The South African Hip Hop scene is blessed with many talented emcees and Selwyn is one of them. After people bombarded me with emails demanding that I interview this man I got on my mobile and started making some calls. He has performend on the Expressions compilation, The Abomrapper Compilation and will be on the H20 album. He is also working on his own album which we look forward to. Check this interview. Tight!

Well it’s been a long time overdue. So Mr Selwyn can you tell us why you are called Selwyn? Is that your real name?….

Yes that is my real name..Or a.k.a Lacosta… a.k.a Ngwenya (my real surname).

Introduce yourself to the masses in South Africa and tell us what you about, where you from and where you at?…..

From Pimville still in Pimville ..Ejozi!!! baby!!!

I dig your voicemail, who is that a relative? Oh and what did you think of my voice message I left for you, what was your first impression?

Yeah that is my son … he hooked me up … and as for the message you left me .. I thought .. Sea weed!! See what it does!!!

Ok so most people on the surface will know you from the Expressions compilation. How did that come about and for us English speaking folks what was the track about?……

well I’m a freestyle fanatic and me and Proverb were verbalising over some beats at Rage studios and that’s how I came to be on it .. but as for the liriks to that track I had Amu producing it and we were just tryin to describe a vibe that is happy and jolly about Jozi .. just to move away from the battle mode.

Are you getting paid from that track?…

Yo my man.. yo my man!!

Now a little birdy told me that you contributed a solo song (Buckstina Life) on the “Abomrapper” compilation. What is that compilation about and how did that come about?

That is straight up what I’d like to do on my album .. strictly that raw Kassie vibe .. that crazy I don’t give a kucf type rap styles .. Fortune (Ramesh’s brother) called me and asked to drop a jam on that .. gave me the beat and I rhymed sick on it ..Tsotsi life fo-eva Jo’ .. That is the only bash-thug-like album to hit Jozi .. from Jozi’s finest and arrogant, but nice rappers So buckstina life is like the “hardknock life” of Township streets.

You are also gonna be on the new H20 album. So my concern is, when is your solo album coming out?

I’m gunning for next year. I need a proper album to be done .. right now I’m riding on the buzz !!! Besides, the sad thing is I need the dopest producers on it, the ones I worked with are far too busy releasin’sh*t ..and I’m forced to push back .. but these kids are too dope to pass on by!!

You’ve obviously come a long way when working with POC on their album Ghetto Code. How did that happen?

They came down to Le’ Club .. around 96/97… and I was battlin’ these cats “Crooked Tooth”, some punk from hillbrow and Collin’s..a.k.a Zesta from Meta-Mo’Forces.. and I won!!! ..but one day Crooked Tooth came back for revenge!!

How long have you been rapping?

Since 92/93

What was it that made you want to emcee?..

The response, the looks always liked being fresh dressed, the respect,the idea of being unique, rebellion, the need to belong, growing up, and for therapeudic reasons ..Hip-hop is good when you need to vent out. Plus I passed all my english classes when it came to poetry and all that jazz.

What is your earliest memory of Hip Hop in South Africa?…

P.O.C.!!! They ruled .. I’m still a fan!!! big up “Shaheen”

Where were you born?

I was born in Nelspruit .. grew up in Mofolo now living in Pimville..since 1982

How important is the internet to you in terms of marketing?…

This is where I can interact or get in contact with my x.y and z generation.. Times have changed and you have to move with the times and I think it is essential to cover all aspect of getting exposure.. The internet for those who have it, is good !!!

With the huge media attention given to local hip hop what are the postives and negatives of that in your view?………….

The positive is of course exposure for us .. we are now getting interviews on the net .. This is so cool !!!…The future looks bright. It’s like a God given blessing finally!! This is change and with change there is fear and with fear all kinds of negatives come up !!.. I prefer to stick with the positive ..let’s not talk abou t the negative.

Do you remember a rap group from Jozi by the name of INTRIBE?

yeah!!! Well no!!… aaaaaah !!!Remind me !!!

Who makes your beats?..

