“If I get another chance toniiiight. Elinythuba…, elinyithuba…”Remember that hit track? The song that won them all their awards and got them all the recognition they worked so hard for? “was at number 1 for 4 weeks on UKhozi Fm’s Top 20 Charts (6 Million Listeners), it also went up to no.2 on the Y-fm International top 20 and was certified as the most requested song on the station” etc etc Though the normal public, that’s you, might not have seen or realized it, that song at the time had only got them the accolades and the fame but not the money. Teargas certainly did get a second chance… I’ll tell you why!
My first live encounter with the group, maybe a year or so broken into the industry, was at a launch party of an acquaintance’s clothing line in Midrand. This was back in 2007/2008, when I was still a nine-to-fiver. Me and my buddies were all excited knowing they were going to be performing. So we make our way to the venue and realize it’s in the deep underground places of Midrand, ok cooo. We get there and there’s so little people we thought we were at the wrong venue. With about 4 girls and 40 guys we thought it best to stay in the car until Teargas made its arrival.
A busted up red Citi Golf arrives in worse condition than the Datsun it parked next to. To our shock Teargas steps out. Ok. They have a discussion outside with the host and seem to have a disagreement, we assumed money at this point. Then Teargas leaves, the Golf shaking like it had Parkinsons. We think to ourselves… there’s no future for rap in this country. That’s the last time I really paid any attention to them before now…
Come 2009/2010 they had a new look, fresh, clean and obviously impressive. I could see a big change, more money, more thought and better management. Their videos now are on fire, their songs remain on point. Their graphics and presentation is also something a lot up and coming local artists can learn from. They deservedly take the top artists of the week from me.
The tiger himself
