AFTER being sacked by Zimpapers’ Star FM last year, local rapper Black Bird, born Nonkululeko Vundla, has told NewsDay that she would not be deterred, but rather work hard to revive her once spirited music career. WINSTONE ANTONIO
“I am a goal-getter who is not affected by setbacks and do not allow previous circumstances to weigh me down,” BlackBird said back then.
True to her words, the talented rapper is back as she has launched a new 30-minute hip-hop television programme, The Hot Box, which started screening on Monday this week on local television station ZTV.
Black Bird told NewsDay recently that she felt hip-hop was not getting fair coverage and, therefore, decided to produce the programme she felt would provide the artistes with a platform to promote their music.
“In order to nurture the hundreds of rising hip-hop artistes in Zimbabwe, I decided to launch the The Hot Box aimed at creating a synergy of various elements to encourage the development of local hip-hop,” Black Bird said.
She said local musicians should work hard and strive to make productions of international quality.
“As artistes, we must aim higher and show that as Zimbabweans, we can make quality productions that can compete with foreign standards,” Black Bird said.
She said the second edition of the programme was going to feature award-winning hip-hop rapper Tatea Da MC (born Tatenda Nziramasanga), with whom she features in one of her steamy videos.
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Black Bird said she was on the verge of setting up a production house in the capital which would be providing quality content to the sole broadcaster.
The rapper made history in 2010 when she became the first female to release a hip-hop album in Zimbabwe.
In 2013, she received international recognition when her song was featured on an album that brings together the world’s exciting upcoming talents, titled World Hip Hop Women: From the Sound Up.
The mix-tape featured artistes from countries such as the United States of America, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Morocco, New Zealand, Korea, Cuba and South Africa.
