Rising Cape Town-based rapper GR8FUL independently released his debut EP, Nobody. The 5-track project is an exploration of one’s self-actualisation and awareness. For GR8FUL, the idea of the body of work came at a time when he faced real-life challenges and it took introspection for him to want to make changes in his life.
“From that stemmed a burning desire to detach myself from my past experiences. I knew it would require me to detach from my desire to become somebody, to put wants secondary to needs. A responsibility which lies beyond being and becoming somebody but, in fact, the path to becoming Nobody,” the 21-year-old musician shared.
Recorded in his home studio in the last quarter of 2022, the project took about a couple of months to make and put together. It was produced entirely by Soulful Clay, who has worked with Idols SA 13th winner Paxton and “SMA” hitmaker Rowlene.
In his own words, GR8FUL describes the process of making the album as him trying to refine his sound, challenging himself inside and outside the hip-hop genre. “The synergy between myself and Soulful Clay allowed me to explore and experiment with various musical possibilities. We challenged each other to go harder and this constant challenge resulted in me going beyond certain boundaries about my writing, melodies and concepts,” stated the versatile rapper.
The lead single, “Slippery,” is a playful tune that sees GR8FUL showcase his bravado and braggadocio in his ability. The track enjoyed extensive media coverage from online publications such as the reputable SlikourOnLife and IOL, amongst others. GR8FUL also performed the song on SABC 3’s flagship morning show, Expresso and the music video has amassed over 27K views on YouTube.
Nobody as a body of work is filled with potent songwriting and is coupled with lush productions. The songs provide a snapshot of where GR8FUL is in his journey and all the lessons he has learned along the way. “Each song carries its own uniqueness. Each song is a chapter contributing to one story,” he concludes.
About GR8FUL:
Born Imaad Baderoen in 2002 and bred in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, GR8FUL is an ascending hip-hop artist with a varied knack. The music bug first bit GR8FUL during his formative years. Like any musically inclined child, young Imaad used to bang desks in an attempt to beat-making and he always used to have his earphones on. By his early teens, he would partake in cyphers and kick freestyles at his local park. During the COVID-19 pandemic, at the age of 18, GR8FUL decided to pursue music professionally and hasn’t looked back since. After initially dropping a song under his real name, the musician then adopted his moniker as a way to constantly remind himself of the attitude and attribute he wants to keep as he navigates his career. Though inspired by greats such as Biggie, 2pac, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Lauryn Hill and Ashanti, stylistically, he gravitates towards trap and melodic rap – but firmly believes in expression without boundaries and follows an open-minded, versatile approach. His vigorous catalog, which includes 2021’s “Flow,” 2022’s “More Love,” and 2023’s Nobody, is a testament to his dynamic prowess.
