It has been three years since rapper Linda “Prokid” Mkhize died. Alexandra township rapper and comedian Thuso “Jovislash” Mamorare (32) plans to pay tribute to the late Prokid with a new documentary, Pro Boots, set to be released on the day of the rappers' passing, 8 August.
Drum reported that Pro suffered a hemosuccus pancreaticus, a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.
In the 12 minutes short film, Jovislash donates a pair of sneakers given to him by Prokid’s brother Paul Khenyeza after the Dankie Saan rapper died.
“I was given the sneakers by one of the late Pro's brothers, Paul who knew how much he meant to me,” Jovislash says.
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Jovislash spent some of his childhood years in Klerksrpuit, Soweto but only met Prokid in 2017 when he featured him on his song Aya Kwini Remix Aftermath alongside Mr. Selwyn, Flabba, HHP, and Infa.
“I was born in Alexandra but I moved to Soweto around the same time [when] things were not going well for Prokid’s career and he also moved back to Soweto and we became neighbours,” he says.
“We became really close, and he was someone I spent most of my time with in my studio. We spoke about music and he believed in me. He considered me as a neighbour and a friend and not just a fan. He nurtured me and taught me a lot about what to expect when my career starts taking off and he instilled wisdom in me.”
Jovislash didn’t get the opportunity to make more music with Prokid before his passing but they had been planning to do so.
“I was still a rising star and needed to work to develop myself before I felt ready enough to work with him again, but he always taught me and promised we would work together, but unfortunately he died before we could,” Jovislash says.
He was cut up by Prokid's passing because they had become very close.
“His family knew that I spent a lot of time with him in my studio and how much I admired him.”
This led to Prokid’s brother Paul giving Jovislash a pair of Prokid’s sneakers.
“Paul knew Prokid wanted to do something great for me and he gave me the sneakers because having something that belonged to him meant a lot to me.”
Jovislash wore the shoes for a bit before deciding to donate them to the Hip-Hop Museum in Johannesburg.
“I felt like I was truly walking in a legends shoe. But because I didn’t want to damage them, I decided to shoot a short documentary honouring Prokids life and handed them over to the Hip Hop Museum so his memory lives forever,” Jovislash says.
“I captured all of this in the documentary which can be viewed on YouTube on the day of his passing, and people can also go to the museum.”
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This is not Jovislash’s first documentary. In 2018, he made a 15-minute short film titled Childhood Idolz honouring his favourite late rappers Flabba and HHP.
“The story with Flabba, HHP, and Prokid is almost similar,” Jovislash says.
“I have known Flabba for many years from back in Alex where we both stayed. I featured him on the Aya Kwini remix as well along with a few songs, some of which I produced and some which I featured him in. HHP also featured in the documentary which I later released and made into a tribute to Flabba and HHP,” he says.
“Three of my icons have died but I am honoured to have known them and be allowed the opportunity to tell my story and how they made an impact in my life,” Jovislash says.
