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Phumlani S Langa takes a look at some of Gigi Lamayne's music videos
Bozza featuring Kwesta (2019)
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At the moment, the local rap game sounds like Kwesta featuring Kwesta. Anyhow, this video is pretty hood. The director selected shots of Gigi spitting by a porch and then cuts to her in the yard of a run-down house. She rocks a yellow Ralph Lauren sundress, which I think is quite cool, and the song is one of her better efforts. Kwesta delivers a decent-sounding verse and so does Gigi, but the video is placid. A subtle cool moment is when you realise that, in front of the beat-up house, they’re standing in front of an old-school Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Iphupho (2018)
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In this fragmented fairy tale, an African queen seems to be emotionally adrift in a surreal wonderland. A black background is used, and it almost looks like the film was shot on a stage at a theatre with quite a few shots from a bird’s-eye view. Gigi sits on a throne as a CGI lion paces to her left. The outfit she’s wearing is regal, but, in the next scene, she forgoes clothes all together for a few leaves. She sings on this, but there is an intriguing sadness to her vocals and the arrangement of this track. I dig the shot of her lying on that bed of leaves as snakes slither towards her. We need more of that.
Isaga Lam (2018), Miss Pru featuring Gigi Lamayne, LaSauce, Nadia Nakai and Londie London
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I know this is not Gigi’s song, but I dig this video, mainly because of Gigi’s appearance. This is how I like it served up. There’s an aggression to her scenes in this video, which is perhaps driven by the appearance of all the talented sisters on the track. Either way, I’ve never believed Gigi more than when she was wearing that black outfit and boots, and rattling off a stanza with a cigar in between her fingers. No smiling, no high notes – just a raw aura that pulls the attention to her. She looks sassy but also like she’d hurt you; that’s my thing right there.
Lobola featuring Maraza (2016)
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We’re taken back to the days when Gigi was signed to the infamous Mabala Noise record label that later disintegrated into spectacular nothing. This label was formed by some brothers who apparently have some long money. Maybe they used most of it on acts like Nasty C because this video and a few of the others from these days are a far cry from the standard I feel this artist could realise within her work. I guess this is a wedding ceremony at a studio with an all-white background … the track showcases Gigi singing a little. It isn’t unbearable, but I’d rather she rhymed. – Phumlani S Langa
