Rising Kimberley-born/Stellenbosch-based rapper/producer Sipho The Gift first crashed on our radar when Congolese producer/MC Alec Lomami tipped us of to his chilling freestyle over Drake's "Poundcake." "Bars for bars the guy has what it take to be one of the best out of SA,” Lomami told us at the time. Since then, Sipho has flexed his versatility with a pair of releases leading up to his debut album, including the breezy golden-era "Somewhere" and the ferocious "Don't Let Me Fall." The second single off his forthcoming Coming Of Age LP, "Phanda More," may be Sipho's most ambitious offering yet. The video, which we're excited to premiere here today, sees Sipho bring his gritty deliveries on the art of hustle (the track's title means "hustle more/harder" in both Xhosa and Zulu) to Stellenbosch's Kayamandi township. Speaking on the triumphant new release, Sipho told Okayafrica:
"The thinking behind the song was to create an anthem with a soul that resonates with peoples personal stories and dreams.The video was shot and directed by Robert Wisniewski. We chose to shoot the video in the Kayamandi township of Stellenbosch because the pace and pulse of the township suited the theme of the song. The theme is an enterprising spirit, with a dynamic energy refusing to be tamed and downtrodden. I loved using the township as a backdrop and letting it exhibit itself in all its beauty. I wanted to shift the spotlight to the residents of the Kayamandi township and let them shine."
In addition to the clip, Sipho has also shared a new track today. "Bout To Go Down (Ngale Way)" is a ruthless 3-minute burst set to instrumentals off a Kaytranada beat tape, which you can listen to below along with the video for "Phanda More." Sipho The Gift's debut album Coming Of Age is due out later this year. For more, follow Sipho on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, and Tumblr.
