Mdantsane music group Manskap is a contemporary hip-hop group who took East London by storm in 2007 with their debut mix album entitled Mdantsane.
They released their second, self-titled album Manskap late last year, which sold more than 50 000 copies in the Eastern Cape and throughout South Africa, especially in Johannesburg.
Mdantsane music group Manskap is a contemporary hip-hop group who took East London by storm in 2007 with their debut mix album entitled Mdantsane.
They released their second, self-titled album Manskap late last year, which sold more than 50 000 copies in the Eastern Cape and throughout South Africa, especially in Johannesburg.
The group are now planning their second music video. Manskap consists of Lungelo “Lance” Mampofu, Khwezi “Bond” Gumse, Thulani “Tulz” Phezisa, Phindile “Blu” Magida and Mawethu “DeeBira” Matebese.
The group has collaborated with other local music performers such as Lundi Tyamara, the Cape Town gospel superstar, and Kororo “Kweriez” of Rhymes Squad fame. Their efforts and the production
of their music by Siyabonga Hlekani – a Johannesburg composer and producer – have contributed to the popular rap music township flavour with which the group has become synonymous.
“We are shooting another music video after Move and we are doing it at home”, Lance said proudly. The shooting of the this video has been delayed due to the heavy assault on band member Kwezi “Bond” Gumse, with the band deciding not to go ahead until “Bond” could participate.
He has recently been released from hospital and is now steadily recovering at home. Lance remembers the time when he used to dance his creative routines at Highway Super Centre in Mdantsane in 1992. These routines were the inspiration for his choreographed signature moves, which he shared with up-and-coming
acts like Mzembe, S’bu and Sgcebe in the late 90s.
“We have to be on local, national and international websites, radio stations and television networks,” Lance said, stressing the importance of private, public and corporate involvement in the arts, especially around “barren areas” in the Eastern Cape music landscape, such as Mdantsane. This self-owned, communitybased
and youth-orientated group insist that other local musicians should stop over-analysing their work and celebrate local artists.
