Bio of one of the illest indie hip hop artists in SA, Snazz D. Currently riding with Cashless Society, Audio Visual and Groundworks…Read on for more details

SNAZZ THA DICTATOR a.k.a TIME tha superior being

“Heavy metal for the black people”. The dictionary definition of “snazzy” sounds like hiphop; sophisticated, smart, casual, and attractive,. The name stuck after i embodied cool at school talent shows doing cover versions of NWA dressed in black with shades on not smiling, i was about 14 years old.

After starting and dissolving groups for about ten years, then having my demo refused by Gallo Records here in JHB. ( they said there wasn’t a market for hiphop ), I became a underground legend and imfamous for ruthless freestyles which usually ended with a bloody nose, black and blue brother, but pride intact for holding down. I read so many books that my styles of writing became specialized to a point where i switched my hand writing to calligraphy to stop biters!

Socially concious tracks with a touch of humor and irony became my goal- an attempt to unite the earth in peace through music. Snazzy D symbolizes hope 4 love and knowledge.

Works include three white label releases on Groove Attack records in Germany, numerous joint ventures with crewz round the way including Audio Visual, Groundworks ( Cape Town) and Unreleased Rec. soldiers. I do a radio show weekly for free,hip hop workshop class on writing every Saturday, also hosting Open Mics at Metropolis Club (previous shows included What What a.k.a. Jean Grae and Mr.Len From Company Flow)

* Have collaborated with Black Sunshine and P.E.R.M. member Tumi a.k.a.Phatboy on a Masauko produced track called “Stuck”
* Did a short piece for soon to blow up M.C/producer Ramesh ,an underground indie label owner.
* Participated on Groundworks track “Dungeon Keepers”

TELEVISION APPEARANCES

* Did a full length commercial for the Independent Electoral Commission and Mail&Guardian newspaper in which I played a robber in a shop who while holding up the store looks behind him at a reflection of himself in a mirror and shoots illustrating the futility of crime and encouraging the youth to vote.
* Freestyled on Walala Wasala ( an urban youth programme) on the importance of knowing one’s rights

OPENED FOR * DEAD PREZ IN 2000 @ MEGAMUSIC WAREHOUSE * BOBBITO, WHAT-WHAT & MR LEN (@ METROPOLIS) * JONZI D (JUNGLECONNECTION) * BLACK SUNSHINE (MEGAMUSIC WAREHOUSE JUNGLE CONNECTION)

WORKED WITH * Masauko ( Black Sunshine ( Los Angeles New York Johannesburg) * Shaheen (Prophets of the City ( Cape Town ) * Qwela the Brainchild ( Kataclysm ( Harare Zimbabwe, Cologne Germany) * Jonzi D ( London ) * Kluso + M.C. Remarkable (Bonn, Cologne, Germany)

INFLUENCES

L.O.N.S. , KRS 1, P.R.T.,P.E.,N.W.A.,E.P.M.D.,SLICK RICK, G RAP, A.T.C.Q, DE LA,BLACK MOON and on the West Coast SAAFIR, DEL, SOULS OF MISCHIEF, PHARCYDE,HIEROGLYPHICS,ICE CUBE,while at home I admired the writings of local authors such as Bessie Head, Don Mattera which was hard to obtain since a lot of material was banned by the ruling party at the time.

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