Frank Maponya
Frank Maponya
The group 617 Squadron is a new kid on the block in the music industry but with high ambitions.
The GaRankuwa, Pretoria-based group hopes to emulate the who's who of hip-hop music in this country.
Their music is a mixture of hip-hop and gospel, hence it's described as hip-hop urban kwaito.
Though the group was formed in 1997, the group went through quite a rough patch before finding themselves where they are today.
It comprises five members who are relatively unknown in the music industry but aim to make it big. The group was formed by five members who all met at Thuto Thebe Middle School in GaRankuwa.
The members are Ofentse Danile Setimo, known as Stimo; Tebogo Moloto, known as Teboza; Ishmael Tsholofelo Serobatse, known as Phly; Kamogelo Simon Thindisa, known as Pops; and Emmanuel Moloisi Morare, known as Jux.
Their 15-track debut album, titled Buttoned Up, will be launched in Limpopo towards the end of the year. It was recorded with Cascade Sound Promotions from the member's pockets.
"We were all eager to see the project succeed, so we took the initiative to save from our pocket monies in order to release the album," said Teboza, one of the group's masterminds.
"We would like to use our music as an instrument to move the youth away from crime and drugs," added Teboza.
Thindisa is a Limpopo-born star in the making, said Teboza. They all have a passion for music and project themselves as producing even better music in the future. He said people can buy their music at selected music stores, mostly in Pretoria.
Their second track, which has since been made into a DVD, is being played on SABC1's Mzansi fo sho' , while their fourth track, titled Rhyme Glory, has gone for 18 weeks on Thobela FM's top 30 music charts.
Hip-hop act ready to land
Frank Maponya
Frank Maponya
The group 617 Squadron is a new kid on the block in the music industry but with high ambitions.
The GaRankuwa, Pretoria-based group hopes to emulate the who's who of hip-hop music in this country.
Their music is a mixture of hip-hop and gospel, hence it's described as hip-hop urban kwaito.
Though the group was formed in 1997, the group went through quite a rough patch before finding themselves where they are today.
It comprises five members who are relatively unknown in the music industry but aim to make it big. The group was formed by five members who all met at Thuto Thebe Middle School in GaRankuwa.
The members are Ofentse Danile Setimo, known as Stimo; Tebogo Moloto, known as Teboza; Ishmael Tsholofelo Serobatse, known as Phly; Kamogelo Simon Thindisa, known as Pops; and Emmanuel Moloisi Morare, known as Jux.
Their 15-track debut album, titled Buttoned Up, will be launched in Limpopo towards the end of the year. It was recorded with Cascade Sound Promotions from the member's pockets.
"We were all eager to see the project succeed, so we took the initiative to save from our pocket monies in order to release the album," said Teboza, one of the group's masterminds.
"We would like to use our music as an instrument to move the youth away from crime and drugs," added Teboza.
Thindisa is a Limpopo-born star in the making, said Teboza. They all have a passion for music and project themselves as producing even better music in the future. He said people can buy their music at selected music stores, mostly in Pretoria.
Their second track, which has since been made into a DVD, is being played on SABC1's Mzansi fo sho' , while their fourth track, titled Rhyme Glory, has gone for 18 weeks on Thobela FM's top 30 music charts.