Biography
In Greek mythology Zeus is often called Kosmetas (orderer), Soter (savior) and Polieos (overseer of the polis/city). In his short time out as an emcee, all of these names have been appropriately attached to young Zeus.
Like the Greek God Zeus, Game Goabaone Bantsi is the youngest son born to his parents.
From humble beginnings rocking Yarona FM’s Sprite Rap Activity Jam to continental awards and airplay, Zeus has come a long way in a short space of time. He has been featured on national and international stations and media including Y-FM, Metro FM, 5 FM, Kiss FM in Kenya, Hype Magazine, SL Magazine, MTV Base, Channel O and SABC to mention a few. A sharp sense of marketing has seen the BCOMM graduate align himself with major brands and organizations adding value to their products and programs as well as his own. The Zeus brand has clearly grown beyond musical performance and continues to as the young entrepreneur looks to broaden his horizons and leverage the value of his brand as well as diversify his own business activities.
Born in Mahalapye, a small town 220km from Gaborone, Zeus had the privilege of listening to the likes of Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Don Williams through his parents. His eldest brother Lefika was a hip hop head; his other brother, Junior, was into reggae and dancehall; and his shgjister Same was a huge R&B fan. Mix those influences with A cappella gospel and kwaito, you’ll get the gist of what his freshman album Corners, Clubs and Churches was all about.
Despite user-friendly lyrics, delivery and beats made popular over the airwaves, Corners, Clubs and Churches was never released to the public, and the sophomore album Freshly-Baked was only released in Bostwana, due to lack of proper distribution beyond the borders.
The Flipside was Zeus’ second offering. The Flipside represented several things: the localization of hip hop culture; a coming of age; and change. For the hip hop fan, The Flipside included more authentically-genuine life stories. For lovers of music, The Flipside represent the transcending of hip hop, giving it a global musical feel. The audience was treated to more thought-provoking and authentic lyrics, less programming, more playing and an overall new concept of pushing the envelope in terms of creativity. “That’s why I called it The Flipside. Its like a flip, a switch in mindset; like a change in bearings,” said Zeus.
From 2001 when he stamped his arrival on Gaborone during the Sprite Rap Activity Jam on Yarona FM to the time he held shop on e-TV’s Shiz Nit, many a wannabe mic slingers have met an untimely reassessment of their repertoire on an open stage with tha god. Witty lines and vivid tales of a battle ready and scarred emcee takes you through the region, continent, world and galaxies as Zeus serves it hot on this sixteen track offering that’s produced by the cream of the crop of regional production talent pool, with Ross and The Octave Couplet collective spearheading the musical composition of the album.
With all that’s said you’d think Zeus is not a hip hop purist. You’d think he has watered down the art form for mass appeal. Zeus questions the authenticity of what is African without language and respect for where we are from. Much like his mythical namesake, Zeus’ role is to bring things to order; and that’s why his music is sensitive to the listener’s ear, taking into consideration that, fundamentally, hip hop has to be about the people you are speaking to.
The localisation of the genre, said Zeus, is paramount to its popularity. “There should be an African definition of hip hop. When we kick about our lives and deliver in the language of our forefathers, we are redefining what was about the Bronx and making it our own. For me, with regards to the vernacular v English debate, I feel it’s a very serious one which goes beyond hip hop and crosses into the realm of identity, specifically African identity. Why do we choose to place our own languages under English and make them inferior? It is a question of knowing and using your mother tongue”.
