Snazzy: The return of a Namibian hip-hop pioneer
Comeback season
After years away from the spotlight, the former teenage rap sensation is back with a new single and working on her first-ever album.
Nearly two decades after first making waves in the Namibian hip-hop scene, Snazzy (Louise Shilongo) is back with a new single and a long-awaited debut album in the works.
Once a teen sensation who saw her music played across the continent, Snazzy now returns with a wealth of experience, a deeper understanding of the industry, and a fresh artistic vision.
Breaking onto the scene
Snazzy’s music journey began in the early 2000s when she made her debut on Namibian radio. “My first song was released in 2003 – that was the first time it played on the radio,” she recalled. “Then in 2004, the music video came out. The name of the song was ‘Say My Name.’”
The track quickly garnered attention, marking the arrival of a new young talent with undeniable charisma. But it wasn’t just local radio where Snazzy’s voice would be heard. In the mid-2000s, her career took an extraordinary leap forward.
Rising to continental recognition
At a time when few Namibian artists received continental recognition, Snazzy broke through with an appearance on Channel O, the premier African music channel.
“I was in my teens,” she said. “I wrote my first single when I was about 13, but when the music video came out, I was around 16, so I had to rerecord it. I started very young. In fact, ‘Say My Name’ was the very first song I had ever written, so I was really surprised at how big it became.”
The recognition placed Snazzy in an elite group of Namibian musicians who had made it onto an international platform. However, her career reached an even higher peak when she was nominated for a Kora Award while still in high school.
“When I was in 12th grade, I was nominated for a Kora Award, which was a huge deal. The awards took place in Durban, South Africa. I had to travel alone for the ceremony, which was nerve-wracking – I was shy and scared –but my mom made sure I was taken care of when I got there. In the end, it was so much fun.”
Despite these early milestones, Snazzy’s trajectory took an unexpected turn.
Why no album?
With her growing fame, many expected Snazzy to follow up her success with a full-length album. But instead, she focused on releasing singles.
“At that time, I was juggling school and music. I couldn’t do music every day because I had to focus on my schoolwork, which I was really good at,” she explained. “That’s basically why I never ended up making an album – I simply didn’t have the time.”
Her mother, who managed her career, was instrumental in ensuring that education remained her top priority. As a result, while other artists were building their discographies, Snazzy was carefully balancing her ambitions.
Disappearance from music
Eventually, Snazzy stepped away from music altogether.
“I was managed by my mother, so when she could no longer manage me, that set me back. I was too focused on making music, and I didn’t understand the business side of the industry. So, instead of continuing, I chose to go into the corporate world to learn how things work.”
For years, Snazzy built her career outside of music, but the pull of her first love never faded. Now, she is ready to reintroduce herself to the industry – this time, on her own terms.
The comeback
Snazzy’s return begins with a new single, ‘Slay,’ which she describes as the first taste of her upcoming album. “This album will showcase the many sides of me that I never got to express to the world,” she said. “A lot of people know me as a rapper, but I also sing. I actually started off as a singer, and that’s a side I haven’t shared yet. So, this album will have different flavours of Snazzy.”
After years of anticipation, this will be Snazzy’s first official album – a long-overdue moment for an artist who once defined an era of Namibian hip-hop. Now, with a renewed vision and the wisdom of experience, she is ready to take her place once again in the music scene.
Once a teen sensation who saw her music played across the continent, Snazzy now returns with a wealth of experience, a deeper understanding of the industry, and a fresh artistic vision.
Breaking onto the scene
Snazzy’s music journey began in the early 2000s when she made her debut on Namibian radio. “My first song was released in 2003 – that was the first time it played on the radio,” she recalled. “Then in 2004, the music video came out. The name of the song was ‘Say My Name.’”
The track quickly garnered attention, marking the arrival of a new young talent with undeniable charisma. But it wasn’t just local radio where Snazzy’s voice would be heard. In the mid-2000s, her career took an extraordinary leap forward.
Rising to continental recognition
At a time when few Namibian artists received continental recognition, Snazzy broke through with an appearance on Channel O, the premier African music channel.
“I was in my teens,” she said. “I wrote my first single when I was about 13, but when the music video came out, I was around 16, so I had to rerecord it. I started very young. In fact, ‘Say My Name’ was the very first song I had ever written, so I was really surprised at how big it became.”
The recognition placed Snazzy in an elite group of Namibian musicians who had made it onto an international platform. However, her career reached an even higher peak when she was nominated for a Kora Award while still in high school.
“When I was in 12th grade, I was nominated for a Kora Award, which was a huge deal. The awards took place in Durban, South Africa. I had to travel alone for the ceremony, which was nerve-wracking – I was shy and scared –but my mom made sure I was taken care of when I got there. In the end, it was so much fun.”
Despite these early milestones, Snazzy’s trajectory took an unexpected turn.
Why no album?
With her growing fame, many expected Snazzy to follow up her success with a full-length album. But instead, she focused on releasing singles.
“At that time, I was juggling school and music. I couldn’t do music every day because I had to focus on my schoolwork, which I was really good at,” she explained. “That’s basically why I never ended up making an album – I simply didn’t have the time.”
Her mother, who managed her career, was instrumental in ensuring that education remained her top priority. As a result, while other artists were building their discographies, Snazzy was carefully balancing her ambitions.
Disappearance from music
Eventually, Snazzy stepped away from music altogether.
“I was managed by my mother, so when she could no longer manage me, that set me back. I was too focused on making music, and I didn’t understand the business side of the industry. So, instead of continuing, I chose to go into the corporate world to learn how things work.”
For years, Snazzy built her career outside of music, but the pull of her first love never faded. Now, she is ready to reintroduce herself to the industry – this time, on her own terms.
The comeback
Snazzy’s return begins with a new single, ‘Slay,’ which she describes as the first taste of her upcoming album. “This album will showcase the many sides of me that I never got to express to the world,” she said. “A lot of people know me as a rapper, but I also sing. I actually started off as a singer, and that’s a side I haven’t shared yet. So, this album will have different flavours of Snazzy.”
After years of anticipation, this will be Snazzy’s first official album – a long-overdue moment for an artist who once defined an era of Namibian hip-hop. Now, with a renewed vision and the wisdom of experience, she is ready to take her place once again in the music scene.
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