CELEBRITY OF THE MONTH - ZEUS PERFORMS IN MALAYSIA
 ARTIST'S PROFILE
REAL NAMES: GAME BANTSI
DOB: 22/07/1986
SIBLINGS: 3 older (Lefika, Same, Bantsi)
CURRENT LOCATION; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
HOME-VILLAGE: Serowe
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Business and Commerce double majoring in Management and Marketing
FAV CAR: Too many to pick one! But the McLaren SL and Bentley GT come to mind
FAV FOOD: Too much too pick one! But pap and seswaa sa podi come to mind (especially since I had em in a minute)
FAV HOLIDAY DESTINATION: I can’t wait to go the Caribbean Islands haven't been there but I’ve seen images that made me salivate!
Menateng: What’s the name of your band? ZEUS: The Thari Band
Menateng: What’s the origin of that name? ZEUS: You’d have to ask them! When I met them (John, Ali, Swallows and Brets) they already had the name
Menateng: Have you changed the band’s name before? ZEUS: No!
Menateng: How did you get in the music industry? ZEUS: That’s a hard question coz I don’t believe that one action or event puts you in the game but rather a series of actions beginning with watching your influences and perfecting your craft in the shower! So my answer would include everything from the talent show I did in standard 7 to freestyle ciphers in high school, to the Yarona Fm and Y-FM (Johannesburg) rap activity jams to spins of my first and last video on different TV stations on the continent.
Menateng: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? ZEUS: The core sound is Hip-hop, my core competence could be considered as MCing but because of the fact that I grew up listening to diverse music and still do this day I cross over into other genres a lot eg. Imagination (Dancehall), Kwela Man (Mpaqanga), 365 and Mirror Back (RnB) etc. so I would have to say Hip-Hop Fusion if I’m being technical! But I don’t like being labeled according to genre coz it sets boundaries to your sound, Id rather just be considered a creative artist period! Think of someone like Wyclef.
Menateng:Who are your major influences? ZEUS: Too many mention cause I grew up with a lot of music! And I get more all the time! But here goes; Tupac, Biggie, Boys 2 Men, Snoop, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Backstreet, Buju Banton, Trompies, Brenda Fassie, Nas, Jay Z, U2, Linkin Park, 2Face, Bongo Maffin, HHP and others!
 Menateng: What’s your ultimate direction for your band?
ZEUS: I want the band to be more than just a performance option! Yes I do want us to improve the level of LIVE performance In Botswana as well as take the act on the road around the world to show em how we do it in Botswana! But I want the band to be a new outlet for my artistry, so I should be able to do a Live album with songs that weren’t programmed but composed, that adds a whole new dimension to my art!
Menateng: How has your music evolved since you first started in the business?
ZEUS: I've started to cater for international tastes more because my audience is no longer limited to Gaborone and Botswana so the
sound/production as well as content and subject matter are more universal but I still deliver with a Gabs City tone and swag (especially with the motswako) that helps differentiate me from the next artist on MTV Base, Channel O or Metro FM.
Menateng: Are you signed or do you have plans on getting signed to any major Record labels? ZEUS: No I’m not signed, I’m independent and putting out work under DIY Entertainment, a business entity I founded together with Tshepo Sikwane, Hlubi Gilika and Lefika Bantsi.
Menateng: Which songs do you perform most frequently? ZEUS: I try to switch it up, different people like different songs and I’m at a point where I have a lot of popular songs to pick from. But I have to admit that it’s hard to do a set without Imagination! Lately "Gijima" gets a lot of requests too!
Menateng: How did u get to go perform in Malaysia? ZEUS: A friend had my music and passed it on to a Nigerian promoter who was doing an African themed event, he loved the music and felt I would be a good addition to the lineup, which included Timaya and JKL from Nigeria, as well as Code Red (Dj's Styles and T) from Kenya.
Menateng: How was it like performing in Malaysia? ZEUS: Great! It was nice to perform for the Batswana that came to the smaller show I had the day before the 1 Love Africa Fest, its nice to bring them a small piece of home in the form of their favorite songs. It was more challenging to perform at the 1 Love fest coz the audience wasn’t familiar with my songs so I had to introduce em to GC swagger! But its nice to face the challenge of a new audience, I feel it will help me grow as well as be more accommodating of international tastes.
Menateng: Did you share the stage with any Malaysian artists? ZEUS: No but I’m doing a remix with Caprice (a malay rapper)
Menateng: Do you see your music making it overseas?
ZEUS: Yes I do, firstly I am a real MC that can spit not just in my mother tongue but also very well in English so people can understand me and my content as
well as marvel at something new which they haven't heard before (motswako). My life experiences that come across in the music are also universal (love, lust, money, success, struggle etc.) so you can relate no matter where you are! And the fusion of sounds and my flexibility with genres allows me to tailor make truly international music that the whole world is going to love!
