LK BABA: FATHERING THE STYLE OF ESWATINI'S URBAN MUSIC
By Timbuktu Library
With over a decade since breaking into the Eswatini Music Scene, LK BABA is a brand name that is heavily entrenched within Skom as a place of birth and Mbabane as his home city. The influence of his sound has birth many artists like Young Zesh, K Darrow and many more. Tasked with giving a top 5 list of artists that come from his hood 'Skom', LK BABA names himself as the first, 'Lyrical Busta' is second on his list, 'Rawva' is third, fourth name on the list is 'Movement' and the fifth name is 'Koblaz'.
Skom is (the hood/Kasi) area a little outside the city of Mbabane, its has given birth to countless number of legendary local artists, sports figures, LK BABA makes a note that 'Skom' is like a community and most of the talent groomed there grow up together and share alot of the spaces they need inorder to express their artistic talents.
'Skom' has given birth to so many talents that have gone on to play for continental stages and some global. Being a son of the soil, LK BABA feels himself to be established in the game especially as a solo artist, having started his music career with Mvilas and together forming the duo group Chakalaka.
A decade has passed since then, its 2025 and the Southern Hemisphere just entered its new years spring, the winter energy is cleaning out and in the midst of it all LK BABA has a new song and its titled 'Phoyizeni'. 'Phoyizeni' by LK BABA expands on his signature sound, coined over the years and refined in pursuit of mastery. Koblaz is the producer of the beat for 'Phoyizeni', LK BABA has a name for the new approach towards his music, he doesn't reveal yet citing he only wants to give it a name once the sound fully lives in form through his upcoming project.
The streets are talking about the change in sound, as far as LK BABA and many other artists, the common problem is marketing as the Eswatini Entertainment industry still lacks in backroom players, the drivers and connectors of culture with audiences and potential investors. " I would not necessarily categorise it as a change in sound but a show of range and versatility. I didn't want to be boxed in as a one dimensional artist, my core fanbase is aware of my range but my new followers may not know so i thought it would be the perfect time for them to get acquainted with this version of me who experiments with sound. " LK BABA
'LK' is an abbreviation of the artists full name, 'BABA' is derived from the African linguistic meaning father and this is in connection with his real life fatherhood journey, also his influence on younger artists that his had the honor to groom.
Every father seeks to provide for his own, immediate and extended family, LK BABA has made a conscious decision to put a price on his worth and made a decision to stop performing or giving vocal services for free, more artists can heed to this way of professionalism and fortunately this decision has yielded more positives in an environment that sometimes wants to exploit the artist instead of protecting them which always yields a positive for the Entertainment industry locally.
LK BABA: FATHERING THE STYLE OF ESWATINI'S URBAN MUSIC
By Timbuktu Library
With over a decade since breaking into the Eswatini Music Scene, LK BABA is a brand name that is heavily entrenched within Skom as a place of birth and Mbabane as his home city. The influence of his sound has birth many artists like Young Zesh, K Darrow and many more. Tasked with giving a top 5 list of artists that come from his hood 'Skom', LK BABA names himself as the first, 'Lyrical Busta' is second on his list, 'Rawva' is third, fourth name on the list is 'Movement' and the fifth name is 'Koblaz'.
Skom is (the hood/Kasi) area a little outside the city of Mbabane, its has given birth to countless number of legendary local artists, sports figures, LK BABA makes a note that 'Skom' is like a community and most of the talent groomed there grow up together and share alot of the spaces they need inorder to express their artistic talents.
'Skom' has given birth to so many talents that have gone on to play for continental stages and some global. Being a son of the soil, LK BABA feels himself to be established in the game especially as a solo artist, having started his music career with Mvilas and together forming the duo group Chakalaka.
A decade has passed since then, its 2025 and the Southern Hemisphere just entered its new years spring, the winter energy is cleaning out and in the midst of it all LK BABA has a new song and its titled 'Phoyizeni'. 'Phoyizeni' by LK BABA expands on his signature sound, coined over the years and refined in pursuit of mastery. Koblaz is the producer of the beat for 'Phoyizeni', LK BABA has a name for the new approach towards his music, he doesn't reveal yet citing he only wants to give it a name once the sound fully lives in form through his upcoming project.
The streets are talking about the change in sound, as far as LK BABA and many other artists, the common problem is marketing as the Eswatini Entertainment industry still lacks in backroom players, the drivers and connectors of culture with audiences and potential investors. " I would not necessarily categorise it as a change in sound but a show of range and versatility. I didn't want to be boxed in as a one dimensional artist, my core fanbase is aware of my range but my new followers may not know so i thought it would be the perfect time for them to get acquainted with this version of me who experiments with sound. " LK BABA
'LK' is an abbreviation of the artists full name, 'BABA' is derived from the African linguistic meaning father and this is in connection with his real life fatherhood journey, also his influence on younger artists that his had the honor to groom.
Every father seeks to provide for his own, immediate and extended family, LK BABA has made a conscious decision to put a price on his worth and made a decision to stop performing or giving vocal services for free, more artists can heed to this way of professionalism and fortunately this decision has yielded more positives in an environment that sometimes wants to exploit the artist instead of protecting them which always yields a positive for the Entertainment industry locally.
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