Where you from and who is Spex?

I was born and raised in Msawawa, Jo'burg. I was born in Diepkloof, stayed in the surburbs for a year or two and but I've been staying in Jo'burg's innercity since '95. And so I think that Spex aka SPEXtatah is a product of this upbringing.

How long have you been involved with Hip Hop and what attracted you to the culture?

I've been into hip hop since around '88. What attracted me to the culture was how emcees could just bust a phat story on a verse and make it
entertaining.  That was with people like Slick Rick but I was also strongly captivated by Public enemy and KRS One, who I feel is still in the top 3 who
exposed the political/conscious and lyrical styles of hip hop. But I think that I've been captivated since I saw some breakdance programme on late-night Tv in the early 80's.

I see you got an EP out now, tell us how is it doing? Tell us a bit about the EP.

The EP is not doing too well, sales-wise. but since its release, i've seen hip hop getting a bit more respect and so at least that's good.
It contains 8 tracks, 5 original tracks, 2 remixes and an intrumental. It was my first go at releasing a record so I wanted it to show my versatility from the word GO. I did the battle track, Punchline Festival, the love track featuring Fusi's sultry voice, Matters of the heart(M.O.T.H.), the jazz/poetry track, RHYMZiWROTE, a street track, Hizo, and Gunning to getchu, a fictional gangster track that I wrote fro a movie. So it is basically a showcase of what to expact in future. Just to tantalise your tastebuds, y'know?

Who you been working with these days?

Iko is thge producer that I always work with, but for the new album, besides myself and Iko, I've enlisted the help of Richard the third, he did Mizchif's place for a wife, Ramesh, He did "Stay Black' on the Muthaload compilation, and a couple of other new heads on production.

What are your thoughts on the South African Hip Hop scene?

It is a little confused identity-wise but the potentail is amazing. It is definitely growing and in a year or two, i'm sure it will be running tings in SA.

What local hip hop artists do you admire and hate?

I don't really admire anyone locally but I've got major espect for shaheen as an m.c and P.O.C as performers.  I don't hate anyone, just fake emcees.

Have you been in any battles lately? What was your most memorable battle?

Lately, kids are scared to appoach. There was this kid talking a lot about Spex ain't a real emcee a year or so ago. you know i don't go around talking
RAh-Rah' and acting like some greater-than-thou hip-hopper. I just like to chill, build and have fun. Anyway, He was like: I can take him out anytime,
he can't see me. One day, him and his boys were having a cypher and the place had a lot of people hanging around. So I walk up, listening to the kid
rapping. I wasn't feeling him (he was one of those american accent and big words kids) So i just walked in and started rhyming. I just bust one of my long freestyle verses and when i finished everybody was just giving me love, including the big mouth kid. I didn't wanna call him out straight up. I thought that he was embarassed enough.

What tip are you on lyrically?

I do battle rhymes, you know. but I get more satisfaction when i've finished a tight story rhyme or just something about life that you can feel. I've even
got a "political" track on my new album.

What makes you angry about the local scene?

Kids just sound American. From slang to accent. they not puting in an effort to be original hip hop rule #1.

How would you compare the scene in JHB and Cape Town?

I was in Cape town for the first time for a week recently and I must say, the first difference you notice is that Cape Town has more tags than JHB. I
discovered that Breakdancing, graffiti and djing were practiced as much as emceeing.  Basically, Cape Town has more CuLTURE. JHB is just full of emcees.

Have you checked out the other scenes in the rest of Africa?

No, not really. I only read about them on the internet, you know. Big up
http://www.africanhiphop.com

Where can we find you performing?

For details of where I'll be performing next, check out my new website:
http://www.spexonline.co.za

What plans do you have for the future?

My album, IT'S A HIJAK, should be out before easter 2001. I'm also working on a label so I can put out more SA hip-hop. And the first release should be
dropping just after my album.

Any Shoutouts and additional comments?

Big up to everybody that's supporting hip-hop positively and not just sitting around and criticising. Check out RhymzIwrote. PEACE

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