JHB – I am usually excited by new music, whatever the genre. I’ll also be honest to say I do hold back a bit on the enthusiasm when I interact with trap hip hop music. It’s like I’m not sure kuthiwani (what’s being said) half the time and when I can make out some words – “we’re banging a hoe” and paying some money for it, in which case I’m not the target audience. I like to take it a step further sometimes and read some of the lyrics separately and whoa – what a wild sport. Kodwa ke I have learned that no matter how “wild” the sport is, some people play it and they play it impressively. So I was immediately curious when I met this duo we’ll be talking about, excited at how truly talented they are with the potential to compete on a mainstream level.
BlacknWhite are a young and upcoming trap hip hop duo I see sharing the stage with the likes of Dee Kaola. The two, real names Kamogelo Matlou aka Gimmy Black and Itumeleng Rammayi aka Wholly White are based in Tembisa, Johannesburg and have been recording music since 2016. Their sound is sassy, forward thinking and refreshing, and judging by their social media numbers – these young musicians are doing a great job reaching and expanding their audience. Anyone who loves unbound lyricism will enjoy listening to BlacknWhite.
Gimmy and Wholly are inspired by iconic musicians Lebo Mathosa and Thembi Seete, and felt it necessary to establish a female duo that would embody a newer sense of freeness and ownership of their experiences. Individually, the girls listen to Zooci Coke Dope, Kanye West, Ms Cosmo amongst others and hope to use their work to open up the industry. I streamed two of their singles on SoundCloud titled That’s Right and Denim and could immediately pick up on an attractive confidence, that youthful and unkempt energy – an ultimate mood!
I’ll go as far as saying “ama2000” are in good hands, their own hands.
Make sure to connect with and stream BlacknWhite music available on SoundCloud. Also check out some of their visual work on Instagram @BlacknWhite.
