Young Byo hip hop artiste looking for sponsorship

BULAWAYO has over the years been a reputable city well known for unleashing the country's most talented artistes in different genres.

However, some of these talented individuals have failed to make a name for themselves in their respective industries due to lack of funds.

This is the story of Geezy 7 (G7) , born Nkanyiso Moyo, who is undoubtedly talented, but has been crippled by lack of sponsorship which has been a major obstacle to his break-through in the music industry.

In an interview with Chronicle Entertainment, G7 from Cowdray Park said his musical life has been stalled by lack of sponsorship and support from local radio stations.

"My genre is hip-hop and I started rapping mostly in Ndebele way back in 2003. Since I was in high school at Mzingwane High, I have always been rapping about life and we formed a group called No Skeen, which comprised four members. We stopped at nothing when it came to our rap sessions," he said

After high school the optimistic rapper targeted taking his sessions to the next level and with the help of friends he started recording his music.

"After high school I took my rapping to the next level and collaborated with C'Dawg who helped on a number of things such as how to record my music. However, it was not enough because we lacked resources, our marketing strategies were also ineffective," said the rapper.

G7 says he approached many producers but his efforts were futile as he could not get the help he sought and neither could he get any form of appreciation from local producers who at that time wanted to make fast money than look at the talent lying right before them.

By then, rapping in Ndebele was not yet so popular with the producers because they were mainly focusing on already established artistes.

Drawing his inspiration from South Africa's Tear Gas, the upcoming rapper says he has managed to release singles such as "Life Yimpilo, My Life, Yimina and Forever. He shed more light on his life and revealed how things had never been easy dating back to when he had his mix tapes on the streets with the first one titled All Sweat No Play, which has tracks that could make people mistake him for Tear Gas.

"My inspiration comes from the late Biggie Smallz, Tear Gas and Weezy, but I still have not forgotten how to rap in isiNdebele and Shona because I believe it is what appeals to the people, " he said.

Biggie Smallz was an American rapper who was gunned down in a 'drive past'.

Despite lack of funds the rapper never gave up as he went on to join forces with Volte Face Records who did most of the recording which has till this day motivated the vibrant rapper not to give up and release his mix-tape.

The rapper also believes that with enough funding he can turn around the music industry with his box fresh rap. He also urged other artistes who are already established to help up and coming artistes as they are tomorrow's future. He also said he hoped to release an album this year from which two of his singles are ready.

"I am hoping that I will get a sponsor and if all goes well I can release my album sometime in September. I have so far worked on two singles and they are good," said the charismatic rapper.

The vibrant up and coming rapper says if he could get a sponsor he would take rap to a whole different level.

"I am appealing to the corporate world to help me out and I promise nothing but the best. I would also like to urge all the Kasi-Rappers to persevere," G7 said.