Mopedy

* When did you start singing?
At an early age! I can’t even recall, but took it as a career back in 2004 when I teamed up with Mash to form a hiphop/RNB duo called M10.

* What is the purpose behind your music?
To educate and tell the tales of my people (ba pedi & the Limpopo community as a whole).

* How many albums have you released and how are they selling?
I am yet to release an album, although my singles have been circulating the streets of Limpopo and radio stations across the country. In terms of sales, none have been made this far because I am giving out my music for free via hardcopy, bluetooth and free download on my website www.mopedy.co.za. The reason for giving it out for free is that I am still building a brand to which the response is super positive thus far.

* What inspired you to sing hip hop in Sepedi?
Besides being proud of who I am, I grew up speaking Sepedi. It’s the only language which I am comfortable with and I believe I express myself better in the language.

* Besides music, what else are you busy with?
I am a radio presenter at Radio Turf, presenting a hip hop show called the free flow, every Friday 8-10pm and I run my events & artist management company called Verbal Silence Entertainment. I am also a student at the University of Limpopo studying BSc in water and sanitation.

* What differentiates your music from other hiphop music?
Besides the language factor, I also include humour in my music. I also like using people’s names in my lines.

* How do people receive you at gigs?
The response has been great this far and I have to say its not surprising, because I produce good music. The trick that I learned is not to take advantage of your audience, and that’s a trick I learned with time.

* Did you choose music or did music choose you?
I’m a born poet who learned how to give it rhythm, hence today I am a hiphop artist.

* What do you hope to achieve before the end of this year and beyond?
To record, package and release my debut album (lentswe laka/oh my word).

* Who are the artists you dream of collaborating with?
To join up with South African artists that rap or sing in other South African languages and to produce an album with eleven official S.A languages. A collaboration that can be expected in my upcoming album would be on a track where I feature a Tsonga R&B singer and a Venda rapper.

* Who writes and produces your songs?
I compose my own music and Mash is my producer.

Thanks for your time, and good luck with your future plans!