‘They Were Never Ready For Me’: Rouge Exclusive Interview
One of the baddest rappers in the country, Rouge chopped it up with us about her music and gives advice on how to make it in the industry.
Rap artist Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi, better known as Rouge is one of the more successful rappers that just so happen to be female in the country making moves. Browse through her catalog and you’ll quickly find that she can hold her own on the mic against any rapper. Tapped on the Baddest Remix alongside the most prominent femcees in Mzansi, Rouge has since measured her skill on tracks featuring Skhanda Queen and Reason of late. We spoke to the 24 year old about her career in music, her impression on the hip hop industry in the country and the impact female rappers are having on the hip hop scene. Cav the response!
QuenchSA: What is the background behind your stage name Rouge?
Rouge: I wanted something that stood for something. The colour Red means love, passion, fury, it is bold and its bright. That’s why I chose it because I felt the one colour had a lot to it, like me.
QuenchSA: You graduated in Drama & Film. Do you plan on acting at a later stage in your career?
Rouge: Of course!!! They were never ready for me.
QuenchSA: You have been embraced by many artists in the hip hop industry. What can you ascribe that to?
Rouge: I don’t know exactly I guess my determination and they recognize the hustle.
QuenchSA: What irks you about being referred to as a female rapper?
Rouge: Everything! It’s old news now…people need to get creative.
QuenchSA: Your hair is an unavoidable feature of the Rouge brand. Was this a premeditated strategy?
Rouge: (Laughs) Actually I had this since high school and it just stuck.
QuenchSA: In your opinion, what needs to be done by female rappers not to limit their collective impact on hip hop to a single year?
Rouge: They need to start doing more singles that don’t rely on dudes to put them on.
QuenchSA: The track between yourself and Nomuzi put the alleged beef between female emcees to rest. How did the track Mbongo Zaka come about?
Rouge: Well I wanted to feature a girl on my track since we all seemed apprehensive to work with each other and why not the Skhanda Queen. We both had a story to tell.
QuenchSA: Do you have a date for when you will release a full body of work?
Rouge: Not a full date but you can most definitely expect work this year.
QuenchSA: Commercial success has never been this attainable in the hip hop genre. Have you directly or indirectly seen the benefits of the 90% local music policy?
Rouge: Yeah! I have and Mbongo Zaka is still charting 5 months later.
READ: Kid X Discusses The Positives That Came Out Of His Mixtape
QuenchSA: It has been evident that the number of followers on social media don’t translate to physical CDs bought, votes or ticket sales. For you personally how do you measure the best response to your output?
Rouge: I guess at this moment it would be downloads and how many people are actually receptive to my sound during performances.
QuenchSA: What can your fans expect from you in the immediate future?
Rouge: Just more music and great features.
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are in for a treat. Disney+ has announced that 1 February marks the arrival of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” The blockbuster will be joining 16 other on the streaming platform.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.
As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, ruler of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, is now playing in theaters.
They are one of South Africa’s most revered music duos.
Their discography packs both blockbuster club bangers and lush delights for lovers of House with a transcendental African sonic flair. And the explosive fallout of Black Motion, which has been splashed across the internet long before reaching the courts, has shocked many.
Loved for their electrifying live performances and awe-inspiring chemistry, Mörda and Smol have always seemed like musical soulmates. But that relationship seems to have reached a bitter end.
In 2022, rumours of their reported split triggered a frenzy on the internet. Following the uproar, the group’s members Bongani Mohosana, who now goes as Mörda, and Smol (real name Roy Thabo Mabogwane), jointly calmed fears that they had fallen out.
It had been said the break would be temporary, as Mörda moved to focus on the release of his solo studio album.
Far from it, it now seems. The parties have escalated things to court.
According to reports, Black Motions have confirmed that they had pressed charges against Mörda for alleged housebreaking and theft.
A court order by the High Court in Gauteng posted on social media has ordered Morda to “restore possession of a recording studio apparatus” to the group by 13 January, at 5pm.
Black Motion shared snaps of the alleged damage caused by Morda – a broken door and stolen equipment.
Tick – Tock
— Black Motion (@black_motion) January 11, 2023
“Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble." #TheRestIsHistory#RemainHumble pic.twitter.com/4R4yI0RGS0
It looks like we won’t be getting a new Black Motion album with Mörda anytime soon.
Reality Shows
Inside the Big Brother Titans Premiere!
South Africa and Nigeria unite under Biggie’s roof.
Sunday, 15 February 2023, marks the roaring arrival of BBTitans.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
The highly anticipated social experiment brings under Biggie’s roof housemates from both South Africa and Nigeria. And for 72 days, we will be splashed with the finest in South African and Nigerian swag, banter, romance and all the trappings of a fun-filled, dramatic and – we’d hope – an entertaining show.
A first of its kind, the social experiment assembles the most colourful personalities from the two nations to outwit, outplay and outsmart each other in a bid to get their hands on a massive bag, life-changing bag!
In addition to a number of lofty prizes that will likely be on the line throughout the season, the winner of the show will also be walking away, a whopping grand prize of US $100 000 (over R1,7 million) is up for grabs for the one who trounces his Housemates to charm audiences across the continent.
That’s not all; the amount of social capital, celebrity and opportunities for lucrative brand deals after the show, all form part of the career-launching lift-off that comes with being on the popular franchise.
Both Big Brother Mzansi host Lawrence Maleka and Big Brother Naija’s Ebuka Obi-Uchendu will co-host this debut season.
Fans of Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija in the diaspora are not left out as Showmax will stream the show in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and about 50 other countries.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to land on Disney+ in February
The Shocking Fallout of Black Motion
Inside the Big Brother Titans Premiere!
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