Before hitting the airwaves with her playful and yet explosive single Ice Cream, Gigi Lamayne was virtually unknown in the mainstream, despite her exploits in the hip-hop scene over the years.
Before hitting the airwaves with her playful and yet explosive single Ice Cream, Gigi Lamayne was virtually unknown in the mainstream, despite her exploits in the hip-hop scene over the years.
It's somewhat bizarre to even suggest that Gigi is a newcomer, for someone who is already a four-time winner at the SA Hip-Hop Awards. Though some may imply that featuring the cool prince of SA hip-hop Khuli Chana in Ice Cream helped Gigi's cause, the 21-year-old rapper is her own woman and she is pushing hard in her own way for recognition and respect in the male-dominated genre.
Tomorrow she takes her brand beyond the borders of Mzansi, to perform in Lusaka, Zambia. The event will be the Miller Sound Clash. Though it is at the invitation of main act Khuli Chana, Gigi promises to deliver the goods.
"I'm really excited about performing in Lusaka. It's my first time in Zambia and having Khuli Chana invite me to debut myself to the Zambian crowd is amazing."
Born Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney in Lenasia, Gigi's street craft was shaped by the many places in which she grew up around Johannesburg, including Soweto, Eldorado Park and now the cultural melting pot of Yeoville.
Gigi also spent part of her childhood in England on a Branson Scholarship, where she was not shy to put her poetic and rapping skills against local MCs in contests.
"I grew up in all these places because my mom was working as a nurse in the UK. My influences are varied, most importantly the places I lived in. But I have also been inspired by Bob Marley, Brenda Fassie and Tupac Shakur," she says.
When she's not busy with her music business, Gigi Lamayne is at Wits University where she is reading for her final year of media studies.
She is already making good use of her academic knowledge as she vigorously uses new forms of media to advance her music career.
For example, starting today every Friday in the Women's Month Gigi Lamayne will be dropping visuals where she showcases her talent in short YouTube clips which can be viewed on her Facebook Fan page.
"Everything I do is business; the music, the studies and social media - they all tie in well to advance my career."
Her theme for the month of August is "Iron Lady" and the first video expected to drop today is titled At Ease.
Her hit Ice Cream Remix is currently holding the No 1 spot on Ms Cosmo's 5FM #TheStirUp local Hip-Hop chart as well as the No 2 spot on YFM's Hot 99 Hip Hop chart.
Yajika Lento, her other hot number, is also receiving much love.
"Next week I am releasing Jungle Fever. It's going to shake things up!"
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