"The Soweto-based producer SPeeKa clearly doesn't sleep. He churns out projects like it's not a thing. His latest is Lethabo, which he entirely produced, while the duo Bantu Speaking laced the beats with kasi rap scripts. The two rap mostly in IsiZulu and Tsotsitaal (slang), and cover a wide range of subjects with impressive poetry and great vocal hooks." - Sabelo Mkhabela (okayafrica.com)

SPeeKa presents: Bantu Speaking - Lethabo

Umoya [produced by SPeeKa]

Thapelo Modiela (also known as “Speeka”- stylized as "SPeeKa") is a Hip-Hop, Kwaito and House producer born and raised in Soweto (born in Diepkloof, raised in Protea Glen).  Though he produces three different genres, it is his Hip-Hop productions that have gained him a lot of attention on the underground Soweto music scene.  He began producing in 2005, while in the 11th Grade in High School, after his father bought him his first Desktop Computer.  After learning a few things in the producing craft, with no formal music training, he and his two best friends started a Kwaito group called “BloodHoundz”.  It was during this period that he noticed that being a recording artist wasn’t really his strong point, and that his true passion was in making beats.  

After 3 years of constantly working on his craft (which subsequently led him to drop out of college in 2007) he met recording artists W.A.R. Bandit, MaseVen, Axe-Ray, The Soil and Red Button.  These are the artists who helped Speeka find his true sound: a heavily Street, Kwaito, Boom Bap yet musical sound with influences from local and international producers such as D-Rex, Mdu Masilela, Mandla Spikiri, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Eminem and Timbaland.  Most of Speeka’s beats are characterized by his heavy use of bass, which many have called “The Speeka Signature”.

In March 2010, Speeka released his first album titled “Speeka Presents: The Insane Maestro”.  An 18 track disc that featured W.A.R. Bandit, MaseVen, Axe-Ray, The Soil, Red Button and a host of local unsigned talent.  In the project, Speeka broke down the barriers that were between Vernac Rap, Abstract Rap, Kwaito and Soul, something that had never been done before, especially in the underground scene. Though only a few copies were printed, due to financial constraints, it is considered by many to be a true SA Hip-Hop classic. Later that year in September, He released MaseVen’s “Sotra Mixtape Volume 1” in which he worked  on 80% of the production, the rest of the production work were popular international beats that they had gathered.  In 2011 he worked on two projects: “Axe-Ray, MaseVen & Sbuda P – DangerBox Mixtape” and “Etcetera vs. Speeka – Shooting Stars EP” released on 1 July 2011 and 30 September 2011 respectively. On the “DangerBox Mixtape” he did most of the production work. Other producers on the project include PoetickSoul, n20 and Dynamic. On the Shooting Stars EP he did all the production work, with Etcetera doing all the song writing and rapping. On 20 April 2012 he released “The Black Sheep beat-tape”, a limited edition beat-tape with only 30 copies printed.

So far, Speeka’s biggest career highlights have been getting praises from Radio DJ’s Sizwe “Siz” Dhlomo and Siyabonga “Scoop” Ngwekazi on their Hip-Hop radio show “The Full Clip” on YFM 99.2 a number of times after MC’s (such as Maraza, Etcetera, MaseVen, Sbuda P, Axe Ray, Siya Shezi, Spy2 and a lot more) freestyled over his beats.  Also, the Love Life documentary titled “Isitimela” which aired on SABC1 in August 2011 featured all work produced by Speeka most of which was taken from “Speeka Presents: The Insane Maestro”. 

With his production company “Pulse Ink Productions”, which deals with music production and video/film production, Speeka hopes to build a media empire. He also hopes that the unsigned artists he has worked with, all make it in the growing SA Hip-Hop industry.  In an industry where most of the music is formulaic, Speeka hopes to bring an element that speaks to everybody from all walks of life and also bring Hip-Hop new fans.


Imitation, not who they proclaim or what I appear to be

Umoya [produced by SPeeKa]

SPeeKa (RSA)