Multi-award-winning reggae/dancehall musician Pepsin, who was born in Kimberley, is toasting to his recent SA Music Awards nomination ahead of #SAMA29, which is set to be hosted in Durban later this month.
MULTI-award-winning reggae/dancehall musician Pepsin, who was born in Kimberley, is toasting to his recent SA Music Awards (Sama) nomination ahead of #SAMA29, which is set to be hosted in Durban later this month.
A real-life diamond, Pepsin, derived from his original nickname “Papi”, says his stage name means “an object that inspires other objects to blossom or become better objects”.
“I am an inspiring Vigour. The name just automatically changed from Papi to Pepsin. Don’t know how, don’t know when – I guess it’s just a natural reaction like the force of gravity,” Pepsin says of his monicker.
His nomination for the Sama is due to his work on the Maximum Stylez Presents: Red Carpet Live, Vol 1 compilation, which was nominated in the category Best Reggae Album.
On the compilation, the rising star of SA reggae contributed a live rendition of his hit single “Reconciliation”.
“I feel blessed. I am excited. I am on top of the world. I am happy that the South African Music Awards acknowledges and recognises my work and it’s a clear sign that I have done well and continue to do so,” said Pepsin.
The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) added the Best Reggae Album category as a standalone category in 2018 and since then there has been a steady stream of artists enlisting to be contenders.
Pepsin says this move has made it possible for dancehall and reggae artists to be recognised for their contribution to the South African music industry and can only inspire more artists to be the best versions of themselves.
“Having Best Reggae Album as a standalone category at the Samas means growth for us as reggae artists. It also means that the music industry in South Africa is opening up to reggae music as one of the genres that contributes positively to the economy of the country.
“For artists like myself, it means greater opportunities to be listened to, like other genres, as well as provides collaboration opportunities with other artists who now see this genre as viable on a mainstream level,” he said.
Under his label, Maximum Stylez Records & Publishing, Pepsin received an additional two #SAMA29 nominations for his signee Blakka Yut, who received a Best Newcomer nomination as well as a Best Reggae Album nomination for his project “Unleashed”.
