South African rapper Ben Sharpa dies

Ben Sharpa, who gained prominence in the mid-2000s, died this morning from diabetes-related complications.

News about his death have surfaced on social media. South African artist DJ P-Kuttah wrote on Twitter: “RIP to a SA Hip Hop legend Ben Sharpa sad news to receive today but the music will live forever.”

Contemporary artist Lex Lafoy wrote on Facebook: “I will never forget that year at Back To The City. I heard the crowd chanting the chorus to Ben Sharpa’s 'Hegemony'. That sh*t changed my life. Condolences to your beautiful wife Thando and your family. Thank you for all you've given this industry. All you've given the art [sic]. We love you. Rest in Power Kaptin oh my Captain.”

“I remember seeing Ben Sharpa for the first time in Hip-Hop Connected in Cape Town 2005 (I think)," Planet Earth Planet Rap (PEPR) wrote on Twitter. "I didn’t know then, the mood changed and bass started shaking the place. He did 'Hegemony' and everything changed. He showed his level. The place was not like it had been before it.”

Born in Kgotso Semela in Soweto, Ben Sharpa spent his childhood in Chicago, US. His first contact with hip hop was in 1985 but he only started rapping when he was in high school. He came back to South Africa in 1993 and established himself as an underground artist forming cult crews such as GroundWorks and Audio Visual. He later became a regular face on the hip hop scene, rapping about social consciousness, politics and conspiracy theories.

In 2001 he shared the stage with US hip hop artists Black Thought, Mr Len and Jean Grae. In 2003 he won a freestyle battle competition sponsored by South African cellular network MTN. This gave him nationwide and international exposure in countries like Holland, Belgium, England and Switzerland.

In 2007 he was discovered by electronic music maven and ‘Queen of Dubstep’ BBC Radio 1 DJ Mary-Anne Hobbs, who described him as “one of the most inspired and agile lyricists in the world today”. That same year he experienced health problem, which kept him in a coma for some time.

He recovered and released the album B Sharpa in 2008. The album was well received and featured ‘Hegemony’ in which Ben Sharpa spoke about police brutality. In 2012, he released 4th Density Light Show (4DLS).

Ben Sharpa toured Europe extensively and performed at festivals such as Rio Loco (France), Riddim Collision (France) and Glastonbury (UK).