Tuks

Tuks, born Tumelo Kapadisa, has been writing in his indigenous language since 1993/'94, back when rap was still considered taboo in most townships around South Africa. Tuks began as a "conscious" writer, touching base with everyday issues and drawing from his environment, which back then was strong in cultural influence and pride that was prevalent in Bophuthatswana. A year later the homeland was reestablished as the northwest and became part of the nine provinces in South Africa.

Prior to his solo career he was in two other groups that he co-founded with friends from school, but as he puts it, "I felt choked and honestly I was more in love with my music, while the other members hallucinated about the fame and fortune. I had to be out. Besides I had always been a loner!"

Tuks isn't big on running his mouth. In fact his sole purpose is to do music and interpret life as he sees it, an honest lyricist who in abstract will recite you his life story in each of his songs. Tuks, described as the man with the mad attitude, holds back no punches, which got him in hot water when a line from "Sneng-neng" about another famous rapper caught the public ear. Raw from the streets, two years after having his first break on Zola's album on a track entitled "Moroba," he still spits like he's got a point to prove. Tuks was also featured in Bravo's Skhokho and Morafe's Maru a Pula.

Tuks shared the stage with already established artists in this country like Zola, Pith Black Afro, Bravo, k.b, Thebe, hhp and Amu. He draws his inspiration from acts like Common, KRS, Mos Def and most underground (rather undiscovered) hip-hop. He writes like none other in S.A. He is considered one of South Africa's best lyricist with both Vanac and English appeal.

Tuks' debut album consisted of 20 tracks and is a journey through the ups and downs he has come across in his life. He worked with wonder producer Thaso on the album. The production of Mafoko a me comes off sounding heartfelt and true to its own art form, out of the box and an alternative to your regular and monotonous sounding hip-hop that we have been hearing throughout the years. —Courtesy Calabash Music