EENHANA – Up and coming Katima Mulilo based Hip Hop musician popularly known as Top Dogg is now back with a bang after an absence of two years from the music industry urging promoters to have faith and accord opportunities to upcoming musicians as they seek to make a breakthrough in the local music industry.
The Heading Top singer, who released it as a single in his first project, said this on the sidelines of the launch of this much awaited 18 track album launched in Katima Mulilo last December. “I was busy during the past two years hence my absence and that forced me to work hard to release this final project which has culminated into a full 18 track album,” he says
Top Dogg also adds that the music industry was not that rosy without the promoters saying one could have everything they needed to use as an artist but in this era of piracy, music needs promotion through live shows for musicians to able to make a living. “Promoters must consider the plight of upcoming musicians as they face a mammoth task when it comes to hosting live shows,” he adds. This upcoming hardworking musician was also nominated for the 2012 Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMA) in the best Hip Hop category when he released his single Heading Top. The single received massive airplay on Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC‘s) Silozi radio language service. On his latest album, songs receiving airplay and which will make him stamp his authority on the Namibian Hip Hop music scene include the title track, Heading Top, Party All Night, My struggle, Africa Stand Up, Passion Killing and Bedroom Stars, among others.
Top Dogg plans to launch his own clothing line here if all goes according to plan. In Katima Mulilo, he has performed with other up and coming artists like Short-Khilla and Young Mario. To prove his growing popularity, he had been invited to perform at University of Namibia (Unam)’s cultural festivals apart from other government functions in the Zambezi region.
He was also billed to perform at the Zambezi Summer Festival 2013 and Zambezi Bream Fish Festival 2013 which were all slated for the December’s festive season.
Born Libana Libana, the 29 year old musician’s talent was exposed and identified by the late NBC radio presenter, Stoney Mubiana, who doubled as a traditional musician. He has shared the stage with popular musicians, from Botswana’s Slizer, Zambian Chicco Wise and Petersen and Afunika and in Namibia, Top Dogg has also performed alongside the likes of Mushe, Linda Simasiku, Jericho and the Dog aka Mshasho himself. “I salute the late Stoney Mubiana who identified my talent when I was young and now it seems, I am starting to realise my dream despite promoters not coming on board,” explains Top Dogg.
Explaining his stage name “Top Dogg”, he says Dogg is an internationally acclaimed label and no one single musician should hold ownership to the name hence there are names such as Lil Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Ruff Dog among other Dogs like The Dog, aka Mshasho in Namibia. Top Dogg was once signed to Supreme Records and has this time decided to go solo. His 18 track album was recorded at Bone Yard recording studio and music label here.
By Clemence Tashaya