Tuks Senganga
Encyclopedia
Tuks is a popular South Africa
n Motswako
rapper whose real name is Tumelo Kepadisa, 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).
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".
(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.
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.
records and released the highly anticipated album from Tuks, Tshwanelo released November 2010. Tshwanelo is nominated for the 17th edition(2011) of South African Music Awards
.
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.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Motswako
Motswako
Motswako is a Southern African genre of hip hop most popular in Botswana and South Africa.The genre first originated in Botswana in the mid nineties when a rapper called Mr T now popularly known as Nomadic created a demo of the genre which received rave reviews in radio stations...
rapper whose real name is Tumelo Kepadisa, who frequently performs in ethnic languages, though mostly Setswana. Tuks Senganga was born Tumelo Kepadisa on 2 May 1981 in Mafikeng
Mafikeng
Mahikeng – formerly legally, but still commonly known as Mafikeng – is the capital city of the North-West Province of South Africa. It is best known internationally for the Siege of Mafeking, the most famous engagement of the Second Boer War.Located on South Africa's border with Botswana, it is ...
in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa...
. 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"
Mafoko A Me
Mafoko A Me is the debut studio album of South African Hip Hop artist Tuks, released in 2005 in South Africa.-Track listing:# Intro - 1:11# Vice Versa - 4:09# Kom'tseng ft Zossa - 3:36# I Love You Back - 3:03# The Need - 4:14...
. This was the album that earned Tuks the Best Hip Hop Album Award at the 12th Annual MTN South African Music Awards
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
(SAMA).
Career
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 MotswakoMotswako
Motswako is a Southern African genre of hip hop most popular in Botswana and South Africa.The genre first originated in Botswana in the mid nineties when a rapper called Mr T now popularly known as Nomadic created a demo of the genre which received rave reviews in radio stations...
and has had head-honchos like Tuks at its fore-front for years!
Born Tumelo Kepadisa back in 1981 in Mafikeng
Mafikeng
Mahikeng – formerly legally, but still commonly known as Mafikeng – is the capital city of the North-West Province of South Africa. It is best known internationally for the Siege of Mafeking, the most famous engagement of the Second Boer War.Located on South Africa's border with Botswana, it is ...
, 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".
Mafoko A Me
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 MeMafoko A Me
Mafoko A Me is the debut studio album of South African Hip Hop artist Tuks, released in 2005 in South Africa.-Track listing:# Intro - 1:11# Vice Versa - 4:09# Kom'tseng ft Zossa - 3:36# I Love You Back - 3:03# The Need - 4:14...
(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
Mafoko A Me
Mafoko A Me is the debut studio album of South African Hip Hop artist Tuks, released in 2005 in South Africa.-Track listing:# Intro - 1:11# Vice Versa - 4:09# Kom'tseng ft Zossa - 3:36# I Love You Back - 3:03# The Need - 4:14...
went on to win Tuks his first SAMA
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
for Best Hip Hop Album, a well-deserved accolade.
MC Prayer
In 2006 and the he released his sophomore "MC Prayer". The production style and quality was leaps ahead of Mafoko A MeMafoko A Me
Mafoko A Me is the debut studio album of South African Hip Hop artist Tuks, released in 2005 in South Africa.-Track listing:# Intro - 1:11# Vice Versa - 4:09# Kom'tseng ft Zossa - 3:36# I Love You Back - 3:03# The Need - 4:14...
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.
Monopoly
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.Tshwanelo
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 EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
records and released the highly anticipated album from Tuks, Tshwanelo released November 2010. Tshwanelo is nominated for the 17th edition(2011) of South African Music Awards
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
.
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.
Discography
Studio albums- Mafoko A MeMafoko A MeMafoko A Me is the debut studio album of South African Hip Hop artist Tuks, released in 2005 in South Africa.-Track listing:# Intro - 1:11# Vice Versa - 4:09# Kom'tseng ft Zossa - 3:36# I Love You Back - 3:03# The Need - 4:14...
(2005) - MC Prayer (2006)
- Monopoly (2008)
- Tshwanelo (2010)
Awards
Awards Won- South African Music AwardsSouth African Music AwardsThe South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
– Best Rap Album (Mafoko a me) (2006) - Metro FM Music Awards – Best Hip-Hop Album(MC Prayer) (2007)
- Hype Magazine Awards – Best Album (Monopoly) (2009)
- Hype Magazine Awards – Best Solo Artist (2009)