Luminous: Bulawayo Star of Zimbabwe’s Hip-Hop Scene
With rap music having taken Zimbabwe’s music scene by storm, one artist has been making waves with his sick flow, charisma and energy. Luminous is a hip-hop star who has been nominated for the Outstanding Hip Hop Artist/Act category at the Bulawayo Arts Awards 2022.
In an exclusive interview, Luminous opened up about his love for hip-hop since childhood, goals and dreams as a musician, and the current trends and issues affecting Zimbabwe’s hip-hop industry.
“I was raised by a single mother who was a teacher,” he said. He added, “At age 9, I told her to pray for me because I wanted to be an artist.” Luminous fell in love with hip-hop at age 7 and started writing and performing at church by age 9. He likened his love for hip-hop to a favorite meal, saying “you love a certain meal, you want to learn the recipe.”
He’s Inspirations
Inspired by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Lecrae to pursue a career in music. Today, he is considered one of the inspiring hip-hop stars in Bulawayo’s hip-hop scene.
His hard work and talent paid off when he was nominated for the Outstanding Hip Hop Artist/Act category at the Bulawayo Arts Awards 2022.
He revealed, “2022 was a good year, I won that award. People were finally catching up to the work we have been doing for years.”
Futhermore, Luminous has released several singles and videos this year, including Ungay’Vusa, which has received praise from fans and critics alike.
“Ungay’vusa is a multi-layered song,” he explained. “Primarily, it’s about never starting something you won’t see through. The verses touch on dreams, love, fights… it’s about not starting anything without first seeing if you have the resources to finish it.”
The Audience
Moreover, the song’s message resonated with many listeners, and the video’s production was handled by Pride Bongani.
Luminous highlighted that he has performed at several events and festivals, including the Culture Clash Hip Hop Festival and the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards.
He revealed that he takes his live shows seriously, saying “the stage is where you connect with the audience, it’s an opportunity to be a true artist.”
Speaking about challenges he face he acknowledged that money can be a challenge in the industry, but he remains focused on his goals.
“As a hip-hop artist, I have lived the superstar lifestyle,” he shared. “But I just wanted a house, a car, some savings, and to influence and impact people.”
He explained that he develops his rap skills through experimentation and studying other artists. “Rap (music) is like any other job, you only get better the more you do it,” he said. “Andy Mineo, Jon Bellion, Lecrae, Kendrick, and J. Cole are among those I study.”
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Spoken Word
In addition to his rap career, Luminous has also gained attention for his spoken word piece, “Letter to my Future Wife”. He wrote the piece on the spot when he was invited to speak at an event at Evelyn High. “My friend is the one who said to record and upload,” he said.
When asked about his personal life, Luminous revealed that he prefers to keep it private. “I am a very private person,” he said. “My personal life is sacred.”
Lastly, Looking towards the future, Luminous hopes to make a lasting impact with his music and influence positive change in his community. He acknowledged that drugs are a major issue facing the industry, saying “it breaks my heart to see how it hurts these dudes.” However, he remains optimistic and focused on his goals. As the rising star of Zimbabwe’s hip-hop scene, Luminous has a bright future ahead.
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