Being Cyprian
Cyprian had a difficult start in life. He lost his mother at the age of eight and his father at the age of eleven. His father had ventured into politics in 2008, which caused some of his family members to be endangered in Zimbabwe, their home country. After his father's death, Cyprian's step-mother surrendered custody of him and his two sisters, and they were raised by his aunt Bianca, his father's elder brother's wife. Cyprian's aunt raised him alongside her four daughters and her sister's son, making six kids in total. Growing up was difficult as his aunt had to hustle to feed the family and sometimes went into debt to provide for them.
Cyprian had another uncle, Alfred, who didn't play a significant role in his life as he was more submissive to his wife's decisions over his family. Cyprian was expected to attend university in Ukraine after high school, but due to the worsening economic conditions in Zimbabwe, he had to consider working instead. He started working for his uncle Thom in 2017 when he was 17, but unfortunately, he was not paid for his work as he was living with his uncle and working for him.
In 2018, Cyprian started working as an ecocash money transaction agent, exchanging foreign currency for a living. Despite growing up in a humble family, his father was a middle-class worker and could afford to live the life he desired. Cyprian adjusted to his new normal of working in an environment that was dirty, filled with thugs, and had a smelly atmosphere. He kept working hard until the Zimbabwean government banned the use of mobile money services in 2019 due to political reasons. Cyprian had to go back to working for his uncle without pay, but he made a deal with his uncle to pay for his certificate in graphic design in exchange for his work.
In 2018, Cyprian started making plans to cater to his music career after teaming up with Tazz and Txzzy to open a professional studio in town called "Trouble Makers." However, his investment went down the drain due to the worsening economic conditions in Zimbabwe, currency inflation, and his partner relocating to Johannesburg.
In 2020, Cyprian unexpectedly relocated by himself to Cape Town, South Africa, where he lived with his high school friend, Tinotenda Matute, also known as DJ Trapper or DJ Maad Killer. Cyprian worked on his music with Trapper and started working as a graphic designer at Sinclair Print. During the COVID period, Cyprian's neighborhood in Dunoon, a place historically known for its violent, xenophobic demonstrations against foreign residents, turned into a gang society. He met Killo di King, a local Xhosa musician, and made a lot of amazing music with him.
Although Cyprian was exposed to negative influences like gun violence, gangsterism, and drug trafficking, he never gave up on his dream. He knew that with his background and aspirations, he had to change his focus and resist those negative influences. Cyprian continued to work hard and make the best of every opportunity that came his way.
In the end, Cyprian's hard work paid off. He became a successful graphic designer and musician. He used his skills and experiences to inspire others who came from difficult backgrounds and helped them achieve their dreams. Despite all the challenges he faced in his life, Cyprian never gave up on his dreams, and that made all the difference.
The Vision
Cyprian had always been passionate about music and the arts. As a young man growing up in Zimbabwe, he saw how difficult it was for upcoming artists to gain exposure and recognition for their talent. He knew he wanted to do something to help.
One day, as he sat in his small apartment listening to the latest tracks from some of Zimbabwe's most promising hip hop artists, an idea struck him. He would create a website dedicated to promoting these artists for free. He would use his skills in marketing to help these young musicians gain the exposure they needed to make it big.
Cyprian quickly got to work, creating a sleek and modern website that showcased the work of Zimbabwe's most talented hip hop artists. He reached out to these artists and asked them to submit their music and videos to be featured on the site. Within weeks, the website was up and running, and it quickly gained a following of music lovers from around the world.
But Cyprian wasn't satisfied with just promoting these artists online. He wanted to do more. So he set out to create a music award ceremony show that would shine a spotlight on Zimbabwe's hip hop talent. He knew that many of these artists were based in the diaspora, where they often struggled to gain recognition. His award show would be the first of its kind, catering specifically to these artists and giving them the recognition they deserved.
And that wasn't all. Cyprian also had plans to create a record label that would sign and promote the most talented young artists in the country. He knew that with the right resources and support, these artists could go on to become international stars.
Finally, Cyprian set his sights on creating a music streaming platform that would give fans access to music videos, audio tracks, electronic press kits (EPKs), and artist feeds on social media. He wanted to make it easy for music lovers to discover new talent and stay up-to-date with their favorite artists.
Cyprian's vision was ambitious, but he was determined to make it a reality. He knew that with hard work and dedication, he could empower Zimbabwe's youth and help them achieve their dreams. And so, he set out on his mission, knowing that the future of Zimbabwe's music industry was in his hands.
Cyprian's life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Behind the facade of his success and achievements lies a troubled soul with a series of challenges that continue to weigh him down. Here are some of the downfalls of being Cyprian:
Depression and Anxiety Attacks:
Losing both parents is a devastating blow that can leave one feeling lost and alone. Cyprian has struggled with depression and anxiety attacks as a result of his loss. The weight of his responsibilities and the pressure to succeed in life have only made matters worse. He has not opened up to anyone about his mental health, which can be dangerous.Cyprian's life has not been easy. Losing his parents at a young age left him with the responsibility of taking care of his younger siblings. He had to grow up quickly and learn how to navigate life without the guidance of his parents. To make matters worse, his uncle passed away in 2021 while he was in Cape Town, leaving him to be the sole provider for his aunt and her two young children.
