Hard-core Rapper, Smokie
Godfrey Omphile, musically known as Smokie DF is a Kanye native who has been doing music rounds up for quite some time now in the rap world as an underground had-core rapper. He had the opportunity to have a chat with us about his music:
You are an artist, how long have you been in this industry?
I have more than 20 years in this game though I was doing underground street music.
What kind of music do you do?
Hard-core hip-hop music.
What was the inspiration for your choice of music?
My inspiration for this music came through my love for poetry and as you know poetry is very entertaining with rhyming words, I’m inspired by west coast American artists like Krs 1, Cypress Hill, 2pac and others. That is where I started being more into rap.
How many albums in your work portfolio do you currently have?
Right now I’m working on my second album with massive 11 tracks titled ‘The last commandment’.
Which of your songs sold you best?
There is one song called (Re gatela pele) in English it translates to ‘we stepping forward with music’. The song did very well in the music scenes, its trending video on social media was fantastic.
Why was it the one that sold you up?
Definitely because I wrote it in Setswana language and featured two home boys of which one of them is doing traditional music with those vibes. It makes the song sounds very nice, as for the other he raps in Setswana with those poetry words.
Being a musician is sometimes challenging, how do you deal with those challenges?
On my new album, I have a track called ‘Challenging life’. I believe there are so many challenges in the music industry like sponsors of which you cannot do anything without financials, first you need to pay the studio, promotions travelling to network with other artists so in these challenges you need to focus and don’t listen to naysayers.
What is it that sets you apart?
I don’t just rely on music only, I’m a business man and I have my own clothing brand (Filla Fella catching feelings) that is doing very well and I’m happy that a lot of people are admiring it.
Do you have anything you are currently working on?
Right now I’m working on marketing and interviews of the album and my clothing brand.
What about bookings and upcoming performances?
I have so many bookings but I’m working on preparations of my launch, so I don’t take some bookings unless after my launch.
As an artist what do you stand proud to have achieved?
I’m very proud of my work and my supporters that they always push me ahead to prosper.
What do you aspire to achieve in future?
I wish to see my dreams come true like to grow bigger and pick others who’d like to be in the game and by having a music academy here in our country more especially for orphans.
Duncan Sebeso