|
|
|
|
|
Double dose of Jozi spirit
|
November 23, 2009
By Therese Owen
"Did Bongani Fassie leave Jozi with a yip, yip, yip?" quipped Skwatta Kamp's Flabba when he heard the rumours in the hip hop circle.
Teenage crunk sensation Jozi began as a foursome - Crazy Lou, Bongani Fassie, Da Les and Ishmael. Before they really exploded, Crazy Lou quit Jozi to help the starving in Japan, or something along those lines.
Then Jozi released the track Motherland Crunk and teenage fans fell in love with them.
Lyrics like "What's wit da attitude? Why you gotta be so rude?" and "All my peeps across the land, stomp your feet and raise your hands. This one's from the motherland", struck at the core of the born-frees. In fact, Jozi was probably the first South African group to appeal to this generation.
They represented the facile generation of Twitter, Facebook, bling and party, party, party 'cos nothing else really matters.
Like their US counterparts, TI and Lil Wayne, Jozi's lyrics were as vacuous as their fans. No statements needed, just please have as much fun as you can, and make sure you look cool while you're doing it.
Bongs, Ish and Da Les were simply da sheeit!
Then sheeit went down.
Da Les released a solo album, with that irritatingly catchy Tippy Toes and the anthemic We're on Fire.
Perhaps it was then that Bongani became dissatisfied. After all, being the heir apparent to the Brenda Fassie royal family meant that he was always the chosen one. Bongz and Da Les were best mates since high school and now Da Les was famous in his own right.
Not so, says Da Les: "It all started going wrong during the mixing of our new album," he explains. "Things didn't go smoothly. There were many times when he confided that he wanted to leave."
That Fassie has left Jozi is confirmed. What many fans worry about is just what exactly the group is going to do without him. Truth be told, Wildlife is an excellent album with 16-pumping tracks. Think Akon and Black Eyed Peas meet Brenda, with a double dose of Jozi and their unique Mzansi energy.
But, here's the catch - Bongz produced eight tracks and Ishmael produced the other eight. But, Ishmael's tracks are as good, (at times better) than Mr Fassie's.
"Well, we're more pop now," says the modest Ishmael. "But we are creating our own style of music. It's an amazing thing."
Aside from the radio hit Gotta Keep it Going, the album contains one of the songs of the year, Turn It Up. It is an electro, hip hop dance track of note. I predict it will be a dance anthem for this summer.
Watching Jozi perform at the launch of Wildlife a few weeks ago, it's clear that, professionally, Ishmael and Da Les have moved on. The chemistry between the two of them is alive and authentic. They are cohesive and far tighter and more focused as a unit. They have exchanged those awful, arrogant crumpers for some pantsula dancers, who do gumboot dancing, too. This gives the group a real South African feel, as opposed to some wannabe Americanas.
And then, of course, there are the international plans.
The album is to be remixed by Gordon "The Commissioner" Williams, who produced the award-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and worked with KRS 1 and Jay-Z.
South African producer Pete Martin, who is currently working with Doctor Dre, will also remix some of the tracks. The album is set for its international release next year. With tracks this hot and high-profile producers behind them, Jozi are set for worldwide fame and fortune.
Yet, there is a sadness among the two remaining members. "Of course I'm sad," admits Da Les. "He's my best friend. I wish he would come back. I have been skateboarding for the past three weeks. That's all that's saved me."
Ishmael interrupts: "Can you imagine what Bongani is going through?"
"Yeah," says Da Les. "Enough is enough. Actually, please come back. I believe he will come back."
[Email this story...]
[Easy Print...]
|
|
