OHAYV HAVING A CHAT WITH Sisters 'n Rap

 

OHAYV BEN AHBIR

 

 Lot of people know him through a group called Khululekani from P.E and he was also a lead vocalist for Usiba Noncwadi, his stage name is Ohayv and now is busy focusing on his solo project. Lot of people know you from a song called Umzabalazo where you speak about the challenges most artists face in the Music Industry. 

 

SnR        Tell me more about the song, what inspired you at that time you were writing that song because lot of artists relate to that song and How do you feel when you performing it? 

Ohayv      Hard to explain how these songs come about, but with umzabalazo i had just release ma 1st solo ep and i had just did few shows in the eastern cape and when i got back i had all these emotions (good/bad) and was at the studio and Geel played that beat right there i took the beat and wrote the song.i wrote from the experience of all the years in involved in the music..and i struggled givin the song a title, Lol. I enjoy performin the song live, and it always feel good when people sing along to the lyrics...its just amazin how far it has reached people's souls and hearts. 

 

 SnR         It has been said that Umculo Buciko is originated from Eastern Cape and it covers range of concepts from rural areas, to townships to surbubs and its Rap and Poetry. So tell me is it the type of rap music you are doing?. As it claimed that most of artists in E.C are doing that type of Hip Hop genre.  

 

 Ohavy     Well, i don't know much about umculo buciko, i cant say i'm doing it / not. I'm confused a bit with all these new "names/titled" we give to hip hop, not saying we should but i choose to keep it simple, i'm doing soul-hip hop, that's all.. 

 

SnR         What is Truth Music?

Ohavy     Truth Music isn’t a genre but a concept we do our music under, it does nt mean its people who rap in Xhosa, or u from the eastern cape, it just simply means people who do music that represent the interests of God and His Truth. You can do soul, jazz and hip-hop and be Truth Music. It’s not a genre but a concept, and Truth Music was coined by the Hebrew Kollective krew.those are people who represent truth music. 

 

SnR       What difficulties did go through that time you decided that you wanna do your own music or focusing in your career mostly and how was the respond from your listeners or people who knows why back on khululekani/Siba Noncwadi ? 

Ohavy     As a solo artist, i had to go thru a process of people not really accepting me as alone, but they wished i go patch things up with Usiba Noncwadi/Khululekani.it was a bit frustrating and heavy on ma shoulders as people who always ask me about the other groups.it got more worse when i would read on facebook that people were blaming me for Usiba Noncwadi break up and all that.but it got easier and people began to get to terms with the fact that the other groups were done. now I’m holding it. 

 

SnR        Do you still work with Khululekani?  What did you learn from them? 

Ohavy    I still work with brothers, both Khululekani and USiba noncwadi, we do shows with Yahkeem, I do shows with wordsuntame and also other brothers would come and play with me at gigs sometimes. 

 

SnR       Which marketing strategy do you use to sell your music? 

Ohavy    I sell ma music thru emails, sms,radio,shows,social networks,etc.

 

 

 SnR      As you were in a Tour how long did it take you to plan the Tour and who are you working with(artist)? Please tell us more about it and the respond you got from these places you chose . Since you doing solo do you have a team behind Ohavy’s work or you have do everything by yourself, and why did you choose those various places? 

Ohavy     As for the tour plannings, i started plannin the Tour beginning of the year, i had to do some financial savings,make calls and bookings and travel arrangements. its been demanding since I'm working alone and a bit of help from active individuals at all tour cities...on the tour plan the cities are PE, JhB, pTa,CPT , EL, Bloemfontein...so far PE-PTA-BFN are done with and they were amazing and the attendance was quite impressive. I chose all those cities due to their musical vibes and the opportunities that are found there. The music industry is seriously business, and the issue now isn't genre, the issue is whether your music is profitable or not.no one is gonna treat your music fairly u will have to go out there and get whats yours, don’t ask, go get it. Hip hop is music, news and recognition in South Africa and that presents a good opportunity for upcoming hip hopers to state their case. 

 

 SnR        You as an Artist how do you feel about the Industry? Is Hip Hop treated fairly? 

Ohavy     Well, hip hop isn't the same no more for an old school hip hop loving head.all i can is say the concept in lyrics nowadays isn't impressive to me.and we ain't really addressing the issues that affect us on the social living.the Idea has changed, we all about success,hype and street cred.we not learning from each other, we dontg relate to each , we not telling our true story,we do this for the wrong reasons...and some fellas ain't got enough drive to push hard, they too lazy.hip hop is about movement and inspiring people to better themselves and their communities.but its all changed.

 

SnR        If you were to given a chance to talk about Hip Hop what would you say? Message to your fans/ Supporters out there? 

Ohavy     Supporting what we doing and we'll keep making it, lets be visible and lets make noise about our local artists.we love our fans.  

Thank you for your time