meet the joburg finalists: keabruh&jay.b

On November 30th and December 1st, eight acts will perform at the AFROPUNK Joburg Battle of the Bands Finals.

The Grand Prize at the Battle of the Bands is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the star-studded, line-up of AFROPUNK JoBurg 2018 at Constitution Hill on New Year’s Eve. But the Battle of the Bands is not only an opportunity for a big break most musicians seek in their careers, it is also an occasion for South African artists to showcase their music, their creative spirit and their artistry to the AFROPUNK audience. So this week, we’re spotlighting all eight finalists, asking them questions about who they are and what this moment means to them.

Today we present the unapologetically Queer kwaito-rap duo from Vosloorus, Keabruh&Jay.B.

What is you name, your age, and the instrument that you play?

We are Keabruh&Jay.B, a Queer rap duo composed of Keabetswe Motsoagae (18) and Jabulani Sibisi (20).

Where are you from?

We are from Vosloorus, Boksburg. Currently residing in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

What are your favorite things about where you are from?

The cultural diversity and its influence of our style of music. Also, the undying passion for cultivating and nurturing new talent.

Give us a short description of the kind of music you make.

It is a fusion of rap, kwaito and rap characterized by catchy hooks and witty bars.

If there was one or two core thoughts or ideas that you want your music to convey, what are they?

The inclusion of Queer bodies in a heteronormative society. And also to educate the general public of the dynamics that come with being Queer in modern-day South Africa.

What are your musical dreams and aspirations? Not fame-wise, but creatively. What do you think you can do with music?

To have the ability to tap into multiple genres, but still keep the rap element in order for us to be able to spread the Queer gospel amongst different audiences.

Name one artist that you would like to collaborate with? What do you think that collaboration would sound like?

Manthe Ribane. A fusion of electro music with Kwaito, her distinct sound fused with our Kwaito-rap element would make an indelible classic! The multicultural element would definitely be one for the books!

What are you most looking forward to if you win the Battle of the Bands? What do you think winning could do for you?

Seeing that we are set to drop our debut EP in early 2019, the AFROPUNK Battle of the Bands comes right in time to give us a dose of information that would help us prevent a lot of mistakes before and after release. Winning the battle will give us exposure and we’d also get the opportunity to make connections in the music industry both locally and internationally.

Anything else you want to say to the AFROPUNK audience as a way of introduction?

The world needs to hear the voice of the young, Black, South African Queer male in hip-hop. Being a Queer rap duo in a predominantly misogynistic and homophobic genre, the pioneerism and courage we possess definitely speaks for itself.

READ MORE ABOUT THE REST OF THE AFROPUNK JOBURG BATTLE OF THE BANDS FINALISTS:

MEET LEON, A THOUGHTFUL “SINGING” SONGWRITER

MEET RED ROBYN, SINGER, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, “DREAMER”

MEET SOUL POP VOCALIST/RAPPER, THE RICKY TYLER SHOW

MEET ELECTRONIC SINGER-SONGWRITER, SIỎ

MEET AFRO-FOLK SINGER-GUITARIST, SERATI

MEET IKATI ESENGXOWENI, A SOULFUL ACOUSTIC DUO

MEET AFRO-POP/SOUL SINGER, LUIS_THEDON