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Cassper Nyovest

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Cassper Nyovest
Cassper Nyovest at the 2014 Back to the City festival
Cassper Nyovest at the 2014 Back to the City festival
Background information
Birth nameRefiloe Maele Phoolo
Born (1990-12-16) 16 December 1990 (age 33)
Montshioa, Mafikeng, North-West Province, South Africa
OriginMafikeng, North West
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Years active2013–present
Labels
Websitecasspernyovest.com

Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990), commonly known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter and record producer.[1]Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of the most successful artists in South Africa.[2] Throughout 2014, he established his own record label, Family Tree Records.[3] Nyovest rose to fame with the release of his debut studio album, Tsholofelo (2014) which produced the successful singles "Gusheshe" and "Doc Shebeleza".[4]

With his success of selling out tickets for his concert, Fill Up The Dome (2015) which was held at Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.[5] The success of the event pursued Nyovest with the affix "Fill Up" to instigate more concerts in different stadiums annually, including Orlando Stadium (2016) and FNB Stadium (2017), also both in Johannesburg, and Moses Mabhida Stadium (2018) in Durban.[6]

Nyovest released his critically acclaimed eponymous album, Refiloe, released in October 31, 2015, at his Fill Up The Dome concert. The album collaborates with several international artists including The Game, DJ Drama, Stonebwoy and Casey Veggies.[7] He followed his success with his third album Thuto (2017) and his kwaito-focused fourth album, Sweet and Short (2018).

Early life

I told my parents that I'd rather chase my dream, which I believe is going to work out

-Cassper Nyovest, speaking about his journey of dropping out of school[8]

Refiloe Maele Phoolo was born on December 16, 1990 in Mahikeng, a borough of North West, to Muzuki and Letsebela Phoolo. Nyovest has a sister Tsholofelo Phoolo, and his late brother, Khotso Phoolo who passed on in 2003.[9][10] He attended the Sol Plaatjie Secondary School where he was an athlete and partook in various sports. Nyovest started rapping at the age of 12.[11] In 2006, he failed his Grade 10 exams which led him moving to his grandmother's house in Potchefstroom. Therefore, in 2007, he decided to drop out of high school at the age of 16.[12]

In 2008, Nyovest relocated to Johannesburg to pursue a career in music as a rapper and producer, after telling his parents he would rather chase his dream, which he believed would work out, rather than playing it safe and regretting it his whole life. [13]

Musical career

2004–2014: Beginnings and Tsholofelo

In 2004, Nyovest formed a hip-hop group Childhood Gangsta with his friends while he was 13. He then left to join his following group, Slow Motion which had eight members including record producer, Aashish Gangaram.[14] After dropping out of school, Nyovest signed with motswako record label, Impact Soundz which also signed artists including Tuks Senganga and Morafe in 2006.[15] Nyovest and "Impact Soundz" relationship was substandard as they had creative differences.[16] In 2008, both parties separated making Nyovest an independent artist that time.

Nyovest moved back home to develop his vision of creating his record label.[17] In 2014, he then established his record label named Family Tree Records where he was the only signed artist.[18] His management team consisted of his childhood friends which he appointed them the positions as their rewards for staying by his side on his musical struggles. Months later, Nyovest was discovered by late rapper HHP while performing. HHP was impressed which led him to feature Nyovest on his song, Wamo Tseba Mtho.[19]

Before establishing his label, Nyovest released his debut single, Gusheshe featuring Okmalumkoolkat in 2013.[20] The song was then unveiled that it'll be the first official single from his debut album. The song which was accompanied by a township-influenced music video received positive critics, and was playlisted across various stations in South Africa. Thereafter in 2014, Nyovest released his second single, Doc Shebeleza which is eponymously inspired and titled after kwaito artist, Doc Shebeleza.[21] The song received positive reviews from the public and was praised by notable acts including singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka.[22]

