'Get a team': Ifani gives up and coming artists some advice

Rapper Ifani is one artist who would know a thing or two about being independent. 

Taking to his X timeline, he shared some gems with artists who are on the up about building relations in the music space. 

“To my fellow upcoming artists: independent artist doesn’t mean by yourself. It means without a major record label. Truth is you can’t win alone, by yourself. Even if you could, you still need a team to travel with and work with. You can’t do everything by yourself. So get a team,” he wrote.

A couple of years ago, Ifani worked with upcoming rapper Big Xhosa, who was ecstatic about bagging the opportunity to work with the Ewe hitmaker, someone he grew up admiring.

Big Xhosa said he was excited about the iFani feature as he grew up watching the star on TV. He said out of all the big names he could have worked with, he chose the legendary rapper. 

“I don't think there's anybody as excited as me about this iFani feature. I used to watch him on TV, now he is on my song? I have access to work with a lot of established artists but I preferred iFani. He is a legend to me and will forever be, I don't care ba nithini!” said Big Xhosa.

An artist who has been celebrating her independence from record labels is Makhadzi, who said she is releasing an album soon. 

“This is music with freedom, mbofholowo. I'm doing this independently. There are amazing featured/supporting artists in this album. It will blow you away. I strive in unity and being a proud African. I put my heart and soul in this again,” she wrote. 

In May she announced her departure from her recording label Open Mic.

“The relationship between myself and Open Mic Productions was like a match made in heaven as it elevated both of us to become top household names in the South African music industry. Our relationship produced four studio albums and all the albums did very well.”