T-Mech
Mohalenyane Phakela
MAGIC In Progress (MIP) co-owner, T-Mech has released an autobiographical extended project (EP), Audio Visual Remote Control Universal Serial Bass (AvRcUsB).
Launched on his birthday on 6 February, the eight-track EP is the rapper’s sixth solo project but his first in seven years after the 2010 release, Who is Valentino.
The track Lying to Myself (which was published by South African company Nutent Media) is already receiving generous airplay on local radio stations, while other tracks to look out for are Let Me Interlude, Time, Insomnia, Rich Right Now and Moment of Brilliance as well as two bonus songs.
“The EP is meant to tell issues that have been racing through my mind which I have not expressed on any platform before,” T Mech told the Weekender this week.
“It is the story of T-Mech who has been scarce on the microphone.
“We as the youth, often suffer from depression due to things we have bottled inside which often leads to drug abuse. I express what I went through in songs for music is all I know and studied, making it the perfect platform to tell my story and cry for help.”
He said he had titled it AvRcUsB to show how his music had evolved from just being audio and video files to a point where it could now be shared through a flash drive. He said the full album would follow before the end of the year.
Born Thulo Monyake 28 years ago, T-Mech, who is also known by the aliases Lemekoane and Mr Mech, started music in 2001 as both a producer and rapper.
He went on to study sound engineering at SAE College in Cape Town in 2008 with the aim of professionalising his work.
Upon completion of his studies in 2010 he returned home inspired to change the local music industry and together with his colleagues including fellow rapper and producer RMC, they formed MIP.
The Maseru East-born rapper has been working tirelessly to promote local rappers through MIP which gained popularity in 2013 when its all-stars released the hit single Basali which was followed by its remix featuring other rappers outside MIP. The stable grew to be a media company and now has over 18 members including rappers, models, graphic designers and photographers.
“I have been focused on helping build the industry by trying to set new standards, mostly in sound quality.
“Only 40% of local musicians are working hard to improve their talent while the rest are just in the industry because they believe it is fashionable therefore do not invest much in it.”
As challenging and expensive as he describes the industry to be, the Ke e Batla Kaofela hit-maker said that he has no plans of quitting as it is where his passion lay.
“I started making music in 2001 but I only started getting money out of it in 2013. I am still in this industry because I have realised it works, although I am not getting much at the moment but since I am doing what I love, I will not quit,” he said.
