When these three walk into The Namibian, there is certain aura you pick up. They bring ego, something that is prerequisite in the hip-hop industry (everyone has a little Yeezy in them).
Each bringing their own sound to the game and despite competing in a predominantly Western genre of music, they are 100% local.
Consisting of the NAMAs 2014 Best Newcomer and ‘father figure’ Jean Michael, lyricist Neptune Black, female rapper Tatted Mama and R B singer Basil, all four elements come together to form a group under the word play Jeanius Music.
The mastermind behind the group, Jean-Michael has been in the game since the days of Cabinet ReShuffle in 2010, and later branched out Run N.A.M.S. He attributes his Jeanius Music brainchild to RUN N.A.M.S, saying “it was a musical school for me that time”.
Establishing this label came about from his observation of the talent of young Namibians in the country. “We don’t have the right structures so people don’t know what to do with their talent.”
It only seemed fitting that in the name of hip-hop and pushing the game, he started Jeanius: a chance for him to “add substance to the game” and an opportunity to branch out and invest into himself in the long run.
Considering that it is a music group, it is essential for each person to bring their own sound. Harmonising that sound is the hardest part and is based on the dynamics in the group and what criteria Jean set out when scouting for artists.
Jeanius Music are a family, they have a history. They might not have been musically related in the past but this is a journey that seems to be working for them.
When it came to finding artist to place under his wing, Jean-Michael knew what he was looking for: artists who have a presence! “You have to be making noise.” This motivated his decision to sign Neptune Black and Tatted-Mama.
“Neptune Black, for one, has a really good work ethic. Every time I bumped into him, he was always trying to get his music out there.”
Neptune Black says he has been in the industry for a couple of years, of which most of that time he spent studying the game and “studying” his “opponents”.
“You know mos, he is in your face with everything. You cannot escape him,” Jean-Michael jokingly adds.
Smack bam in the middle, we have Tatted-Mama. She is loud, edgy and brings a different look to the table. Jean describes her as the ‘wild card’ in the group. “She is a free-spirit and ready to take the game on.”
Initially it was not in the cards to add a female to the group but Jean believes that local female rappers are “boxed-in”. Having been friends prior to signing her, he noticed that “she is a natural behind the mic, she just doesn’t know it yet… Slowly but surely, it is becoming believable to her and she is starting to embrace it”.
Tatted-Mama explains that the journey was indeed intimidating and scary at first but she is owning it now. “I feel like this is for me. I found myself. I came out of the box.” She admits to not always knowing what she wanted to do with her life and being ‘stuck’ but now, she finally knows who she is. Studio sessions are the best part, in her opinion. “When it’s just us doing our music, we get to know each other more.”
When it comes to her competition, she believes she has none. “I want competition, that will motivate me to work harder… I can spit anything. There is no other rapper doing what I’m doing.”
In the words of Jean’s inspiration Jay-Z, “y’all must try harder. Competition is nada”.
Let this be an open invitation for more female rappers to come out and add to the game. Jean-Michael believes there are a lot of factors that hold women back. Tatted-Mama shares the sentiment. “Being a female rapper in Namibia is hard. Your content has to be different.”
The fourth member, R B/Soul singer and songwriter Basil, is an artist who Jean believes is brilliant. “He has so much talent but nobody knows him.”
In an email interview, Basil sees himself as the artist who “relaxes you with soothing vocals and attractive lyrics”.
Being in the music industry is hard but he has had to learn patience, something that is required when you are fighting for something you are passionate about. Having known Jean-Michael from high school, he believes in the vision of Jeanius Music; working with artists who really want to make their dreams a reality. “I believe one has gotta dream big in order to chase it.”
The general consensus from the group, which I find admirable, is their respect for Jean-Michael. Tatted-Mama and Neptune Black consider him to be a father figure and inspiration.
“Jean always encouraged me to push and work towards my goals in terms of my career. He initiated it, came up with the name (Tatted-Mama) and I bought it.”
Keeping It Local
The group is soon to release an album entitled ‘Status Quo’ which Jean describes a compilation of the different elements that create one sound that is truly local.
Neptune Black says their lyrics are raw. “We spent countless nights in the studio, we ‘sunrised’ in that studio.” Their latest single ‘The Big Picture’ is the essence of that.
Even if rap might sound Western, “there is something that will bring you home”, says Jean. “It is one of our most explicit tracks, but also makes a big statement.”
“We are trying to do it for a long time, we’re not just here for now. You’re gonna hear about it 10 years after this,” Neptune Black added with a smile.
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