Role model of the week : Phenyo Serero

Phenyo Serero

Role model of the week.

Phenyo Serero

 I know this may seem rather unusual; that an article I should have used for "Against Teenage Odds" is being used as "Role Model Of The Week". 

I could have easily just let it slip and let it go but I am in awe at this young man's humility! An upcoming "youngin" in the 016 along with his well known crew L.T.D Fam, Phenyo is one of the warmest people I have ever come across. He is so warm hearted, I was even afraid to bombard him with strange questions,hah! -so I kept it as short as possible and at a minimum, if I should say. 'Skinny nigga big dreams' is what I'd love to describe him as! (*hides* ,we good right, Phenyo?) 

So please just take 2 seconds of your time to find out in finer detail who L.T.D is and how Phenyo views himself as a future rapper. 

Enjoy!

Pru : "What is the name of your rap crew?"

Phenyo : "We go by the name LTD which stands for Living The Dream; It is actually LTD Fam. We are like a family. Whatever we do we do together."

Pru : "Wow,interesting . My understanding is that you are linked with another crew."

Phenyo : "Yeah we are. It is like whenever we have gigs we lookout for them and they look out for us. We live in the same hood so we look out for each other. If there is a gig we can go and support each other."

Phenyo and L.T.D Fam members.

Pru : "Do you think that young local rappers like you guys get enough recognition? Are you recognized enough or do you think that needs to be worked on?"

Phenyo : "Well, not at the moment because the artists that are looked at currently are the artists with a huge fan base in the Vaal, so we are working on it, so that we can fit in with the crews that are more recognized."

Pru : "Where do you see yourselves as a crew in the next 5 years with rap?"

Phenyo : "Well, probably TV, that's everybody’s dream at the moment ha-ha, so we just working hard to make good music or eventually get signed by Cassper. We are going to work hard to achieve it.We really are."

Pru : "Who inspires your rap style, which South African artist inspires your genre?"

Phenyo : "He’s actually local, he goes by the name*thousandbeats (*1000beatz)"

Pru : "I don’t even know him." *cringes*

Phenyo : "Then in terms of well known, I can say Nasty C because his music is really enjoyed. I listen to him most of the time.yeah. Our rap style is inspired by his technique and skill."

Pru : "I saw on one his videos, he visits a school. Like he is having a one on one type of experience with learners by performing for them. I am not sure which one. I am not really good with Hip Hop, would you like that type of exposure by visiting a school and having a demo?"

Phenyo : "It will be a privilege actually, it really will. I know we'd really appreciate that happening."

Pru : "Thank you so much for allowing me to take you away from your busy day for a few seconds to just to answer those few questions. "

I know he is still a young guy,very down to earth and still an upcoming artist with his team LTD Fam but he possesses a quality that very few have as they grow in the industry and that is why I couldn't help it but make him my teenage role model of the week. I am personally all for humility in a person who has the biggest potential ever to become internationally known. I would really like to wish L.T.D Fam all the best and I do pray that I get an opportunity to be linked up with them again.!

Prudy Blue

xx

Role model of the week : Andre Lekota

Andre Lekota

Role model of the week 

Would it make sense if I was keeping you posted with Vaal's influential or hardworking people and socialites if I excluded the man of the Night himself, Andre Lekota ? Known for the number of events he has organised in our hometown, Andre Lekota is one of the people who takes disappointment as a building block and a stepping stone. Ever- so- motivated and hard at work, He is the one I chose for this week's role model blog post. It was a rather hectic Thursday when I had this interview at Vaal's Number 1 Salon, So Bling but what he had to say revived my tired spirit!

 Let's find out what he has to say about his life in the nightlife.

 

Andre Lekota and Prudy Blue at So Bling.

Pru: “Where are you based, in the Vaal triangle?”

Dre : “ I am from Sebokeng zone 14.”

Pru : “What role do you play in the Vaal Triangle? A lot of people know you but what do you do?” 

Dre :  “I’ve always been a peoples person and I am a socialite, I love going out , I am moving towards becoming an event specialist. With all the events that are coming up now e.g. Uniform Party that’s coming up on the 15^th, there are a couple of big other ones coming out after that. Including fixing the Vaal Nightlife awards. I am a marketing guru as well. I am graduating pretty soon.”

Pru:  “What were you studying?” 

Dre: “It’s not necessarily a full degree; it’s an online marketing course that I’ve been doing. I didn’t study Marketing, I did Financial Information systems. In retrospect I wouldn’t have; it’s almost like I did the course for my parents. My love was always entertainment, it was always events.”

Pru : “The Vaal School Uniform Party, your event. What inspired that? What is the concept behind the Vaal School Uniform Party?"

 

Vaal School Uniform Party line up.

Dre : “This is a brand that's been happening in the Vaal. It used to be done by DJ Fresh and I only joined in afterwards. There are people who initiated this event from the on set,which is Mpumi from Kasi entertainment and *Kgethang from K events. They came to me afterwards and we briefly spoke. Now after the Clash of the Titans, we sat down again and we looked at what they would need from me and what I would want out of the event and then we formed some sort of a partnership going forward into this event."