Menateng: What can you say about Malaysian hip hop scene compared to Botswana hip hop scene? ZEUS: Its not that much bigger than our scene but guys are more organized! I got to Caprice's offices (one of two in KL!) where he runs not just a studio with recording services but a model agency and media company, I'm not talking a one man show! PA's, secretaries and everything! I know very few guys out here that are handling business that well, and he's 21! We could learn a lot from that.
Menateng:Hip Hop artists are known to always engage in groupie acts...have you ever participated in those. (GROUP SEX) ZEUS: Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww! I aint never had no group sex! That’s just dirty! I wont front like I aint never messed wit a groupie but that was when I was newer in the game and excited by girls who you've never met screaming your name! But I’m older and wiser and I know that living like that can only lead you to hospital bed! I’m not trying to go out like Eazy-E, Zombo or Mawillies, I hope all other artists and everyone else for that matter feels the same way and takes care of themselves! Having multiple partners is gambling with your life man! AIDS is fucking real! No joke! And not just cause of AIDS, I want to be a good, decent man that can make a good, decent woman happy and my mother proud.
Menateng: You recently shot your Champagne Music video, how was it shooting the video with those beautiful ladies? ZEUS: It was exciting, the likes of Emma who won 1st princess at Miss Botswana 09 looked too fly! I was also excited about the caliber of equipment and lovely location that made for what I can undoubtedly call the flyest’ video ever aired on BTV.
Menateng: What are your plans for the video in terms of airplay? ZEUS: It’s already on Channel O, SABC, MTV Base, BTV and we hoping to have it on MTV Asia and Europe soon, the high quality means that getting onto international stations has become a serious possibility that we will fully explore.
Menateng: Your Music seems to be more mature, any info you would like to share with us? ZEUS: I am a seasoned music lover that means I’m not a big fan of pop although I acknowledge its presence and importance to any music
Industry but I LOVE good, organic music that you can play on a long distance drive, I guess that’s just reflected on the kind of music I make now. I can also safely say I've been around long enough and built a strong enough following for me to dare to be more than a bubblegum artist and try some more Insightful and mature music.
Menateng:How did you score with Mascom? (Summertime Song) explain? ZEUS: We recorded the song about 2 years ago with Tshepo "Quack D" Seeletso on production, and as I was doing It I kept thinking how there is an obvious association with connecting with friends and family that telecommunications companies could derive value from. Late last year me and Tshepo "Rox" Sikwane took the song to the late great Mathata Gasenelwe who was the Managing Director of Horizon-Ogilvy, the advertising agency that had and still has the Mascom account, he liked it and passed it on to Manuel Ruhapo at Mascom and as they say the rest is history! We were very proactive in making that deal happen and we were lucky that the guys I mentioned at Horizon and Mascom were very responsive to good value offered to them as well as sharp enough to see the value in a growing artist brand, especially the late Mathtata who was a very passionate, creative and visionary leader who wanted to see young dreamers succeed, Botswana's advertising and marketing industry has lost one of its brightest stars, R.I.P MG.
Menateng: Do you have a Cd soon to be released? When ZEUS: Yes, I'll give you a date when I sign the licensing or distribution and marketing deal.
Menateng: Besides music what else do you do? ZEUS: I run an entertainment solutions company with some partners and I just started at News Co. (pty) ltd who publish The Gazette amongst other products and services offered, I’m doing marketing strategy, planning and implementation for them.
 Menateng:We also heard the rumors that you dating Sesame of Yarona Fm,is it true or they just think you guys would look good together?
ZEUS: It’s called a PRIVATE life for a reason.
Menateng: How do you handle female fans? ZEUS: I’m nice and appreciative of their support as long as it doesn’t cross lines of decency.
Menateng: Do your fans recognize you when you are walking in the mall? ZEUS: Lately a lot more do than before, I’m happy to show them love like they show me. Its easier If they say hi Instead of just stare though! LOL! That’s uncomfortable!
Menateng: Do you think you have succeeded in a field were so many are still striving to make It after such a long time in the industry. ZEUS: To a degree, I know I’ve done better and gone further than what most people would expect from a hip-hop artist in Botswana but I don’t think I successful yet, I’m doing well but still on the come up.
Menateng: What advice would you give out to upcoming Botswana acts like in those studying in Malaysia or any other international country? ZEUS: Study the business behind the music and perfect your craft, oh and be patient!
Menateng: Where do we see Zeus in the next five years? ZEUS: In a villa on the coast of Italy
Villa on the coast of Italy.
Menateng: Thank you for having an interview with us we greatly appreciate it. ZEUS: Thanks for having me; we should do it again sometime! 2nd half!
Photos by Garero Multimedia
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