In the heart of Soshanguve, a musical prodigy is making waves in the hip-hop industry.
Mpho Tharaga, hip-hop and Afropop musician and musical show presenter at Poort FM known as Treasure, is set to release his new single titled PTA Vice City this Saturday.
His tour to promote PTA Vice City promises to be a whirlwind of electrifying performance from intimate venues to major stages.
He said he aims to share his love for music with a diverse audience.
“My tour guide consists of tour A, B and C. This Saturday I am starting with tour A. On tour A, mostly it’s South African community radio stations interviews, from different provinces and cities. They will be interviewing me about my latest single, PTA Vice City,” he said.
He said that as his tour dates approach, he is excited that he'll have a radio interview at Bush 89.5 on August 7, and an invite to perform live at Cape Town TV 263 on August 8.
He explained: “The song is titled PTA Vice City because it was inspired by the Grand Theft Auto Vice City game which is known worldwide. Basically on the song I'm saying Pretoria itself is like Grand Theft Auto. Reason I am saying that is because in Pretoria the crime rate is too much, most especially in Soshanguve.
“The word 'vice' means corrupt, so that I am saying Pretoria is a corrupt city, ‘PTA Vice City’. And another inspiration is my late brother. He was not an actual gangster but sometimes he used to do criminal activities to make cash and feed our family,” Tharaga said.
Speaking to the Pretoria News, he said this single differs a lot from his previous work, and the single is local rap which is in Spitori language.
“I had to use this language to represent Pretoria, as the song is about PTA, and mostly on my songs I do trap singing like Emtee music, but this one is completely different. The sound is like 25k but in a different style and different lingo, it’s a unique style and so far people who have heard the song already love it so much,” he added.
He said the song entails new sounds as there is a sound effect of a car spinning and people cheering.
“This will give people a picture of Pretoria life and crimes, and usually gangsters are the ones who spins cars,” he said.
Speaking about his musical journey, he said he started writing songs when he was 9. He started by writing gospel songs.
“My mom was a huge fan of the late gospel artist Lundi, so I also fell in love with his music. Actually Lundi is the person who made me interested in doing music. I used to write gospel songs and perform them in Sunday gospel. Every Sunday I used to teach my Sunday school mates the songs I’d written and we’d sing them all day. It was fun,” he added.
He said when he turned 12, he heard Emtee’s song, Roll Up. From there he began singing and rapping hip hop, and met a producer in Soshanguve.
“Luckily I met a producer in Soshanguve. He heard my lyrics, he told me to come and do a song at his studio and he won't charge me. I went and recorded the song. I saw that I have a talent and I'm good in rapping.
“I realized that this is not only a hobby but it’s a talent that many people wish to have. For example, everyone wants a Treasure. From there I named myself Treasure,” he said.
Tharaga said he recorded his first song when he was 12, and he named himself Treasure after recording the song.
“My first song was a hip-hop song titled Run Around. Emtee impacted my music career so much, I used to look up to him. Most of my songs I do trap singing hip hop like him, as I’m a good vocalist and rapper, but of course my style of music is completely different from his.
“I have my own style of music which is one of the reasons people adore me. But if you listen to my music you will hear that indeed I was inspired by him,” he said.
Tharaga added that he was also influenced by Zoochi coke dope, Riky Rick and Nasty C
He said his home town Soshanguve influenced his music by giving him ideas for his songs.
“Some of my previous songs I used to sing about struggles in Soshanguve, but in this song PTA Vice City I am talking about lifestyle in Soshanguve that is hard to change, so we have to get used to it.
“And also I am praising myself on this song by calling myself a Pitorian superstar (Pretoria star), hence on the cover photo of the song there is a crown on my head,”he said.
He said he is grateful that he is recognised as the youngest big hip-hop artist in the hip-hop genre in Soshanguve.
“My home town made me do music which relates to all our people. I sing about real life things which sound very creative to people’s ears,” he said.
He added that he wants his music to impact people’s lives in Soshanguve.
“I want my music to impact and show people that it looks impossible to succeed until you make it possible.
“In Soshanguve it's hard to make it as a hip-hop artist. There are no opportunities this side, not only as an artist but only people have degrees but no jobs. It’s painful to see someone with degrees smoking nyaope and other drugs on the streets because they have lost hope. I want to revive hope in people’s lives with my music,” he said.
He said he wanted to start his own NPO one day to help struggling families.
“I will do so as soon as I’m also stable financially. I’m also from a disadvantaged family, raised by a single mom. Growing up was tough.
“I even tried to commit suicide when I was doing matric because of my home situation, but I did not die. I woke up in a hospital alive.
“With my music, I want to encourage, revive and bring hope to Soshanguve people,” he said.
Pretoria News