ARTICLE BY MASILONYANA NEWS

Katleho Paul Madiehe, known as Paul Blaq, is a 24 year old student and RAP artist from Bloemfontein. His journey in music started while he was attending Concordia Comprehensive where he matriculated in 2008. He was a dancer and Basket Ball player when he fell for RAP music. “Hip-Hop has always been a small part of my life, I just grew up distracted by the urge to fit in.” He says. He and his friends used to start ciphers almost every afternoon near Kgotsong Primary school, that’s where he learned how to Rap. After high school, he moved to Sasolburg for six months and there he introduced himself to the life behind RAP music. In July 2009, he moved back to Bloemfontein to begin his studies in Central University Of technology. He went back to Sasolburg in 2011 when he was academically excluded. He then worked on and finished his first music project titled Building Blocks EP. It was an eight track low quality project and nobody knew him so he gave it out free. He started performing afterwards and ended up on the stage of the biggest Hip-Hop event in Vaal, Hip-Hop by the River. He went back to Bloemfontein in 2012 to continue his studies. Blaq said “I have thought about dropping out and focusing on my music everyday ever since the exclusion. My desire to make my family proud is the only reason I’m still hanging in there.” He is now working on his second project titled The Grapevine Mix tape, which is set to be finished late next year. From it, he has already released a single online titled Up and Away, featuring one of the most vibrant Rappers in Free State, Naycha (AKA Corporate Gangsta) Paul Blaq is also working on his first documentary which will bring light to the things an independent artist has to go through to bring music to the people. His music is simply an artistic form of entertainment. When he started rapping, he wrote about things he read and now he writes about his life and everything around him. “I didn’t think I was cool enough until I wrote the first verse about myself. It felt like the pen knew me more than I know myself.” He said. He is very lyrical but his instrumentals are more modern than old school. Big things are to be expected from this Masilonyana made young Rapper.
By Irene Tolah Nontuthuzelo Mbola



E-mech Is Hip-Hop To Me

As a Hip-hop head, other cats thought I Rap for the same reasons they do. Well, I don’t know why I Rap. I just do it because it’s something that I love and it’s one of a few things I’m really good at.

I have contributed to the movement and the cause for over five years, now it’s time for me to do me. So DON'T GET IT TWISTED, E-mech is not dead. E-mech is Hip-Hop to me, and Paul Blaq is me to Hip-Hop.



Up And Away feat. Naycha

UP AND AWAY [feat: NAYCHA]

Here is the first single that takes us into our new venture. On this track I worked with Naycha (A.K.A Corporate Gangstar). It is produced by one of the BEST of Bloemfontein's producers, Incubus and was recorded at Out The Oven Music by John Fact Martin. In the good name of Hip-hop yoh, I welcome you to... THE GRAPEVINE MIXTAPE.

Up And Away feat. Naycha