Selwyn Bongani Ngwenya better known as Mr. Selwyn, is a South African Music Award (SAMA) winning Hip Hop Mc, which has won accolades and hearts of fans around South Africa.
Biography
Born in Baragwanath Hospital. Selwyn was raised in Mofolo North, which is in South Africa’s historically rich township, Soweto. At the age of 11 he moved with his family to Pimville (also in Soweto) where the matured from teen to the man and MC he is today.
The hip hop career of Mr. Selwyn started its take off in 1992, when he used to frequent the now critically acclaimed, ‘hub of South African hip-hop’, Le Club. There he met other MC’s from the ever growing Jozi Hip-Hop community. This was where Selwyn harnessed his rap skills and ‘upped his rep’, through winning various rap competitions and battling other MC’s.
Selwyn’s rap career was elevated once more with the release of his debut album ‘Formula’ in 2004. This release finally came under Gallo records, after being head hunted by major recording labels for work done through collaboration with big Hip Hop artists. His rap music is best defined as Musical Mature Hip Hop.
From his album Formula, Selwyn won a South African Music Award (SAMA) in 2005 which included some of his best work, like the hit single Shake, which enjoyed tremendous radio and television airplay all throughout South Africa. The follow up single people was also a huge Metro fm favorite that topped the charts. Other singles include classics (which still seems to be a fan –favorite to date) are Senthaolele, I finally see and Eddie Zondi favorite Tonite.
In late 2006 Selwyn released his second album, titled Zone 5. A follow up album that did not receive much of the deserved publicity, however it produced two popular singles and videos; Yabaz’ abantu and Ezase Kasi a collaboration with one of South Africa’s well known rappers, Prokid. This album found most of its love and praise in Durban and was highly acclaimed by other musicians because of its production and packaging.
In 2009 Selwyn released his latest article, called Foundation with a hot single called Get ‘em up which also enjoyed huge radio and television airplay and had topped the charts on 5fm, Metro fm (8 weeks) and on Yfm (12 weeks) made the return of the Pimville Mc the most anticipated.
Mr Selwyn is now acclaimed as the Pioneer in South African Hip-Hop as his accolades show he has worked with almost everyone within the hip-hop community and other genres
Discography:
- 1996 – collaborated with Prophets Of the City for their album “Ghetto Code” released under Ghetto Ruff
- 1998- Skwata Kamp “Manyisa” remix from the album, “Kut en Joyn”
- 2000-2004 He was working for MTN as a sales consultant in a call centre.
- 2003- Collaborated with Amu, who recently won a SAMA Award 2011 on songs such as “Attention which is the single enjoyed huge spins on Radio and introduced Mr Selwyn to the music industry.
- 2003-2005 He has done recording with HHP “On our Own now” from the album “Omang”
- Pitch Black Afro “A dat in the life” from the album “Styling Gel”
- Prokid on all his albums on songs like “Debate” from the album “Formula”
- “Ezase Kasi” from the album “Zone 5” and “Doin’ it” from the album “Foundation”
- Proverb “Soweto Spanish” from the album “Formula”
- 2006 -Wikid on “Shake” from the album “Formula”.
- Wikid on “Favourite things” , “Beautiful”, “Akekho” all from the album “Anger Management”
- 2006- Released the album “Zone 5”
- 2007- Flabba – “Sbhamu somdhoko” remix
- 2008- Slikour- “Umsindo” remix
- 2009- Released the album “Foundation”
- 2010 – Speedy & Stoan “Letsatsi le” Remix
- 2010- Amu “Siyaphanda”, “Everything you need”, “Prayer for you”, “Indabayam” all from the SAMA award winning album “The Principal”
- 2010- Professor “How dare you” from his platinum album “University of Kalawa”
- 2011- Spikiri still untitled he recorded two song on Spikiri’s latest album
- 2011- Mahoota still untitled album a song featuring Speedy and Skhokho
- 2011- “Get ‘em up” Remix feat – Proverb, PRO, Ma-E (from Tear-Gas), Flabba, DeepLevel and Barbie
- 2011 – “We Mfana feat Professor for his new album
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What's UP with Mr Selwyn currently?
On the recent recording of Speedy's 'pop bottles' song. Mr. Selwyn is featured alongside Mzansi's heavy weights, AB Crazy, PRO and Stoan, who are equally impressive in their verses. The song is full of fun and energy and has got all the ingredients of a hit song.
