T.H-C still on a roll and making serious moves

T.H-C is a Hip Hop/Urban Musician and overall creative. He is an award nominee and has gunnered some international recognition, in some parts of Africa and in the US.

Tshepi Aphane who goes by T.H-C is a rapper from Summer Greens in Cape Town, recently residing in Johannesburg after having been a Pretorian for a while. He has been on a serious come up since he became an active member of the music industry back in 2012. He has travelled and performed at various places and events, recently in Pretoria at the SOHK sessions and been on radio plaforms like Metro FMs" Rap Active Jam" and came out on top as the winner. He has to date released a total of 9 music videos. 

He is currently working on a project and making the most of what's left of 2020. We had a chat with him to find out more about his international plugs, new project and future plans.

From when you started out to currently, the Hip Hop scene has gone through several adjustments and changes. How have you tried and managed to keep true but also adjust?

The way I treat my art is exactly how I intake whatever Is "new" or out, It's ALL music, music is a timeless time capsule. So how I keep true but adjust is by remembering that music just like any living being, evolves. So I just evolve, challenge myself to try new things and also give the people what they want from ME as well as what they need from music, just like a person, your body grows and changes but your soul stays consistently getting closer to being whole, that's how I keep it.

When did you discover you could rap and had an interest in music beyond than just being a fan?

I was always into music and art. I wanted to be musical artist, I used to perform for neighbours and parents at the community hall, in Summer Greens, Cape Town where I grew up. One day boom I discovered West Coast HHip Hop through a friend, started writing and practicing everyday. 15 years later , here I am still striving to stay as hungry as I was back then and get even hungrier the more I eat. I was born for this, I love the feeling of being exhausted from back to back, shows, studio sessions, auditions, etc I'm addicted to the flow.

How did your international connect come about and how do you feel about it?

My international Connects lol plural. They just come from the natural progression of globalization, from my features to interviews, the internet allows for a level growth where we don't need the former gate keepers of industries to make it and grow. Our reach has become wide enough where we can connect with so many without a physical middle. These days when people are looking for each other,  it's as easy as sending an email.

I feel great about my international connects cause I was able to put my people on, especially with #SpeakYoMindRadio from Chicago, that show really is open to good music.

Between PTA and Joburg which would you say has the best opportunities for an artist on a come up?

I'd have to say Joburg has the biggest opportunities. In PTA there are many and very good ones but in Joburg because of the intense competition, the people you come across are very focused and competitive which I love. I love competition, all people doing well inspire me.

Looking at your journey and where you've come, what are some of the lessons you've picked up?

One lesson I have picked up is "you don't need validation from anyone else but your end product" as in , just cause a star is undiscovered, doesn't make it any less of a star. 

The second is to always focus on the process, not the event. Like the event of a soccer player being signed by a club can't happen without the process of him/her practicing,playing, training and eating right, most people just focus on the event and say "I want to be signed by so and so" but to be a real winner, focus and 'trust the process' as my friend worldchamp kumbz would say.

What can you say about your upcoming EP? My upcoming EP, which is slowly turning into a full blown mixtape, is titled "KushedankAmun" which translates into "High As God" which I took from Egyptian mythology. I will be dropping it mid December 2020 and it's a compilation of cuts and tracks that are completely different and new. I will be dropping it for free ,you will love it.

Are there any good effects of Covid? Has it worked out positively for you in any way?   Covid only helped by making people hungry for live shows and also increased views, streams and downloads, that was positive and gave people alot of time to think and read that is a definite positive.

What's your stance on the saying that "SA Hip Hop music is dying"?    Hip Hop is eternal , as long I am here, SA hip hop lives!

How do you handle the doubts amongst the challenging times of your career?

I handle doubts by watching biographies about my role models, seeing how they struggled but made it. I look at how big artists, business moguls, etc run 4 to 5 businesses, release material so much more than I do, how can I expect to be even close to where they are if they are working harder than me? There's no time to doubt yourself , just Do it ! And don't stop...ever.

What is your most memorable personal Hip Hop moment?   My most memorable moment was performing "Child's Play" with my leading Lady Misss jayy at the "School of Hard Knox". It was epic and she surprised me by wanting to do it after seeing such success with the single and music video because of lockdown. 

I only performed it twice before now, after it was featured in the London Music Video Festival and African Music Video Festival, getting to bring it to life was amazing , S/O to SOHK for the amazing stage they gave us to do that.

What are you hoping to achieve as far as your music career is concerned?   My current goal is to go platinum and have a national tour for a new album, once I am there I will set my next goals. One step at a time.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sZsr3tKYGUwcmBgigCenf?si=D7ypobVfRyCr8fqJl_5-ZA&nd=1

S/O to T.H-C/ Tshepi Aphane for the work and the progression . He's available for bookings, sessions and collaborative work through his social media platforms.

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