6AM success was obtained at 10PM, not in Italy, but in the City where the biggest Hip-Hop Festival in the continent is held. It feels like yesterday when Teq released 3 singles in one day and kept the streets buzzing ever since, continuing to show his dominance by making his presence to be loud in the streets. Yep, he’s definitely a problem child of this Hip-Hop genre.
When he crafted his lyrics, he penned down a prophecy that is manifesting over time as time unfolds. As the future becomes present he presents his vision with impactful music. On the song 10PM (Not In Italy), he touches on the gatekeeping issues of the Music Industry, even though he wasn’t given a plague, he transformed to make himself a platform and a force that can’t be ignored.
This became a reality when he won the Back To The City MC 10K Challenge of 2022, where he raised Vaal Flag for the whole content to witness, as he prophecied on 10PM (Not In Italy). Taking the No. 1 spot in the Top 8 finalists, yet again, as he said on his lyrics “I’m Top 10 and not 10, when you count back, ngiLast Number”.
He talked about trusting in the process, which is something that is not easy since it often never makes sense at a time. Maneuvering without budgets while shooting aimlessly at targets with hope that one day things will turn around and look up. Through all of this, he says the streets are something you cannot gatekeep because he got keys to every corner. This is where he found comfort to carry his vision forth. The Streets came through in numbers when they voted for him to be in the Top 8 Finalists of the 10k MC Challenge; another manifestation.
He said he won’t stop until he gets what he deserves and the sit on the table. This has also manifested as he’ll definitely be in the Main Line-Up of the Back To The City Hip-Hop Festival this year by default, as result of winning the 10k Challenge. Raising theVaal Flag once again. His lyrics are truly manifesting over time. 6AM success written in 10PM.
His lyrics are truly manifesting over time. 6AM success written in 10PM.
Watch the Music Video of 10PM: Not In Italy (featuring Leqhwa) on YouTube, amd witness the prophecy being manifested:
Pyramid Magazine had a catch up session with T’Bu Twiz; a rapper who’s born and bred in Sharpeville with a global vision of using Hip-Hop Music as a tool to cross boundaries and reach audiences beyond the Vaal. Below is a summary of how it went down.
Pyramid Mag: Since the release of your first official album titled, Whose Crown Is it Anyway, you’ve been releasing music consistently with some of the singles landing on various music charts. Can you describe how has the journey been for you for 2022 and 2023?
T’Bu Twiz: The journey has pretty much been the same to a certain degree as compared to before the drop, only that for us as a team we’ve gained experience, new ears and followers, gave me as a brand a good catalog, boosted my confidence. But overall I’ve grown from it, I’m more hungrier than I was in a way. It helped me move passed my own production, I’ve now opened doors wide open for producers to work with me, eventually I’ll have someone who knows how to shape my brand and sound into what I really am.
Pyramid Mag: How would you describe your sound and the type of artist you are?
T’Bu Twiz: My sound is versatile, I’m one artist who hates being predictable in terms of creativity. I draw a lot of inspiration from the type of sound that speaks sense or shares something relatable to me. Basically lyrical sound, yes as versatile as my sound is, in whatever I jump on the pen has to make sense, as for everything else I pretty much leave to the next artist. But overall, I grew up on that boom bap sound, although my album has the morden hip hop sound.
Pyramid Mag: You have a brand partnership with a clothing label “Balance”, can you tell us more about the partnership and how can people purchase the brand?
T’Bu Twiz: Balance is amazing, owned by a humble and ambitious young lady named Fikile Khumalo from Lenasia in Gauteng. The partnership was approached through my younger brother (Lehlohonolo Moleli), which was at the time a brand ambassador for Balance Apparel. The lady had asked him to ask if me and JustSam would be keen to help her penetrate the Vaal market as she felt her brand would blend well with us, which was a success because her biggest customers and sales ended being in the Vaal as time went. However it’s purely a partnership where we all show up for each other ofcourse.
Follow Balance Apparel on their Facebook Page on the link below:
Pyramid Mag: What’s your view on the current state of #VaalHipHop?
