From where do you originate (your home) and did your origin influence you music in a way?

Pretoria has become my home but I am originally from Limpopo. The scene here and in Limpopo is different in the sense that back in Limpopo there's trees and rivers and this environment pushed my style and lyrics towards a more smooth flow but now that I am in Pretoria my style and lyrics are still smooth but now I am more sharp its like I have changed from a dolphin to a shark. I hate sharks though so rather from a guppy to a dolphin.

What has pushed you or has motivated you to pursue hiphop as a musical preference rather than the typical kwaito or dj-ing especially as a black South African?

I chose hiphop because I can rap and also because we can freely use the English language as a means of communication. I am Pedi and I can speak Pedi fluently but if I rhymed in Pedi not so many people would be able to understand what I was saying. We want people to understand what we are saying and many people understand English.

Before your present position where you ever involved with other musical groups?

Yes! First it was "12 tribes of the Apocalypse" and this group had 4 members, the name was based on the twelve tribes of Israel and the apocalypse is based on the hundred and forty four thousand Israelites at the end of the world then "Delusions of Grandeur".

If there be one musician you would love to perform with who would it be?

Anyone, as long as the money is right but nationally it would be "Tumi and the Volume" and internationally it Would be Mosdef, this guy is a self-sufficient artist an artistic dream.

What is your take on this war between hiphop and kwaito and do you think that SA hiphop could truly be regarded as a south African concept?

This issue goes back to where hiphop is from. Hiphop is from Africa and it was exported to America by slave ships, so if an African person in Africa does hiphop all it means is that they are claiming all that which was theirs. I won't playa hate Kwaito because I am a fan of kwaito I just feel that South African musicians should spend less time shutting each other down but rather spend more time creating ladders for each other.

Do you think that the recently released South African hiphop albums are good enough to be expressed on the world market?

These albums are tight and they can do anything they want to. It's not really about my opinion but rather about thinking and doing. We will only know if these albums go overseas. I do not want to cast judgement on anyone but all I can say is that I will keep doing until I get and so must they.

Do you think that South Africa has or is creating their own version of hiphop?

Yes. In the sense that our hiphop has a different message and its a different battle. We do not rap about hoods but rather about something other than hoods. The struggle is still the same though.

Do you think that the South African market has been receptive to what hiphop has had to offer?

 I am not sure but I would like to think so. The scary thing though is that it is the twelve year olds that buy cds. We as artists need to find the right market and exploit it to the fullest. South African mentalities and stereotypes have to also be broken down, if a person grows up listening to "shake that thing " it becomes a bit harder for one to introduce this person to something new so we need to educate and give our people alternatives to what already exists.

What do you think separates South African hip-hop with what the rest of the world has got to offer?

The subject matter vocabulary and influences, but me Melanin I try to remind people about blackness and its beauty and significance so I would say that.

So this is all I had time for but I am sure that this is just the beginning of great things to come for Melanin but up until then, peace out and do not forget to look out for his new album at a later month.

Interview By Enoch

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