On July 18, 2014, Nyovest released his debut album Tsholofelo named after his sister.[23] The album was an outstanding success, peaking number 1 on the iTunes SA album chart for 2 consecutive months (July and August).[24] In October 2014, Nyovest was ranked no. 1 on the MTV Base show, The Hottest MC in Africa, and was ranked no. 2 on MTV SA's Hottest MCs that same year.[25]

2015–2016: Refiloe

With the success of Tsholofelo, Nyovest released the platinum edition of the album with new songs added and collaborations with Casey Veggies, DJ Drama, Wizkid and Anatii.[26] The platinum edition was released on April 17, 2015 with a limit of 10,000 copies printed.

On the third quarter of 2015, Nyovest announced that he was planning to headline a concert at Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg on October 31, 2015 called Fill Up The Dome. He quoted, "I want to fill the dome, which currently accommodates up to 20,000 people ... to its full capacity".[27] He also mentioned that his second album Refiloe will be released on the day of the event.

On August 14, 2015, Nyovest released Mama I Made It (#MIMI), which is the lead single from his second album and one of the promoting songs for Fill Up The Dome.[28] Nyovest managed to sell out tickets for his event as he announced in October 25, 2015, on his Twitter account.[29] On the day of the event, ticket buyers received a complimentary copy of the Refiloe album.[30] The action resulted the album being certified gold on that day.[31] The album was then certified platinum for shipments in excess of 40,000 copies domestically.[32]

Nyovest also announced his second same affix event Fill Up Orlando Stadium at Orlando Stadium, Soweto in Johannesburg on October 29, 2016.[33] The event was a success as there was a total of 40,000 (stadium's capacity) attendance.[34] For both 2015 and 2016, Nyovest was ranked no. 1 on MTV Base: SA's Hottest MCs list. He was also ranked no. 1 on the 2016 Hottest Rapper in Africa since 2014.[35][36]

2017–present: Thuto and Sweet and Short

On March 4, 2017, Nyovest released the lead single Tito Mboweni from his third album Thuto.[37] Named after the South Africa's Minister of Finance and former SARB governer Tito Mboweni, the song commercially trended for its lyric quote, "Shaa Shaa" which is an onomatopoeia for a money note sound.[38]

Thuto was released in May 5, 2017. It was certified gold by RiSA on the day of its release and was then certified platinum within the following weeks.[39] Nyovest announced his third "Fill Up" event, which was held on November 17, 2017, at the 94,736 capacity stadium, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.[40][41] The event was planned to fill only 75,000 of its capacity which was his biggest challenge. Nyovest had some struggles in funding the show, but finally got 3 major sponsors in assisting him: Cîroc SA, SABC 1 and Budweiser.[42] The event didn't sell all it's tickets but was an outstanding success.

In 2018, Nyovest released his fourth album Sweet and Short. The album was certified platinum in it's day of release.[43] Nyovest's following "Fill Up" event venue was at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban which was scheduled on 1 December 2018.[44] He managed to sell 68,000 tickets which was a favourable outcome.[45] The following day, Nyovest performed at the Motsepe Foundation presented event, Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 headlined by Beyoncé and Jay-Z.[46]

Business ventures

Endorsements

Prior to venturing into business, Nyovest garnered several endorsement deals with various companies, notably with vodka brand, Ciroc which is one of his biggest endorsement deal in his career so far.[47] Their endorsement began in 2017, when Nyovest displayed in his music video, Tito Mboweni several Cîroc bottles. Ciroc then unveiled their deal with Nyovest. In 2015, Nyovest endorsed with MTN and AG Mobile in launching a smartphone named, AG Hashtag which was inspired and partly designed by him.[48] He also endorsed with other brands including, Samsung South Africa, Coca-Cola, KFC SA, Castle Lite and Nike SA.[49]

Family Tree Records

As an entrepreneur, Nyovest has founded the Family Tree Records. The record label was established in 2014 after his departure of label, Impact Soundz.[50]

Personal life

In July 2015, after months of denying any romantic involvement with each other, Nyovest and actress Boitumelo Thulo finally confirmed in a July issue of DRUM that they were dating. The headline on the cover of the magazine implied that the couple was engaged but Nyovest and Thulo later denied this claiming that the magazine used the headline as a ploy to increase sales.[51] The couple broke up in December 2015.

