Let me start by saying that just before Cassper blew up, there was a woman called Ntsiki Mazwai who was tweeting constantly about him, she would even go as far as tweeting radio stations asking why they are not playing his music. So bottom line is…..Ntsiki is a fan. Despite the fact that he stole my song urongo without so much as acknowledging it, yes, you can google it Cassper uRongo….lol! yup. Anyways back to the matter at hand. I have loved watching Cassper grow and develop. I have been inspired by his work ethic and I was completely blown away at him selling out the dome. uCassper mina ungichazile…..up until that Sway interview. I have never been so embarrassed to be South African in my life.
That interview single handedly showed me that artists should not only focus on the craft…but artists should also be readers and be more conscious of the position they occupy. In an interview to MILLIONS of listeners world wide Cassper proceeded to grovel for Americans. I think what was even sadder to watch was the dj trying to bring consciousness to the conversation but Cassper just could not keep up. The dj started the interview by framing Hip Hop and its roots beginning in Afrika. That WHOLE conversation FLEW over Casspers head when in his response he started gushing about America and how we south Africans aspire to be American. No Cassper, that is just you and your self worth issues, the majority of south Africans are VERY African. And only some of the kids who grew up fluent in English aspire to be American, and let’s be honest now, that is quite a below average aspiration. Next time please speak for yourself and don’t make us ALL look ignorant.
Actually, that was the embarrassment, having that ignorance on the washing line for the whole world to see.
I suggest now that South African artists know that there is a global interest in us, can we start teaching ourselves about ourselves and our history. We cannot occupy global positions and gush at America. That is a disgrace. As the interview progressed you could literally feel the discomfort in studio as the co presenters didn’t know how to deal with suddenly being hailed as the gods of Africans. South Africa, you need to learn that you are powerful in your own right. You need to own it.
I wont go into how Cassper wanted American groupies over south African ones, that made him look rather lame I must admit. Then he proceeded to say that the experience he can give to an American groupie is that in SA he is a superstar so she will get mobbed. Really Cassper?? Really? The level of depth was sadly a missing element in that interview.
Essentially, in that whole 45mins Cassper said nothing powerful, nothing to make South Africa look good. He basically made us seem like we are a nation of Americas groupies. The interview left me feeling embarrassed about the youth. Do the youth really wanna be American? If so…..WOW!
I wonder if Cassper is aware that NO American has EVER filled up the dome, just like I wish that AKA knew that the Lyons are a cast of ACTORS, he is the real rapper. Would AKA think it is an achievement if he was on a set with the Generations cast?? So manje why does he think the Lyons are special? Ayi guys……a le eme ha nyani. Khani buye amazweni….niseMzansi.
Thankfully Casspers verse at the end of the interview saved most of his content. We are going to have to rather focus on that. But all I know is that, the next time DJ Sway wants to have a conscious conversation about Hip Hop in south Africa……please don’t call Cassper.
ntsikimazwai 