New kid on the block
Jeii
I was going about my business when I received a phone call telling me about this "new kid on the block". I wondered who he could be and what he brings to the table. With no further delays I came across his hit single #Hold Up. With just one listen I knew that this "new kid on the block" I keep hearing about from Johannesburg is just what my readers need to know about! This artist I am writing about goes by the name Jeii. I took my time off to learn more about him and where he is heading in the industry.
1. Where does your stage name Jeii come from? What or who inspired you to usethat as your stage name?
My stage name has grown with me through the years, it's a name I was given by my hood friends, since they used to call me Jedakiss (Jeda) and Yung Jeezy (Jeezy). As I grew older, I cut the name short into J. Since that was cliche, I added the letters 'e' and the double i's to be different.
2. What are your full names, if you don't mind sharing?
My full names are Andile Andy Ndlovu.
3. Your age? (Prudy chuckles)
(Laughs) I'm 23 years old.
4. Please share with the readers: Your journey from where you have been up until where you currently are?
I've honestly had a long journey into music, I started music at a very early age. I think I was about 12 years old when I developed the love for music. I remember I used to be part of music related events at my primary school even before that but I only started my own music from the age of 12.
At 15 I had my very first studio session at a friend's backroom studio. Around the age of 16 I started production and tried to gather up my own equipment and practiced.
By the next year, I met with Emtee (AmbitiouzEnt) who introduced me to other artists and great producers like Maraza, Ruff, Zingah, Zikode, Mashaya Bhuqe and Cya-theDeeJeey just to name a few. I started a company with Cya-theDeeJeey Fair Amount Entertainment which houses Jeii,Cya_theDeeJeey, DJ Nebza and Wayne. We dropped our first collaboration #Emoji last year October, which was a real chart topper on most of the major radio stations in the county. We aired our first music video in November and it aired in February this year,which had us dominating television and was received pretty well as well as got us performances all over the country. Now I have just dropped my first solo single #Holdup which I am promoting.
5. What are your short terms aspirations in the game?
My short term aspirations so far would be to be recognized by end of this year as one of the most promising new comers in the game for 2018 and to dominate the airwaves of course. I know the future too bright so for now I want to build my audience.
6. I hope this question doesn't get you into trouble but has your family always been supportive of you pursuing music. Was it easy to let them know?
It wasn't as easy as I had hoped it would but eventually I showed them that this is what I want to do and what I have dreamed of since I was a child. Of course, they had different dreams for my future but they were not what I felt I was destined for.
7. Are your friends supportive of you?
Yes, my friends are supportive and they favour me a lot. You know, we artists never have everlasting friendships but the close ones I keep have had my back.
8.How long have you been in the game , would you say?
I've been in the game for about 7 years right now but I have been rapping for 11 years.
9. Which local rappers would you say are inspiring your rap technique or sound?
No local rapper inspires my rap technique or sound, I'm from the future, PRINCE OF THE NEW WAVE (laughs) but if we were close, I would say I am a mixture of Anathii and KidX.
10. Personal question, who is your current favourite rapper and why?
I have a lot but A-Reece is my favourite. He's a burst of talent.
11. Do you see yourself collaborating with him?
Yes, I defintely do, I'd really like to work with him.
12. Where can our readers download your tracks?
My tracks are on radio, AudioMack and soundcloud as well as slikouronline, feature. Watch the #EmojiMusicVideo by CYA_theDeeJeey my team mate on YouTube.
13.Would you collaborate with any other upcoming artist? Who would it be?
Yes I would. That would be Zooccie_Coke_Dope
14. Tell us more about your hit single, Hold Up
#Holdup is basically about me telling people to stop telling me what I should and shouldn't do. It's me snapping at people on some 'ATTENTION' attitude. I know what I'm doing and I'm on a roll. I wrote the song in a very dark corner last year and I want it to motivate the youth about standing up for what they believe in.
15. Do you have any words or motivation to share with upcoming artists?
Yes, definitely. Never allow someone to tell you that you can't do anything and that you won't succeed. Always tell that person "hold up."
