Ms Supa is a musician hailing from Benoni East of Johannesburg. She got started in 1996 being only in 7th grade.
She loved Hip Hop and only started writing after she heard Foxy Brown, whom at the time was the first female rapper she heard. She is quoted as saying “I was sitting in my father’s car listening to Radio Zulu at the time. They had their weekend Top 20. They played ‘Get you home’ by Foxy Brown. I sat there in the car and thought ‘Oh, so girls can do it too’”. That inspired her to go home and write a verse.
She continued through high school organising the coined “1st break cyphers” with fellow students. She then mastered her flow and ability to play with words. While other children would be doing sports she was in the choir and also attended ciphers (rap sessions) at the Benoni library. Attending the random open mic sessions at a club called “Planet Katsies” in Benoni. While doing that she also started writing RNB and Jazz music. Developing a singing and writing style that has been compared to Jill Scott.
It was in 2005 that she appeared on the cover of South Africa’s only Hip Hop magazine. This saw Supa performing at a number of events such as the launch of the Smirnoff Hype Sessions and MTN/SL magazine event amongst others. She was also MC alongside well established muso Obita at the Willards Way with Words event. She appeared in TV programs such as Shiz Niz.
Through hip-hop MsSupa’s life journey has been a beautiful series of unforgettable moments. From discovering hip-hop and female MC’s contribution into the industry at the age 13, to taking up the microphone and introducing the MsSupa brand into the hip-hop scene – a brand that infuses a female element of arrogance with elegance, a brand that does not shy away from celebrating women whether controversial or not. MsSupa’s brand churns up musical melodies that start debates and entertain hip-hop lovers who appreciate and respect the role that female MC’s play in this industry.
Ms Supa speaks
“I express myself through hip-hop. I live hip-hop. I am hip-hop and through hip-hop I have found my purpose. Through hip-hop I aim to share my life experiences – I aim to celebrate life,” explains MsSupa.
MsSupa scribbled her first rhyme at the age of 13 and from there on could not be stopped. This was the beginning of an exciting music journey through hip-hop that has seen MsSupa collaborating and performing alongside one of South Africa’s celebrated hip-hop muso, HHP. As the founder of Ladies of the Mic – an initiative that aims to give talented hip-hop, R n’ B and Soul female musicians an opportunity to publicly showcase their music, MsSupa’s vision of heightening the role of SA female MC’s continues to grow from strength to strength.
“The Ladies of the Mic project seeks to give known and unknown female talent a platform to publicly showcase their talent. As a female MC who has over the years struggled to be recognized and taken seriously in this male dominated scene I hope to utilize this platform to assist other female artist to be recognized and respected for their talent and contribution.”
With influences that range from Lil’Kim and Foxy Brown’s raunchy but yet honest rhymes to the rooted soulful guidance of Thandiswa Mazwai – MsSupa’s musical intake has contributed to her unique sound that marries the controversial and socially accepted norms.
In 2007 she adorned the cover of SA’s only hip-hop magazine Hype-Magazine and through this platform continued to seed her views on females and hip-hop scene. MsSupa has also starred on the award winning local drama series Yizo Yizo and hosted a show on the Johannesburg hit radio station Highveld.