Dé Advntr is a dynamic rap duo from the east side of Johannesburg who have their sights set on changing the perception of the South African music industry with their nuanced and experimental sound. They talk about their recent project, a two-part video for two tracks on their latest EP called dé krump kamp, and what makes their position as young artists unique to the South African music scene.
We’re experimental with our sound and because of that we can really just take it wherever we want it to go. So I guess it’s just an alternative hip hop experience.
dé advntr Samarui Jack Said/In The House
The two artists go by the names of Tio Badhu and passionfruitdilla and describe their music as a “chilled version of real raps”, inspired by music from artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Pete Rock and CL Smooth.
Tio Badhu: That’s really the type of music we’re trying to make but just focusing more on the musicality, sometimes it’s on some indie shit, sometimes it’s on some jazz shit”
Passionfruitdilla: We’re experimental with our sound and because of that we can really just take it wherever we want it to go. So I guess it’s just an alternative hip hop experience.
How do you feel about where South African music is at right now?
Tio Badhu: I feel like South African music has just been consumed by mainstream music which has diluted our unique swag, I think that we are at a point where everyone is just buried by trap music or whatever it is, and there just isn’t any room for something different.
What kind of support do you think up and coming artists need from the industry?
Passionfruitdilla: More open mindedness in the industry on the promoter’s part. We need more support from promoters, more underground events, more performing opportunities, realistically the only way you can gain a following is being more exposed and being able to do shows. There are very few spaces in Joburg that accommodate for the kind of music that we make or any music that doesn’t have a mainstream sound, I think artists just need more access.
Talk about some of the projects you’ve put out and what’s next?
Passionfruitdilla: Our latest project is De Krump Kamp which is a nine track EP that we dropped in December 2016. Since we were 16 we’ve been in the process of finding the right sound, our latest EP is just a dope body of work and a reflection of that.
Tio Badhu: For now, we’re going to be working on more music, another EP, visuals and new singles. We also really want to connect with more South African producers and artists.
What inspired the video for Samurai Jack Said/In The House?
I think the cool thing about the video is that it can mean whatever you want it to.
Tio Badhu: Samarui Jack Said/In The House is a two-part video based on a story about Samurai Jack trying to escape his demons and realizing that he just need to chill out and enjoy life
Passionfruitdilla: We came up with the concept because we had a beat and we thought that the beat sounded like something you would hear in the cartoon and we just ended up using the fighting scene for the first part of the video. ‘In The House’ is the second part of the video and is a song about reflection. It’s about finding something or someone that you care about and then just kicking it and enjoying that comfort that you find when you’re with them. We just want people to enjoy the lyrics and the video, and create meaning based on what it makes them feel. I think the cool thing about the video is that it can mean whatever you want it to.
What would you like people to take away from your music?
Passionfruitdilla: Well I just want people to listen to the music and just listen to the stories, and I don’t know man I just want the music to be well written and have a lot of different elements, so people can appreciate the music and what goes into it. It’s never just about the music, it’s the experience and the visuals and just the entire body of work.
What is your creative process?
Tio Badhu: It all starts with the beat and then we just try to incorporate as many different elements as we can. We’ve studied a lot of different genres, so we know what we like what we don’t like.
Dream performance?
Tio Badhu: I’d want to do like a Camp Flog Gnaw but with underground SoundCloud rappers, no main act, just music.
Passionfruitdilla: Location wise, I’d want to perform at the train station in New Town in Johannesburg and just fill it up I think that would be dope.
I’d want to do like a Camp Flog Gnaw but with underground SoundCloud rappers, no main act, just music.
In what ways has making music changed you
Tio Badhu: It’s changed my perspective on things I experience in my day to day life and just my interactions with people. It made me realise that nothing really matters unless you make it matter.
Passionfruitdilla: It makes me more aware of what’s happening around me, I guess that I have better insight into what everyone is after and shit and how disillusioned they are by focusing on the wrong things.
What do you think is unique about your position as a young artist in SA?
Tio Badhu: We are now able to reflect on everything that’s been done already and focus on taking SA music in a different direction, we can add to the evolution that hip hop is going through right now.
Passionfruitdilla: We’re young and hungry, and we believe in what we’re trying to do right now.
What are you conscious of when making music?
Tio Badhu: We always want all the elements that go into making a track to compliment each other and there’s has to be a balance when you’re experimenting with new sounds.
Passionfruitdilla: Not doing too much and not doing too little in terms of content and writing, finding the sweet spot.
“Samurai Jack Said/In The House” taken off dé krump kamp ep.
Stream on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/aoad-866658339/sets/de-krump-kamp
Video Edited by: Keith Benza, Atlegang Molokoane and Ngcambu Dlomo.
