KwaThema – One of KwaThema’s favourite artists, Kgolofelo ‘Steezy Stylish’ Boshielo has released his much-anticipated album, Live from the Eastside.
The hip-hop veteran’s 14-track album features songs Lele, Saint and Sabotage.
Steezy says this album is an expression of his experience living on the East Rand. The album offers a variety of different sounds he believes is a reflection of where he is in his life, and where he’s from.
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We caught up with him to talk about music, life and everything in between.
What’s the musical style of the album?
The musical style is heavily influenced by our township style, the place where we grew up.
There are a few references of kwaito, boom bap, trap and soul. It’s a mixture of everything for everyone, but the storyline remains intact.
What inspired you to release the album?
I’ve been working on this album for a couple of years now. What inspired me to do it in the first place was to tell stories from the township.
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The context of how people in the township struggle as a community, the beauty we find in our daily conversations, in our languages, culture, and how we conduct ourselves as a nation. Obviously, there’s a lot of bad things happening around us. I highlight those ills in a more culturally relevant manner, unlike painting a dark picture of the hood.
What does the album’s title reveal, if anything, about the album’s impact and themes?
Live from the East Side means I’m reporting real-life situations from where I live – the good and ugly side of it, the vibe, the texture, the atmosphere and aura of the surroundings. Most importantly, the socio-economic issues that affect the people in the township. I share my views and the daily happenings that take place on the east side, which is no different than any other township. So that’s what the title means.
What do you wish to achieve with this album?
I want to bring diversity into the mainstream music market. I want to show young aspiring rappers that content is still relevant. I also want to break the mould of what hip-hop has been made out to be – non-educational, vulgar, and not making sense at all. For me, music is a tool that has to be used to educate, empower, inspire and bring joy to people. That’s what this album achieves with the various themes it touches on.
What are you currently busy with besides the album?
Besides the album, I’m working on productions that seek to develop artists, which I believe is key for any artist. On top of that, I’m also preparing the second instalment of Art Sounds Perfect, an event I run to promote the different facets of art.
