Bataung Moeketsi
VETERAN hip hop artiste SkebzD on Tuesday teased his fans with a snippet of an upcoming song, Buka ea Luka, on social media.
SkebzD told the Xpress People on Friday that the video would be released in October this year.
The music video will be the third from songs previously released on his 2019 album, Bophelo ke Ntoa. Skebz has previously released videos for Second Coming and Khauta le Selifere which features Blitz and Mozuzu in October and November 2019 respectively.
The Qeme Ha-Mohasoa bred rapper has been one of the few artistes at the helm of Lesotho hip hop and is known for pioneering the Sotho hop sub-genre.
“I fully indulged in music from 2007 when I realised that I was good with words. A year before that, I had already originated a style that is known as Sotho hop, being a fusion of hip hop and traditional Sesotho culture…,” SkebzD said.
His career however, took off in 2009 when he met the late Motswako rapper, Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP), at Baseline in Newtown, Johannesburg.
HHP had taken a liking to Skebz and his then best friend Paseka Hatata aka Pasco Dolla and took the two under his wing.
“We became friends over time as he saw me at most of his shows until he started allowing me to open for him. This was around time he was working on his album Acceptance Speech.
“As I got further into the industry as an independent artiste, he took me under his wing because he liked my unique Sesotho rap style and attitude,” SkebzD said.
SkebzD has an extensive history in the battle rap scene and ended up becoming one of 10 contestants for HHP’s Young Black and Ambitious (YBA) Nights platform in 2010.
SkebzD walked away from the Melville venue having battled against Cassper Nyovest and besting two other finalists, Katz from Pretoria and Lection from Rustenburg.
The seasoned MC officially moved back to Lesotho in 2012 and has been a regular at many local and international shows which include the Annual Johannesburg Arts Festival, the MACUFE Festival in Bloemfontein, Morija Arts and Cultural Festival and the now defunct Vodacom Summa Fever.
SkebzD won the Lesotho Music Award for Hip Hop in 2011, was a Vodacom Superstar finalist in 2017 and has been a brand ambassador for both Vodacom and Econet.
He has also performed in Ghana, eSwatini and Botswana among others.
The Trompeta hit maker believes the country’s hip hop industry is growing immensely and becoming more diverse.
He also said Lesotho artistes have an opportunity to break onto the international scene after the release of the blockbuster movie, Blank Panther, which highlight Basotho culture.
“Artistes must work hard, be original and focus on the prize which is fortune over fame.
“They shouldn’t be discouraged by criticism but rather strive for success.”
SkebzD said he is looking forward to many fruitful ventures for himself and his label SothoHop Empire.
He said fans should expect more new music and videos later this year and a new line of SkebzD merchandise which includes sweaters, t-shirts, caps and face masks in the spring season.