Magebz Bio

Mabebz, a rapper born in Durban and raised in Soweto, Pretoria and Johannesburg, knows all about holding on. He brings to South Africa a new dimension to hip hop. Yes we have heard a lot of rappers talk about serious stuff, being concious and all that, but come on now, its time for change. Its definitely time for something lighter and a whole lot more fun. Magebz gives you exactly that.

Magebz, born Nkululeko Nxasana is the founder/owner of BLAQK Records and Entertainment. His love for hip-hop dates back to primary school days at Centurion Academy, a private school in Joubert Park JHB. Magebz took his love with him to Pretoria in the 90’s. “My parents moved to Pertoria after my mother was hijacked in Soweto. We relocated to Soshanguve and I just had to fit to a new environment”. Magebz attended Willowridge High school in Pertoria East. This is where he met friend Jerome Dlamini who would eventaully become Magebz’ partner in rap.

In primary school however, Magebz used to perfect his skills listen to the likes of MC Hammer and later was introduced to gangster rap by a friend. “I started listening to NWA and the likes of Public Enermy. All of a sudden rap just got rougher”. The influence of ganster rap was fueled by the release of Snoop Dogg’s Doggy style album. “I remember going to the store to by that cassette. I didn’t imagine it to have vulgure words or anything. Eish, I couldn’t even play freely at home. I would hide in my room with my radio and play it soft so mom couldn’t hear”.

Rapping along to the words, Magebz soon developed an interest in rapping himself. Him and Jerome formed a group at school. Magebz and Jerome would rap at school cultural shows and everywhere else. By the beginning of his standard 7-year, Magebz and Jerome joined up with another friend Patrick to form a group called “Wolf Trapp Gang”. “WTG as we were known was rather unique. Patrick played the guitar and myself and Jerome rapped. I don’t even remember what we made beats on. It was cool though”. The rise of WTG led to Magebz and Jerome being snapped up by an independent record label StreetWise Productions. The label was signed to Sony.

By the end of High school, WTG had performed on just about every school stage in Pretoria. By 1996 though, Patrick left and Magebz and Jerome were back to a two-man show. They duly changed the group name to 2Badd. As 2Badd, the crew was just about to drop their first album when Streetwise Records was disolved. It was a hard time for both young men, but they would persevere and see themselves beyond that.

Magebz then went on to study his marketing degree. While studying, him and Jerome continued rapping and were joined in their quest for stardom by vocalist and current Usindiso star actor Aubrey Poo.  The crew continued performing at high school stages and made amends at Pretoria High School for Girls and also shared a stage with Verbal Assasins at DSG in Pretoria. “Verbal Assassins was made up of a couple of boys from St Albans, among them Hip-Hop Pantsula. It was fun. It was the first time I heard a guy flow like that in setswana”.

By the time Magebz had graduated in 2001, he got his first job as a salesman and started investing in building a label. A number of album were released but most notably was an underground album mixtape called “The Outbreak” and DYG’s album which featured amongst others actor Aubrey Poo. The album was never released on a big scale, but was Magebz first shot as a producer and he featured prominently on the album as well as an artist. The first single Wozobona, featured Aubrey and Magebz was played by Phat Joe on his YFM breakfast show, make it or break it slot. The song received 4 thumbs up and it was a start of better things.

The signing of Muzkilla, a kwaito group from Zola, Soweto, followed a year later. The album once again was released on a small scale and once again, Magebz featured prominetly in the album. “The Muzkilla album was a real good album. However, one of the hit songs on the album was chopped. We suddenly heard Mshoza’s version on radio. GP Gangster apparently wrote the song. That was a major eye opener for me”, says Magebz who had featured in both the DYG and Muzkilla albums as a guest.

By the end of 2003, Magebz had also released a compilation album entitled “Outbreak”. The album was made up of a number of Pretoria based Hip-Hop artists. As 2Badd, Magebz and DYG had most tracks on the album. The album also featured PROF of Baphixile on a 2Badd track called Party. He was brilliant and the track received some attention from Radio”. Bad Boy T and Lee is the attention Magebz refers to. They played the track on YFM.

After a long struggle, Magebz quit but is now back and this time, not only has he successfully established his record label, he has released his first artist, Okapi with the debut album Vandala. He has also signed 2 more acts to his label, Emza and Linda. Also, like a true general, Magebz has recorded his debut album. Rather late hey? “Better late than never. I have stood by the sidelines for a while. I think its time I did what I love doing. I love hip-hop”.

Magebz album is a fun to listen yet controversial. Songs like “What do you say”, “Sho’lda Blade” and ‘Saka Ngwana” are definitely party tracks, while Wonderful ft Liesl of Jamali and True Love sould go down well with the lovers. There are songs like “VIP”, “Provider” and ‘The Patriot” that are rather controversial in nature.

Now Magebz hopes to join his peers and write his own chapter in the South African hip-hop history books. “Its good that guys like Jabu (HHP) and PROF made it big. It always gave me hope that one day I will make it”. Magebz album is now available for sale via Underground Music Library. Visit www.u-m-l.co.za/BLAQK Records Store