The radio stations are busy with their annual DJ shuffling and it always creates more chaos that it is worth. Well, sometimes we are glad to hear our favourite DJ voices maintaining or getting great shows. One such voice is that of C-Live Tshabalala, known in the hip hop circles as C-Live. I recently sat down with him to learn where he comes from, what’s up with him at this moment in his life, and where he is planning to be in the future.
Born to a small family of three kids in Clairwood, Durban almost 29 years ago, C-Live grew up there for a bit. Together with his younger brother, he then spent some time in Empangeni in Richardsbay with his relatives; before moving to Jozi in 1991. He has since lived in and around Jozi. C-Live considers his upbringing as good. However, at some point in his life things were hard, financially. It seems making ends meet at the time was the most important and only thing he could do. “To a point where I had to sell cassettes at hostels”, he remembers. He spins this off though, saying it was a blessing because he is now able to communicate with everybody.
C-Live’s school was not that exciting since he never participated in any extra-cullicular activities. He points out that he wasn’t happy with the type of school he went to, feeling he deserved better. He reveals, “In my second high school, they shut down all the extra stuff for after school.” This setback didn’t stop him from pursuing his sound engineering career, although he just did it because he didn’t know what to do at the time. He was so caught up in the hip hop world that everything else he did didn’t amount to the same satisfaction.
Even at that age he did envisage the life he wanted to have, one that is filled with great blessings and achievements. That is one of the goals that were always on his mind. So entrenched in the hip hop world, the birth of his son woke him up. He quit being a b-boy to start working. As fate would have it, he worked for Musica, a well-known South African music shop. He collected so much music, still yearning for the passion he had for DJ’ing.
C-Live then started playing at clubs in 1998. His story of discovery reads like so many in the industry. He relays how he would play CD’s before the booked/main DJ’s would do their thing on the decks at Le Club; and then this one time the DJ didn’t pitch up and he was asked to stand in for him. Things started growing from there. That is until his son was born in 2004, and he had to change the course of his life, if that was possible since the bug had bitten him a long time ago.
He confesses though that the moment his son was born he changed. Everything he had done before was rendered useless. “As any parent would tell you, everything changes. Your purpose in life changes”, he proudly says. C-Live has no doubt that fatherhood has been good to him, despite the inevitable life-changing decisions he had to make. The very same change of priorities he had experienced before happened again when he became a father for the second time, after the birth of his daughter in 2008. He adds convincingly, “I sacrificed a lot but I enjoy being a father.”
C-Live’s journey as a radio jock was sot of a natural progression. It was the first time he was on radio when he joined YFM. He says it’s been phenomenal so far. He re-emphasizes that he always wanted to be a DJ, but didn’t know he would actually end up being one. Characteristics that he feels one needs to have to be a good DJ include confidence (and doesn’t think it has to do with the voice); and knowing your subject matter. He utters, “You never shut down on air if you are comfortable with your subject.”
Many roads we travel are bound to present us with humps along the way. It has certainly been the same with C-Live as a DJ. The biggest lesson he has learnt is being humble. He adds, “That’s the parent in me speaking (laughs).” He also strongly believes that being a good listener is utterly important. “Especially for a show that’s not live. That’s why you have to go out and get feedback,” he appends his statement.
One of the challenges he feels plague radio is politics. And it’s not just on radio, but industry politics in general. He utters with concern, “It’s very sad because even if you think you are a nice person, they cross you.” He is adamant that when people talk negatively, one should ignore whatever they say. He admits, “But if it’s damaging, it’s your survival sense you have to get going.” This is why he believes that it’s not true that any publicity is good publicity. He defensively articulates, “Only media groupies say that.”
There have been rumours that he’s left YFM and he confirms this fact although he didn’t want to say where he’s going. He quickly changed his mind and said he is going to 5FM but days and times were still not confirmed. An interesting fact is revealed when he says that as much as 5FM is a huge and successful radio station, the funny thing is that the numbers are not very good in Gauteng. He boldly states, “They came to the right guy because I have street credibility to get those numbers up.”
Being a DJ is not the only thing C-Live has been doing. He has done about three hip hop mixtapes, with the one he did with Sprite enjoying huge success. Unearthing new talent with these mixtapes is one of his passions. He reveals, “I like working with unknown people.” He admits though that it’s not easy because it’s costly to distribute music. This is why he has decided to take the task of doing that himself. C-Live also produces radio adverts as well as manage events.
Many South Africans, including artists, have agreed that our music is on the right direction but needs some improvement. C-Live shares the same sentiment, echoing that hip hop, in particular, is huge; although not as big as it should be. He doesn’t want to speak badly of house music, but feels as kids, people want to talk. He voices, “Hip hop opens up debate.” He feels sad that a wrong perception about hip hop was created. “Hip hop has always had that thing, that confrontational element about it,” he emphasizes. He does however give props to South African house music for being the best seller and chart-toppers throughout the world.
C-Live has a few rappers that he is a big fan of. Amongst those is PRO(kid), because besides his talent, he likes the way he handles himself as well as his powerful lyrics. HHP is another one, admitting that he does not really understand what he says most of the time, but he likes him because he’s very hard-working. He also respects him for sticking it out for so long, and looks up to his commitment. From down in Durban he admires Tira for his business savvy, and Sox for his creativity. He also lists DJ Sbu, appreciating the standard he has set, as well DJ Jazzy Jeff for his humility. He conveys, “I admire people who step out of their comfort zones. Any person who does that.”
Speaking of the rappers above, C-Live thinks there needs be something about the music awards in the country. He feels strongly that they do not recognize or award the real talent. He questions, “Why wasn’t PRO(kid) nominated for a SAMA?” According to him, these institutions should stop being dodgy and improve the transparency of the processes. He continues quizzing, “A guy like Tumi just dropped an amazing album. How does the voting work?”
He also added his two cents on the World Cup concert row that’s going on about the small number of local talent in the lineup. He feels PRO(kid) should be there. He adds, “Sekele is actually a song about soccer.” He also lists HHP and Big Nuz as potential acts on the lineup, saying Big Nuz are the biggest group in SA at the moment. C-Live attributes this blunder to the tendency of South Africans being a bit bourgeois. “We need to keep it real”, he utters.
Keeping it real is one thing he has immense passion for. That is why he wants to create a legacy from all that he does, from his work as a DJ, to his more creative side as a radio advert producer. He imparts of what else he can do, “Creativity knows no bounds, tomorrow something might happen. Maybe Pimp My Ride in Alex.” As part of that legacy, he wants to be that guy who is responsible for putting that act/artist on the map. However, most of all, he would like to be remembered in his home. He beamingly adds, “Over and above everything, I want to be remembered for being for being a great father.”
We then chatted about our experiences as Zulu men who left our homes in search for greener pastures. He voiced his concerns about how in Jozi we are judged by material things; which I totally agree with. C-Live was not shy to put himself out there and say that we need to change that perception. This chat made me see another side of C-Live, a loving father, a hard-worker and an overall down to earth guy who is just trying to live his life the best way he can. The way he opened up to me about his struggles, challenges and his joys and blessings gave me another glimpse into his life. Even his appreciative nature when he requested that I must not forget to thank his management team when I do this write-up. So, Vth Season, C-Live says thank you very much for everything.
I hope you all have gotten another side to the hip hop DJ we love so much. Catch C-Live on 5FM as well as at a club near you. Otherwise, he’s all up in Twitter entertaining us with his naughty, but funny tweets. LOL.
