Did Jägermeister make Skaiz’s rap dreams come true? RS went down to De Nobrega’s studio in Rondebosch to have a chat to the man himself

For about four years Durban-based rapper Sheen Skaiz and producer/DJ Sketchy Bongo struggled to get noticed. They played countless free gigs, while constantly producing and releasing freestyles and mixtapes on YouTube and Soundcloud, later resorting to spamming the likes of Drake and Lady Gaga’s Facebook walls with links in search of hits from the aforementioned stars’ vast fanbases. Unfortunately, this tactic garnered minimal recognition or interest.

Skaiz then hooked-up with Plastic Shadows and together with the production skills of Sketchy Bongo, the collaboration sparked the creation of the song “Drangs & Brangz”. The track gained instant popularity with local listeners when Durban’s “Colour Festival” used it in conjunction with their promotional videos. Skaiz decided to enter the track in the 2013 Jägermeister: Back The Artist competition.

A few months later and Skaiz is sitting at a coffee shop, waiting for a supposed meeting with someone interested in his music. Suddenly, Afrikaans rockers Van Coke Kartel walks in with a camera crew, a bottle of Jägermeister and the news that Skaiz had just won a R75 000.00 recording deal with Die Antwoord’s producer Justin de Nobrega, as well as a documentary and music video to be shot in Cape Town.

Did Jägermeister make Skaiz’s rap dreams come true? RS went down to De Nobrega’s studio in Rondebosch to have a chat to the man himself, scroll down to listen to the interview. Click here to enter the Jägermeister: Back The Artist 2014 competition.

This episode is brought to you by STRAB – The Subterranean Rhythm & Blues experience. This one of kind music festival in Mosambique will take place from 21 – 25 May 2014. Bookings are now open.

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