By BAKANG MOKOTO
Taung-born Hip Hop artist, Lion The Rebel said he is grateful for finally finding his niche in the music industry. This comes after he was nominated for the Best Hip Hop artist by PLAMAS.
“It all started with the love for poetry. I realised that I love poetry more when it is in the music, then I started free-styling on top of the beats. It feels enormously great to be recognized.
“Being nominated for this award out of so many artists in the province gives me courage. My first song was recorded back in 2012 after being a street cipher rapper for a while,” he said.
Lion The Rebel (28) said he is a rapper, writer, poet, and recording/performing artist with outstanding skill. He further said his rap fuses languages in a unique way and most are classified under the Motswako, which is a Hip Hop sub-genre.
“I am mostly known for my hit single titled Top 7 and other hits like On, Mo Ke Gatang Teng, Lekwalo La Motswako, Leroborobo La Corona and a track called Khapo Terug that came out with an official music video that is available on YouTube.
“I am a poet, and my daily life situations inspire my content. I do celebrate other artists, but none of them is fueling my artistic spirit. I live to be inspired then put it in the music,” said Lion The Rebel.
In 2018, he released his first album titled Mind State with ten tracks. Lion The Rebel said even though he was born and bred in Mokgareng village, outside Taung, moving to Klerksdorp was a great move.
“I moved to Klerksdorp where I matriculated before heading to Pretoria to study further. I also attended a lot of freestyle cipher sessions where I would showcase my talent.
“I started seeing people jamming to my lyrics and that encouraged me to find my niche in the game. I’d like to embark more on the business side of music in the future, but still writes and record music while having a healthy stable family,” said Lion The Rebel.
He also encouraged aspiring artists not only to concentrate on music as it is seasonal. Lion The Rebel who is a qualified nurse said education is key.
“I am a qualified nurse and unfortunately, I was financially excluded while studying towards my chemistry degree at the University of Pretoria. Life is one big game and education is the best cheat for it.
“There are other challenges in the music industry like publishing and distribution deals. You will need money to neither make money, so if you do not have any sponsor or budget, it becomes almost impossible to create music,” he said.
Lion The Rebel said music took him out of a very dark place in his life. He added that he highly-appreciate everyone who has been there supporting him through thick and thin.
You can find Lion The Rebel’s music on YouTube, Reverbnation and Audiomack or visit his social media platforms such as Facebook: LION THE-REBEL Twitter: @LiontheRebel or alternatively email him at liontherebel607@gmail.com
Those who would like to vote for him can sms: PLAMAS AAM to 45633 and the sms costs R1.50. You can vote as many times as you want.
The Guardian 