Hoodlum

Born April 15th, 1980, Brian Mashapa a.k.a. Hoodlum hails from an East Rand Township called Thokoza – Johannesburg, South Africa, Thokoza also shaped and molded skillful artists like Relo (Skwatta Kamp), Hidden Force and Krunah. 2005 he blessed Hidden Force’s debut album “The Takeover” with 85% of his production (funky4you Production) before the force within the crew dissected in solo segments. Taking his lyrical bio straight back to the days of ‘Le Club’ – the heart of South African underground hip-hop, this club had everybody in Jo'burg kicking off their kicks on the dance floor? Hoody was certainly the human unicorn at this event, poking and paving his way through South African hip-hop. And then there’s of course his major contribution to the Harambe Dope Sessions CD in 2004, which also saw the pretty-boy emcee claim a prize or two. As you can imagine, Hood’s timeless classic track entitled "The Mind" signed its notable signature almost SA’s illest emcees, let alone he won a Music video worth R34,000,00 attached to it for the best CD launch performance. Think that was the end of his reign – hell no! The Super Producer went on to defend his title as The YFM MCEE Of The Month during the days of Y-FM’s Rap Activity Jam in 2002. Needless to say that THE MINDset a prosperous and highly successful path – one which Hoodlum himself muses about. In 2000 he independently released his first offering titled Not Guilty Produced by Infa of Skwatta Kamp, Mixed by Slikour of Skwatta kamp. The joint had been laced with twelve Tracks, as he dedicated the album to 85ers world wide. He explains supplementary to which he said as the analyses depict the imbalances of the the world, “Our society comprise of 85% doomed in ignorance and lack of knowledge of self. Then there is 10% controlling, oppressing and ambushing the lost sheep from East ”Africans and indigenous people” the Mophs. Then we have 5% of conscious and all about knowledge, wisdom, understanding, power, equality and refinement. Over the years, Hoody has literally geared the success of many local artists and his production skills can be heard in joints by Skwatta Kamp, Ramesh, Mr. Selwyn, H2O, Pro Kid, Zubz and Hidden Force. He spent time in the studio with Helio (Outragous Records), Robin Khol of Jazzworx, Amu of Buv ground and Semi-Tone, two of the most talented producers who brought you most of the Skwatta Kamp’s hits like “Umoya, The Clap song, E’Skhaleni” and My Man’s killer track “Vumani” featuring Lebo Mathosa. The Queen of Abashante Known as Iyaya, invited Hoodlum to guest appear on two of her street bangers on her new solo joint “Sengfikile”. Hoodlum is a very passionate artist who always delivers his skill on and off stage. He splurges mostly all of his time in his lab cooking beats and lacing his army of troops with new darts spit.