There’s a fascinating science to slang rhetoric that never ceases to amaze me. The nuanced use of “sho”, “shap”, “hola” and the murky discourse of “seken”, which carries the dual function of “later” or “I’ll be back”.
Contextually, there’s a bone-chilling effect “Seken” has when you are faced with gatekeepers in the way of your goals and eminent rise, as noted in Ulundi born, Durban-based new-age kwaito star, Mac 11’s first “Seken” instalment–the bar heavy hip hop scorcher where he vowed that no one man or power will derail him getting his foot in the music industry door.
True to his word, Mac came back with one of the most minimal, effective and kasi cinematic music videos of the year with, “Seken 2.0” where he is accompanied by the Goddess of Finesse, Rhea Blek and Mr s’pilion himself, Maraza.
Shot in the vibrant township Soweto, Diepkloof Zone 2 by RedTape Films, the cinematic direction encompasses the essence of finding a diamond in the rough balancing the scales of lower-middle class aesthetic, an honest reflection of amakasana around the country.
Produced by Johannesburg-based award-winning music producer and composer, T-Kid the producer, “Seken 2.0” finds Mac exuding his suave braggadocio, complimenting his outstanding style and pleasantly surprising vocal register, followed by Maraza’s charismatic jeweller looter flow and Rhea’s colourful red-and-green themed look and classic kasi referenced verse making for a compelling lead single from his cohesive, well-curated, musical experience, “Durban Poison II”.
The tug-of-war relationship between kwaito and hip hop has found many creatives do away with labels out of fear of being boxed in, and while Mac 11 can go bar for bar with hip hop contemporaries, “Seken 2.0” is a bold embrace of a new-age kwaito star, who has sported a single that is true to the traditions and evolution of kwaito discourse.
Feature pic supplied by artist