Controversies

Feuds

In 2014, Nyovest was embroiled in a feud with long-time rival, AKA.[52] As Nyovest claimed his song Doc Shebeleza was the biggest song in South African Hip-Hop, AKA who was promoting his new single Congratulate, showed contradiction when he tweeted, “There's a rapper running around saying he got the biggest song in the country ... I challenge you to find his song in the iTunes Top 100".[53] Thereafter, Nyovest responded as a tweet stating reasons on how much bigger his song was. The argument then got intent as both rappers were responding to each other multiple times.[54] In August 2014, the pair were scheduled to both perform on SABC 1 music show, Live Amp when a member of AKA's entourage allegedly pulled a gun on Cassper and his team.[55] Further controversy arose in 2015, when Cassper accused AKA of slapping him which led both rappers to release diss tracks. As for 2015, Nyovest said the two would never reconcile, which has so far proven true.[56]

Lawsuits and civil disputes

"Fill Up" trademark

In 2018, Xitsonga musician, Benny Mayengani was to do his concert named, #FillUpGiyaniStadium. As Mayengeni used a similar affix ("Fill Up"/"#FillUp") as Nyovest, Nyovest then accused Mayengani for using his trademark in a form of sending him a cease and desist letter.[57] Investigation revealed that Nyovest does not yet own the #FillUp trademark and can't take any action.[58]

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Cassper Nyovest

Nyovest has been awarded and nominated for various music awards both locally and internationally. His first set of awards were in 2013 when he won four awards at the second edition of the South Africa Hip Hop Awards .[59]On the 13th of April, he received a nomination at the 12th Headies Award in Nigeria in the category of Best African Artiste alongside Nasty C, Sarkodie from Ghana, Kenyan group Sauti Sol, and Tanzanian singer Vanessa Mdee.[60]