Amu will!!… Fortune will !..Khalid a.k.a Cowbell, a.k.a. Sbuda will, Hoodlum will!! Battlekat will Nyamza will!!! Every body will make beats for me.

People tell me that you are wicked when battling, do you agree with that? What’s the illest line you’ve ever kicked?….

hmmmm !!!! Got a few but .. this is one of them ..

” who are you, some body tell me about this fool
If he exists he must be like air molecules
Soon as i hear a beat i snap
Put rappers inbetween my hands then clap
for them to hear how it sounds like to be whack ‘d

Off the top of your dome write a 8 lined freestyle about AfricasGateway (please do it for us man!)

AfricasGateway it’s almost over a decade
what’s been a delay been waiting for an interview til today
from then i’d never thought thi is how it’ll be in the future
From two cities we running an interview via the computer
So far this is the coolest interview indeed
We all are literate so i’m sure ya’ll can read

Explain to us what we could expect from a Selwyn live performance, what is the duration, how many songs, stage antics, props?

Gee’s man … you kinda get that kind of vision when you have songs already …But I like high energy and stunts in between ..Sh*t I need to go to Gym … about five six tracks … stage antics: Get the crowd involved ..freestyles…and teach them how to basicalli rhyme ..hehehehe!! it should last about 30/ 45 minutes ..

Most embarressing moment?

….. Damn !!! Was in Pretoria State Theatre rhyming with Mizchif and these dudes O.T.D. (1000 degrees), We were promised to perform infront of a crowd of about 1000 or so. 999 (Arthur’s stable) and us were the main act .. only about 10/20 came thru .. and it was old folks .. they were waiting to see Arthur and them .. the 999 staff came thru… but as soon as they found out the turn out was weak .. they left!! We were left to sort out the mess .. We tried .. I even tried rappin in Zulu ,Sotho making jokes . Dancin’ .. The Crip walk dance had just been the latest craze and these dudes were flippin it … But the crowd went booooooooooooooooooooooo!!! that was wack jo’.. I sweated for nothin ..didn’t even get paid for that!!

If people want to get hold of you to book a show or just wanna chill and have a drink what do they need to do? How to get in touch with Selwyn and furthermore how can we keep up with your news?….

They can call me on 083 2000 418 or email me @ ngweny_b@mtn.co.za…or Call Thabo @ 082 822 8232 rEVOLT Entertainment … with news and everything you need to know call these numbers!!

What’s your favourite foods and drinks?

Love orange juice , I’m a sucker for chicken jo’… Love Italian food with words I can’t pronounce !!

Do you ever dream about your own music videos? If you had an unlimited budget for a music video what would you do?…

I would like to create another Shaka zulu’s kraal type set up for a video… That would be real.

What must happen for you to say “I made it!”?…

To see all the people we started this rap sheet with make it .. even the ones that have not got their shine yet .. when we all are married with kids and own businesses and talk investments instead of battlin’ mcees.

Which emcee (local or international) would you love to collaborate with?

Locally there’s five .. it would be a dream to collaborate with Shimane, Lebo and KG from DEEP LEVEL, PRO-VERB and PROKID young guns dunn… young guns !!!..internationally .. Arrrg!!! I don’t care I love my local mceees!!!

Favourite place to perform?…

Dockside In Cape town … aaaaaaaaaoh !!!!!..STD BANK ARENA… !!! The Dome in Jozi… The annual RAND SHOW … Man there’s quite a few!!

Do you have a day job?…

Well my 9.2.5 is @ mtn… Sales Consultant

Thanks for talking to us, keep doing what you doing and mad props to you. Do you have any last words, shoutouts?

Shout out to my baby Londeka , My son Khulile , to AfricasGateway, Amu, H20, Pro-verb, By Example, Harambe!! (badboy-t Lee and Sanza, UCT radio, Y-fm, Penny Lebyane, Skwatta Kamp, Zola, Wicked, Sbuda, rEVOLT , Hip-hop Pantsula (BABY PHAT) STAFF..every body showing love and who is doin’ the art justice … Dreams do come true look at us !!! since 1992 til now ..look at us !!

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