Ome Konkrete was born Azhani Nteedzi Letsholo on March 27 1979 to Letsholo M. Letsholo and Same N. Letsholo at Jubilee Hospital, Francistown. He spent a few years living in a village outside Lobatse (Mogojogojo) before moving to Taung(Broadhurst), Gaborone in 1985 where he spent most of his life. He started his schooling at Taung Primary school went on to do his JC at Marang JSS and finally his O’levels at Gaborone Secondary School.
Azhani,a graduate of the University of Botswana with a Bachelor Degree in Humanities (English Major) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education. He grew up listening to all types of music but hip-hop was what he fell in love with. Prior to his introduction to hip-hop he fell in love with the raps in techno songs and the reggae chants of the time. It was in the early 90’s when he was introduced to this art form, the likes of Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Kriss Kross, Mc Hammer, Vannila Ice, N.W.A e.t.c.
He would also find out more about the art form through movies like Wildstyle, various hip hop documentaries, sitcoms, music video shows like Yo MTV Raps which broke down the components of hip hop. In the late 90’s on his last year of high school Azhani got together with three of his friends to form a group called Lyph Blud and it was through this that he would craft his skills and grow into a more seasoned artist. He would get together with his group members on weekends at his backyard and have jam sessions, did the usual v-shows and talent show appearances ( which were sadly always a set up) and street corner ciphers.
His major influences are very broad, these include artists from other genres outside hip hop and other forms of expression from tswana and kalanga oral traditions. He lists EPMD, Das Efx, Red Man, Kieth Murray, Marly G, Wutang Clan, Nas, Jay-z, P.O.C, Ammunition, Special ED, Smif n Wessun, Heltah Skeltah and Fab 5 as some of the artists that gave him the drive to be involved with hip hop.
Azhani started recording around 2005 after he met his current producer Man-E (Elliot Matenge) for a mixtape called Lyrical Expressions and from then on he would be featured in other artist’s works and mixtapes. He has worked with the likes of Nomadic, Dice, Apollo Diablo, Kast, Orakle, Brace, HT, Samba T, Tafman Aether, Blaine, Ghetto Prophet, Da kidd, T.I.A, Bundu Lama. He also appears on mixtapes by All Kasi (All Kasi Fm), Nomadic (The Journal Trails), Madd Labb Productions(Lab Dosages) and BK Proktor. He has of late finished recording his debut album called Dekonstruktion which was released on the 4th December 2009, the lead single is called Solid produced by Prez Beatz of which he has already shot the video. Other producers on the album include Man-E, Krypto, Shaded, Dj Ethal, Alias. The album was released by Altitude Sounds and was recorded at fireworks studios except for Solid which was recorded at F210.
With the album Konkrete tried to show a true reflection of a young man growing up in Botswana, he raps in English (particularly Slang) because this is what he grew up on. He has been heavily influenced by African American culture but one thing he learned through hip hop was that one should represent where they come from hence him also rapping in his native tongue (Ikalanga) and also rapping in street lingo which mixes the national language, Setswana with other languages. He admits that at first he was skeptical about rapping in his language because of the brainwashing he had receive from early on in his life that made English a superior language worthy to be picked over his but like has been mentioned before hip hop made him realize that it is not entirely true.
He has however to his surprise had a positive response to his rapping in local languages especially Ikalanga due to the fact that it has been pushed to the private sphere by the policies of the Botswana government. It is only a few who complain that they cannot hear what he is saying but really, if people can sing along to a song by some Julio when they can’t even speak Spanish then Ikalanga cannot be a problem as it is close to home, these people have Kalanga friends but won’t take advantage of that to learn what they are about.
To get more from Konkrete join his facebook fan page here:
Konkrete aka Shabalume The Kalanga Phenom
[And between BW Blog and its epic readers]
Be on the Look out for the Upcoming
Coin Flippers Mixtape
brought to you By Krypo from CMI Records, I recently had the privilege of being present at a recording session for a track featuring Konkrete, A.T.I and Slyfah, and that track was straight up off the hinges !!!.
Believe BW Blog will give you the full Intel when the time is right.
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