T’Bu Twiz: The current state of Vaal Hip Hop to me is stagnant because to date there’s still no real representation of Vaal Hip Hop in the mainstream. It’s still dominated by other regions in Gauteng and other provinces, there’s still no teamwork, no meaningful collaborations. Talent is merely enough to win anyone’s heart from the Vaal if you’re an artist from the Vaal. I’m saying this looking at how easy it is for any artist outside the Vaal Triangle to be loved and appreciated by any audience from the Vaal, as long as there’s already noise behind that particular artist.
T’Bu Twiz at the #VaalHipHop Master Class hosted at Afro-Bru in Maboneng Precinct Jhb
Pyramid Mag: As you prepare to release more music in 2023, what lessons are you bringing forth from your album release, Whose Crown Is It Anyway?
T’Bu Twiz: The only lesson I’ve been moving with since the realease of the album is to make and release music that makes me happy and best sell me as the artist I want to be received as by anyone. Collaborate as much as I can for as long as the collaboration makes sense to my brand, release as much visuals as I can to any project I release, be weary of what’s happening in the streets while I’m at it. Be as much experimental as I possibly can and lastly, release music, never hold onto music, if I have something I feel like people can vibe to, release it and allow the masses to select their own breakthrough project for T’Bu Twiz.
Pyramid Mag: Who are you working with on your upcoming releases, and what brought about that decision?
T’Bu Twiz: Justsam for the obvious reasons, it comes easy looking at our work chemistry and partnership. Already have something worked on with Phil Cash, this collaboration was linked by Vincent Kheswa, for the type of sound I was chasing, Phil made sense to be on that collaboration. I have something with Dukii on the way, Jay Prince as well. Cooking something beautiful with a very talented lady as well named Oh Fabia, still on the works. These are projects that are already confirmed. Apart from them I’m in the talks with a number of artists, which I can’t disclose yet as we have everything confirmed verbally and haven’t jumped in the studio with yet. Besides artists im heavily collaborating with producers such as Swankie Lash, Sub Beatz, Hype and 1000Beatz.
Pyramid Mag: What message would you like to give to your followers?
T’Bu Twiz: Thank you for your undying and continued support. Grow with me and I promise to one day make you a proud day one.
Follow the below link to catch up with all the latest releases from T’Bu Twiz, as well as all the music he ever released:
Pyramid Magazine had a young sit down with one of the members of MoneyWay Records, L-Ment, to catch up about his latest release and peep of what is to come in the near future.
Pyramid Mag: To people who’ve never heard of L-Ment, how would you describe yourself as an artist and the music that you do?
L-Ment: I’d like to see myself as “the bad guy”. Reason being I feel like I’m an underdog compared to everyone around me so I won’t be saying controversial things that people want to hear, instead my music speaks on topics that a lot of artists think about but would never say on a record (to “protect” their brand). I speak for the streets, hence I’m “The Voice for the Voiceless”.
Pyramid Mag: About your latest single, Let Me Down, what is the story behind it and why the decision to drop it now as your 1st single in 2023?
L-Ment: Let Me Down is a MoneyWay Records track and is the lead single from the upcoming MoneyWay Album. It’s my first appearance for the year and reason being I didn’t want to drop music until MoneyWay Business is sorted out, you know.
Every move is calculated and there’s a plan in place so “Let Me Down” is the first part of the plan. The single is special to me because I’ve always asked myself how me and Duki would sound on a record that we both were in studio and it was my first time meeting Dynasty so he just blew my mind. Crazy thing is I wrote the verse in 10-15 minutes and when it was time to execute, i got crucial advice from Lefa M who’s a melodic genius so he just made my verse sound 20 times better.
Pyramid Mag: Who else did you work with, and what brought about that decision?
L-Ment: We (MoneyWay Records) have been locking in with Tieten Blaq and Basiq for the past few months so we’ve been exploring a different sound and it’s all thanks to the CEO (Theodre “Don” Mavodze), he had the vision and shared it with us and we started working on it. Honestly everything is all him, he curated everything.
