Rap music artist Lemandre Theolan Israel from Merlewood represented KZN at the Under The Radar Challenge, a national competition held in Johannesburg recently.

Israel (19), who goes by the stage name ‘L!MMY’ was one of over 2 000 hopefuls who made it to the top 10.

“When I sent my song, I was not only submitting a song but my entire childhood. The competition, powered by Mix On The Move, Studio 88 and Channel O, was built to find South Africa’s next underground star, and they found me to compete among 2 000 entrants.”

He was the only artist from KZN in the Top 10 and the youngest in the competition. “The song that got me there is my first recorded song. I didn’t have a catalogue. I didn’t have a big team behind me. I had one song, and I decided that was enough to bet on myself, and it was more than enough in a house full of seasoned underground artists from big cities,” said Israel.

He added that he fought through the rounds, past cameras, pressure, self-doubt, and secured a spot in the top 10. “The next stage was the top 6, where three artists would walk away with a professional music video. I made it to the doorstep. And then, my journey in the house ended. I was sent home, and I won’t lie, I felt down, as this has been my dream since I was a little child and before I even knew what a studio was.”

However, he does not see his experience as a failure, but rather a beginning. “The Radar didn’t just give me a stage; it gave me a masterclass,” said Israel.

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