By Selma Neshiko
WINDHOEK– Like many up-and-coming musicians, Jonas Nakambale, who goes by the stage name of Jocksman, hopes to make a breakthrough in the music game with his soon to be released album, Unrecognized Greatness.
Jocksman is a rapper born in the Northern part of the country in a village called Uukwangula, ten kilometres west of Oshakati. He attended high school at Mwashipandeka High School in Ongwediva, where he started rapping and performing at school talent shows before he moved to Swakopmund where he made a name for himself with his single, Bring it on, in 2011. “I grew up just as a typical village boy doing typical village work, cattle herding, etc. When I started I didn’t know my direction in music but now I have found my direction in music. I am very much in control and I am very much open minded and conscious about what to talk about in my music. I don’t do this ratchet music any other rapper is doing nowadays. I am very much unique and relatable at the same time,” says Jocksman.
Jocksman recently released one of the hit singles, Keumbo, from the album featuring award-winning rapper, songwriter and producer, Kanibal ,which has been making waves on local radio stations. “I’m not just a rapper, I’m an ultimate story-teller, I’m a therapist, and a lyricist. My album is almost done but I feel I’m a talented rapper who is not recognized and that’s why I called my album, Unrecognised Greatness. This is going to be the darkest album in Namibia and I mean it in every sense,” he says.
According to Jocksman the album will feature big names like Lil’ D, MC Ray just to mention a few. “For now people should look out and request for the new single Keumbo which is a very conscious, serious, deep and different type of song that anybody can relate to, Keumbo means home in Oshiwambo,” says Jocksman. To make his musical journey easy, he bought his own studio equipment to record his album as well as to help fellow artist in Swakopmund. “As we speak I’m recording my own album straight from my bedroom studio in Swakopmund, but I do get assistance from my long-time producer, Evaristus “Kashman” Kashuupulwa, as well as Swakopmund- based producer “Kelle”. Swakopmund has very talented rappers who can lyrically out-rap anybody, but it’s just that the media sidestep us and also that many rappers here are not really working hard”
“If you are out there trying to do music, you should know that it does not matter where you from, where you are now but the ability to triumph begin with you.” Jocksman concludes. He performed at big events such as Miss Palm Beach and also shared the stage with local big names such as The Dogg, Gazza, Tate Buti and South African Kwaito star.