NOELLO: MAKING HIS MARK
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Lesego Bogatsu
Location : GABORONE
Event : Profile
When asked what they are strutting their stuff about, most local Hip-hop artistes will tell you it is all in the lyric. It is not just about the beat, they say. Most ordinary Batswana still do not seem to get it. It is all about the message in the song, and the beat only helps to carry it. And because of that, the appreciation of their artistry is still at infancy.
Ok. What is the message then, you might ask. Every Hip hop artiste raps about economy, social and political empowerment, against violence, and promotes human dignity.
But of course music is also about experiencing life positively, love, happiness and change. That is what Hip-hop in general entails.
One such artiste is Orapa born Moemedi ‘Noello` Letlhalerwa. Noello`s lyrics bewail drug abuse, violence, poverty, and dangers of early sexual indulgence.
Sometimes the music is purely about good ol` fun. And he will brag about it too for a good measure.
As a young man in the army, his music skidded off the beaten road. He diverted from usual BDF “Big Band” tunes that almost every tom, dick and harry will quietly hum along at any day.
His music, he says, promotes national security and issues such as race, gender, sexuality and culture. Noello`s style and wide range of topics bring across a sense of balance and reality that have been lacking in local rap culture.
Some people think hip-hop music spoils the youth. Most of them who think along this line experience hip-hop music with the aspect of the teenage sub-culture which understandably terrifies the older generation – teen boys and girls strolling around looking all high or half-dead on dope, with baggy pants dropping way below the waist line, spotting tattoos and rings hanging from nostrils, tongues and every limb on their bodies.
But the insiders will tell you about the positive aspects of hip-hop. This genre, they say, realistically reflects the plight of the youth within their sub-culture.
As hip-hop is part of an important youth culture and urban art, artistes like Noello are always looking to pitch things up to new levels. They talk of mixing the traditional hip hop with some local Motswako.
His lyrics describe an entire new era of experience, be it his mixing of languages as a kind of a lyrical meltdown, fashion, attitude towards music as an art form as well as just art for art`s sake, which frees art from the heavy yokes of cultural expectations.
Hip-hop is in many ways connected to blues and jazz. It follows the legendary 30`s Bebop. In that era, great bluesmen such as American Robert Johnson, soul men such as Otis Redding come to mind.
And indeed veterans like Big Mama Thornton can be mentioned as inspirers of generations of black music out of which came hip hop and rap.
The culture of hip-hop followed on musical genres that came to existence as one way of bringing solace during the American civil rights movement. And as Noello says, nothing stays, or needs to stay the same.
Modern hip-hop may not be much like what it was in the 60s and 70s but it certainly borrowed from themes of those days.
One of the few things that keep Noello inspired and motivated is the lyrical flow and unique style of the overall winner of South African Music Awards (SAMA) 2013 - Khuli Chana. He is deeply fascinated by this musician.
Noello is driven by other talents too: “Not many fans of mine know how multi-talented I actually am,” he says. “I make wall hangings, I draw, sculpt, and I understand a host of other art techniques. But working with pencil and charcoal is what I enjoy most.”
Having a mix tape and few albums under his wing, Noello recalls how he met his producer, Risq, in 2009 and recorded his first six-track album called Macheck-check. From then on it was just music all the way. 10 Haters 2 Friends (Turn Haters To Friends) which came after a collaboration with A.T.I in a mix tape that notched Noello`s stardom higher, is the most interesting with songs such as Chameleon and Sukiri Jam, among others, which took fans by storm.
No matter what faith you follow, every individual exists for a greater purpose. Some might regard one`s contribution as very small while others may see it as extremely large.
No doubt Noello`s artistic abilities will go a long way to motivate aspiring youth. ENDS
Teaser:
Someone might have a gem of talent, but 90 per cent of it is about … what you do with it. Instinct alone won`t carry you through the entire journey - Korede Bello...
