“Carry On” and “Pop Off” are two approaches to the rap genre in which he is currently working.

Capping a year of experimentation, diversification and refinement, 20-year-old South African artist Gr8ful released a two-single project called Perspectives, a title that reflects his development as an artist during 2022, in which he was preparing for his breakout in 2023.

“Carry On” and “Pop Off” are two approaches to the rap genre in which he is currently working. “Carry On,” he has said, has “very much a groovy, fun feeling.” “Pop Off,” in contrast, has “a high-energy, modern beat.”

In the “Carry On” video, the fun, party beat is much in evidence, beginning from behind the service window of a food truck and progressing through a variety of party scenes. The energy of “Pop Off” is all in the fast-paced lyrics, set in contrast to a rhythmic chiming beat. They are very different songs.

“Perspectives was written two years ago, and the stage I was at was changing the whole way that I approach my music and my creating of music. So, 2022, I spent a lot of the year just kind of locking into the producer and finding my sound.”

When he goes into detail about that year, he talks about studying engineers and producers and their craft, “finding what makes music click, listening to the variety of voices” that make up the world of rap in Cape Town.

“I’m understanding myself more and more and I am constantly learning,” he told one interviewer. Perspectives, he said, “is my perspective on where I’m at in life right now.”

Where he is right now in life and music is Cape Town and its rap community, which he says “has a lot to offer” hip hop. It is growing fast, and an unfortunate aspect of that is that it has a lot of talented creatives “fighting for the moment.”

“But they are slowly starting to work with each other, building each other up and starting to build a creative community. At least, that’s how I see it from my side.”

Which is to say, that is his perspective.

Asked where he wants to take his music, he said, “Everywhere. They want music all around the world.”

Then the question was, where do you want your music to take you, and he said, “Around the world and back.”

Gr8ful says he has a very diversified taste in music, and rap is where he is now, “definitely for now.”

“I can't say for the future, but right now definitely. I like music, so it’s not specific to any genre. It’s just music in general.”

In the last year, he said, he experimented with other genres, but maybe this year he will put out some music in other genres. “Who knows?” he said.

That, too, would be like where his music takes him? “Hundred percent,” he replied.

Diversity is a big part of his plans. His influences, and the music he listened to growing up were diverse. Those artists include Tupac, Nelly, Biggie, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson.

“I definitely say I have a very diverse sound. You will get different sides of me, especially this coming year.”

The videos accompanying Presentations are also steps in his development. He calls the “Carry On” video “the biggest music video that we’ve shot so far, something that I’m very proud to put it out.”

“It’s a step into the visual direction, setting the tone of where I’m going this year.”

Gr8ful is a talented young artist who is on the move with a plan and a process. When he talks about the musical development of rap in Cape Town, he is also talking about himself.

“I think that artists are slowly starting to understand that there's more than just creating something, and it being good, and some people liking it and being like, ‘You make good music.’ It’s also where you want to take it as a business and where you want to take it as a career.”

All this is included when he says, “So, 2023,” he said, “I'm just really looking forward to people hearing the new sound of Gr8ful.”

Follow Gr8ful in his journey from Cape Town by following him on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts. 

Websites:
GR8FUL  
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