Local rapper is smoking up the music scene
He has been rapping since he was 14 years old
HE might have been the quiet boy in high school but Kempton Park rapper Berthiny Ebala’s reserved nature is the reason why he is fulfilling his dream. While he kept to himself at school, he was noiselessly writing down his rhymes.
Ebala, AKA Purple Smoke, started writing rap lyrics when he was 14 years old.
“I was very quiet in high school and would mostly spend my time writing my music. I had just moved to South Africa from Congo Brazzaville in 2006 without my family, so I was basically living alone. I found that writing helped deal with that loneliness and other issues I had, which I expressed in my music,” the 21-year-old French speaker said.
The former Spartan High School learner went back home briefly after school but came back in 2012 to kick off his music career.
“I released my first two mix-tapes, GUG Dynasty and Road To Success, both in 2012, and will release my third on November 29. I believe Stepping Stone (mix-tape) will be the project that puts me on the platform and gets me my recognition on the rap scene.”
His family wasn’t so crazy though about his rap career, because just like any other parent, his mother wanted him to be in the corporate industry where he would get a good, stable job.
“I already have a diploma as an IT computer technician from Boston City Campus but my family would like me to continue with my studies. And even though they aren’t so crazy about what I’ve chosen to do, I believe in my music.”
Surprisingly enough, you’d think Ebala would be listening to hard core rap artists, since he’s a hip hop artist himself. On the contrary, he’s actually a softy at heart.
“I actually listen to a lot of R&B music,” he says with a giggle.
“I enjoy Beyonce, Keyshia Cole and an artist named K Michelle. I do have hip hop influences though, and I look up to artists such as Nipsey, Hussle and AKA.”
