While we were off on a minor break some creators were steady on the grind making waves in this searing December or as popular culture would coin it “Dezember”. This year’s festive season sees lyricists Wontu and Mr-Elle consolidate with rapper and producer Dee the beat monkey to form a group called 3rd degree. Now these three artists are no strangers to each other nor the realm of hip-hop, the assemble grew up in a place most of us ignorant people know as the region with the biggest bananas….water melons, peaches, heat that is most likely to steam your lungs at every gasp of air and roast the flesh of your bones in a fraction of a second, no this is not a contrast between the garden of Eden and Hell, it is of coarse Limpopo. I’ve personally seen these cats rip mics apart, I’ve even had the opportunity to experience them eloquently fading mc’s like your favourite barber in Athlone.
Before they were called 3rd degree, these cats were your so called “not in your face” kind of rappers, Wontu was a more reserved rapper with a fiery temper that blazed ciphers with infernos of metaphors, whilst Mr-Elle (formally known as Cyclone) always had the buttery lines laced with wit and glazed with punch lines, his panty dropper style should not be challenged as he’s technique is equivalent to that of proverb in his prime. Dee the beat monkey has been experimenting with music from an early age, re-inventing himself and his sound on many occasions, a beast on the beats and one of the very few producers that have successfully immortalized or rather evolved the distinct sound of Kwaito in his hip-hop beats, he is also a cunning lyricist with a sharp tongue and a lyrical dexterity carried out with the utmost composure, Dee has been analyzing the music scene for years, working with countless artists from different genres.
Recently 3rd degree released a song titled “Makwhapheni: the side chick story” and received a warm welcome to the mainstream, the tune is catchy, well produced and well executed. It is definitely one of those songs that one will be bumping at braai’s and parks alike while singing along to the chorus and wondering if your partner knows that she is in fact the side chick. As the song rapidly spread over the niggernet, the group was already planning a shoot for the video and it went down on the 10th of December, here are some of the behind the scenes shots.
Follow 3Rd Degree on twitter @3Rd_dEGREE_SA
