Its always been a dream of Afro-pop singer and songwriter Tresor Raziki to build an African story that would shift how people view African music and pop culture. When he got the opportunity to work on American rapper Drake's album he was honoured to be part of the shift in the music scene where he could showcase what Africa is capable of.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, he said the collaboration happened organically.
“It has been such an honour to be part of such a monumental project shifting and also spearheading a whole new direction for pop culture globally. If you've been following my career, there's been such a huge change in the past 24 months. One thing that happened was Oliver el-khatib became a brother of mine. He has been Drake's business partner for a long time and he got in touch with me mid-last year and we started exchanging music. They've been fans of my music."
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The musician worked on six songs and contributed vocals on three songs, and what started the ball rolling on the collaboration was his music.
“They started playing my music on OVO radio and we started going back and forth and exchanging music. Most of the collaborations really happened organically. I'm honoured that I was brought on the project as a collaborator and was able to help shape the sound of pop culture at the moment. It is an exciting time and I'm very excited. It is beautiful and is one of my favourite albums I've been involved in, not because I'm involved but because it is different. It is culture shifting for me in many senses.
“I think the way I make music is always aiming at exporting African arts and music and sound to the world. My mission is to bring back the glory days of African-pop music and African-pop culture and I was very excited and flattered to hear the guys really love the music.”
Tresor said he had dinner with Grammy-award winner DJ Black Coffee recently, who also collaborated on the album, and he told him Drake spoke highly of his work.
“Its a really beautiful time. As an African artist I always knew the music is destined to go to greater heights and its such a beautiful time that I get to experience it in my youth and early in my career.”
The Never Let Me Go hit maker said putting Africa on the map has always been his aim.
“I think its always been my journey. My journey has always been about building something bigger than where I come from. I come from a very small city, Goma in the DRC, so I've always wanted to make my city proud, the DRC proud, make SA proud, make the continent proud of our sound, culture, music, fashion and the story. My aim is always to build the greatest story of our generation, and I think I'm on my way and humbly so.”
The musician has collaborated with Hunters to discover new talent, a way for him to give back after he received support in the industry with the likes of the late Bra Hugh mentoring him.
“I think that's a no-brainer. I'm very passionate about the continent, I'm very passionate about the youth. Hunters is such an incredible brand that has been very crucial in youth culture and in the middle of lockdown they were the only brand that supported artists through their lockdown parties on Channel O.
"I launched Jacquel Culture House as an extension of my company, solely focused on incubating and empowering the next generation of creatives in music, fashion, visual arts, film and architecture, and Hunters were the fitting partners because they are equally passionate about the arts and really passionate about the youth and empowerment. That's why we came together to create this amazing platform.”
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