IDENTITY & SOUND

Q1  Yo Banzai, I hope you are good. Let’s start off with with an Ice Breaker. You’re part of Ascension Plea’s, you’ve done solo work, a joint project across borders — when someone who has never heard you asks what you sound like, what do you tell them?

Hot take, but I’d say a blend of Brent Faiyaz and J. Cole.

Q2  Your sound has been shifting — there’s a noticeable R&B lean in your more recent work. Is that a conscious evolution or did it just happen naturally? And is that the direction you’re committing to?

I simply make what I like listening to. It just depends on what I’m feeling at the moment. I can make a solid rap project today, and go on to make a really good house album tomorrow. That’s just my thing.

ASCENSION PLEA’S — THE GROUP

Q3  How did Ascension Plea’s come together? What was the origin story — was it organic, intentional, or did life just put the right people in the same room?

We unintentionally bumped into each other at UB, and went on to record our first song as a collective, “Rolls Royce Music,” that same day. I personally don’t believe in mistakes — God knew what he was doing by making us form the group.

Q4  There is something clearly special about AP that keeps the collective tight and creatively active. What is it about that group that you can’t replicate anywhere else?

Raw and cohesive talent and authenticity.

Q5  AP members tend to appear on each other’s solo work consistently — the same circle, same friends, the same features, project after project. Is that loyalty, creative comfort, or is there a sound and vision that only makes sense when it stays in-house? And in a group of 5 members, 4 of which actually sing/rap, how do you manage to get across?

We were friends before anything else and enjoyed making music together. It’s always been a fun experience.

“INFRA” & THE SOLO CATALOG

Q6  “Infra” was a statement debut project. Looking back at it now, what does that project represent in your journey — and does it still hold up to you personally?

I tend to look back at it and feel like I could’ve done better with certain things, because I was still discovering my sound. Although it baffles me every time I get more and more people who listen to the album religiously — it means the world to me. It was a great learning curve and I feel like it opened many doors for me.

Q7  Despite being part of AP, you were arguably the most active member in terms of solo output. Everyone else seemed to lean into the group while you kept dropping individually. Why was that?

I never viewed it that way, but as much as making music with Ascension Plea’s was one of the best things to ever happen to me, I personally believe that we all joined the group as individuals with different plans for our own journeys outside of the five of us.

Q8  You’ve dropped a project every single year album or EP without fail. That kind of consistency is rare. What drives that? Is it discipline, creative overflow, or something you made a promise to yourself about?

This music thing has healed me so much, I would get married to it if I could. Releasing annually has never felt like a job to me, I just love the process behind it and seeing how people react to the finished product. Every project contains pieces of myself I could never describe in word form, and it’s amazing to see how that has gradually evolved over the years for me as an artist.

THE XASHMERO XO JOINT PROJECT

Q9  A joint project with Xashmero XO from South Africa how did that link happen? Walk us through how you two found each other and what made you decide a project was the right move.

Cashmere and I met after HypeBeast posted me on their page. We connected shortly after that and genuinely loved each other’s work. The purpose of our joint project, Gauteng to Gaborone, was to strengthen the relationship between South Africans and Batswana who share the same love and value for music.

Q10  Working across borders creatively comes with its own set of challenges, different environments, different influences, different schedules. How did you navigate that process?

Despite the countless adversities we encountered,  such as network connectivity issues and feeling uninspired  we spent multiple sleepless nights working hard to ensure all our ideas came to life. And it panned out much better than we expected.

Q11  What did that collaboration teach you about your own sound when placed next to someone coming from a different scene entirely?

Xashmere XO has collaborated with some of the greatest South African artists, and with that in mind, I had to make sure to give it my all.

“TOO MANY ANTS, TELLING BEES HOW TO MAKE HONEY” — THE ALBUM

Q12  That title is striking — “Too Many Ants, Telling Bees How To Make Honey.” Break it down for us. What does it mean, and what made you choose it for this particular project?

I believe that every single person on this earth has a God-given gift, and that we all deserve to bloom in our own ways, exactly how we want to. You simply cannot tell a builder how to build the best house, nor can you teach an author how to write the perfect book,  especially if you do not know what it takes to achieve such. It’s blasphemous. Once you find that one thing you really, really, really love doing, know that you have every right to nurture and protect that. I did a lot of experimenting on this project, and I truly think this is my best work yet.

Q13  Where are you in life right now that this title made sense? What is it speaking to personally?

Right now I’d say I’m in a place where I’m able to create without any constraints. I feel creatively free to do whatever I want.

Q14  You’ve been consistent every year, but this album feels like it’s being teased with more weight behind it. What is going to be genuinely different about this project compared to everything else in your catalog?

I’ve been listening to this album with my manager for an entire year before announcing it, and we never got tired of jamming to it. I believe there’s a slice for everyone with different tastes, and it will do wonders.

Q15  After years of group work, joint projects, solo EPs — what is this album supposed to settle for you as an artist?

To reach greater heights by touching the ears of many Africans and other listeners all over the world. I aim to leave a strong impact on my community and society as a whole.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Q16  Through the AP network, how much has that circle shaped who Banzai the artist is, and at what point did you start defining yourself outside of it?

I spent most of my time working on creative projects with the group and that improved my artistry tremendously. I just learnt to apply that towards my own art.

Q17  You’ve been working closer to the OneTake 267 and Ban-T world lately. Is that a social thing, a creative thing, or is it a signal that your sound is about to change lanes entirely?

I’d say it’s mostly creative. We mutually liked each other’s work, hence why it did not take much to get into a collaborative space.

Q18  Botswana Hip-Hop is in an interesting place right now. Where does Banzai fit in that story, and where are you taking it from here?

I believe I have what it takes to change Botswana’s music scene forever. I hope to see a child from Phakalane being able to connect with another child from Bontleng through my music — for it to be nationally recognized and celebrated. I know it is possible, and I will achieve that by the grace of God. With that being said, I will be the greatest to ever do it.