A quiet storm in local Hip-Hop

TUDUETSO TEBAPE
Correspondent | Thursday June 24, 2010 00:00

 

Hip-Hop artists are their own brand always staying true to their own brands and understandably so. They always talk of being the best at what they do in 'the gamae' and swear by the fact that they and they only are number one who cannot be beaten at their own game.

It is like a battle of the egos and it makes for a healthy, competitive Hip-Hop industry because as each strives to remain the best, they have to strive to release and record the best music.

The Hip-Hop website, Hiphopgalaxy.com documents the history of Rap Beefs: 'originally, it came to block parties, where DJs would play records and isolate the percussion breaks for the dancing masses. Soon, MCs began speaking over the beats, usually simply exhorting the audience to continue dancing.

Eventually, MCs began incorporating more varied and stylistic speech and focused on introducing themselves, shouting out to friends in the audience, boasting about their own skills and criticising their rivals, which was often done in good humour.' And so the Rap Beef culture was born.

Most notable Rap Beefs in recent Hip Hop history have been between MCs like the late Eazy-E and DrDre, Cannibus and LL Cool J, Ice Cube and NWA, Jay-Z and Nas...and who can forget the battle between the late Tupac and Notorious BIG Tupac. HipHopgalaxy.com documents the 2Pac vs BIG feud: 'The 2Pac vs Biggie feud was unique in so many ways. Interestingly, Pac's tactic was the antithesis of BIG's approach. Not one to bite his tongue, Pac kept his insults as explicit and aggressive as possible. Biggie on the other hand, stung Pac with subliminal disses, often delivered in a poised manner. This was arguably the most influential hip-hop feud ever.'

Here in Botswana, there has not been that much drama in the hip-hop industry. Everyone has been rapping and doing their thing quite oblivious to what the next MC is doing. According to my observance of chitchat on the streets though - this might be changing.

Not too long ago, rumours of alleged beef between local hip-hop greats Zeus and Scar surfaced and created quite a storm. Then a few days later, Apollo Diablo created a bit of a buzz when he voiced his opinion on why his songs don't play on the leading commercial radio station in Botswana.

Interested in getting some answers, I approached the rappers and asked them a few questions to clear the air and find out where their heads are at:

Q: Do you think 'beef' in hip-hop is a necessary aspect of it?

Zeus: 'Beef' is not necessary, competition is! We need to push each other so we keep raising our game. We need to make albums, songs and products that make other players in the industry want to do better and improve their own business; that's healthy competition.

Beef usually comes from a much uglier and darker place; hence how violent and tragic the confrontations are! It stops being about showing skill and more about ego clashes, which we don't need, plus it's divisive which a small industry like ours does not need especially when we are trying to take Botswana Hip-Hop continental and international. A good local example of healthy competition on a track is me and Oracle's collabo 'Choose 1', we push each other on a quest to outsmart, outwit and outplay, but we are boys and there is no 'beef' just competition.

Scar: I think it makes the game, as a whole really interesting. Here are people who are in a competitive market and they are not afraid to air their sentiments about why they are a better option to a particular person/group/sound/style. It's been there through battles and it has inevitably trickled onto sales for both the affected persons. My only problem with beef is when it is created by other people to get other people off focus. If it is done for the betterment of Hip-Hop, I'm all for it.

Apollo: Conflict in life is unavoidable.

Q: Do you think there is a fair amount of airplay on local radio stations for all hip-hop artists? Please explain

Zeus: Truth is personal relationships impact on business; Any business! and airplay as well as media coverage is no different. That's to say that if you know people behind the scenes on radio (and they know you) its easier, this makes it tougher for unknowns to get airplay.

Even with that said though I believe that merit in the form of quality and relevance of your song trumps any 'payola' or lobbying one can do, if your song is hot and people can relate they will call to request it; it's not that simple but it is... a paradox I know!

Q: You are accused of having some control over what music is played on Yarona FM and pushing for your music to be played on the radio station. Please comment on this?

Scar: At a radio station, at least the one I work for, there is a Music Compiler and something called a play list. Now the music compiler is to choose and place music for play throughout the day. They are the ones who will evaluate your music against the station's format and schedule it to be played.

This has replaced the practice of DJ personalities choosing tracks, which is meant to curb corrupt practices but reduces the personal touch DJs used to have on their shows. I'm contractually obligated to play the play list as is or face my contract being terminated. I have NO POWER AT ALL over what plays on the radio station.

Q: Why do you think, and why would you say your music does not get as much play on Yarona Fm as Scar's music?

Apollo: I am not the one to tell you why, it's just an observation that I voiced and maybe by the sheer immensity of responses, I might have struck a chord. Honestly speaking that's a fact, and after what I feel has been the consistency of my work, I simply questioned.

Q: This banter about you and Scar's 'beef', would you care to make any comment on that?

Zeus: I've said all that I have to say including offering a chance to bury whatever issue there is that I'm not aware of; it's played out and I'm done with it.

Q: This chitchat about beef between you and Zeus...would you care to comment on these rumours?

Scar: There is nothing going on between me and Zeus, or Apollo, or any other artist in Botswana. Unfortunately all this has happened at a time when I am a presenter for a radio station, which has solely put local urban youth music on the map, so the dynamics of the situation aren't that simple. Me and the other parties have come out to say there is nothing going on so I think it's time people let it go.

Q: Do you have beef with scar?

Apollo: I don't have any beef with any dude.

Well, there you have it - straight out of the horses' mouths.