Kwesta Details How ‘Huzet’ Featuring Kabza Came About. Senzo Brikka Vilakazi known professionally as Kwesta, is a South African rapper and songwriter. Born in Katlehong, Gauteng, a township also known as “K1”. In 2003, at the age of 15, he and his friends formed a rap group Ghetto Fellaz which then changed to The Juvenylz, same year.
Both Kwesta and Kabza challenged themselves. “Huzet, one of the album’s first releases, is the first time I’ve ever heard Kabza’s vocals feature on a song”. Kwesta can’t recall another instance, either. He explains how that unfolded.
“The beat was playing and I was writing and trying to figure out where to go with the song. He goes out for a cigarette and when he comes back he just starts mumbling (the hook on the song) without the words. And I’m like, ‘wait what?’ But he was just vibing to the song, it wasn’t even something that he was suggesting that we do… And I was like ‘yo man record that’ and he jumped on the mic and recorded that mumbling.
“Then we sat down and put it into words and it just happened. As soon as that happened that’s when I started saying ‘no ntwana you need to get on the mic more’. Plus his voice is dope. And it doesn’t seem like it was anything new for him because some people speak a certain way and then when they record there’s a fear or lack of confidence. He just went in there and did it, so that was a natural thing.”
While they came together with the mindset that Kabza would do the beats and Kwesta the vocals they ended up following a similar pattern with some of the songs.
Kwesta is entering uncharted territory. While he’s had to conjure up comebacks in the past, this is arguably his most daunting undertaking. Local hip-hop is on the back foot as amapiano continues to be the sound of the land. He’s well aware of the weight of expectation, but he’s more excited than nervous.
“What we made is magical to us. Especially if you hear it altogether as a project, it’s like a trip to the hood and back and I’m pretty content in my being anxious and in my being excited. I’m confident in the product we’ve put together.”
A week after we speak, Kwesta abruptly posts the album tracklist on Instagram and announces that it will drop at midnight. The list of guest appearances balance past and present: Sgubhu S’ka Kabza sees DJ Tira make a rare appearance, while One on One features sprightly amapiano newcomer Toss.
A week later, at his album launch at Sony Music Africa’s offices, Kwesta confidently engages the guests as he shares his excitement on the new album and runs through the stories behind some of his favourite songs.
