Stardom is around the corner for King William’s Town-born hip-hop artist Thapelo “Cherra” Ngesi with the release of his collection of songs titled Se7eN: The Reign.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Ngesi recalled how his elder brothers influenced his love for hip-hop.
“My brothers were big Snoop Dogg and Tupac fans, and that’s the first time I ever listened to rap.
The first time I ever wrote a rap song was after listening to Redman and Methodman’s Tear the Roof Off.
“Right after hearing it, I wrote a verse that my father would overhear me reciting. We recorded it that same day,” said Ngesi.
He said Se7en: The Reign – which can be streamed from www.soundcloud.com/cherra-1 – is a high-energy project based on four years of his life during which he was very quickly becoming the artist he is right now.
The first single off the project, Blukkka (track 2) is already receiving big radio airplay.
“The reign part is from a song on the project. It’s also a play on the Homophones’s ‘rain’ and reign.
This project marks the beginning of my prayers being heard.
“It marks the beginning of growth and of an era.
“Both for me and for the region I’m from,” he said.
“The Eastern Cape is one of the biggest exporters of talent, but it gets sold to people who are in a better position to exploit it than we are.
“This goes for both the entertainment and corporate worlds. I feel that it’s time we revolutionise the way we see and manage ourselves.”
Ngesi also spoke about his stage name and how he actually hated it at first.
He said the named originated from something from HHP’s Omang Reloaded album intro.
“The song had that traditional feel, but since my friends were mostly Xhosa boys, we never quite got the satisfaction of my new song hitting home.
“I don’t know if it was the name Jabba or the word ‘jella’ that registered in their minds, but it quickly morphed into ‘Cherra’, and that’s the name I’d be known by for the rest of my high school career,” he said.
Ngesi said the release of the mixtape was just the start and that 2016 would be his year to: “Appear. Perform. Network. Create. Repeat.” — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
‘Cherra’ on the verge of hitting big time
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Ngesi recalled how his elder brothers influenced his love for hip-hop.
“My brothers were big Snoop Dogg and Tupac fans, and that’s the first time I ever listened to rap.
The first time I ever wrote a rap song was after listening to Redman and Methodman’s Tear the Roof Off.
“Right after hearing it, I wrote a verse that my father would overhear me reciting. We recorded it that same day,” said Ngesi.
He said Se7en: The Reign – which can be streamed from www.soundcloud.com/cherra-1 – is a high-energy project based on four years of his life during which he was very quickly becoming the artist he is right now.
The first single off the project, Blukkka (track 2) is already receiving big radio airplay.
“The reign part is from a song on the project. It’s also a play on the Homophones’s ‘rain’ and reign.
This project marks the beginning of my prayers being heard.
“It marks the beginning of growth and of an era.
“Both for me and for the region I’m from,” he said.
“The Eastern Cape is one of the biggest exporters of talent, but it gets sold to people who are in a better position to exploit it than we are.
“This goes for both the entertainment and corporate worlds. I feel that it’s time we revolutionise the way we see and manage ourselves.”
Ngesi also spoke about his stage name and how he actually hated it at first.
He said the named originated from something from HHP’s Omang Reloaded album intro.
“The song had that traditional feel, but since my friends were mostly Xhosa boys, we never quite got the satisfaction of my new song hitting home.
“I don’t know if it was the name Jabba or the word ‘jella’ that registered in their minds, but it quickly morphed into ‘Cherra’, and that’s the name I’d be known by for the rest of my high school career,” he said.
Ngesi said the release of the mixtape was just the start and that 2016 would be his year to: “Appear. Perform. Network. Create. Repeat.” — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos