Many rappers have intriguing stage names. Rapper Jay-Z's real is name Sean Carter, for example, while Curtis Jackson is better known as 50 Cent. Now South African lyricist Tumi Molekane has joined the trend dubbing himself Stogie T.
As well as being his new moniker, Stogie T is also the title of his fourth album, released today.
Stogie, slang for cigar, reflects the rapper’s appreciation for the finer things in life. Something that’s evident in the title of the first single from the album, Diamond Walk, which was released earlier this month.
Molekane is known as a consciousness lyricist who provides insights into the inheritance of violence from post-apartheid South Africa but he's quick to reassure fans that "my politics have not changed". Instead, he says he's simply "showing another side of Tumi".
Stogie T’s new album features other artists including AKA and up-and-coming hip hop artist Emtee, which he hopes will help him reach a bigger audience. “Music is a conversation with your audience and Emtee is good at that,” he says.
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