Pyramid Mag: When are you planning to release a project, and what can the audience expect from it?
L-Ment: My next project is quite personal to me because it’s my first mixtape so I’m taking my time with it you know. All my favourite artists dropped the best 1st mixtape that I’ve ever heard, so I’d like mine to be perfect as well, so I don’t want to rush it. I don’t want to announce a date but hopefully it’ll drop this year, if not this year then definitely in the first quarter of 2024. There’s a whole lot of music dropping this year thou so MoneyWay fans will have a lot of music to feast on while waiting for the project.
Pyramid Mag: What’s your view on the current state of #VaalHipHop?
L-Ment: VaalHipHop is at a generational shift, where the youth is coming in the scene and introducing these new sounds that people aren’t used to so it makes it difficult for the normal audience to understand us especially if they’re used to your “Traditional Vaal Hip Hop”. This makes it difficult for us as “new guys” to reach every market but I believe we are moving in the right direction and by the next year everyone will be comfortable in their spots. I’m definitely coming for that top position thou, I’m tryna be the best the city has ever seen.
Pyramid Mag: What lessons are you bringing forth from your previous release, INFAMOUS EP?
L-Ment:INFAMOUS for me was about introducing myself as L-Ment, it’s my first official project under MoneyWay Records and was more about making a statement. Each track has it’s own sound (to showcase my different sounds so people don’t put me in a box).
It showed me my capabilities, opened a lot of doors in the industry and it definitely set the bar for me. It taught me that I can break my own ceiling if I focus hard enough so I’m taking that with me on my next journey. I must say thou that the INFAMOUS ERA isn’t finished as I feel like there’s a lot that still needs to be done with the project before i can move on to the next project.
“Let Me Down” by MoneyWay Records, L-Ment ft. Dynasty & Dukii Gone Green (Produced by Tieten Blaq & Basiq) is now available on all Digital Stores
6AM Success presents to you an early gift this coming winter. With the country suffering from the rising stages of Load Shedding, it’s advisable for one to take precautions and prepare for what’s coming, Winter.
When Father TeQ said, “kuthiwa ningamaGoat ngiDlozi do the math,” referencing the rituals this side of the [V] town where we slaughter “G.O.A.Ts” 🐐 as a sacrifice to the Higher Power in comparison to Wolves. The Lord of Winterfell is bringing the power 🔋 to the Youth with an electrifying lineup to keep you warm this winter.
Tickets for the Winterfell Hip Hop Festival are now available for purchase.
A cure presents itself from the perspective of a healer. A poetic lyricist, Pheko, has released an album titled, Herbalist. The Sotho wordsmith has previously released two group projects. He chopped the Cliff Hanger album with Herb-Exe and led the way with Masupatsela on a self-titled album. Herbalist is his debut solo offering, and it was planted under the branch of EasternVille Music Affiliates – an artist development program that was established by the ever growing stable, EasternVille Music.
The album befits the title; it comprises a medicinal sound with organic content. It’s a health institution in musical form. There’s no flat line on the verses because the music embodies life. Pheko’s creative seed grew into a garden that produces an abundance of food for thought. He took a leaf out of his own book and levitated above the tree line. The flow is a fountain of wisdom. When listening to the album, one can discover their own destiny through Pheko’s journey.
He rocked the boat with a Kwaito Captain. Apart from Starpora who produced the opening jam, Kwaito Captain buttered up the rest of the album as a producer on every slice of the project. However, despite the better part of the delicacies being dished out by the same hand, the flavor varies on each serving due to the multi-skilled touch. The production ranges from emotive instrumentals and jazzy layouts to traditional sounds and upbeat arrangements.
There’s a balanced amount of collaborations on the album. The first three tracks may give the listener an impression that the project is riddled with features, but in contrast, there are only five tracks with guest artists. Pheko occupied half of the songs on the album without any lyrical or vocal partnership. Moreover, the artists that he pulled the strings with on the joint threads, helped to create grand material . They tailor fitted his conceptual designs and complemented his authentic style.
