He could have released a hip-hop project telling his entire life story, but TV producer, and hip-hop aficionado Siyabonga "Slikour' Metane opted to put pen to paper to document his life's journey. The first-time author has released the book titled Slikour: The Life Story of a Hip-Hop Pioneer through Penguin Random House South Africa. 

TELLING HIS OWN STORY

Slikour tells ZiMoja that he took three years to put the memoir together after being approached by seasoned journalist and co-author Helen Herimbi-Moremi. "She approached me some time ago after a meeting. I said I don't have time to write a book and she helped me to journal it and we did it for a good three years. I would have never thought of writing a book,' he says. He could have chosen to do a documentary or an album but chose to publish a book. "An album is very one-dimensional, particularly rap music, and the audience is the same. I think a book opens up the reach. Some of the people I work with in the corporate world won't listen to my album. But what is important is telling our stories as people of colour in the industry of music,' he says.

ALL ABOUT THE BOOK

The Skwatta Kamp group member says his book gives a candid behind-the-scenes look at the local hip-hop industry from a well-known insider. In his book, he mentions the likes of Bob Mabena, Zola, Stoan Seate, Bonang Matheba and more. He also advises on how to do what you love and create a unique path for yourself and documents his life as a businessman. "It is really a story about energy, the power of ideas, and how I've moved small things that have turned into bigger things... bigger than myself and it's the consistency of how these small ideas turn into bigger things,' he says. "So, the book follows that energy when I started in the industry. It talks about things that people don't know I've been involved in the background. But I also wouldn't say that there is enough that people would say they know about me in that sense. It's been positioned as a life story but it uses my life to validate and affirm the energy of small things that become major.' 

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

He addresses topics about entering the world of music, business, marketing, digital, and branding and where they start. "I also talk about being at the bottom and getting to the top and how I navigate to a position of growth and still do what I love,' he says. "It's the love-and-hate relationship with the industry which can make you hate yourself also. It's about finding the balance between learning to love yourself and loving what you do and the industry itself. So, it's that journey." Slikour believes that a lot of young people will earn a thing or two. "It will help them to see it is not the beginning, they are not the first, but there is a way out.'