Making It Dangle

Beat Oven: Making it dangle!

It goes without saying that the spirit of entrepreneurship and business mindless encapsulate and seem to be the cornerstones of the music industry since the dawn of the new millennium. The Kroonstad, Free State province born Thamsanqa Mpondo better known by the moniker Beat Oven is amongst the artist/producer individuals who have decided to liberate themselves in the industry by promoting their raw art form and being the driving force devoid of association with major music industry organisations. Beat Oven’s humble beginnings in the music industry date back to the year 2004, where it all began by making his personal collection of cassette tapes, vinyl’s and CD’s. The sleeping musical genius was awakened soon after his family had moved to the town of Rammulotsi in Viljoenskroon, this was due to the fact that this is where he began doing talent shows during his high school years.

After relocating to Pretoria where he attended UNISA (University of South Africa) to pursue courses in B.Comm and Financial Management fields, the focus in the music started crystallising as soon after he had founded Roach Inc. an independent record label. Live-Jam had the opportunity to hold an electronic interview with the man himself. This is what the ''midget tossing'' maestro had to say:

Tell us about the years you started realizing your love for hip hop and subsequently producing.

I started in 2004 to collect records and the year later I started charging to play at gigs and started my record label, Roach Inc. "Straight From The Oven Vol.2" was released in 2006 and later that year I signed The Anvils (MycBeth and N'veigh) and dropped their EP "Independence Day". The group continued and added a new member, Blaklez when MycBeth left the camp. I have been doing a lot of releasing and touring with my acts Seida Crook, Yourlokalhead, two acts based in P.E. Kubla5Senses and TeamBuckTwo (a duo Pythagorhymes and Nyikima) until this day. Their projects drop in the New Year.

Who are your role models in your art form?

Ready D and a lot of cool DJ's.

Who have you collaborated with?

Too many to mention.

When was your big break into becoming a recognized and sought after artist and producer?

I haven't got it.

Who has played a key role in your producing career whether personally (family who encouraged you or bought you your first equipment for e.g) or professionally (people who have showcased belief and have assisted with getting you GIGs)

Nyambz showed me how to use Sony Acid Pro.6 and I look up to him as a producer. Luthando Peter became my partner and manager at Roach Inc.

Let us know of shows/events that you actively involved in.

#RollWithTheRoaches is nationwide campaign for upcoming albums and the label. Follow on Twitter @Roach_inc and "Beat Oven" on Facebook for dates close to you.

Tell us your achievements and you milestones so far, competitions you have won, awards, endorsements.

No awards and I haven't won any competition. Achievements include my discovery of the acts under my label, they're too awesome and you can't afford to sleep on them.

Any future ventures? And who would you want to work with?

6 projects will come out in 2014 and I will be touring. I like unknown, talented acts so my next thing is to discover another great act.

I'm biased to my acts because they're talented and I gave myself the job to make sure the rest of the world know the stories they tell.

Who are your favorite Hip hop artists and producers locally and internationally?

50Cent, Puff Daddy and RZA (Wu-Tang)

Where do you see local hip hop/producing in 5 years from now?

I don't know, Roach Inc. will still be there though.

What do you think are the issues challenging development and growth of the hip hop culture locally?

Not-so-smart groupies, smart people in the industry who are in business and love Hip-hop to have distribution networks and venues.

Any projects that you have been involved in e.g. Hype Mag mix-tapes or any projects that you are involved in.

"Straight From The Oven Vol.2, Vol.4, Hype Edition, Vol.6, Straight From The Cape Flats: The Project (Collabo with Seida Crook), Straight From The Soul(neo-soul album with 8 relatively unknown female vocalists), currently working on Straight From The Oven Vol.8, Straight From Trenches (Collabo with Yahkeem), The Diet (Yourlokalhead), The South African Struggle (Seida Crook), Out To Get Figures (Kubla5Senses and TeamBuckTwo). And 2 albums I featured on that I can't talk about right now.

Who do you think is Hot or Not in the Game right now?

I don't own a TV or a radio so I'm not clued up on what's hot and what's not. Radio and TV airplay are bought by major labels and people who are friends with presenters and music compilers so only those will get the shine. I'm on tour all the time and know countless artists that are hot in a lot of hoods. So, it's Roach Inc. acts and them.

What advise do you have for up and coming artists/producers?

Make it dangle! Any chance you get, just make it dangle.

Any closing statement?

Thank you for the interview, fam.

Twitter: @Roach_ Inc @Yourlokalhead @Seida_Crook

Search for: Seida Crook feat. Delite "Put Yo hands up", Roach Inc and The Beat'Oven on Youtube. I don't have direct links to them. Roachinc.co.za will be up by the end of the year with all releases and exclusive stuff.

We go to community radio stations and go to townships and do live performances, that's how we go about our