The album rose out of darkness with Starpora on Hona Mona . The features got Freeky on Sdudla, which was also co-authored by the executive producer of the project, Vincent Kheswa. Pheko embarked on a native tour with Melleng on Africa, before walking side by side with Kwaito Captain on Indlela. Sbusiso Manqa muted the beat and spoke from the heart on Baballa, before proceeding to aid Pheko to wrap his gift by co-authoring the last track of the album, Neo.
Herbalist is laden with different constituents of therapy. The songs are layers of rhythmical treatment. It’s an audio documentary of a healer who’s on a remedial path to feed his soul and starve his audience off misery. Pheko’s diverse artistry enabled him to create a masterpiece that can cause traffic on the dancefloor and still make way for a vehicle of knowledge. He covered societally essential themes that range from gratitude, originality, and spirituality to family, hustling, and mental health, inter alia.
The album’s selling point is its commendable uniqueness. It’s a merger of music and poetry in the highest order. The artistry displayed throughout the project accentuates the elements of rap in its purest form. It’s a hip-hop project devoid of fluff. Pheko is a herbalist who served the masses with a potent product that will cure all the ailing souls. Its repeat value is a medical prescription – consume the album at least three times a day for the recovery of your broken spirit.
The best manner to bring a hip-hop album to life is to make contact with the relevant plug for conscious projects. This life support machinery was engineered by veteran producer, Raw Beats.Ankha Nel of Inhouse Productions slaved away his expertise by mastering the project. Ankha Nel has over 40 years of audio industry work experience and held the position of Chief Engineer at two of South Africa’s most prestigious studio’s E. M. I. and Downtown Studios.Nkosana Nkomo drew emotions from the music to design the artwork. The project is an acknowledgement of flaws with a perfect delivery.
Rating: 10/10.
Herbalist by Pheko is available on all major Digital Stores.
So you’ve heard the track, you’ve gone through the lyrics, now it’s you chance to be a part of the experience.
Do you think you have what it takes to rap alongside the “LYRICIST OF THE YEAR” nominee on a Raw Beat? Here is a chance to showcase your pen-game skills.
Download the song using the link below, add your verse, and share on Social Media using #TrueReligionOpenVerse
True Religion- Music Review by Lesego Ginger Dithebe
Title: True Religion.
Artist: Raw Beats featuring LandmarQue.
Duration: 00:03:10
Record Label: EasternVille Music.
There’s a pious sense of faith and glory in the divine genre of hip-hop. The art is godly, and the culture is supreme. Hip-hop is gospel in the ears of the multiple disciples who follow it religiously. It’s a church of uncensored scriptures over coarse harmonies. Consequentially, a blessed service is underway at EasternVille Music – super producer, Raw Beats, has assumed the role of a bishop, and entrusted veteran cleric, LandmarQue, to capture the congregation with a powerful sermon.
Raw Beats
Raw Beats is a boom bap specialist who has doctored innumerable records for a myriad of rappers with viral content in the rap institution. On this operation, his needle drew blood from Last Days Fam. LandmarQue is a monumental figure in the underground scene with group classics and solo wonders to his legendary name. The two cross bearers crossed paths for the second time after DJ OB’s chart topping single, Vanish, to create Truest Religion in ritualistic appreciation for the poetic creed.
True Religion is the ultimate gospel. It’s a treasure hunt in its purest form. It’s about finding power in weakness, and a voice in silence. It’s rooted in embracing godlike traits in mankind. It celebrates gold-plated humanity. It’s about finding value, not only in the money that one has generated, but also the contentment that they’ve earned. It’s the essence of the universe expressed in music. It’s a source of inspiration and a platform for introspection. It interprets dreams and supports goals. It’s a machine decorated in nature.
LandmarQue
The beat speaks to the listener before the vocals can strike the eardrum. It’s a classic composition that’s soulful but not emotive. It has a soothing melody that evokes mental harmony. It has an authentic boom bap trademark with a modern edge. The tempo isn’t in a rush to override the message, but also not reluctant to run its course. The beat has an orderly arrangement, and notes that tell a story without uttering a word. As an immaculate exhibition of art, it serves as a canvas for a lexical picture to be painted on.
