| Tuks Senganga | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tumelo Kepadisa |
| Born | May 2, 1981 |
| Origin | Mafikeng, North west, South Africa |
| Genres | Hip Hop Motswako |
| Occupations | rapper, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Ghetto Ruff, EMI , Impact Sounds, June July productions |
| Associated acts | Hihop Pantsula, Tumi, Morafe, Pro Kid, Proverbs, Teargas,Zuluboy, Khuli Chana |
| Website | www.tukssenganga.co.za |
Tuks is a popular South African Motswako rapper whose real name is Tumelo Kepadisa,[1] who frequently performs in ethnic languages, though mostly Setswana. Tuks Senganga was born Tumelo Kepadisa on 2 May 1981 in Mafikeng in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana. He started writing in 1993, drawing inspiration from everyday issues in his immediate environment. This rising star's career took off in 2005 with his debut album "Mafoko a me". This was the album that earned Tuks the Best Hip Hop Album Award at the 12th Annual MTN South African Music Awards (SAMA).[2]
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A fellow Motswako artist once said "poetry is both lyric and content; one without the other can never be on point". These words encapsulate what Tuks is about, paying homage to one of the most critical aspects of the five elements of hip hop for an MC. Rhythm and Poetry. The art of story-telling in Setswana and English started a movement that was later dubbed Motswako and has had head-honchos like Tuks at its fore-front for years!
Born Tumelo Kepadisa back in 1981 in Mafikeng, Tuks Senganga (as he is known by fans in all corners of the globe) started writing poetry at the age of 12 having drawn his inspiration from his daily experiences of having grown up in the Bophutatswana homeland during the apartheid regime. However, it was in high school that he started harnessing his hip hop skills and became a member of two short-lived hip hop groups and he went on to pursue a solo career to which he says: "I was more in love with my music, while the other members hallucinated about fame and fortune". He went to add: "I don't really mind, I've always been a bit of a loner".
Fame and fortune have a way of creeping up alleys, uninvited. 2005, with the rise and rise of the Motswako movement, arrived with the now classic debut from Tuks which was titled .Mafoko A Me (My Words). The album had already received major reviews and a number of singles had been on high rotation on all national radio stations before its release. Mafoko A Me went on to win Tuks his first SAMA for Best Hip Hop Album, a well-deserved accolade.
In 2006 and the he released his sophomore "MC Prayer". The production style and quality was leaps ahead of Mafoko A Me and the leading single "Monate Thwa" saw the album flying off shelves, proving Tuks' staying power, growth and knowledge of the entertainment industry. "With my second album, I had proper management, marketing and distribution." After just four months since release date, "MC Prayer" was certified gold...a huge feat to reach for any hip hop artist in South Africa, let alone in just four months. A Metro FM Award win tagged along on Tuks' journey as a respected hip hop lyricist.
He took a two year break from the industry to work on his business interests and came back in 2008 with the thought-provoking third offering, "Monopoly" which was influenced by several conspiracy theory documentaries. In his story-telling form, Tuks deciphered global politics while edutaining both loyal and new fans that he had gained. "There is something wrong with the world and the way that people are controlled by the media, by music, belief systems and by religion", he adds "this album is ear-friendly, with a pinch of the truth. It's not about the industry. I'm taking it a step further. I'm talking about the faces behind the industry". Monopoly earned two Hype Awards, the best artist and the best album of the year.
With the two year break that he took, he started working on his own record label, June/July Productions & Events Management. The company was established in 2004 but recently partnered with Fezkho Group, a diverse logistics and communications company. This has done wonders for the budding business man and Tuks now runs his own artist and Events Management, communications, Publishing and music production house. The partnership co-released Monopoly with EMI records and released the highly anticipated album from Tuks, Tshwanelo released November 2010. Tshwanelo was nominated for the 17th edition(2011) of South African Music Awards and MetroFM awards 2011 Edition.
With four albums under his belt, a large following and a string of accolades to his name, it is without a shadow of a doubt that Tshwanelo will be a force to be reckoned with. The leading album-titled single has been on chart shows since its inception on radio and music TV stations in late 2009/early 2010. The album will be a success, undoubtedly. Because like the album title says, ke Tshwanelo. It has to happen, it is only right that it does.[3]
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