Being the breadwinner for his family is a heavy burden that Cyprian carries on his shoulders. It's not easy to support multiple people financially, especially when you have your own struggles to deal with. But Cyprian is determined to provide for his family, and he works tirelessly to make sure that they have everything they need.
However, this added responsibility only adds to Cyprian's already existing mental health struggles. He gets anxiety attacks and bipolar episodes, and he has not opened up to anyone about his mental health issues. It can be hard to ask for help, especially when you're the one that's supposed to be taking care of everyone else.
Unrequited Love:
Cyprian once had a girl he loved and took care of, but it felt like she only wanted him to take care of her. She used him as her survival card, which caused stress for Cyprian. Sometimes he needed someone to listen to him, but she thought he only wanted sex. This unrequited love caused emotional turmoil for Cyprian.Moreover, Cyprian has had a complicated relationship with a woman he loved. They met online in 2017 and started dating in real life in 2021. Cyprian was ready to get married to her, but he felt like she only wanted him to take care of her and used him as her survival card. This caused stress for Cyprian as he needed emotional support, but he felt like she only wanted physical affection. They eventually broke up because of their differences.
Orphaned:
Cyprian lost both his parents, leaving him with no one to rely on. Losing one's parents is a traumatic experience that can leave one feeling lost and alone. Cyprian had to navigate life on his own, which was a challenge he had to face head-on.
Religious Doubt: Cyprian grew up with a strong religious background, but after losing his parents, he became doubtful and started following things of the world. Although he still believes in God, he stopped going to church. This caused him to feel conflicted and lost, which added to his emotional turmoil.
Short Tempered and Impatient:
Cyprian is short-tempered and impatient, which can lead to conflict and misunderstandings. To the world, he appears patient and soft, but he does that to avoid blowing his cover and having people hate him for who he is. He struggles to keep his emotions in check, which can be a challenge in his personal and professional life.
Trust Issues:
Trusting anyone is hard for Cyprian, given that he has been betrayed by his friends and family before. He is an introvert, which makes it even harder for him to open up and trust others. This lack of trust can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Rock-headed and Argumentative: Cyprian has knowledge of many things, which can make him appear like he is bragging. Sometimes people use this against him, saying that he brags so much that he is educated, which can be intimidating. He can be argumentative and loud when he gets into an argument, which can be a turn-off to those around him.
In conclusion, Cyprian may appear successful on the outside, but he has his fair share of challenges. He struggles with mental health issues, unrequited love, religious doubt, short temper, trust issues, and being argumentative. It's essential to recognize that behind every success story is a person with struggles and challenges. We need to be more empathetic and supportive of those around us who may be going through tough times.
Making Nigga Repaghetto Album
In 2018, an artist known only as "Nigga" began working on an album, although he didn't quite realize it at the time. He had created many tracks and wanted to do something different with them, so when he arrived in Cape Town, the idea for an album finally came to him.
Nigga was still getting to know the people and the area of Dunoon, a township in Cape Town, South Africa. He was surrounded by many dancehall artists, but he was one of the few rappers in the area. When others came to the studio to record, he found their amateur skills frustrating. He wanted to collaborate on the album, but he didn't want to produce anything less than what he felt was worth putting his name on.
Over time, Nigga created over sixty songs, recording and laying down verses constantly. During the lockdown, he had plenty of time to work on the tracks and perfect them. Most of the beats on the original version of the album were created by a producer named Trapper, but unfortunately, the hard drive that stored the beats was damaged. The loss of the beats, including popular tracks like "Let Them Slay (diss)" and "Look at Me," was a significant setback for the artist.
Nigga began to feel different after the loss of the hard drive. He changed his approach to music and began to personalize his flows and creativity. He began to focus on making the music more personal to him, and his creativity started to flourish. Nigga had been compared to Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott in the past, but he wanted to break out of that mold and create something unique.
The first songs that made it onto the final album were "Song of Love," which was created in one night while Nigga and his friends were high on wine, weed, and lean. The producer at the time, WASP Beats, had just been released from prison and needed some inspiration. Nigga challenged him to create something different, and he came up with the melody. Nigga freestyled the entire track while they were all high, and it became one of the first songs to make the final album.
Other tracks like "Espionage" featuring Cally D were more experimental, with Nigga rapping on a dancehall beat. Nigga was the only one who wanted to rap on the beat, and he ended up winning the challenge for the album. Over time, other tracks were added to the album, but one in particular stood out.
After Nigga's father died, he had a new perspective on life. He had always toughened himself up to achieve his goals, but the death of his uncle, Thom, shook him to his core. Nigga found himself crying while recording the song "Memory Lane," a deeply personal track that reflected his emotions after his loss. Nigga began to view his music as more than just an experiment; he wanted to create something personal that represented a piece of him.
Nigga began to inhabit the name "Nigga Repaghetto" as his stage name, as he had always felt like a slave from his relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. He felt like he was always giving, and no one was giving back to him. He saw the word "nigga" as a symbol of slavery, and "Rechishona" was a way to describe his language and tribe. He chose the name and album title as a way to reclaim his identity and express himself through his music.
The final album's sound is a mix of different genres, including Afro-Swing, Afro-Pop, Trap Dancehall, Jamrock, R&B, and Boom Bap.