Zimbabwean hip hop artist Asaph has released a new single titled ‘Thebelele’ featuring South African rapper Loki. The song which came out today is available for streaming and download(link is external) on major digital platforms.
‘Thebelele’, loosely translated to good life, is highly influenced by the nostalgic kwaito sounds fused with amapiano beats, and sees Asaph and Loki connecting well to bring alive the rough South African street flavour to the song.
“To me ‘Thebelele’ is the name of the era I’m moving into,” Asaph said. “Pure vibes. I feel like I’ve put in a lot of work to get to this point and now it’s all about the vibes and having a good time celebrating where we are and what’s to come.”
This is the first time both Asaph and Loki have worked with artists from beyond their boarders.
Loki said: “I’m really excited to be a part of a song like this, even when we were making the song it felt like two worlds coming together seamlessly, creating something that will hopefully last for the ages.”
Kwaito has played huge part in shaping the South African music sound since the 1990s . In the early 2000s, there was a rise of hip hop infused with kwaito elements from artists likes Khuli Chana and HHP.
Asaph is determined to diversify his talent and collaborate with more artists beyond home borders. His fans can expect more hits and a full body of work from this artist.