PROMETHEUS: THE HIPHOP DRIVER

He is among the most influential names on the local hip-hop scene right now, one of a few whose tireless efforts day in and day out over the last couple of years have made sure that hip-hop gets due recognition. Tendai Zonde or Prometheus, as the rest of the hip-hop community and nation know him, is a man on a mission, a man driven, a man whose utmost desire is to see hip-hop succeed and make its own mark locally.
Btnmedia _zw caught up with Prometheus and he shared with us in a wide-ranging interview, the various projects that he has undertaken, his own personal goals and where he sees hip-hop headed from hereon.
Read more and get to know just why the moniker 'hip-hop driver' is deserved and clearly a reflection of the man and his hard work to put the genre on the map.

THEY CALL YOU THE 'HIP-HOP DRIVER' CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW THIS NAME CAME ABOUT?
The name came about the first time I was given the opportunity to deejay on Powerfm beside my mentor D.j Chuman. He asked me just before we went live what I would want to be called on air. My mind started racing because deejay Prometheus didn't have a nice ring to it. I immediately thought of my favorite deejay of all time, the legendary Peter Jones (The radio driver). I wanted to push hip-hop so "the hip-hop driver."

WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF LOCAL HIP-HOP WITHOUT MENTIONING YOUR NAME, CAN YOU LIST FOR US SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO PROMOTE LOCAL HIP-HOP?
I can't mention all of them because they have been so many initiatives, but I will pick on the major ones. The first hip-hop awards was a huge step. I was part of the team that started the awards with Tendai Tanga, Anonzi Xndr & Beefy. Each one of those guys deserves credit. Hip-hop needed a shot in the arm, something for emcees to look forward to & the awards did just that. I was only a part of the inaugural awards in 2011.
I released my last album TITAN MOON in 2014. Also started ZIM HIP-HOP REPORT on Zbc tv every Saturday @9:10am.
I thought it was enough to give local hip-hop just 30minutes a see so I independent ly produced another show with Deejay CC Exclusive which was commissioned & aired on Zbc tv every Thursday @ 6pm. That was Zim Rap Cities tv show in 2015. In the same year I started the ZIM RAP CITIES magazine with a lot of correspondence from various youngsters & artists who submitted stories & articles.
Currently I got my hands full with the new show on Powerfm which started in 2016 - ZIM HIP-HOP AMPLIFIED which I host with D.J Chuman every Thursday from 9pm - 11pm. On top of that I have my new show on Zbc Tv YGT HIP-HOP VIDEO COUNTDOWN which is screened during YGT broadcasts.


WHAT IS IT THAT INSPIRED YOU AND THAT KEEPS YOU GOING?
The word of God is my biggest inspiration. I truly believe I am at my best when I try to promote youngsters. I want to let abantwana shine. Everyday when I hear a local hip-hop track on radio or TV I feel that its all worth it. Its just a shame when some youngsters sabotage themselves by including explicit lyrics in their music. Keep it clean guys & you will touch the sky.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS YOUR CHIEF GOAL WHEN YOU STARTED?
When I started like any emcee I was imagining myself being invited to interviews & doing shows etc. I wanted to be a superstar but it seemed like there was no one playing the role of lifting up youngsters in my time. Everybody was an emcee & everybody with fruity loops was a producer. Then one day something changed inside me, the frustration with stagnation was lifted and I saw what needed to be done. Someone must be willing to sacrifice something if anything worthwhile is to be achieved. I told my wife that I was quitting emceeing & every opportunity that came my way I would pass it on to a youngster. In the beginning I was heavily criticized & vilified by some people but now the same people say I must continue. I think it's God who has made it all right in the end. My chief goal now & ever since I started is to push these youngsters as far as I can and see them shine.

WITH ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU STARTED AND MAINTAINED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, CAN YOU SAFELY SAY THAT HIP-HOP IS NOW BETTER OFF THAN IT WAS BEFORE
THESE AND OTHER INITIATIVES?
I think hip-hop is getting better everyday. I don't think its better solely because of anything I was involved in but I think its a broad team effort - a lot of people work behind closed doors to push local hip-hop. Talk of the bloggers, video producers & even the fashion designers. Just this year alone over 60 hip-hop videos have been produced - this is a record.

ARE YOU A ONE-MAN-BAND OR IS THERE A TEAM BEHIND ALL OF YOUR PROJECTS?
Everything I have done I have always worked with people who are inspired for that season. I don't believe in having a standalone team to do ALL projects. I usually come up with an idea & I throw it out there online or in some of the whatsapp groups administer. From there I then work with people I feel are inspired. I only work with inspired people (people who have a genuine passion for local hip-hop) because these people get it. We are not there yet as local hip-hop. A lot of work still needs to be done for FREE!






YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED A MAGAZINE, A TV & RADIO SHOW AMONG OTHER PROJECTS, AS THE YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE WHAT ELSE DOES PROMETHEUS HAVE IN STORE FOR ZIMBABWE?
I want a radio station! ZIM RAP CITIES RADIO! I'm gonna start doing proper hip-hop shows & surprise everybody because I think we need hip-hop concerts in this country, mirai muone zvinoita mwari!


AS A RAPPER OF SORTS YOURSELF, CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE AND HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU TOO OR ARE YOU SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE PROJECTS AT HAND?
I can not go back to the booth now. I can't promote someone if I am also promoting myself, hakuna zvakadaro!

It takes a lot of energy and effort to do or even come close to what you have achieved thus far,  how have you been able to keep a cool head,  what is your secret?
Keeping close to the word of God has kept me grounded. My church Kingdom Life Global Ministries, Prophet Asani & Apostle KAY, my wife & son have all played a big role. I think of them whenever im out there doing my thing kuti what would they think.


WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE FUTURE OF LOCAL HIP-HOP, WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING FROM HERE ON?
It's gonna take over just like its doing in South Africa because hip-hop is the music of the youth & the youth have an unquenchable energy that can not be ignored.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR ALL THE ARTISTS AND HIP-HOP HEADS OUT THERE? Keep the music clean & DON'T PAY FOR AIRPLAY!

TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT YOURSELF, JUST WHO EXACTLY IS PROMETHEUS......?
Prometheus is married to wife Tendayi. I have a 7 year old son, I believe in God & put Zimbabwean artists first. P.s Especially local hip-hop artists.

By Tawanda Ngena