Asaph rules the roost
TOP-NOTCH hip-hop star Asaph, real name Tafadzwa Tarukwana, has described his recent nomination to represent the country at the MTV Africa Music Awards (Mamas) Listener’s Choice Category as thumbs up for the genre locally.
The LikeSo/Mhoroi singer, who shrugged off stiff competition from other local artistes, including Winky D and Jah Prayzah, to get the spot, will be up against 19 other musicians from across the continent who are also vying for top honours at a ceremony set for February 20 in Kampala, Uganda.
In an interview with StandardStyle on Friday, an ecstatic Asaph said the nomination had sentimental value for the genre as well as musicians from the city he hails from, Bulawayo.
“I hope it reassures people that they do not have to move and go somewhere to thrive but you can do it from where you are. In fact, the message should be the same for other cities and I know that there is a lot of work that should be put in terms of decentralisation and all, but it is possible,” he said.
“For hip-hop, this is a stamp of approval that we do not have to change our genres to make it big or gain recognition in our music scene but we can make our names through this genre.”
Over the years, Asaph has been proving his worth, churning out hit after hit, gaining endorsements and bagging gongs, in what has gotten him to earning the immense recognition.
“It is all a result of consistency and never feeling like I have achieved enough as I progress starting with my hood, my city, to the nation and now straight to the continent,” he said, adding that while he was not sure what the future holds, it “definitely will be much bigger than this”.
He will be hoping to defy the odds once more and become the second Zimbabwean artistes to bag a gong at the Mamas after Jah Prayzah brought it home in 2016.
Turning back to his music and what is in store for fans this year, the multi-award-winning rapper said he has set his eyes towards placing hip-hop on top of the local music food chain through collaborative work with local and international artistes like Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) and Focalist (South Africa).
“This year I will be working towards more solidification of Zimhip-hop and my plan is to work with artistes like R Peels and Holy Ten while I am also hoping that this nomination will make it easier for me to feature big names in the continent,” he said.
Asaph