Pru: “How was the turnout at Clash of the Titans?” 

Dre : "It was turned up. It was packed. It was a very successful event. It was a solid event, at some stage they weren’t even allowing people to come in anymore.I have never been to a Cappello event and finding out that people can't come in anymore because it's too packed, so basically those were the numbers of my event."

Pru : “ Are you someone who’s willing to educate the youth while doing or having your fun entertainment and concepts?  Or are you mainly into the entertainment industry ?”

Dre : "I am naturally deeply invested into education. When you look at it this way, next month we are having the *winter tournament again, which is called the Elias Nale *Ubuntu Challenge, so that's one of the things I am part of and there are a couple of people whom I help with regards to tuition and stuff or I connect them with people who can pay their tuition and so forth. I've always been invested in education, whether it be scholarships or learnerships. Whenever there are posts for learnerships , I always spread the word,I always share those particular posts. When there are job opportunities available,I always share those. So, I am a strong believer that education is really important because ; for the like of better terms attached to it,one of the things that you learn out of education is common sense. Whether you will be going into business or whether you are going to still be working for someone , the basic principles about everything remain the same. That's why if everything is in my call,I have the means.  When someone comes to me and tells me ' I've been applying for a business course or whatever.' If I'm in a position to do it, I take money out of my own pocket and pay for the students tuition. Another reason why, for the past 15 years I've been doing this is because when I was still studying , I became aware that if you pass all your subjects with an average of 75% or higher, then you get your tuition back, so it means that if I'm not present next year when the person gets their tuition back then they can use it and study for the following year."

Pru : "Personally I'd like to think you have a mentor , a friend who really motivates you, either a mentor , a friend or someone who's really close to you,who pushes you to do everything that you do. Who would you say that person is? 

Dre : " You'd have to start the hierarchy with the Alpha and Omega,which is God and then you have my mother and sister on the same level and her husband obviously, then you will have one of my closest friends Dimakatso Thaele. There are many people. Some of them think that they are just speaking to me but many of them have no idea their input matters to me, such as the owners of the Vaal Monateng Cafe,  Jomo and Teboho. Eveytime I'm with those guys there is something I pick up from them and I try my level best to actually make an effort to altering a particular problem they highlight with me. 

I've got someone like DeeToy. Look, me and Deetoy have our fights but I mean he's one of the few people who understands me and still speaks bluntly to me without thee being any backlash or issues. There's a hierarchy of people. I don't just take consultation from one person, there are many people. There is,however, one person I can confide in before I can decide I'm doing an event,it's Dima. If I come up with a concept, we sit down. Sometimes, I get the answers I'm looking for from her facial expressions because I know her so well . It will say to me  " I don't like it" or other times she will be blunt to me and say to me  'Andre maybe you can change this'  or  ' That has been done too many times, don't do it.'  So, I love starting things from scratch and conceptualizing them. 

There are a lot of events that are happening around the Vaal around Gauteng, Bloemfontein, actually around the country,which I have conceptualized and sold to someone else. So, that's another avenue of revenue that I have managed to make for myself , because I know I wont be able to do maybe "1 2 3" during the Durban July : then I can just approach my contacts that side and tell them  'gents this is what I have for you'  . Even last year with Macufe ,almost every year there is something I am involved in, whether it's my own event or whether it's just me conceptualizing the whole event and sending it over to someone who is in a better financial position or has better resources being executed."

Pru : "I won't say how old you are but you are old enough,ha-ha. Do you have wedding plans on your mind?"

Dre : "Well,I have tried once too many times. I'm actually very comfortable right now because ; to invest so much into relationships and for you to get to a point and feel this is it then it fails..."  (sounds reluctant ) " If it happens it happens, I'm not going to go out seeking for it. I'm comfortable at the moment being by myself. There is an occasional kiss here and there but I'm not emotionally invested at the moment. If push leads to a shove, maybe one of my exes could be my ideal wife but I'm not looking. If it hits me, lucky. If it doesn't, I've got a beautiful son. My energy moves to all that.

Pru : Well, thank you for your time Andre and I wish you all the best with all your events plans and the Vaal School Uniform Party.

There,we have it ladies and gentleman. The down to earth yet so vibrant Andre Lekota took his time off to feed us with news on what his role is , who his mentors are, plans and how he operates Vaal's Night Life.

We wish him all the best for his Vaal School Uniform Party and I am confident that the turn out will outdo Clash of the Titan's turn out! haha.

Andre looking classy in his suit.

Prudy Blue

xx

Against teenage odds : Rorry!!!

 Against Teenage Odds :

Rorry

Photo credit : Linday

Somewhere down in the Vaal,in Arcon Park is a cool,absolutely amazing bubbly young gentleman by the name of Rorry. I took the time to find out a thing or two about this amazing character ,just to walk in his shoes a bit and see what being a teenager means to him!!!

Pru : "So what do you do? I understand you're a student but there is something else you're doing."

Ro : "I'm a producer,radio presenter/DJ."

