Get to Know Budding Rapper Rnsu Doing the Most With His Come Up
The school of South African hip-hop, in its current form, boasts a diverse registration roll of rising stars, established juggernauts, and well-versed doyens. Whether you are a zealot of the trap scene or you nod only to rhythms laced with bar-infested rhymes or your sonic palette favours kwaito-infused influences in hip-hop, there’s always something for everyone, even at a time where the Mzansi rap landscape might be at a plateau. This speaks to one truth: the game is certainly not only in safe but also capable hands. And as far as hands are involved, Rnsu is using his to run all the way to the sunset with his opportunity as one belonging to the new school.
Born Sebetli Frans Tshelane in Limpopo, budding hip-hop artist Rnsu has his eyes poised on keeping the heart of the genre’s lyrical space beating. The Lephalale wordsmith recently dropped his extended play, Do the Most, staking his claim and putting numbers on the board. The rising rapper spoke about his humble beginnings, how his upbringing moulded him and how he caught the bug of flowing.
“I was born and raised in the small town of Lephalale, near the border of Limpopo, and that’s where I got my entire personality, being and culture. Growing up, I listened to a lot of hip-hop. I was shaped by it in the very same way people are shaped by the music they grew up to, but it wasn’t in such a way and to an extent that I was writing raps at a very young age and fantasising about being an emcee. Me pursuing music only started after my high school years, when I got to tertiary at Vaal University of Technology, where I got exposed to different cultures and activities. When I was there, I got exposed to music. That’s how I got into the idea of trying to be an emcee, trying to imitate what they were doing. Because we’d go into the studio, and I’d see them rapping. I was a fan from there, and I could say that was the inspiration that pushed me into making music,” Rnsu said.
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Rnsu spoke about the creative process behind his EP, working with record producer Thabiso Tsotetsi, and crafting an album anchored in realism, a project that tackles everyday times with lyrical substance.
“My EP, Do the Most, is my first solid project. I came across a person called Thabiso Thobane, who is my manager, who exposed me to a different level of music. And throughout our time we met the producer Thabiso Tsotetsi, who himself is a well-renowned producer in the South African hip-hop game. He has done a lot of genres and he has done a lot for hip-hop by building alongside the likes of Tuks Senganga, Cassper Nyovest, and the late HHP. We happened to meet at a concert and we got to talking. I sent him my first raps and we made the song “New King”, one of the EP’s singles. Then we continued working and had a lot of studio sessions where we were trying to figure out each other and trying to understand the type of sound we wanted to make and the kind of vibe we had in mind. What we ended up getting is a lyrical album where every song tells a story and yet every story is unique and stands on its own. That’s because when Thats and I were working, we made lots of individual songs and stopped along the way to figure out what to talk about next,” he said.
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The budding star spoke about his desire to leave a mark as a musician who is a vibe not only to be with but to listen to.
“I want to be able to make an impact in terms of finding myself being celebrated at different venues, concerts, and places. Impacting people’s lives to the point of them making my music their soundtracks at certain periods of their lives. Because when we make a song, we start at the very beginning of the song’s conception, making the beat to be emotional or whatever feeling we are going for at that point in time. So, I’d like be a person that others can trust with a certain vibe in studio. And it doesn’t even have to be anything lyrical, as long as it’s a good vibe and the music is positive for the world,” he said.
From seeing his idols on TV and listening to their hits on radio to sharing the studio with the man who made them, Rnsu revealed the musicians that shaped the taste of his muse.
“I’ve always felt that the universe aligns when certain things are ready. My manager meeting Thabiso was quite random because we met at a music festival. I used to listen to Tuks and HHP, and growing up, that’s who we used to see on TV and that’s who Thats worked with. And now here I am working in studio with him, trying to make the most of it. It’s poetic because my influences musically have been Tuks, HHP, and Cassper as well. Lately, I’ve been inspired by Nasty C and eMTee as well since they’ve been pushing the game a lot. Internationally, I’ve been looking at Kendrick Lamar – he’s been instrumental in the way that I write and in the way I create. I also look up to Lil Wayne for his work ethic,” he said.
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For Rnsu, churning out raps is not a fad but something he has always viewed as a 9-to-5. He spoke about his mindset when it comes to approaching music.
“Constant writing has helped my craft. Constantly creating. You do not force it and you always have it in mind that you must work in the same way a person wakes up and goes to work. As people we grow up going to school so we can get a certain job and that’s exactly how it is. You wake up, do the work, hand in your deliverables, and go back home. I view rap the same way. I see it as my job. I have to do my homework: reading, referencing, listening to beats, and connecting with what’s comfortable to talk about,” he said.
When not in studio, Rnsu can be found following the beautiful game.
“I’m something of a soccer fanatic. Because I studied business administration, if I’m not in studio, I’m connected with a soccer team named Sunrise FC based in my hometown. They are doing great things playing in the ABC Motsepe League trying to break into the national league. So I spend most of my time following them. I also do a little bit of videography and graphic design here and there,” he said.