Ti-Gonzi reflects on career mistakes

AWARD-WINNING rapper Tinashe “Ti Gonzi” (pictured) has disclosed that working with friends and a relative was the biggest mistake he made in his music career.

The rapper told NewsDay Life

& Style that some of the mistakes he made were a learning curve.

These included jumping into management deals without thinking them through and producing work without investing in quality.

“Working with friends and a relative was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. Also involving myself in projects that lack audio and video quality held me back. Rushing into management deals with people that I thought I trust and I end up in complicated situations. However, it’s been a learning curve,” he said.

The Zvenyu hitmaker, who travelled to several countries such as the United Kingdom and Senegal at the peak of his career, said he has also been hit hard by the impact of COVID-19.

“COVID-19 affected me a lot because it led me to signing one of my worst management deals ever and I don’t think I shall ever repeat that. However, I am working on an album, loads of singles and a number of collaborations,” he said.

“Surely music has rewarded me in a lot of ways and I don’t do anything else as business except music and music is my life.”

The musician, who became popular with the single, Zvenyu, which dominated the airwaves since the beginning of the year, has continued to dominate the hip-hop scene and went on to produce another hit Kure before he was attacked and robbed in 2019.

He said the character he portrays in his music is different from his real persona.

“My real character and the character I portray in my music are two different things. Also I am very talkative,” he chuckled.

Ti-Gonzi, who at one time was involved in a social media war with fellow musician Mudiwa Hood, disclosed that he wanted to be remembered for good reasons.

The Kufamba Murima hitmaker took to Instagram and expressed regret over what happened before and said God had provided a shield in his life.

“I wanna leave my footprints in the sands of time so that long after I am gone, I will be remembered for generations and generations to come. I always dreamt about all this as a young kid and it all began with just a dollar and a dream and sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and thank God for what he does for me. It has never been an easy road," he wrote.

“I have been through a lot, the struggles, the hate, the bad blood, the tears, the competition, the spiritual fights, the misunderstandings, the accidents, the experiences, the faults, the mistakes, the wrong decisions, the abuse, the weaknesses and the lack of opportunities but these experiences altogether couldn’t overpower the God-given gifts that God gave me.”

“I am not perfect. I am human also. I also fail God, but I thank those who stood by me since day one. Those who hate me, find it in your heart to forgive me and I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I have realised that the Nama Outstanding Male Musician accolade which was awarded to me (also Song of the Year award), comes with responsibilities, thus unifying us musicians, inspiring people as a role model, being an ambassador and to represent our Zimbabwean music industry. It’s a process,” he

said.