Joshua Govender

If you were to take a look at musical artist around the world, Taylor Swift is one of the names you associate with performers who are among the best of what they do. I’m not sure if it’s her sweet personality or her innocent charm but Taylor Swift has become the music worlds sweetheart and a household name in the pop/country scene.

Despite being very young when she started, Taylor had a unique gift when it came to her craft and that has never left her.  She understands the importance of loving music and that is something which speaks to all her fans.

What’s new

In the latest news Taylor Swift is rumoured to be doing something totally different with her new up and coming album. Following on from the smash hit 1989, she is planning project that will draw on the influences of  hip hop and Rnb.

Hiphop isn’t the first style that springs to mind when you think of Swift but after her hugely successful collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on “Bad Blood” it seems she wants to explore this avenue further.

I think this is a bold statement but also a great move on Taylor’s part. It’s different.  If it works it will be outstanding.  If it tanks, the media enjoys taking a dig at Taylor Swift regardless so why not push the envelope and do something daring. Whatever happens, I know that her next album is going to something to remember.

Rumour has it

News has been spreading about Taylor possibly working together with Drake, after Drake posted a pic of them both on social media. Nothing has been confirmed however and so don’t get your hopes too high, after all it was just a picture, let’s not get carried away.

Whether it’s true or not, for my money I believe a Drake and Taylor partnership would be pretty awesome.

Taylor Swift is, and most likely will continue to be, a trail blazer. It’s the reason why she has lasted this long. Cannot wait to hear the hip hop and RnB influence Taylor.

God Speed.

If you haven’t heard of Banksy, let me fill you in.  Banksy is a Britist street artist who uses this work to express his views on politics, social and economic issues.  Essential he (at least we think it’s a ‘he’) is a graffiti artist, but he’s gone far beyond a can of spray paint and rude words.

Known only by the one name and largely surrounded in mystery, most of Banksy’s works are seen on the streets of major cities around the world. From USA, Australia, Mali, Israel and the UK his artwork speaks about the political and social struggles effecting people around the world. Banksy first emerged in the early 90’s and from then until today his art continues to create awareness around many issues.

The art is iconic but to put it bluntly it’s also illegal.  Using someone else’s property as your canvas is effectively vandalism after all.

I first discovered Banksy in my late teens and ever since then I was hooked. I think for me the appeal lies the simplistic style of art and also his creative use of graffiti.

Of course the intrigue around who Banksy really is just adds to his allure. There are many theories as to who is behind the art but no one really knows for sure. Some people say Banksy isn’t one person but a group of maybe seven people, others say Banksy is a woman or the front man for a rock band.

I’m not sure which to believe but all I do know is that his artwork speaks not only to his local community but to many around the world.

Recently I was hit by the thought that you may never really know who is watching you, or is aware of how you live your life.

I recently started a new job for a local clothing brand. Everyone that works around the store is a new face to me.  I don’t know them and they don’t know me, or so I thought. So my work space is a totally new environment. Some may hate it but I actually enjoy the freshness of being the new person.

The other day I started chatting to one of the ladies who works in a neighbouring shop. It was a random connection but I had some time so I stopped for a chat. She began to ask me what I do and about my studies, so I told her a little about my background and my story.

By the end of the conversation, it turns out that this random new acquaintance, isn’t as new as I thought because this lady recognised me from church.  Then a few days later a guy walked past my store and he also asked if I go to the Church because he too recognised me.

I’m not in any way famous. Although I volunteer at my church and contribute to the weekly services, I wouldn’t expect people who visit to necessarily notice me but obviously some do.

My encounters with these two people reminded me that it can be easy to belittle the part you play or the role you fulfil, whether that be at church or in life in general but you never know who might be noticing and paying attention to what you do.  When I chose to step into a visible role, I took on a responsibility to be consistent and set a good example by the way that I live.

You may not think that anyone is paying attention to your life, your choices or actions but you never know who is looking to you and what impact you are having.

God Speed.

If you don’t know him, you should know him. Chance the rapper is taking the hip hop world by storm, creating beats and lyrics that are making people sit up and take notice. Associating with likes of Kanye and Jay-Z tells you caliber of crowd he’s running with.

Being a massive hip hop fan, I had to check Chance the rapper out, and I wasn’t disappointed. Critics are saying he’s the next big thing in rap and the buzz around his music is a massive deal.

The weirdest part about Chance the rapper is that when he’s being recognised he makes it about his love of music. Not about fame and fortune.

Obviously, I can’t tell the future or how his life will pan out, but following his social media feed he appears to be different from the other new, up and coming artists.

Chance the rapper has the potential to be up there with the greats and looks like he’s well on the way to being there. Albums like “Acid Rap” and “Colouring book” honestly contain some of the best-crafted rap I’ve heard in a while.

The one thing I love about Chance is that he still keeps it real. Whether he is a brother of the faith or not, his latest album features tonnes of old school church songs which really added to the album as a whole.

He seems to understand the concept of spreading love and peace and not making art for the money or for the status. The world needs more Chance the rappers.

If you haven’t heard his stuff definitely check it out.

God Speed.