ZOOCCI: An unstoppable ‘Morning Star’
Hip hop sensation is so serious about being a force to be reckoned with that it borders on impatience, writes Helen Herimbi
HIS BRAIDS curl up the sides of his head and he rarely touches his signature snapback cap to tuck them behind his ears. Two thin gold chains hang down his chest and his pensive look is omipresent throughout our conversation. Everything about Zoocci Coke Dope is consistent with the image he’s been projecting since bursting onto the scene about two years ago.
The 23-year-old, who was born Andile Sibabalwe, is so serious about being a producer and vocalist who is a force to be reckoned with, that it borders on impatience. “I feel like I spent a lot of time outside of where it’s really happening in the industry and my peers are way ahead of me,” Zoocci says. “I have a lot of catching up to do. “The people I look up to started way young. But I spent about three years of my life working from 8am to 4am the next day, every day. Just trying to get better and do good work.”
In that time, he was the producer behind Blaklez’s radio-friendly, Freedom or Fame. Zoocci also produced and featured on songs like DJ Speedsta’s I Don’t Know and Just To Flex, Flavours as well as Pablo, all by fellow Vth Season signee, Big Star. Most recently, the Pretoria-raised artist has released his own EP, Morning Star.
The title track presents a duality that he calls a split personality.
“With people I know, I’m very energetic and like ‘I want to take over the world. I also have a side where I am a reserved introvert. With decision-making, there’s always been a conflict between those two personalities.”
That’s why two of his voices are on the track, wrestling with each other. The good guy raps: Lately, I’ve been chasing things that don’t have a price tag. It ends with four gunshots and the good guy is no more. “When the gun shots go off, the ‘let’s go do everything now’ guy shoots the good, humble, graceful guy. That’s what the whole EP is about. When you care, you increase the chance of a whole lot of things going wrong and them affecting you, so I’ve learnt to go for whatever I want and not let anyone stop me, as opposed to how I used to hold back in the past.”
Something else that doesn’t stop Zoocci from holding back is vitiligo. The different skin tones, for instance around his mouth, make him instantly recognisable.
“It’s been on me way before I could remember and it’s in my baby pictures. People are weird,” he grins. “They’ll think about it and give me eyes the whole time and not say anything, but I don’t mind talking about it.”
On Morning Star, he tells stories that give the listener a glimpse into his real life. “The music is personal,” he says. “I wouldn’t like to involve my family. I’ll speak about everything from my perspective.”
He lets us in on how he believes his dad is proud of him from the grave and how his mother is famous in her office because her son is on the cusp of fame and fortune. On the EP, Zoocci mentions that his father died thinking Zoocci was upset with him.
“I don’t think I could ever reconcile my feelings because it’s something I think about. Probably if I ever see him again that would be the reconciliation.” Was he really upset with his father? “I was “I wouldn’t have expected him to leave at that time. I knew it was something we could sort out at any time.”
Zoocci is using his time to push himself closer to his dreams. All Night Long, featuring A-Reece, is his latest single and the video sees goat imagery, A-Reece in a casket, Zoocci’s eyes turning black.
“I’ve had good and bad feedback,” he shakes his head. “People will tweet me to say ‘I was rooting for you until I saw that video, devil worshipper. Some things are just art. Enjoy how it looks instead of judging it off things you don’t know for sure. My intention is to break barriers and show people not be scared. I’m just trying to give you a different outlook and a different direction.”
That seems to be his aim with all the moves he’s making and we’re watching.