Naboth RIZLA from Zimbabwe’s City Of Kings Bulawayo, Zimbabwe is an Innovator, Entrepreneur, Hip-Hop artist and Music Journalist. Currently working on his debut EP titled The Grind Never Sleeps due for release
His epic musical journey started with Spinx an emcee and Kompozitioner a producer to form the crew SKR which would release a mixtape titled Gold Tapes Vol1 in 2011. In September 2012 at the Shoko Festival an International platform in Harare (Zimbabwe) alongside Michael Crenshaw from 9 cities in Zimbabwe through 1000 copies for each episode. The show has featured Bulawayo artists and events helping promote Bulawayo talent countrywide as well as international artists such as Mic Crenshaw from the USA. Developing his Grapevine Cloth- ing and Distribution Company which he co-owns with Lwazi Mpoko aka Kompozitioner (music producer) he continues to fund all Grapevine-related activities. Kwantuthu Arts Magazine got to get a moment to interview Naboth Rizla to shed some light on what inspires him and what plans he has for 2015. USA. Their song BYO (Bulawayo) was released as part of the AFCON (Afri- can Cup Of Nations) soccer showcase music compilation for March 2013 featuring heavyweights like HHP (HipHop Panstula from South Africa).
In 2012 and 2013 Naboth RIZLA’s entrepreneurial spirit grew as he went on to manage two artists namely Mac (Music Above Cash) a Bulawayo emcee/producer and Maestro The IV (now known as The IV) also from Bulawayo who is an emcee/producer as well. He would take these guys to shows in Zimbabwe namely in Hwange, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and most notably the Shoko Festival 2013 edition in Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare. At the beginning of 2014, he would resume his solo career as an artist releasing his first mixtape titled Trace Elements on the 4 of July 2014 to over 500 downloads in one day and 1000 downloads in a week.
The Co-Founder/Editor of a 5-year-old Hip Hop website in Zimbabwe known as www.da-grape-vine.com Rizla is a writer contributing to a lot of online and offline publications namely Hype Magazine (South Africa’s No.1 Hip Hop Magazine on Hard Copy Bi-monthly issue) http:/www.hypemagazine. co.za/ where he has interviewed the likes of Grammy Award-winning songwriter Jack Knight, Grammy Award-winning Producer S1, 2-time JUNO (Canadian Grammy award) nominated Eternia, Freestyle Champion Blind Fury, musician and author Stic.man of Dead Prez then Dead Prez on the Apr/May 2013 issue to mention a few. He recently interviewed Gavlyn and Reverie both from USA for the Aug/ Sept 2014 issue of the Hype Mag and M.anifest (Ghana) in the Hype Dec/Jan 2015.
Taking it to the next level Naboth Rizla has managed to put together DGVTV an urban culture TV show with a healthy dose of Hip Hop as content related to his website www.da-grape- vine.com. The show is online and also is distributed in physical copies in 9 cities in Zimbabwe through 1000 copies for each episode. The show has featured Bulawayo artists and events helping promote Bulawayo talent countrywide as well as international artists such as Mic Crenshaw from the USA. Developing his Grapevine Cloth- ing and Distribution Company which he co-owns with Lwazi Mpoko aka Kompozitioner (music producer) he continues to fund all Grapevine-related activities. Kwantuthu Arts Magazine got to get a moment to interview Naboth Rizla to shed some light on what inspires him and what plans he has for 2015.
THE EP “THE GRIND NEVER SLEEPS” HAS BEEN MAKING WAVES ABOUT WHAT IS BEHIND THE NAME?
The Grind Never Sleeps talks about being relentless. Going out and work- ing extra hard to accomplish your goals and dreams. I am one person who literally doesn’t sleep until goals are achieved so this title is an extension of my life. The Grind Never Sleeps EP is who I am and what I am about and that’s working hard to become successful in whatever field of work I am in.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION?
I get my inspiration from seeing other people who came from nothing to becoming something through hard work and perseverance. The likes of Russell Simmonds always come to mind. It’s always about setting the trends and breaking new ground with me. I enjoy doing new things so people that have created trends always have a way of inspiring me to think out of the box and do something fresh and new be it in my music or fashion (Grapevine Clothing) or even TV shows (DGV TV) that I am involved in producing.
WHO ARE YOUR TOP FIVE MC’S OF ALL TIME?
That’s a hard question coz the list changes daily depending on how I am feeling and what I am going through. So for today its, the god emcee Rakim, Chino XL, Big L (RIP), Eric Sermon and Redman.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE GROWTH OF ZIMBABWEAN AND AFRICAN HIP-HOP?
Zimbabwean Hip Hop is slowly taking over the continent thanks to social media and the internet as it easily makes available our music to people outside the country. The likes of Cal_ Vin have collaborated with big artists from South Africa (Cassper Nyovest) proving that Zimbabwean Hip Hop is a force to be reckoned with. I have also collaborated with 20 artists from 20 different countries on one video (Zero Plastica – Global Revolution posse cut) proving once again that globally we have what it takes to stand toe to toe with the best worldwide.
AS AN INNOVATOR IN THE HIP-HOP INDUSTRY WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU THIS YEAR?
In 2015 expect my very first solo musical project titled “The Grind Never Sleeps” EP accompanied by lots of visuals plus a musical tour around the country. Look out for Grapevine Cloth- ing to consistently put out amazing streetwear aimed at the urban culture. Get yours via our online store on www. nabothrizla.com/store or www.da-grape-vine.com I am also working on DGV TV which will have a full season on TV soon plus the DGV Rap Battles will also be on tv and hopefully featured on a huge Zimbabwean festival on top of them going nationwide. For more information just sign up for my mailing list on my website www.nabothrizla.com
WHEN ARE YOU DROPPING YOUR NEXT PROJECT?
All I can say is from June 2015 onwards hip hop is not going to be the same again in Zimbabwe as we unleash The Grind Never Sleeps EP and related merchandise and visuals.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE ON THE RADIO IF YES IN WHAT ROLE AND WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT?
At the moment I and P2daoh have a podcast called Street Blaze Radio that we are shopping for radio stations worldwide so who knows maybe soon we will have it live on radio as that will get us a wider audience and a chance to step in our game up to new levels.
AS AFRICA DAY COME UP HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT IN A MUSICAL CONTEXT?
It is a special day that I hope a whole lot of musicians will begin to see how they all have roles to play within society, especially with the current Xenophobic attacks in South Africa. We can take a leaf out of the book of Cassper Nyovest who came out to Zimbabwe to show unity and was shown love back by Zimbabweans because after all has been said and done we are all the same colour underneath (we all bleed).
WHAT IS YOUR LAST WORD?
The Grind Never Sleeps EP coming soon with production from Da Kompozitioner, Nzabbie, IV who also features on some tracks. Look out for IV as I am going to be working closely with this talented emcee/producer. Get all my music from www.nabothrizla.com and do make sure you sign up to my mailing list for FREE for weekly updates and exclusive pics, info and clips. Keep God first #TheGrindNeverSleeps.
Twitter: @nabothrizla Facebook: Naboth RIZLA Website: www.nabothrizla.com
