DopeTown Fam making serious moves in music

Dope Town Fam is hard at work on a mission to achieve their ultimate goal of leaving their mark in the Hip-Hop industry in Msukaligwa.

The duo, consisting of Siyabonga ‘Swagger’ Khumalo and Ntokozo ‘Natureboi’ Ngwenya, has made its presence known in local entertainment circles, having won the Msukaligwa Arts and Culture competition in the Hip Hop category recently.

That competition featured known groups and faces around the Gert Sibande District and getting the nod as the best was a step in the right direction on achieving that dream.

The group was formed in 2015 in Chrissiesmeer, a town outside Ermelo, after two factions competing against each other decided to come together and form one big group of five.

Their name, Dope Town Fam, is a slang name derived from them being the best in the small town.

DopeTown Fam is not your regular run off the mill hip-hop group, but are changing the status quo and rapping about their faith and social ills affecting the youth in the township.

With popularity came pressure, as members left the group to pursue other interests, which left Natureboy and Swagga as the only official members.

The duo released a hit song called ‘Siyajabula’, which is being played and is on rosters of local and provincial radio stations.

The song was recognised in the Ermelo Winter Spree competition in 2016, as it has a particular dance move which has seen it trend on social media and eventually blossoming into being the “Siyajabula Dance Challenge”.

The group is not just the regional Arts and Culture award winners, but have had their fair share of accolades, having been crowned the Chrissiesmeer Arts and Culture champions in 2016.

That award put them above their peers in their town and they decided to move to Ermelo as it is the hub of the entertainment industry in the region..

The pressures of the music industry take their toll on these young men but selling their music on a grand scale, is the goal.

“It is not easy pursuing a music career, especially in a small town like Chrissiesmeer.

“We had to move to Ermelo to get more opportunities and even that is not ideal, because it also is a small town,” says Natureboi.

Even though they are financially disadvantaged, they fund themselves when travelling to gigs, perform voluntarily at events and book studios so they can harness their craft.

The group recently came back from Johannesburg where they met with the big wigs in the music industry, namely DJ Maphorisa and Makwa Beats, to learn and build lasting relationships.

That trip paid off as they were introduced to Mr Jay Spitter, a producer who has made music for the likes of Gigi Lamayne, one of the leading female rappers in South Africa.

Mr Spitter reproduced their hit song, ‘Siyajabula’ and the group are now pushing for it to be played on the local airwaves.

That relationship also catapulted them to opening for Abdul Khoza, another well-known entertainer, in a festival in Breyten recently.

With all the progress they making, the duo decided to begin their own clothing brand also named after their hit song.

That venture has been widely received by their audience with their products in demand.

“Look out for Dope Town Fam in the future because great things are going to happen,” Natureboi concluded.