Ugie Mob get their break with release
AFTER years trying to make it in the music industry, hip-hop group Ugie Mob finally got their breakthrough with the release of their single this week.
The Ugie-based group’s latest single titled, Sangena was released on Tuesday, under a Johannesburg record label, Stickstainment.
This came through the support of the Elundini local municipality.
The rap group is made up of, Sivuyile “SVG” Makhwelo, Abongile “Magqalo” Mjuleni, Siviwe “Preacher” Mdlokovana, Sinethemba “Decomposer” Mgaqanga and Lucky “Gigabyte” Mjobo.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch this week during their promotional tour, the group said the single’s release had been a long time coming for them.
“We were two groups before deciding to form Ugie Mob. In 2011 we entered the Elundini local municipality talent search, Dare to Dream.
“Even though we didn’t win, we took second place and got an opportunity to work with Sliq Angel at his My Roots Entertainment Studio in Johannesburg,” Makhwelo said.
Dare to Dream is the same competition that singing sensation Nathi Mankayi won a few years back. His sister Amanda was the winner in 2011 when the Ugie Mob took second place.
After a successful recording at My Roots Entertainment studios in 2012, the group thought they were on their way to the top.
However, that was not the case as the two singles they worked on never made
“There was a song we did with kwaito star Bricks and we thought we are going to the top now. When the songs didn’t come out we were disappointed,” Mdlokovana said.
Fast forward to 2014, after their experience with Sliq Angel, the group joined another label that promised to get them to the top in no time. “Even that didn’t end well, but it didn’t discourage us. We kept on telling ourselves that we would continue doing what we love and a breakthrough would come,” Mdlokovana said.
Earlier this year they met with the Johannesburg record label and have been working hard ever since.
“After recording one song with the guys we were convinced that this is it. That is why we called our first single, Sangena, Makhwelo said.
The group is due to release their extended play (EP) by October 1.
Mdlokovana said for the first time in their lives, they felt that they were truly making music.
“We used to think making music is easy but it’s not.”
Mjuleni said they were excited that people would finally get to hear rap which is inspired by their rural upbringing.
“People will hear something different, it’s new and fresh.”
The group said they were grateful to their municipality, which has been supporting them since their Dare to Dream competition days.
“They believed in us and have been encouraging us. We are thankful to the community at large,” Mjobo said. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za it to the airwaves.