Close friends and music enthusiasts will remember the late Allain Villet (37), popularly known as AliThatDude as a musical brother, an outright genius who left a huge dent in the Namibian music industry.
Kamaaizemi Hoveka also known as KP Illest remembers creating projects and being unable to continue without AliThatDude’s magical touch.
“Ali was musically like my big brother, I felt I couldn’t do a project without him and that led to so many studio sessions together and an actual friendship blooming. He was deliberate with his craft,” said the distraught KP.
He added: “If I sent him a song, he took his time to write it and not like us who did it right then and there.”
The Namibian hip-hop industry is still reeling in shock and came to a standstill on Saturday, 25 January 2025, when the news emerged that the father of one was found in his room tied with a belt on his neck, in a sitting position.
“He left a note written “I am sorry” that was found by his mother. The mother noticed the deceased first and tried to remove the belt and contacted Emed Rescue. Emed declared him dead at 13h31,” read the statement from the police.
Notable projects KP had with an Ali touch include Price of Ambition, Kill Your TV 3 and 4 where the late producer would marinate until it was perfect, not a bar wasted or word out of place.
“Every time I thought I was a big guy now, I would call Ali to the studio to help me on a song. And just like that, he would be humble and show me, an indication that I still had a lot to learn. He was a fiercely talented man, one of the greatest to ever do it, a legend, and a great friend. This is heartbreaking,” said the rapper.
Sean Kamati met AliThatDude 20 years ago and they instantly became friends as they were in the same music circle.
“I saw him for the first time when he was performing with the Black Vulcanite – I was mesmerised because I couldn’t believe that there was a man with such a talent,” said the soulful singer who is based in Malta.
Magnanimously known as Sean K, he recalls AliThatDude as one of the most talented Namibian rappers he ever came across and heard.
“He was such a pure talent who ended up becoming a good friend to the point that we collaborated. That, for me, was an uplifting experience because I could see how much skill this man put into his work with ease,” recalled Sean K who collaborated with Ali on a single called Time.
Oldskool hip hop artist Fidel Nambundunga alias Fidel O’Del said before 2009, there were a lot of groups that surfaced including the Black Vulcanite, The Kalaharians, and Dungeon Family, who birthed Gal Level (Freeda and Oteya).
“There were hip-hop shows in Eros and I met Mark Mushiva who introduced me to Ali. He was not known as AliThatDude, but we knew him by his real name, and we wondered: Who is this white dude?” recalled the creative.
He added that there was an open mic session and AliThatDude got the chance and the crowd was wowed.
“He gave us good messages, melodic poets If you listen to some of his work. And that’s what I can remember about him. We need to be each other’s keeper because that’s what defines hip hop – that high infinite power healing our people. If we don’t live according to the code, it will not make sense for us to be in this industry, if we cannot be each other’s keeper,” he sadly stated.
Fidel O’del said the industry players have neglected each other and have forgotten where they come from.
“But then as time goes, we turn a blind eye and our backs on each other. And then obviously the mental health situation, the whole depression, stress, or whatever life brings sort of takes a toll on all of us. All it takes is just that one check-up call – that’s all we need to hear sometimes. Are you okay?”
He added: “This sh*t is deeper than the ocean, so we need to be each other’s keeper. We have lost so many, and we are continuing to lose more. It’s quite sad man. He (AliThatDude) lived, and he gave us good work and he gave us good music. May his soul rest in peace.”
-psiririka@nepc.com.na