#TheTribeExclusive Featuring Top Cheri
Formerly known as Monica Moroki, Top Cheri has brilliantly transformed her brand over the years. She went from being a writer, a journalist and even a social media star with thousands of fans following the witty and often scandalous fictional stories she’d post online.
Top Cheri sat down with #TheTribeFeaturing to talk music, rebranding and finding her way in an industry that isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.
Tell us a bit about yourself and give us a brief background on Top Cheri?
Top Cheri, Monica Pinias, Monica Moroki – everybody has their own name that they call me. I am born and raised in Walvis Bay. Finished my school there and obviously, me being the girl that I was, just all over the place, I had to come to Windhoek to zula.
When I came here I met people, the right people. I started managing Mushe, we worked hard but we had to end there, I had to move on. My life in Windhoek is like a movie. Like I still sit back and I’m like… what?
Throughout my experiences I decided you know what, I think people should know how I look at things. That’s how I started writing books. My first book was called ‘Modern Relationships’.
What’s the substance of the book, what is it all about?
I wrote it in 2012. It’s a book about real modern relationships, because relationships are not like they used to be back then. Relationships these days, there’s too many people involved. There’s a guy, there’s a madam boss, there’s a side girl, there’s an assistant to the side girl, there’s all these things you know.
I decided to tell this story, because I know people know about it but nobody wants to say it.
What are the things that you think can be changed in the industry?
I think there’s a serious virus in the industry. I don’t know where it’s coming from, I don’t know who’s the mother of it but for some reason I’m sorry but especially the female artists, everybody wants to be Beyonce.
Like when you want to do a project, they first have to ask you who’s going to be there, whose involved. I feel Namibian producers, that’s where it starts. Tell the person no it’s not going to happen. You know these producers take on any project. As long as you’re getting your money and getting paid for this beat, but it’s a lot of nonsense, that person cannot sing.
Who do you have in mind for a future collaboration?
I need to do things with Yemi Alade. I’m so crazy about Yemi, she’s crazy, she’s on another level.
Do you have a message for young women who also want to break into the music industry?
First of all, take your time. Don’t let nobody tell you to do it now, a lot of people mess up things because they are rushing into it. You need to make sure that it is perfect for you, for your ear, for your eye, for whatever it is you are doing.
Follow Top Cheri on Instagram @TopCheri, on Twitter
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