Raw X studios is where the magic happens, where pH has produced and recorded some seminal South African works. The esteemed producer dropped his solo effort, From Giyani with Love last year to astounding success. I sat down with him to review his recording career, and delve into the world of a brilliant beatmaker.
My first interaction with pH was the rapper launching his album at Koolin Out, the city’s premier live hip hop event and showcase. The magic of this moment was palpable in the presentation of his debut. And the performance was incredibly special, offering insight into the rapper’s journey while delivering live energy and raw lyricism.
From Giyani with Love proved to be a really successful project, with features from Yanga, Reason, Thandiswa and AKA the album offered a range of sounds and stories to connect too. The rapper provided a fresh perspective for hip hop in the country and through identifying himself as Shangaan, from Giyani and using the language in his work, pH made a contribution to cultural pride in his community, a necessary contribution in a country where much ignorance and insecurity abounds around Tsonga people. The album is an excellent introduction into the expansive beats and languid lyricism from this artist. And a follow up is already on the way; D2 is to be dropped sometime this year, and he’s is excited about the progress he’s made as a rapper, finally feeling himself in the medium. pH details the tricky process of finding his voice as a rapper, the dedication and preparation that goes into being able to express yourself in rhythm and poetry.
Lost in Time, is as much a Khuli Chana album as it is a pH production. The two made the album together and through the special musical connection they shared, they made a classic, critically acclaimed album. It produced the hits Tswa Daar, Hape pt 1 and Hazzadaz Move. It went on to be the first hip hop album to win the SAMA for Album of the Year and it projected its protagonists, Khuli and pH into the upper echelons of the music industry. It also introduces pH as a rapper, on Chillin’ the world got to know the voice behind the beats and the confidence from the album pushed him to begin work on his solo effort.
‘Once you can create, you should be doing that everyday’, the words of a committed creative, a person consistently pushing their craft and career. A sound connoisseur working to expand the boundaries of urban African sounds. pH’s love of music, pride in his cultural heritage and pure talent comes together in the music that provides references from the continent whilst understanding the universal appeal of homegrown sounds. An artist to watch and appreciate as he continues to create music that holds the tension between the urban and the traditional; a beautiful balancing act.