‘Rap is my calling,’ says Assessa
She said the reason behind her rapping career is that she was an introverted person during her teenage years
Lindiwe Veronica Skhosana (Assessa) is taking the rapping spotlight from eKasi to the universe.
Assessa has made a good name for herself in the music industry as a female rapper. Many people know her by her very famous songs titled ‘Quantum’, ‘Ubani’ and ‘Ama Levels’ which she’s been featured by two hip hop stars, Duncan and Zakwe. Assessa told WITBANK NEWS that she grew up in Vosman.
She said the reason behind her rapping career is that she was an introverted person during her teenage years.
She was not sharing her life stories with people, especially her friends, but she used to write them down in her diary and convert them to poems.
“I used to watch and listen to every story which was happening in my kasi, then write them down, even though some were very emotional and touching, but I used to take them because they were my strength. They made me strong, hence I have survived all the challenges that were affecting teenagers during my times, examples of those stories such as rape, teenage pregnancy, drugs, crime and so forth,” said Assessa.
As she adds up to her story she further said even though she was an introverted person she believed that one day her stories will bring change into people’s lives and that’s how she started rapping, hip hop gave her the platform to tell her stories.
Assessa said she first recorded her first song titled, ‘Imali’ in 2008, which became a very powerful popular song around 2014. She then released her first mixtape titled ‘yim’lo’ which was produced by Mabhiza from Durban.
In 2015 she won an award at the South African Awards for the best female hip hop MC.
“After recording my first song ‘Imali’ in 2008, I came out of my little box and I started seeing life differently because I saw that through rapping I can heal people, I can groom, educate, inspire and encourage people to be self-reliant at all times. I started battling at school just to voice out my voice to heal people.”
Well, it did not end there… She won the battle at Oskido’s show called Rap Activity as well as the battle at Chata’s show called Cleva Unga Givaphi meaning ‘Clever don’t give up’.
Furthermore, she won another battle at one of the biggest shows in Africa called ‘Back to the city’ which always partakes at New Town every year on April 27 on Freedom Day.
“Through hip hop, I have achieved many things and I have met people whom I grew up watching on TV like the likes of Oskido and hip hop star Big Zulu, the late Pro Kid and others, that’s why I always say rap is my calling because I heal people through it,” Assessa told WITBANK NEWS.
Even though everything seems to be running smoothly for Assessa she says it is not easy, there are some hiccups along the way, but she won’t forget her motives and goals which are to uplift and bring change in Mpumalanga, especially her hometown eMalahleni. Assessa said she wants to be remembered for her work and golden voice when she is no more.
