SA rapper hits Billboard charts
SOUTH African rapper Saudi celebrates his first entry onto the Billboard Top 100 chart following his contribution on the official soundtrack album of the movie Black Panther.
The premiere of Black Panther paved the way for local artists such as Saudi, whose real name is Anele Mbisha, and Babes Wodumo to feature in a successful music production, led by Kendrick Lamar.
The Ambitiouz Entertainment artist said he had not fully grasped the fact that he was among the artists who had made it onto the Billboard Top 100 chart.
The single titled X features the local rapper alongside hip-hop heavyweights Schoolboy Q and 2 Chainz. Black Panther: The Album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.
And adding to that, the single titled X debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.
“I don’t think it has really sunk in yet.
“But I’m definitely grateful that I was featured on a single that debuted at No 49 on the Billboard Top 100 chart,” said Saudi.
He added: “I feel honoured and just blessed.
“It’s almost unbelievable that I was lucky enough to be on this global production, considering where I’m at in life, where I’m at in my career and where I come from. “It’s too great a leap.” The 23-year-old said Lamar was quite clued upon his style and artistry.
“The brief was pretty much ‘do your thing and have fun’.”
He said he had watched the highly publicised film and felt it was an honest representation of Black Consciousness and a realistic depiction of black people all over the world.
He rates the film a perfect 10 out of 10.
As an African hip-hop artist, Saudi said he thought the continent was represented extremely well for a fictional film.
The recording artist is currently working on a mixtape titled
Senaoane (the name of the place in
Soweto where he grew up) as well as an EP that’s titled Saudi, which will serve as an appetiser to his second album, which will be titled JAPAN FOUR.
“My fans should also expect direct and public interactions and even more intimacy in the music… Fans can expect more visuals of myself and for songs on my debut studio album Drugs Inc.”
The official Make You Proud music video was released on Friday.
“And there will definitely be more songs (aside from projects) that will be released on the road to
JAPAN FOUR,” he pointed out.