From a stuttering child to a successful hip-hop artist: meet Birchleigh North’s Sleezy

Birchleigh North is home to the talented and poetic Siyabonga Dlamini.

Dlamini is a hip-hop artist who knew from a tender age that he always wanted to be in the limelight.

In an interview with Express, the artist shared his musical journey, which he has been on since 2009.

• What is your stage name?

Sleezy Luciano. The name itself is actually greatly influenced by how I identify with light from the time I grab the pen to when I perform. Luciano is Italian for light. I’ve always been known to have a stammer, but when I rap it’s always smooth and slick, which is how I got the name ‘Sleezy’.

• When did you realise you love music and wanted to be a rapper?

As a child, I was always a show off, at family gatherings I would always find myself dancing and entertaining everyone, so, at the back of my head, I knew I loved music because of the entertainment that came with it.

I fell in love with rap because for a child with a stammer, I found that rap was almost the only way I could express myself and I happened to be very good at it.

• Have you always wanted to be a rapper in the music industry?

Well, it has always been acting, music and business in that order, but music has since been in the forefront. I’m currently in a lead role in an insurance advert as far as acting goes but everything I do is fuelled by my love for rap music.

I am super grateful for how the industry has received me thus far for my debut EP The King’s Speech.

• What and/ or who inspires your music?
Honestly, I’m inspired by those who did it before me and paved the way for us, the likes of AKA and Cassper Nyovest to name a few. I am also mostly inspired by the fact that I can better my craft every time I put my mind and time to it.

• Have you won any awards?

Yes, last year (2018) I won the ‘Most Voted Song’ on West Rand’s radio station, Merafong FM, for one of my singles Bonnie and Clyde from my EP. This is very special for me because this means and proves that I have fans in places where I don’t reside. I’m a Joburg boy and the award came all the way from Caltonville, it’s crazy.

• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I always say to myself never preach or talk about it till it happens. It’s okay to plan but it’s always important to keep your plans up your sleeves. But I will be ranked among the best in Africa.

• What advice would you give to other young artists?

Love what you do and dedicate as much time as you can to it. Start young, if possible, and always learn as much as you can about your craft.

• What do you love the most about music?

As an artist, I love how music crosses borders and reaches places the artist has never been to, that is very powerful. The other important thing is that one should never forget where they come from and who helped them get far in life.

Having said that, I am grateful to my home boys Beats By Blass and Dubb Mandela for trusting me with their work, knowing that I’ll do my best to deliver way beyond the studio sessions.

I deem these two some of the best producers this country has to offer. Sbudagawd for the mixing and mastering the music, DJ Spesh Papi, constant support from my family and most importantly, I am grateful to God for blessing me with such a cool talent.

• Anything new coming up?

My long awaited album, Note To Self: Nothing Was Overnight, which will be one of my offerings in 2020. It’s very special for me because it sums up my journey and all the lessons I’ve acquired in this quest of greatest.