There is no music genre he hasn't tapped into.
From hip-hop, Afrobeats, R&B, gospel, kwaito and now amapiano, Ishmael Morabe has earned his veteran title.
He has broken people's hips with his Robala Letheka, opened the gates of heaven with Avulekile Amasango and made people stomp their feet and clap their hands with 'Motherland' in his Jozi days.
His secret ingredient to being able to get a hit song from any genre is merely the love for it. If anything for him, music should not be divided.
“Singing stays consistent regardless of the beat that you are singing into. That is why I can bounce from one genre to another. Being a music fan makes me enjoy the process of making music regardless of the genre.”
Although he's had the joys of hitsong-making, the award-winning musician has, however, had his share of tough times.
For over a decade, he battled with drug addiction which claimed everything from his life; his money, his friends, and his sense of self-worth. He tells Drum that he felt trapped in a vicious cycle - unable to break free from the grip of his addiction.
“It's just that it was hard to stay consistent due to certain things and the lifestyle I was living which wouldn’t support my decision of staying sober. I find that the more I started to get closer to God, and started praying, that is when most things were possible. I was able to kick the habit, focus, get my peace of mind, love myself more and appreciate myself.”
By the look of things, things are getting back on track as he has returned to studio but this time, for amapiano.
Read more | Ishmael Morabe on his big come back, “No more drugs, just music”
Speaking to Drum, the Roba Letheka hitmaker says this year has been a breath of fresh air.
“This year has been a little bit positive which also inspired me to go back to the studio and do music. Even with my drug intake, this year has been better. I am no longer in that kind of thing or spaces that will lead me astray. I have kicked the bad habit and been able to reclaim back my health, my peace, and everything that makes me whole.”
This is why he was able to get back in the studio and record his recent single called Sangena, produced by Tee Jay and Play with JonTy.
“I must give credit to Tee Jay because without this beat nothing would’ve come to life. I was lucky enough to get a beat from him and was able to make music that spoke to me because of how that beat made me feel. I went to the studio [and] he played me two beats; this was the second beat and it stuck with me.”
The song is about breaking down barriers and overcoming challenges that may be standing in the way of one’s dreams. The lyrics encourage listeners to persevere and not give up, stating that "if a door closes, break it down".
The veteran musician says that he has been an Amapiano fan as he lives around clubs that blast the genre's hottest sounds.
“I have always been a fan of the genre, and this genre has been with us as a nation through those dark times of uncertainty. During the hard lockdown, we were jamming to the genre, but I love the genre because it represents the heart of South Africa, we are a musical nation, and it is our genre. Music is for socialising and Amapiano is such a happy genre.”
His story is one of perseverance and determination. It is a reminder that no matter how difficult the road is, it is never too late to get back on the right track. Sangena embodies his current situation where he must break down a lot of negativities in his life to get to a point where everything around him is positive and inspired him to create again.
His battle with drug addiction began when he was just a teenager. He became involved in the rap scene in his hometown of Mafikeng, and soon found himself surrounded by people who were using drugs. Despite knowing the risks, he began experimenting with drugs, and it wasn’t long before he was hooked.
With time, he says he realised how fortunate he is to have the gift that he has even though sometimes he felt inadequate.
Read more | ‘I spoke out about this in 2018. They said I was plotting Arthur Mafokate’s downfall’ – Whistleblower
"I grew up in church and as time [went] by, I grew further and further away from God, but I have fixed that, I should be fine because recovery is a journey, and it is not linear. To get where I am now, I understand that I had to go through everything I went through.”
Speaking to how he bounced from one record label to another, he admits that as a musician, one is bound to seek growth and he would look somewhere else for that growth.
Ishmael has worked with record labels such as Ghetto Ruff, 999, and Muthaland, just to mention.
However, at the moment he says he is in a battle with Arthur Mafokate whom he served a legal letter on Tuesday, 15 May. Ishmael is demanding his royalties that date back to the early 2000s.
“The only money I got for my royalties was R60 000, and that was when the albums were still new. I want everything that is due to me, I have worked so hard, and it is time that it shows that I have put in so much work in my projects. I don’t want to address anything else yet, as it is a legal matter, but I will fight for what is rightfully mine.”
Arthur had not responded to Drum regarding queries about these allegations by the time of publication. The story will be updated once he responds.
