Sugaspott is the stage name of Shingirai Kaserera (born 14 June 1984), a Zimbabwean rapper and hip hop artist. He was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and grew up mostly in Mutare. He later moved to London, United Kingdom, where he pursued a career in music.
Biography
Sugaspott began making records after completing his high school education, collaborating with local acts such as Mizchif. He moved to London in 2005 to study, and it was there that he decided to pursue music professionally. He independently sold his music by hand and built a fan base through direct street-level promotion. His self-promotion efforts eventually led to his music being played on BBC Radio 6Music by presenter Tom Robinson.
Genre and Style
Sugaspott's music is classified as hip hop, with his lyrics frequently emphasizing Zimbabwean themes. He has been quoted as saying, "I consider it an honorable burden to bear but a lot of my material is centered on removing the stereotype of Zimbabwe around the globe." His work is noted for non-violent, positive rap lyrics and has been categorized under political rap on AllMusic. In 2009, he opened shows for Navin Kundra, The Dhol Foundation, and Apache Indian.
Festival Appearances
Sugaspott became the first rap artist to headline the main stage at the Brentford Festival, performing there in 2010 and again in 2013. He also represented Zimbabwe at the Golborne World Music Festival in 2010.
Discography
Albums:
- This Is My Story (2009)
- Damage Limitation (2010)
- Damage Limitation Part 2: Broken Sanctuary (2014)
Singles:
- "Sugaspott's Hiphop" (2010)
- "Bhogo Bhogo" (2010)
- "Real Hiphop" (2010)