Pru : When you were at the #016FS were you appointed or did you offer yourself?

Ro : " Well,I was appointed. I  hosted a show at General Smuts so, I was an MC. They told me because of how I presented that they would like me to be their MC for their Fashion Event."

Pru : "What type of show was that."

Ro : "It was some type of school show. Drie Riviere was there,my school Phoenix was there and of course Smuts was there. It was some type of peer educating because I'm also a peer educator,secretary of the D7 by the way !. So they told me because I'm really bubbly,I should do it. It was nice, I impressed a lot of people and they were like 'come through because we really want you to be an MC.'  That's how it is.

Another thing is I'm really all about the industry, from radio down to acting. I have  a passion for acting, presenting obviously and music.  So I've got it in me, it's crazy."

Pru : "How old are you?" 

Ro : "I'm only 16 turning 17." 

Pru: "Nevermind turning 17, you're still 16 .Wow!"

Ro : "Yes and I’m doing all these things. You know,with the right people."

Pru : "You're so active and I love how you're not on the streets doing drugs after school,you know. During your weekends you’re not out there doing drugs, you're taking care of your radio slots,you know..."

Pru : "That’s true, actually a few children have walked up to me and said  'you actually inspire us .We are talking about in my school because I’m the school DJ. I'm actually well known at my school. So these children  who want to do beats,I take them along and mentor them. They tell me that 'we want to be like you because you’re an inspiration. I tell them “im only 16” and theyre lioke “do you know who you are man?'  So it's fine. It's like that. I love being out here. Entertainment is all about me."

Pru : "I have a rather interesting question for you. So you're 16 and at the moment, I believe at your age you're experiencing the highs of almost everything you're doing. How would you handle or react in the near future if you actually experience a low in your life, like a pothole in your field. You're possibly used to getting things right,now. Come,say you're 20 years old and there's a problem somewhere. Are you going to look back and quit and move on to something else or are you going to  remain consistent and push push no matter what comes your way. " 

Ro: "One thing i can tell you,if you will believe me,is that I've got passion for this. No matter what, I have the passion for this and will never quit. I will make means to put myself on the game. That's who I am."

 

Pru : "So what must happen if I hear that you have quit 2 years from now? What must I think because you told me that you have the passion?"

Ro : "Let me just tell you,ha ha. It will never ever happen. Thing is it runs in the bloodline. My family are mostly up in the industry. From my grandmothers side, they have some rather well known people in the industry in the SABC. So it's been round. My grandfather isn’t even in South Africa anymore because of music. It has been in the blood. One of my relatives did the SABC Weather , the News and my aunt played a role on Zone 14 a long time ago. My grandmother told me that the reason I am like this is because  it runs in the blood. That’s the reason I'm crazy and eager for this. It runs in the blood. I have the vision and I want to make it big. I want to put my name up there. I’m doing it for me and my family. I’m bringing in that thing that actually died. I want to put my family back on board. I believe I got this from God. I'm very religious by the way,ha ah. 

Pru : "My understanding is that you perhaps know the Cali Kings personally?"

Ro : "Yes when it comes to my beats they are the main reason I am who I am. It's only been year and some guys are already crying for my beats. They are like 'Reezy when is that beat coming out?'. Oh yes, I'm also dropping a beat soon! It has only been a year but people say I sound like I've been in the industry for more than a year! It's really a talent from God. Shout out to Cali Kings- the whole time. They are the reason I am like this. They took me in and showed me what exactly to do.."

Pru : "Your beats. What do you intend to do with your beats? What are your plans?"

Ro : "I'm just waiting for the right time. When I blow, I gotta blow hard,you  know."

Pru : "So that's why you're holding your beats back."

Ro : "Yes,every time I go back to them, I go enhance them." 

Pru : "So you’re the type of person who doesn’t rush things. You take baby steps, step by step." 

Ro : "Patience is the key to success."

(Cali King member interrupts by making sounds)

 

Pru : "Do you want to add your 2 cents?" 

Cali King Guest : "Haha my 2 cents? Let me add my 2 cents . Maybe add 4 cents. Let me see how many I will add, just count. Cool, check . What we did is a manual, that we put out together in our minds or reflexes... because we do it like we were born for it. We literally took 6 years to get where we are and SOMEONE , that we taught got somewhere in less than 6 years. So what I keep saying is the kid is privileged enough to have someone who wants to give him an open book to this. Whereas we didn't have someone to teach us. up until today nobody has ever told us how to play a keyboard and  how to understand the sound. We literally sat and figured the whole piano and how to manipulate the musical things.We  have cut his oath a bit shorter." 

Pru : "Well, I wish you guys all the best with your musical endeavors and plans. Thanks so much for your time." 

Well , I certainly don't remember being this active as a 16 year old! Rorry is definitely one of a kind, with dreams so well planned and so big!! From the bottom of my heart, I wish him a blessed future and oh,yes! A blessed relationship with him and his short girlfriend, Naledi! Stay winning!!!

Ro , Naledi and Pru at #016 . Photo cred : Linday

Prudy Blue

xx