People are trying to box me into being a producer only and they believe that is all I have to offer in the industry. I’m here to prove them wrong!
‘Ambition is priceless. It’s something that’s in your veins,’ is a stand-out quote from Wale’s 2011 break-out single, Ambition. Today, Tweezy will be hoping that his take on ambition will provide a similar launch pad to that of the MMG rapper.
‘Ambitions was inspired by my background,’ Tweezy explained to DJ Speedsta after his new single, Ambitions, debuted on YFM radio last night. ‘In my hood we’ve just got a lot of dreams and ambitions to be something great. Being a person that’s representing Jabulani [his hometown] I’m just encouraging all my other peers and all my other people from my area to just shine as much as I am.’
Tweezy’s exceptional hit-rate has already established him as South Africa’s most prolific hip-hop producer, even though he’s only 23 years old. His infamous tagline, AYOBUUR, has been an imprint on numerous chart-topping singles over the past 3 years – I’m talking AKA’s Run Jozi, All Eyes On Me, Sim Dope, Baddest; L-Tido’s Dlala Ka Yona; EmTee’s Five-0; Benchmarq’s Bonang. The list goes on. With fresh production for Fifi Cooper ‘s Kuze Kuse and Rouge’s Mbongo-Zaka currently scorching the airwaves, this streak doesn’t seem to be coming to an end anytime soon.
But one thing’s about to change though; Tweezy will no longer be classified as just a producer. The release of Ambitions, his first official single, sees Tweezy step out from behind the thick shadows of the mixing desk, and emerge onto the main stage. Like Kanye West before him, the transition from producer to rap artist has been met with scepticism. And like Kanye, Tweezy ‘s having none of it.
Despite all he’s accomplished, today is undoubtedly one of the most important days of his young career.
‘The single is to encourage every single dreamer that nothing is impossible with a little faith and determination to your ambitions,’ Tweezy explained via email. ‘People are trying to box me into being a producer only and they believe that is all I have to offer in the industry. I’m here to prove them wrong and turn my dreams into a reality.’
Despite all he’s accomplished, today is undoubtedly one of the most important days of his young career. It’s been years of hard-work, months of skill-refining, and weeks of preparation.
‘[Ambitions] is a showcase of all my talents and things I offer as a brand. I’ve always been an artist, but I figured introducing all of my aspects as a brand in one go would be overwhelming. So I figured I’d start with producing, execute my goals and touch the ceiling of being a great producer, introduce myself as an artist, reveal myself to the public a bit more as a brand and so forth.’
On first listen, Ambitions is dynamic and full of vigour.
On first listen, Ambitions is dynamic and full of vigour – you can tell he’s been waiting for his turn. The production is predictably on point, and even though this is undoubtedly one for the club (the dabbers will love it), there are smooth bars here and there. His is an inspiring story, and he tells it well. Overall, it’s a solid debut single that leaves you curious to see if this is the direction he’ll be taking as an artist behind the mic.
In terms of what we can expect next, he had this to say. ‘I’m looking into working with more artists outside of South Africa in mid-2016. I’m very excited to work with different artists from across our borders and I’m also excited to grow as a musician and producer by challenging myself to compose music from other genres and styles.’
Follow him on Twitter @beatsbytweezy