Painting a poignant picture of growing up in Kraaifontein rapper Marco Singh aka Vinarz released his first music video of a song on his debut studio album, Autograph, last Sunday.
The album, ten years in the making, with each track telling a story was released on 21 September last year and sold out in hard copy format.
The music video ramped up 5 000 views on Youtube within four days.
As the song title suggests, the song “Can you Relate?” speaks of the bad choices teenagers make and then ultimately turn away from.
“The song is about the good and bad times in my own life growing up. The experiences and choices I was faced with that I’m sure many others can relate to. I’m forever grateful that God has guided me towards the correct choices to be blessed where I am today,” he told TygerBurger lastweek.
The lyrics of the song, written by Marco, is inspired by his own experimentation with all things teenagers should not be doing, followed by redemption.
“It started with smoking and then under-aged drinking, smoking weed and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Only later you think that all these things can lead to death and soon realise you cannot outrun the consequences of bad decisions,” he says.
“There comes a time in one’s life that you have to decide which road you are going to take. It’s either good or bad, it’s either life or death and I am glad today I have changed and chosen life and God. The different scenery in the video relates and reflects of times back then to the time right now, so it’s my past and my future to the present day,” he explains. In a powerful scene in the video a grim reaper can be seen representing the dark side of past wrong decisions. In contrast an angel figure represents the good and positive choices.
“One’s past is always ready to take you down and haunt you if you forget where you are coming from. That’s is represented in the video by the reaper shadow figure carrying a dangerous slaughter axe waiting for us to make a mistake and he captures you again,” says Marco.
His friend Denzil Titus, the founder of his own clothing brand in the hip-hop culture, inspired the making of the video.
“He asked me about my album and made me realise it was the right time to shoot a music video.”
Titus introduced him to photographer and videographer D’Mitri Bailey who recently relocated from Paarl to Kraaifontein.
The shooting of the video was a collaboration between the three.
“I directed the storyline, D’Mitri filmed and edited while Denzil Titus assisted with behind the scenes videography. This project was to promote ourselves and our brands within the music and hip-hop scene. Also to let the viewers and people know that Kraaifontein still has its own stars and our main aim is to keep it this side as many other local celebs which were from Kraaifontein have now relocated,” he says.
The music video was shot over a period of four days in Kraaifontein, Belhar and Capetown CBD. “The project was very successful and we are happy with the outcome,” he says.
Marco’s love for music started at the age of 12, when he wrote his first song inspired by legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. “I always wanted to be a hip-hop artist, it was my childhood dream. Today I am a qualified sound engineer and I have my own recording studio. I do my own music and record, mix and master my own sound.”
Growing up in a community faced with gang violence and crime, Marco says it was his music that kept him positive. “Even though my community does not have the greatest reputation I still never gave up on my dreams to be a rapper and make my own music.”
Marco’s message to the youth is to remain in school and to focus on their dreams.
“You can make it no matter what your circumstances are.”
- Check out his YouTube channel at Defladon and Instagram at @Defladon to watch the music video.
