He's back!
Jerome Gawanab, known better by his stage name as Jericho or J Twizzle, has been on the Namibian music scene for the past decade. Even after such a long time in the industry he continues to win the hearts of a large fan base. Jericho has not only gifted Namibians with his hard-hitting music that many have likened to that of 2Pac. The multi-award winning rapper has worked on few inspirational short films and he also featured in the award-winning film Katutura. Jericho has been out of the media for the past three years and now he’s ready to bring back the good name of Namibian Hip-Hop. Jericho sits down with tjil.
Tell us about the single?
The single is titled If only you can see me now because I have been through a lot of things the whole time I have been silent. We all know ever since artist of the year, it has been a downfall for me. Everybody thought that I had attained victory and achieved everything. But I fell, I went down, back to the basics. So I thought let me open up just a bit, I also have my personal life that gets affected by the things I do in my music life. This is me telling people the reason I have been quiet, the pain that I went through; I was rehabbing myself, the anger management and the bad things that were being published about me. So this is me telling everybody to look at me now and if only you could see me now you would probably appreciate me more now. I am the only one on the track and I’m trying to be selfish this time around. Previously I helped everybody and they never look back at the things I have done for them. So if I spend time on myself and do things for myself then probably there will be progress in what I’m trying to do and achieve.
Why a single release?
I’m having a single track launch now because I have been quiet for the past three years and people want to hear from me quickly. I cannot make them wait anymore until June when the whole album drops so this is a teaser for the greater things to come. The album is to be called The Walls of Jericho just like in the Bible. This is my personal album were I’m opening up to everyone and saying, as much as you want to drag me down is as much as I can pick myself up, and only God can take the talent away from me. I’m busy rebuilding my name and brand as Gheto Child ENT hopefully I will get to enter the NAMAs again with the album. This album is one of my best works… it reminds me of the Check who’s back album and the honesty I had in it.
Let’s talk about Katutura...
I didn’t know it was going to be one of Namibia’s best movies when I went for auditions. I was surprised as two weeks after the auditions I got a call saying I got a role of the drug dealer Kapanyeru. The cast that I worked with were awesome people, it was really fun being on set and I enjoyed myself. The only problem I had was waking up early in the morning to shoot scenes that needed sunrise, but overall it was a good experience. The movie brought my name back in the industry, it reminded people that I’m still alive both in my music and acting careers. I wouldn’t mind doing it again and probably this time as a comedian and not a drug dealer or gangster!
And in the end of it all?
I’m just happy for me because a lot has changed. I have grown up and people must stop associating me with my past lifestyle. I have been off the radar so all those negative things that were written about me died. I want to start afresh. Everybody deserves a second chance and I think this is it. There was a time when Namibia had real Hip-Hop and I think we lost touch. The thing is that Namibians are followers, we are not trendsetters at all. If we keep doing what other people are doing we won’t really know where it is we are going. It’s because of that house music is taking over the industry. All these small boys just messed everything up because they don’t really understand the grounds of Hip-Hop. I’m going to bring Hip-Hop back together with Matongo Family and Killa B, I have heard tracks from them and I’m excited for what’s coming.
June Shimuoshili
Tell us about the single?
The single is titled If only you can see me now because I have been through a lot of things the whole time I have been silent. We all know ever since artist of the year, it has been a downfall for me. Everybody thought that I had attained victory and achieved everything. But I fell, I went down, back to the basics. So I thought let me open up just a bit, I also have my personal life that gets affected by the things I do in my music life. This is me telling people the reason I have been quiet, the pain that I went through; I was rehabbing myself, the anger management and the bad things that were being published about me. So this is me telling everybody to look at me now and if only you could see me now you would probably appreciate me more now. I am the only one on the track and I’m trying to be selfish this time around. Previously I helped everybody and they never look back at the things I have done for them. So if I spend time on myself and do things for myself then probably there will be progress in what I’m trying to do and achieve.
Why a single release?
I’m having a single track launch now because I have been quiet for the past three years and people want to hear from me quickly. I cannot make them wait anymore until June when the whole album drops so this is a teaser for the greater things to come. The album is to be called The Walls of Jericho just like in the Bible. This is my personal album were I’m opening up to everyone and saying, as much as you want to drag me down is as much as I can pick myself up, and only God can take the talent away from me. I’m busy rebuilding my name and brand as Gheto Child ENT hopefully I will get to enter the NAMAs again with the album. This album is one of my best works… it reminds me of the Check who’s back album and the honesty I had in it.
Let’s talk about Katutura...
I didn’t know it was going to be one of Namibia’s best movies when I went for auditions. I was surprised as two weeks after the auditions I got a call saying I got a role of the drug dealer Kapanyeru. The cast that I worked with were awesome people, it was really fun being on set and I enjoyed myself. The only problem I had was waking up early in the morning to shoot scenes that needed sunrise, but overall it was a good experience. The movie brought my name back in the industry, it reminded people that I’m still alive both in my music and acting careers. I wouldn’t mind doing it again and probably this time as a comedian and not a drug dealer or gangster!
And in the end of it all?
I’m just happy for me because a lot has changed. I have grown up and people must stop associating me with my past lifestyle. I have been off the radar so all those negative things that were written about me died. I want to start afresh. Everybody deserves a second chance and I think this is it. There was a time when Namibia had real Hip-Hop and I think we lost touch. The thing is that Namibians are followers, we are not trendsetters at all. If we keep doing what other people are doing we won’t really know where it is we are going. It’s because of that house music is taking over the industry. All these small boys just messed everything up because they don’t really understand the grounds of Hip-Hop. I’m going to bring Hip-Hop back together with Matongo Family and Killa B, I have heard tracks from them and I’m excited for what’s coming.
June Shimuoshili
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