and our hip-hop. Yes, they are both one kind of a genre in a way but ours is inspired by God for the good of our youth and the country at large. Hip-hop gospel is the in thing and people should draw a line between rappers who sing about drugs, money and alcohol and those of us who are spreading the word of God. It is important to draw a line between the two,” he emphasised.
Khete la Morena is working on launching a clothing brand, which has already made its mark locally. He further said his single, Gear Up is doing well in the market.
“My father gave me the love that he had to; he did his best. This is why I am going to dedicate my next album to him. The Gear Up single and God’s Love video are doing well on local radio stations and television. My clothing brand which is all about discovering ones purpose will be launched in 2017,” he said.
He added that he wants to be an ambassador of change amongst Botswana’s youth to advise them about the love God has for them.
“Our youth are immersed in alcohol and drugs abuse. This continues to steal innocent lives and I have put on my shoes to say, enough is enough. We ought to act.
“There is no way to prosper other than through God. I want to be an ambassador of change amongst the local youths. I want to show them where the light is,” he said.