After Raw Beats left his signature sound on the beat, LandmarQue borrowed his pen to fill the rest of the form. The witty wordsmith applied the same standard of penmanship that earned him the lyricist of the year nomination at the 2020 South African HipHop awards. There’s a mature use of language fused with an antagonistic undertone to honour the street culture. The content is educational, yet competitive. LandmarQue’s vast experience in the hip-hop industry enabled him to educate without imposing knowledge and emerge superior without resorting to intimidation.
The song has two verses that are emblematic of dual supremacy. Landmarque heeded the call to serve a fervent delivery. He instilled belief by turning every line into a quotable scripture about the truest religion. The rhyming is simple, yet proficient. The flow is slick and consistently adapts to the changes in the beat pattern. His domineering artistry allowed him to send a strong message with a commanding tone. It’s heavenly how he drops angelic lines that may fly over some listeners’ head.
The immense chemistry between the two gods has resulted in a rhythmical interpretation of spiritual science. True Religion is a definite hit. The instrumentals bring forth a sense of tranquility and the lyrics provide guidance. The concoction was mixed by Raw Beats, and mastered by the legendary Robin Kohl of Jazz Worx studios – a reputable organisation that’s at the summit of the South African music hierarchy. Raw Beats and LandmarQue are bound to ascend the pulpit with this hymn. Preach!!!
Rating: 10/10.
True Religion is available on all Digital Stores. It can be accessed directly using the below link:
Sharpeville Creations and Uhuru Family Restaurant have teamed to bring us an unplugged session with Stan SonOfMan15 on the 30th of July 2022.
The session is set to take place at the Uhuru Family Restaurant at Sharpeville from 12pm. PYRAMID Magazine then caught up with the man of the moment to get a better insight behind the artist himself, and what to expect at the unplugged session.
Can you tell us about Stan SonOfman15, and the inspiration behind the name?
Moeketsi Stanley Mofokeng also known as STAN SONOFMAN 15 to his peers and fans, was born and bred in the Vaal, Sebokeng Zone 3 to be precise. Raised by a single mother with my other 3 siblings and I’m the last of the 4. I fell in love with the art of music back in primary school but started writing and recording my own in 2012 as part of a collective called DIALECT. We released our first and last full body project titled “SPECIAL DELIVERY” during the same year. I then moved on to establish myself as a solo act and that’s when the birth of STAN SONOFMAN 15 came.
The inspiration behind the name was, at first I wanted something to rhyme with my name (STAN), but as I grew older and wiser with hip hop the meaning got deeper. I realized most of my mom’s friends called her MaJeso (Jesus’s mother) because her other name is Maria. The number 15 was my late friend’s (MPHO “Dida” Mokonyana) favourite jersey number. A month before he passed, he had promised to give me one of his soccer t-shirts so when he couldn’t anymore I thought I’d would be best I put his number on name as he is the person id like to never forget in my life, so this was my way of representing a very good friend of mine
What inspired the One Man Show, and how did it come about?
I think growth, the feeling of wanting more and building rapport with establishments outside of hip hop because this is not the first showcasing, the first one took place at Shape Café Thabong Mall branch. The whole idea started as a tour, I wanted to organise my own independent tour to promote myself and my music.
What can people expect from the show?
Beautiful music, people and a great flow of energy. Great 7 hours of nothing but good vibes
What previous projects have you released and how can people get hold of them?
STUBBORNFAITH 1&2, a short mixtape titled F.U.N (Fxcked Up Nice) MIXTAPE. They are all on both Audiomack and YouTube.
Do you have any new and upcoming music? Can you tell us about it?
I have been working on a project I want to title ALMOST and it’s gonna serve as the third of the STUBBORNFAITH sequel. I can’t say much about it now but I’m gonna perform a couple of songs from it at the SONOFMAN 15 #UNPLUGGED show. I’m super excited.
How can people get hold you on Social Platforms?
Stansonofman Fifthin on Facebook, then Stansonofman15 on all other social media platforms
