Sugaspott

Shingirai Kaserera (born 14 June 1984) is a Zimbabwean rapper, known as Sugaspott. Born and raised in Zimbabwe before moving to London and currently resident in the United Kingdom. He became the first rap artist to headline on the main stage at Brentford Festival in 2010 and returning again in 2013. He represented Zimbabwe at the Golborne World Music Festival in 2010.

Life and music career

Sugaspott was born in, Harare, Zimbabwe but grew up mostly in Mutare. It wasn't until after completing his high school education that he began to make records.[6] Mentored by various small groups similarly trying to establish themselves, he collaborated with local acts such as Mizchif. He moved to London in 2005 to study and it is there he decided to pursue a career in music and tried to get his music noticed recording a number of demos that did not materialise into anything. He is known to have sold his own music by hand and developed his fan base by cold selling his music to them in the street. He worked with a number of other unsigned artists hoping that opportunities would arise as a cooperative result. Independent releases, shows at various venues andtireless self-promotion saw him garner attention, eventually impressing Tom Robinson enough to warrant rotation on BBC Radio's 6Music.

Genre and style

His lyrics contain a lot of emphasis on Zimbabwe and is quoted saying “I consider it an honorable burden to bear but a lot of my material is centered on removing the stereotype of Zimbabwe around the globe”. He is notable for seeking to create non-violent, positive rap lyrics and is listed under political rap on Allmusic. In 2009, he opened the show for Navin Kundra and The Dhol Foundation and a few months later for Apache Indian as part of a collective of unsigned artists who supported a series of shows around the UK.

Albums

• This Is My Story (2009)
• Damage Limitation (2010)
• Damage Limitation Part 2: Broken Sanctuary (2014)

Singles

• "Sugaspott's Hiphop" (2010)
• "Bhogo Bhogo" (2010)
• "Real Hiphop" (2010)