Behind every great collaboration theres always a interesting story and this one is no different... Long before Kwesta was a recognisable figure or known outside rap circles I was working on fulfilling my life-long dream of releasing an album, with what was then my lifes work, in stores and celebrated by music loving South Africans from all walks of life. I was on the verge of making a reality of my aspirations and although I was relatively unknown at the time I knew, if no-one else did, that once I had my first project out, I could then see myself in the same light as I saw many of the great musicians I idolised growing up. I also though it would be a great coup to work with some of them on that album and sought to do so. Amongst them were Proverb, Flabba who I managed to get on the remix of the first song of mine I heard playing on radio, Shap Fede. That remix also featured Red-Button and NVeigh and had Khulichana come to the studio the night we all recorded as he promised it would have featured him too... In the end after calling his voice mail all night it was clear that someone would have to fill his place in the song and that person ended up being me, rather disappointed but still grateful to everyone that came through for little old me. Another act that was called upon to help me add more flavour to Special Rekwest, my debut album, was rock band CrashCarBurn who I wanted to give a track I had already nailed down some added zing. They came to the party and sent through their interpretation of my initial concept and boy was I disappointed. It was everything but what I had imagined and I thought that maybe they misunderstood what was essentially a brief. A brief was something they didnt want and well I guess since they felt undermined by what I had in mind. That dream co-lab was canned and kicked down the road. That was 5-years ago and weve always kept in touch since then, working with the drummer Brendan Barnes or Bugsy as hes affectionately known on a handful of shows and some music videos, Bugsy being one of the countrys most respected cinematographers... The song we were supposed to have done together all those years ago became somewhat of a major cross-over hit landing some synch deals and charting simultaneously on all 3 of the SABCs commercial radio stations. I felt somewhat vindicated but didnt really get over what I felt was an initial snub until Garth spoke to me and said something to the effect of we were wrong about that one. It was water under the bridge and by then we were at the SAMAs where I was nominated in the categories Best Rap Album & Best Newcomer. Although I didnt win anything that night we played together at one of the after parties which was the highlight of my night because I got to perform to my idols and they all loved it or at least they wanted to convince me that they did as I shook the hands of everyone from Professor to Dave and Dom from Goldfish. We had already resolved to work together again on something soon but didnt really get around to it until August last year. It was a difficult time for both of us. My biggest hit was then two years old and nothing after that really blew-up and I was questioning whether Id made a mistake by not trying to make another BoomShakaLaka since the shows were waning and with it the anticipation for an album I was still working on. One afternoon I went to Garths fancy studio to listen to some tracks hed been working on and although we tried to play it off we were looking for some magic. I was within reach and he was inneed of some inspiration. We were both miserable until he played the first demo and I thought to myself this might be it. Just incase he had something better he played a few more demos and then went back to the first one he played. By the time he turned around to ask what I thought I was already done writing... With me being late for our meeting we didnt really have time to lay anything down but that would end up being a blessing in disguise as I went to Marazas studio to record my verses. Once that was done Nota thought the track was lacking an African feel and started humming the weh mama harmonies. Thats when Maraza said I know what to do and he jumped behind the mic laying down vocals on top of each other while running back and forth to press the record button because he insisted on recording himself. We then arranged everything he put down and even added the beat of a plastic paint drum that was also a make-shift seat. All of that took no-more that 10 minutes and we quickly sent it over to Garth and crossed fingers. His response was prompt. It was 2am and he was at work where he hosts a grave-yard shift radio show amongst the many hats he juggles between daily. It was a one word e-mail that simply read GENIUS! It would take a couple more months to get the final product which was sent over to the UK for mixing and mastering. What came back though was a labour of love that we are very proud of and thats why we invested so much in the very impressive music video you might have seen on your screens. Radio has greeted warmly and judging by the reviews by the jocks and the buzz on twitter I can safely say it too us 5-year but we finally did it and its all I imagined all those years ago and more. Keep Walking is a power tune taken off of my critically acclaimed and award winning sophomore album DaKAR. It would bring myself, CCB and my team great joy if you could spare the R6.99 it would cost you to purchase it on iTunes. Now that you know the story I hope youll take great pleasure in sharing it whenever you play the song because just as much as the song is based on my personal life-story its also a piece of history that resonates with so many people. I hope as much inspiration can be drawn from how it came into being, as the touching lyrics that speak of triumph even over seemingly insurmountable odds. The message to every listener is, when you come to the end of the road, put one foot infront of the other and #KeepWalking https://itunes.apple/za/album/keep-walking-feat.-kwesta/id843150617?i=843150787 | Heres the link, the lyrics are below, sing along and be inspired. DaKAR! Keep Walking Lyrics. Pre-Chorus: One of these days... The sun is gonna shine on me One of these days... The sun is gonna shine down Chorus: Weh mama Weh mama Ngelinye ilanga iLanga liyokhanya Verse 1: Come with me as re-walk the paths of my life The steps I took before I crossed paths with a mic Raised by a single mother, itymer lidle phantsi Happy family days ended, angazi kanjani I just knew that he was good at sticking fists in her face Angimringi blind yi-waar, mom was sick of the taste 96 it was, ngavuka itymer lingasekho Divorce papers on the table, izinto azivayi ngohlelo Daddy was gone, I heard a song, life goes on Met a new wife and a new life was born I was without him and hes without us Okay right, itymer alisekho in moms we now trust Pleasures like making love to her man were now crushed Cos everything she was thinking was for or about us The love that was stronger than steel would now rust And now we had to make a life for ourselves without pops but... Pre-Chorus: One of these days... The sun is gonna shine on me One of these days... The sun is gonna shine down Chorus: Weh mama (I keep walking, I keep walking) Weh mama (Sun is gonna shine on me) Ngelinye ilanga (I keep walking, I keep walking) iLanga liyokhanya (The sun is gonna shine down) Verse 2: See, the second born child of this broken home Would prove troublesome like Beckham with a broken bone He was trying to hold his own, bamgcuza esgela Wadabula iletha, uyazi umagriza uzomnyela So drastic measures really had to be taken This kid was facing the racid demons of satan No one really knew what for him, was waiting Up until a studio came to the hood he was based in Oledi lenzeni? Liphandane namasheleni for intwana engalaleli, enomqondo obheke eceleni His mother said life was nothing but a big test And for her, he would pass it and thats his real quest... ah! Pre-Chorus: One of these days... The sun is gonna shine on me One of these days... The sun is gonna shine down Chorus: Weh mama Weh mama Ngelinye ilanga iLanga liyokhanya Bridge: And when the sun comes out (when the sun comes out) When the clouds burn up (when the clouds burn up) Theyre gonna learn my name And I know... I gotta be strong (strong) I gotta hold on tonight (gotta hold on, yeah) I know... Were gonna have a mad time (I keep walking!) (I keep walking!) Pre-Chorus: One of these days, I know... The sun is gonna shine on me One of these days, I know... The sun is gonna shine down One of these days, I know... The sun is gonna shine on me I gotta be strong, I know... The sun is gonna shine down Chorus: Weh mama (I keep walking, I keep walking) Weh mama (Sun is gonna shine on me) Ngelinye ilanga (I keep walking, I keep walking) iLanga liyokhanya (The sun is gonna shine down) So come with me as I re-walk the paths of my life (Weh mama) The steps I took before I crossed paths with a mic. (Weh mama) (Yeyi, yeyi!)
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 02:11:14 +0000
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