REVERED United States music stable Def Jam Records has signed Zimbabwe Music Awards(Zima) winner Nadia Nakai Kandava,Zim Morning Post has learnt.
The 30-year old rapper won the outstanding musician gong at the Zima in 2018.
Def Jam Africa will focus on unearthing hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa.
Other regional artistes signed include Boity, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Tshego, Tellaman, Ricky Tyler and Larry Gaaga.
The development is a milestone for Nakai as she joins a label that has worked with the creme dela creme of hip hop on the global stage.Def Jam has worked with multiple award winning Jay-Z, Kanye West, Big Sean and the iconic Run DMC among others.
Acting chief executive of Def Jam Records Jeff Harleston said the launch of Def Jam Africa was a major stepping stone to tap hip hop talent across the world.
“Def Jam is a globally recognized brand, synonymous with excellence in hip-hop, and we enthusiastically welcome the launch of Def Jam Africa as an opportunity for audiences worldwide to discover the incredibly talented hip-hop artists emerging from across the continent,” read part of his statement.
Nakai is a Zimbabwean descent by virtue of her mother.
Her father is South African.
She cut her teeth in the entertainment industry when she won the Mixtape 101 competition on the Shiz Niz hip hop show on E-TV.
She then rose to prominence in 2013, when she released her debut single titled ‘Like Me’.
She shook the industry and was featured on the remix of Ricky Rick song titled ‘Amantom Bazane’.
In 2015, Nakai released her third single Saka Wena featuring Ice Prince.
Her stock continued to rise making collabos with stars like Casper Nyovest until she won an award at the SAMA – most prestigious awards in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the advent of Def Jam to Africa can serve as motivation and probably open doors to local rappers like MUnetsi Matambanadzo, Alishias’Maskiri’ Musimbe ,Desmond ‘Stunner’ Chideme,Prince ‘Noble Styles’ Butawu, Mudiwa Hood ,Junior Brown,Resilience ‘GZE’ Chekera,Kiki Badass,Blackpearl, Black Bird,Trae Young,Synik,Milton Da Dot and Tatenda ‘Tatea the MC’ Nziramasanga among other talented rappers.
Recently ,the dormant local hip hop scene erupted like a volcano following a beef between Noble Styles and veteran rapper GZE that illuminated the scene.
The battle of the two word -smiths was however inconclusive as both artistes spit venom, exhibiting some creative bars with rhyme and reason.
