Gazza (artist)

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Lazarus Karandu Shiimi (known as Gazza) (b. 10 March 1977, in Oshakati) is a Namibian hip-hop-artist. Gazza had always been interested in music as he had started a band in primary school. He attended a white high school called Etosha where his interest in music was exemplified through his involvement in several choirs and his fascination with Kwaito. Due to his skill in soccer in his youth, he was nicknamed Gazza in reference to his similar style to the famous English soccer player Paul Gascoigne. Nicknamed the "King of Kwaito" in Namibia, Gazza's music has shown influences from dance hall, hip-hop, ragga and kwaito. While utilizing the kwaito style of a simple bass beat and addictive repetitions, Gazza has also risen above the trend of focusing on just the beat, and shown a lyrical style describing township life and their connection to Namibian life. Both young and old Namibians feel they can associate to his lyrics due to his style.

His first two albums were released in 2004, "Tanauka" and "Zula 2 Survive" and have made him popular in Namibia. His third album came out in 2005 and was called 'Stof-lap-Chikapute'. According to Gazza, "Stof-Lap" is a symbol of new beginnings and a "Chikapute" is a colloquial, or street term referring to those who have nothing, so the title 'Stof Lap Chikapute' defines a nobody starting from nothing. His 2007 album '467 GMP Till I Die', Namibia's first double CD album, is considered one of the best albums Namibia has ever produced. The hit single, Mokasie, has been a sensation in Namibia as the number one single for 23 weeks in Universal Sounds.

Since his appearance on the Namibian music scene with his 2004 album Tanauka, Gazza has worked his way up to become one of the most commercially successful recording artists in Namibia. Gazza has embarked on tours that have exposed him to the rest of Africa and the world. His work has been well received and is a firm favourite with Channel O, a DSTV channel, where his work and life is a regular showcase. Gazza is one of the best and most well-respected artists in Namibia and, because of this, there has been a feud between him and The Dogg, another Namibian kwaito singer.