Med student uses sick beat to encourage South Africans to get vaxxed, yo!

Step aside Drake, Jay-Z and Snoop Dog — there’s a rapping future doctor in the house and he has a life-saving message.

Using the power of rap music, University of Pretoria medical student Rostum Ogbuehi — better known as Ross the Boss —  is encouraging South Africans to vaccinate against the Covid-19 virus.

Ogbuehi, a fifth-year health sciences faculty medical student, features in a catchy rap video called Vaccinate that dispels myths about getting vaccinated.

It was Prof Tiaan de Jager, dean of the faculty, who conceived the idea of using music to encourage more South Africans to get vaccinated.

The video has had more than 25,000 views on YouTube and Instagram.

“Within less than a week, the video had more than 15,000 hits on social media. It is becoming extremely popular, and we are receiving very positive feedback,” said de Jager.

“We have seen a low uptake in people getting vaccinated. This is concerning, as we know that Covid-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people getting the virus and can reduce the risk of spreading it.

“We were one of the first faculties of health sciences to open a vaccination site on campus. I believe it is our duty to serve the UP community, staff and students to make sure everybody has easy access to the Covid-19 vaccine.

“I understand the power of rap songs and that it can reach different age groups. I am very proud of our talented students who agreed to compose this unique rap song, and to contribute to the national and international drive to get people vaccinated,” said de Jager.

Ogbuehi wanted to get his facts correct so he used information provided by the university’s acting head of the infectious diseases department, Prof Veronica Ueckermann, to craft the lyrics.

“The dean reached out to me to compose a song and video to promote vaccination. I saw the importance of it and decided to go ahead with the project and, I must say, I am pleased with the outcome,” said Ogbuehi.

Others who feature in the video are medical students Vincent Mathenjwa and Tsholofelo Mphahlele, as well oral hygiene student Reatlegile Mangope.

“The video was shot on Prinshof campus, at the basic medical sciences building and in the Tswelopele lecture theatre complex,” said Ogbuehi.

“The song is based on a Drake-type beat that I had stumbled across on YouTube.

“I really loved the beat and asked my brother, Comrade Junior, to remake it but with some slight alterations to make it unique to me.

“I would say the song borders on hip-hop and rap, though it has a trap feel to it.”

Ogbuehi believed listeners would connect better with him through a visual representation of the song.

“The song alone is good by itself. But the icing on the cake was filming the music video; people need to see who the guy is that’s telling them to be vaccinated. Ultimately, I am trying to promote vaccinating through the university.”

Ogbuehi’s music journey began when he was in grade 10, when another of his brothers introduced him to the world of hip-hop.

“Since then, I’ve been devoted to the game of music.”

He said this was not his first collaboration with De Jager.

“In second year, I approached the dean with a song that I had written and recorded titled 2nd Year’s Guide.

“I felt second year was one of the most difficult years, so I asked the dean to assist me with promoting the song and video. He was eager and pleased to assist.”