Hip-hop remembers Steez

Dumisani Ncube | Wednesday April 26, 2017 14:39

 

Apolo D

“I had known him for a very long time, this is around 2005 when we were both working on our first albums.

He even called out so I can work with him during the launch of his debut album, we travelled and performed together,” said Apolo D. 

He noted that despite being from Mahalapye, Steez always made an effort to be diverse to work with people from different regions be it music or work in general also learning from the different people.

“We have watched each other grow and develop our careers. I appreciate the times I worked with him.

This is a great loss to the local hip hop industry.

We should learn to celebrate our own people while they are still alive.”

 

Kast

Kast was emotional when talking about the death of Steez as he stated that he still does not believe that it’s true. The two had known each other during their tertiary years at the University of Botswana.

“You are making me emotional by talking about Steez’s death. He was a genuinely good guy and an all rounded artist. The last time I saw him was in Maun. We spoke for some time and that was the last time we spoke.”

He recalled of how influential Steez was during his long walk as the late rapper brought him groceries and camped with Kast and his team along the A1 road.

Kast also spoke of how when he was near Steez’s hometown of Mahalapye, the late rapper drove him to his house so he can have a warm bath and how his grandmother had to pray for him before continuing with his walk to Gaborone. Steez is one of the artists who had pledged to perform for free at Tlatsa Lebala.

 

Flo Cater

“He was a humble person, influential and I treated him as my own brother. Despite being a celebrated public figure, Steez did not put that into his mind. He treated himself in a humble manner towards everyone,” Flo Cater said.  He reflected on how Steez was so proud of his country giving examples of various songs such as Zebras for life, My Botswana and Pula.

In remembering his colleague, Flo Cater says Steez was a cultural person and was willing to know about different cultures. “I remember some other time when we went to Maun to attend a festival, I saw Steez socialising with people from different cultural backgrounds and this taught me to appreciate people from different cultural backgrounds. This is a huge loss.”  Flo Cater is one of the young rappers who the late Steez got to work with just a few years ago and they have been working together at Dee Zone Productions. Flo Cater featured on a song by the late rapper titled Dintshang.

 

K – Boss

“He was a loving person who brightened up everything he touched. Due to his hard work I have always wished the world for him,” K Boss said.

He noted that this was heartbreaking and devastating news that he did not take well. K- Boss recalls of how impressive Steez’s verse on Garass-Pampiri was and they decided to put him as the first rapper on the song. “Apart from working together on the remix we got to work on other things. He even interviewed me at some point.”

 

Juz Beatz

A close friend and musical colleague to Steez was too emotional to talk about his departed brother as he showed that he is still hurt.

 

DJ Izzy

“Steez did my first interview on TV when he was still on Flavour Dome, years down the line I also got to interview him a number of times when I was now on radio. We were even featured on the same track by BK Procter,” DJ Izzy said.

The disc jockey noted that Steez was a persistent individual who was focused. He recalls of the times when they would bump into each other at events and share ideas.