DJ Lemonka beating it right

My fondest memory of this gentleman was at the DJ Academy record store Bring Tha Noize where his involvement was quite crucial in the managing of the store. This became more than just a business but a spot where one could learn about the music industry and meet essential contacts within it.
DJ Lemonka was not only a manager by day but also a DJ by night mixing and mashing dope beats at well known Joburg’s hot culture hubs such as Horror Café, Carfax just to name a few. He also showcased his talents on YFMs Harambe and Motsweding FM’s hip hop show naming just a few of his involvement and his true versatility.


Lemonka, whose real name is Edgar, Makgeledise, is a proud product of the North West, Motswako fraternity in Itsoseng where, as a youngster, his love for hip hop was nurtured. He then decided that he too should go dig for his part of the gold joining the everyday miners and made his way down to J town. Alongside his partner he ran Funktabulous, a company involved in developing talent which they took to the DJ Academy.
Lemonka then stretched his reach and became SA’s heavyweight hip hop artist, HHP’s full time DJ and right hand man. And the results of that partnership? Well HHP’s achievements speak for themselves!
Now this man takes my breath away because his versatility is astounding and I don’t even think a paragraph in a blog can execute justice to his capabilities and work but I can try painting a picture to illustrate just how talented Monx is.
He holds a qualification in Sound engineering from The Campus of performing Arts (COPA) attesting to the fact that music forms a part of his bone marrow hence he lives and breathes his art. He promoted and marketed HHp’s company Lekoko Entertainment’s artists and handled the clothing merchandise.


10111 is one of the joints that appeared on DJ Lemonka’s debut hip hop mix tape titled Lemonka presents Motswakotape which he released through his own entertainment company, 3rd Element Entertainment. The inspiration behind 3rd Element? “Is to nurture and give its artists the opportunity to exhibit their skills without having the added pressure of making the suits happy.” Now these are not just words to make one look good as most individuals do in the entertainment game but Lemonka is a true testament to this as it is etched in his heart and you see it by his actions, and many Motswako artists can be evidence of this. According to dj Lemonka “ This will be a platform for unsigned artists to share the stage with well-known artists like Hip Hop Pantsula, Towdee and Khuli (from Morafe), Tuks, and Hakeem (from Ba4za), to name but a few. It’s really hard for unsigned artists to get into this industry and I’m just giving them this opportunity as a stepping-stone to giving their career a head start. Think of it as a professional demo,”
He also went on to add that. “I hope that these artists will use this as a tool to empower themselves to release their own projects in the future or to get record deals from major record companies.”



If you have never had the chance to listen to this mix tape you are truly missing out on local talent at its best because the lyricist’s in this tape are fresh and their talent is bursting at the seams and they dish it out in wholesome helpings.
It was this mix tape that went on to receive the Hype award for best mix tape.
DJ Lemonka is currently in studio working on the finishing touches to his Motswako tape 2 which is due for release November 2010. The first single has already dropped on the airwaves and you might have smelt a whiff of the heat the joint produces on 99.2 it’s called Hot and features none other than Jabba man onketsang “HHP’.
Lemonka is a true tribute to the fact that success does not come wrapped in a gift box but rather that one has to see their dream, believe in it and continues to work hard at it. It may not be easy but if you know it and can smell it, then your goal is in reach as long as you don’t give up during the hard times.

Andrianto Mahlangu the new kid on the block!!

The first time I saw this guy was at another local hip hop concert all about supporting local artists breaking into the music scene. He immediately caught my eye because apart from the fact that his hip hop is spat in hardcore Sesotho, his stage presence is amazing for a freshman on the scene and he immediatley removed any doubt in my mind that he truly hails from Bethlehem in the Free state and has come to J-sec to seek his share of gold.

His real name is Andile Mahlangu and he uses stage name Andrianto, “it’s a nickname I received while in high school because I was one of those students ba phapang (highly loud and over confident) and I used to love wearing Carvella shoes which is an Italian brand!” At least that explains the name but does that filter into his product? His rhymes are fierce and possess the hunger of a child who has not been fed in days and you can smell and see it a mile away. Many people will remember his single “hele helele” which was on high rotation on Yfm but the first time Andrianto caught my attention was when he performed at the DJ Lemonka mix tape launch performing his track alongside Maxhoba and Mathematics “skantla jwalo”.

There is certainly an assortment of talent in Mzansi and I think that many people have the ability to put pen to paper with rhymes and lyrics but not many have the ability to put life into it and make me notice but every once in a while comes that one individual who manages to do that. Andrianto has definitely accomplished this. The young man wishes to see himself owning both a recording company and a production company in years to come, he holds a media studies diploma majoring in Video production attesting to the fact that education is very important and as a South African artist you have to try different areas as to be versatile in your craft.

The wait was drawn out but he has finally dropped his second single “tshwara ngwana” and I am happy to say that it still packs heat and what works for him is the fact that he has found his own distinctive mode within the Motswako fraternity, even though there might be politics regarding the fact that he raps in Sesotho and not Setswana, but issues aside he makes his mark and shouts loud enough to be heard.

He’s the current champion of South African hip hop artist Hip Hop Pantsula’s hip hop competition called ‘Y.B.A nights,’ held in Melville in Johannesburg, he has managed to work with some of hip hop’s finest - namely Thasman, Tuks, HHP and DJ Lemonka. He even opened for American act Bow Wow when he performed in SA. I look forward to his debut album which hits stores May 2010 and is titled Ngwana Mosotho. Asked why the title “well people need to know about my origins and not be fooled by my Italian nickname, Andrianto”. Truth be told I hope the album will not disappoint because some of these artists, not mentioning any names, have a tendency of heightening one’s excitement with their singles only to find that the rest of the album leaves one unfulfilled. My suggestion, get yourself a Sesotho dictionary and listen intently to what this boy has to say and let me know what you think.