ONE ON ONE: Frediana Nafula Hainja aka Sosuun

BUZZ: What is your real name?

Frediana Nafula Hainja, and my name automatically tells you my ethnic background.

How did you get the name Sosuun?

In high school, I used to rap to Nazizi’s music all the time and guys would say, you will soon become a star. And ‘So Soon’ came much later. I thought it was a good fit for me. I’m here to change the game and give other rappers a run for their money; both male and female.

What’s the story behind Sura ya Kazi?

I was previously signed to another record label that didn’t appreciate my potential. We never had a manager and we used to do everything for ourselves.

I thought it was time I got a team to work on my brand. That’s why I called this project Sura ya Kazi. I want to show people that this is my business and this is how I want to run things. iScan Media, who manage and promote my work, came in.

Which record label were you signed to before?

Pacho Entertainment, but I got out of the contract before my time was up.

Why?

I realised I couldn’t capitalise on my strengths there at the time. We were so many artistes with a producer who was also an artiste.

Things weren’t running properly. You can’t have a producer who’s thinking about his own album or mix-tape while your stuff hangs in the balance. So right now, I’m doing my audios at Grandpa Records and iScan Media takes care of the rest.

You portray a really tough persona in your videos. Is it the same with your personal life?

When a female artiste is aggressive, it never comes off the same way as it would for a male artiste. It sounds a lot cooler for the boys. But that is who I am when it comes to my lyrics. I feel that my delivery should be heavy enough for my fans so they know they have someone who’s stable and promising. But personally, I’m not that tough.

Your hair changes a lot from brunette to blonde to the colours of the national flag. Let’s talk about that.

I never know how to get settled in one single thing; I think it’s boring. I really love dreadlocks and Nazizi is my inspiration for that, but I couldn’t get around to growing them. With dreads, I can’t experiment a lot, which I love to do.

Do you think you have earned the title rap queen or is it self-proclaimed?

Making it out here is tough, especially for female artistes. And you just can’t be a queen through your lyrics alone, you have to work hard, it’s about branding, merchandising and the image. But if the crown fits… I work very hard and I’m trying to be a game-changing rapper.

Does your aggressive nature rub some people the wrong way?

 When you see people hating, then Yes, it does. But that is motivation for me. Either way, that is the journey in the music industry. You can’t stop people from saying what they want to say about you.

Your fashion sense keeps shifting between tomboy and girly; which is it?

That’s just the thing, I’m not constant, and it’s hard to figure me out. I’ll never be the girl you’ll always see in mini dresses or shorts. I might walk in, in a business suit next time. I like fashion and I like trying out new things.

Is music bringing in good money?

I have a very good support system, more so my husband Kenrazy who I love very much and has been there for me.

We live on music alone. People don’t understand how persistent you need to be in music. For the first time I’m getting money through music, through Sura Ya Kazi. I just travelled to Tanzania and did a big show; it’s been years of being broke but finally… dreams do come true because I’m seeing it happen.

Apart from the Fimbo ya Tatu remix, you haven’t done any collaborations lately. Are you focusing on solo projects now?

I thank God I have the chance to do anything I want. Now I can do things my way. I’m planning to do a huge collaboration. But I’m not sure whether to do the collaboration first, or do another solo project.

Can we anticipate one from you and Kenrazy alone?

He will need to pay some good money for that because right now I’m a hot cake (laughs). I’m kidding. But if we do it, it will be a surprise and it’s going to be amazing.

How do you two deal with the groupies, and does it bother you?

It does sometimes, especially when it’s just us maybe going to the mall and guys come up to you to take a photo. And maybe you’re not camera ready at the time; if you walk away people think your snobbing your fans, finding its way to the blogs in a negative light. It’s not every day that you walk out of the house all glammed up, and that is the day people notice you.

Do you and Kenrazy get on each other’s nerves, especially since you work together most of the time?

We’ve been together for so long, before Tichi and the fame; its eight years now. And we are just like any other normal couple. We argue sometimes but we always put our love first.

And do you follow gossip news about each other on blogs?

Sometimes, because they are crazy enough to tag us.

And do you critique each other on your work?

Yes, sometimes he will tell me if he feels I need to change something on a verse or chorus, and I do the same for him.