Snazz D

Early life

Julian Du Plessis was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He grew up in Gugulethu a South African township on the Cape Flats, before moving to Mitchells Plain another township on the Flats. Inspired by the hip-hop movement and culture developing on the Cape Flats at the height of Apartheid, with groups such as Prophets of Da City and Black Noise emerging, he began rhyming as a young teenager in the early nineties under the moniker Snazzy D. In 1993 he relocated to Johannesburg, where his reputation grew. His first group was called Dark Seed together with rapper Fee and producer Iko. Their first single "Mic Device" was featured on "The Muthaload: A Cube Collective" released on Tusk Music in 1996; The first hip-hop compilation album to be released in South Africa. The record also featured debut songs by Amu, Metamo Forces, Ramesh, Shorty & Loko. The group Dark Seed disbanded shortly thereafter.

1996–1999: Audio Visual, GroundWorks & Cashless Society

In 1996, Snazz formed the now cult-crew Audio Visual, together with Krook'd tha Warmonger (Isaac Chokwe) and Ben Sharpa (Kgotso Semela). He became the host MC at the now legendary Saturday matinee sessions at 'Le Club' downtown Johannesburg with DJ Blaze and DJ Bionic. In 1998 he co-founded the group Cashless Society, together with Draztik (Dave Balsher), Fat Free (Salim Mosidinyane), Black Intellect (Jerry Kai Lewis), X-Amount (Kwezi Ngcakani), Criminal (Alfred Chirwa), Tizeye (Tyrone Phillips) & Gemini (Thabiso Mofokeng). The group boasted members from South Africa, Botswana, Sierra Leone and Malawi all based out of Johannesburg and Gaberone, Botswana at the time forming their own Independent 'Unreleased Records' imprint.

2000–2001: Work in Germany & Fondle 'Em Records

In 1999, Snazz travelled to Cologne, Germany where he worked with the likes of Metaphysics, Laygwan Sharkie, Remarkable and Clueso, making guest appearances on various recordings including the debut album of Clueso "Text und Ton" on Four Music during his three-month visit.

The following year Bobbito Garcia, Mr. Len and Jean Grae traveled to South Africa from New York to perform in South Africa for the first time. Bobbito then released the split-12" single of Cashless Society "Blaze tha Breaks" b/w Mizchif "Place For A Wife" on his own Independent Fondle 'Em Records in 2000 upon their return to the States. The single was released in Southern Africa on Unreleased Records the following year, and it was also featured on the "Farewell Fondle 'Em" compilation released on Definitive Jux as well.

2002–2006: Demolition and African Raw Material

In 2002 GroundWorks released their debut album "Demolition: The MeStory" on Concentration Camp Records with Snazz self-produced 'Copaesthetic Phenomenology'. GroundWorks were a collective of artists from the Johannesburg and Cape Town scenes including members of Audio Visual, Cashless Society and BaseMental Platform. Members of the group include Krook'd tha Warmonga, Forekast, Gemini, Hueman, Non-Depiction, Bonafide, and S.E.L.F. The next year Concentration Camp Records released the compilation album "Pavement Special Volume 1" which featured songs 'Show Me Yours' and 'The Epitaph' by Audio Visual as well as his solo song 'The Work'.

In 2003 Cashless Society released their debut album "African Raw Material volume one" on Unreleased Records. The album featured hit singles 'Hottentot Hop (Bantu 1, 2)' and 'Taxi Wars' with guest appearances by Tumi, Mizchif and Masauko of Blk Sonshine. Distribution was handled by BMG Africa with the album earning three SAMA awards for best hip-hop album, best single and best music video, while winning four awards at the South African "Hiphop Indaba Awards" as well. The third single off of the album '8-3-1 (I Love You)', a dedication to Johannesburg, was featured on the Soundtrack of "Yizo Yizo 3". The group then graced the cover of the first issue of HYPE magazine, the first national hip-hop publication in South Africa.

In 2005 he appeared on the "Imbizo Street Mixtapes Vol. 1" on Unreleased Records with the single '2 Sides to every story' which featured Kilani Rich. The song was later featured on HYPE magazine's "Hype Sessions Vol. 15: Story Time " mixed by DJ Raiko. He also starred in the first hip-hop commercial for CNN Inside Africa together with rapper Young Nations. The following year saw the single 'Best of both Worlds' a collaboration with Sub Z featured on the "Drudge Dialect Vol. 1" compilation album which was released on Pioneer Unit Records. The song would later be featured on DJ Sarasa's "KWANZAA!" Mix-CD released on DJ Honda Recordings in Japan.

2007–2009: Dangerous and Emcee Africa

In 2007, he released the "Dangerous Mix-CD" on FIRE-Ent. which featured the Ca$hless Family, the extended family of the group Cashless Society. The CD featured the single "Stick-U" which saw Snazz rapping in a mix of English and Tsotsitaal, a South African street language with elements of different Southern African languages. That same year he participated in the Channel O Sprite Emcee Africa competition. A continental freestyle battle competition which included challenges in Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania. Snazz won the South African leg of the battle defeating Adamiz in the final, then making it to the final of the continental battle where he beat Ghanaian rapper J-Town, earning him $10,000,- in prize money, and a track with Wordsworth, one of the judges in the competition.

He also featured on the 'Battle Chronicles (Emcee Africa)' single and video alongside DJ Black, Rage, Yung D, J-Town, Modenine, Professor Jay and Nazizi which served to promote the competition, bringing together performers from the different countries that were hosting the competition.

2010–2012: Bad For Business and Street Dictatorship

In 2010 Snazz released his solo debut album together with producer Albert Iron titled "Bad For Business" on the Independent Afrocentric Artz label published by African Dope Publishing. The album featured appearances by Zubz, Point Blank and Samela and featured the single 'Spellbound'. He followed up his album with the release of "Street Dictatorship Vol. 1" and "Street Dictatorship Vol. 2" together with producer Master Hu on his own Independent Dictatio Records. In 2012 he participated in the freestyle battle series "SCRAMBLES4MONEY - Talk Is Cheap" in Johannesburg where he lost to Fungus the Mutated Lung in the opening round of the competition.

Personal life

Snazz is a Cape coloured, an ethnic group composed primarily of people of mixed race. He is the father of one daughter.

Solo career

Collaborations

Guest appearances