SOUTH AFRICA-BASED rapper, Mlue Jay attributes his recent playlist placement on the prestigious music television station, Channel O, to consistency and patience.
His song titled Utshintshi is receiving heavy rotation on Channel O’s prime time slots.
“Honestly, there’s no secret to being on Channel O,” Mlue Jay said.
“It takes patience and consistency. If I could show people how many times I've been rejected, they'd be surprised.
“It's so encouraging, kind of like a manifestation. To think I grew up watching Channel O and telling myself one day I would be there.
“If you listen to my song titled Bulawayo to Jozi, you will hear me rapping about all this.
“A lot of people didn't believe I would make it this far, but God said, ‘Let’s show them how it’s done’.
“I'm so happy, and I can't even explain the feeling.
“I'm a Zimbabwean artist on prime time segments on the biggest music channel in Africa, representing where I'm from and all the artists who are doing this thing completely independent.”
Mlue Jay is no stranger to prestigious music channels, having had several of his past songs featured.
“I have had more than five videos on Channel O and MTV Base,” he said.
“These include Ngenkani; 247, featuring Dakid Verse; Safe, featuring VIC JITA and Sykotek; No Cap; Shooter and now Utshintshi, featuring TriggerMan.
“The playlists I was on before are different from what Utshintshi is doing.
“A lot of artists know how hard it is to get on primetime slots without label backing, but we did it.”
Explaining the meaning of the song Utshintshi, the artist said: “Utshintshi means ‘change’. The song is produced by one of my fellow brothers from the United States, Ray B.
“He sent me a pack of beats, and when I heard that one, I went crazy and did the hook.
“The song is all about giving fellow rappers a hard run and I'm bossing myself up that this year I'm coming again with more fire, and if rappers try to take me on, I will give them change.
“The song features my boy Triggerman, who's signed to my label, YeahWeLit Entertainment.”
Mlue Jay is the reigning Bulawayo Arts Awards outstanding hip-hop act and Zim hip-hop’s best diaspora.