#TheTribeExclusive featuring Lioness
Ready for Global Domination
A multifaceted music powerhouse who excels at everything she puts her hands on, Lioness changed the game when she graduated from medical school soon after releasing her career-changing project ‘The Pride of CilQ’.
This period turned out to be a turning point for the rapper who finally got her ‘big break’ after 11 years in the industry.
Today, Lioness is a qualified doctor who is sitting at the top of her throne as the illest hip hop femcee Namibia has produced in recent years.
In an interview with Ché Ulenga for ‘The Tribe’, Lioness talks about the creative process that birthed ‘The Pride of CilQ’.
“It was a little bit difficult for me because I had to really prioritise. Obviously, school was my priority, but I couldn’t stay away from the music, and so I did it in parts, I did it actually over a year,” she says.
She worked with different producers and artists on the project while her best friends and fellow rappers, Skrypt and KP Illest pitched in to put finishing touches to the album, while she wrote her final exams.
Another Namibian rapper, the late Catty Catt, assisted Lioness in navigating the music business.
“I’m honoured you know, and Catty Catt really had my back, back then. May his soul rest in peace.”
It took the rapper countless freestyle battles, cyphers and even performing for a handful of people – to get to the top. She persisted through it, and now boasts an intercontinental collaboration with South African rapper Boity and Kenyan musician Nazizi – which was facilitated by Coke Studio Africa.
“Yeah, I mean well some artists get lucky, for other artists you know, it takes a little bit of time and that’s okay because we all have our different journeys,” she says.
Lioness continues to work extremely hard to stay on top of her game. She has earned the unofficial title of Queen of visuals with her conceptual music videos featuring collaborations with Namibian creatives. She has so far worked with talented fashion, beauty and music stars such as Jay-Aeron, Miles Meroro, and Renate Art.
With her determination and ability to continuously stay ahead of her peers in a competitive industry, there’s no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before Lioness takes on the world.
Quick Facts:
Dope beat or killer chorus?
Dope beat
First job?
Waitress
Your first salary was spent on?
I remember giving it to my Mom
Beard or no beard?
Girl, I have to go with the beard. I’m a beard girl.
The ultimate collaboration you’d like to be on?
Burner Boy
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https://soundcloud.com/99fm/the-tribe-ft-lioness