Hip hop in South Africa has grown to become a dominant force in mainstream South African music. As much as South Africans love mainstream hip hop artists, they also love up-and-coming hip hop artists. This week we sat down with a Durban-born female hip hop artist LilyFlame, whose real name is Thulile Precious Mbali Mngadi. She is one of the rising female hip hop artists you should check out this summer.
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We asked the rapper to take us through her music journey.
Who are you and how did you become an artist?
My name is LilyFlame, born Thulile Precious Mbali Ngcobo. I’m a rap-artist, producer, public/motivational speaker from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. I co-direct creative content as well.
I think most creatives discover their talents from around the age of 8/9. It was the same for me. I would create these short-stories and poems from around that age. It didn’t take long for me to realise I loved music, and I loved singing as well, but I definitely needed a few singing lessons lol. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the opportunity to get singing lessons, however around the age of 13, in the era Lil’ Wayne was in his prime, I developed a strong passion for rapping. He was definitely one of my strong influences. So I started writing rap lyrics from then and tried to blend it with singing but I never told anyone about it then. I was incredibly shy about being a rapper, so much so that I only recorded my first song in 2016. A well-known Durban DJ approached me one day and offered to be my Dj and manager. I guess then only did I start taking my music a bit more seriously.
Who is your inspiration or what inspires you the most?
I get inspiration from pretty much anything or anyone. Past events, current events, future projections and plans. I might also use other people’s situations as an inspiration. I really don’t limit myself when it comes to where I get my inspiration and influences from.
I don’t really get inspired by any specific “idol” or anything like that, I actually don’t believe in idols because I believe we’re all human and we all have flaws, we’re all constantly doing what we feel is best and try to become better versions of ourselves.
What advise can you give to other upcoming talents out there?
It’s quite simple, but hard to do – don’t give up, don’t loose focus of the ultimate goal and stay true to yourself. These all seem easy to do, but we live in a world that is designed to make you doubt yourself, to make you feel like you might be crazy to want to do something or fulfil any dream you might have.
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They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, but if that were really true I doubt we’d have half of the inventions we have today. Right now, there’s someone inventing or creating something that will help so many people in the future or touch lives well enough to inspire others in their paths of life as well, and they’re being called insane. I say let them call you what they call you – all of that is none of your business. If you’re doing something you feel in your heart is what you should be doing, no matter how tired you get, you continue with it and comes like second nature to you, don’t stop! Society will give you every possible reason why you should quit, but what the general society thinks of you should honestly be none of your concern. The whole world wasn’t there when you were born to do what you do, and it most likely won’t be there when you leave either.
What projects are you currently working on?
My most exciting project at the moment is an organisation my former High School, (Fairvale Secondary School) and I are in talks of. It basically revolves around taking the initiative founded by the deputy school principal Mr. Stephanus called F.A.R. (Fairvale Awareness & Recovery) formerly known as T.A.D.A. (Teenagers Against Drug Abuse) to newer heights, spreading awareness, reaching more schools than we already have and taking the organisation to a national level and in the future to an international/global standpoint. We’re also hoping to embrace more of the school kids’ creative talents and allow them to grow in their positive strengths. F.A.R. is definitely something to look out for in the near future.
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My other upcoming musical projects consist of a potential E.P. of all the songs that didn’t make it on my Phoenix project. I also do a lot of singles and features for other artists and work closely with creatives like Golden Black (S.A.A.K. industry) and other international artists like Camo Bliaz to name a few. I don’t limit who I work with, my only battle at the moment is time because of other projects I’m working on as well that I cannot discuss as yet.
How can people get in touch with you?
People can get in touch with me on all my social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube) to keep up with what I’m currently up to, events and any other creative work I may be releasing.
My fanbase is called Flame Nation, we’re very family oriented, and always look forward to expand our family tree.
Image Courtesy: Supplied