Discography

Template:Main Mel-Tidø Vibez discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ "TRACE Cassper Nyovest – Sports news, hip-hop, rnb, tropical and african music". Trace TV. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Cassper Nyovest biography". Cut FM.
  3. ^ "The Rise of Family Tree Records". The Plug Mag.
  4. ^ "Album Review: Cassper Nyovest - Tsholofelo". Platform.
  5. ^ "Cassper fills up the dome". eNCA.
  6. ^ "Cassper gets set to fill up Moses Mabhida". IOL.
  7. ^ "Cassper Nyovest drops 'Refiloe' track-list". Connect. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Famous South Africans: Cassper Nyovest". The South African.
  9. ^ "Cassper Nyovest, the South African Hip Hop artist is born". South African History.
  10. ^ "10 things you didn't know about Cassper Nyovest". {{cite web}}: Text "EWN" ignored (help)
  11. ^ "Cassper Nyovest". ZAlebs.
  12. ^ "Cassper Nyovest talks dropping out of school, discovering self (VIDEO)". SowetanLIVE.
  13. ^ "Who is Cassper Nyovest?". Coke.
  14. ^ "Cassper Nyovest brings the beats". DStv. Archived from the original on 4 August 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Maftown Heights 2013". Maftown Heights. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Cassper Nyovest Bio". Buzz South Africa.
  17. ^ "16 December: The day SA was gifted the musical genius, Cassper Nyovest". Briefly.
  18. ^ "Family Tree Records (5)". Discogs.
  19. ^ "Cassper Nyovest Shares The Story Of How First Collaboration With HHP Came About".
  20. ^ "Watch Cassper Nyovest 'Gusheshe' featuring Okmalumkoolkat". OkayAfrica.
  21. ^ ""Doc Shebeleza Goes Platinum". MTV.
  22. ^ "Cassper gets love from Yvonne Chaka Chaka". The Juice. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  23. ^ "Cassper's new album title is all in the name". News24.
  24. ^ "Album Review: Cassper Nyovest - Tsholofelo". Plartform.
  25. ^ "K.O crowned 2014's hottest MC". News24.
  26. ^ "Tsholofelo (Platinum Edition) by Casper Nyovest". Tidal.
  27. ^ "Cassper is set on filling up the dome". News24.
  28. ^ "Cassper Nyovest Drops The First " Refiloe"Single 'Mama I Made It'". OkayAfrica.
  29. ^ "The golden boy fills up the dome". East Coast Radio.
  30. ^ "Refiloe to go gold as Fill up The Dome is sold out". Citizen.
  31. ^ "What Cassper Nyovest achieved with #FillUpTheDome". SowetanLIVE.
  32. ^ "Cassper Nyovest's Refiloe goes platinum". Citizen.
  33. ^ "Cassper Nyovest announces second #FillUp Internship". Destiny Man.
  34. ^ "Thousands #FillUpOrlandoStadium". eNCA.
  35. ^ "Cassper Nyovest Crowned "SA'S HOTTEST MC 2016"". BET Africa.
  36. ^ "South Africa's Hottest MC of 2015 Top 10 List Revealed". GQ.
  37. ^ "Cassper Nyovest releases a new song". News24.
  38. ^ "Tito Mboweni: Cassper Nyovest once wrote song about SA's new finance minister". The South African.
  39. ^ "Cassper Nyovest "Thuto" goes gold in one day". Transafricaradio.
  40. ^ "FillUpFNBStadium DATES ANNOUNCED". Daily Sun.
  41. ^ "FNB Stadium/Soccer city". City of Johannesburg.
  42. ^ "WATCH: Cassper Nyovest Hooks Up 3 Sponsors For #FillUpFnbStadium". Zkhipani.
  43. ^ "Halala! Cassper Nyovest's album went platinum in a day, just like he said". TimesLIVE.
  44. ^ "Cassper Nyovest Breaks Yet Another Record And Fills Up Moses Mabhida Stadium". Cosmopolitan.
  45. ^ "Cassper Nyovest all set to #FillUpMosesMabhida". IOL.
  46. ^ "5 Highlights from Global Citizen Festival". Bona.
  47. ^ "CÎROC CELEBRATES FILL UP WITH CASSPER NYOVEST". PREVIDAR.
  48. ^ "Rapper Cassper collaborates on new cellphone". eNCA.
  49. ^ "A Few List of Cassper Nyovest Endorsement Deals". SA Hip Hop Mag.
  50. ^ "Here are 6 celebs who started their own record labels". SowetanLIVE.
  51. ^ LIVE, Sowetan. "Cassper and Boity make their love official". Sowetan LIVE. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  52. ^ "AKA, Cassper & South Africa's Biggest Hip-Hop Beef". OkayAfrica.
  53. ^ "A very brief guide to the AKA and Cassper Nyovest feud". IOL.
  54. ^ "Cassper Nyovest's Twitter War". Press Reader.
  55. ^ "Inside the year's biggest feud: AKA Vs Cassper Nyovest". Channel24.
  56. ^ "CASSPER AND AKA WILL 'NEVER' RECONCILE". Daily Sun.
  57. ^ "NYOVEST AND THE #FILLUP TRADEMARK SAGA: CAN ARTISTS TRADEMARK EVENT NAMES?". EWN.
  58. ^ "Revealed: Cassper doesn't own the #FillUp trademark and can't take action". TimesLIVE.
  59. ^ "Cassper cleans up at SA Hip Hop Awards!". hypemagazine.co.za. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help)
  60. ^ "Cassper Nyovest, nasty C Nominated For Best African Artiste @ Headies Awards 2018". mp3joli.info. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
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