Courtney Antipas is
a Christian rapper from Zimbabwe who started rapping at age 11. As of the time
he started taking his art seriously he has released 12 projects and is set to
release his 13th project titled Transparent on the 20th
of October. Courtney has had the opportunity to share the stage with some of
Christian Hip Hop’s big names, which include the likes of KB, Da T.R.U.T.H and
Sho Baraka. Courtney feels that the main stumbling block to the growth of
Christian Rap like any other form of artistic expression in Zimbabwe, is in
most cases the inability to make a living from it. This stems from the fact
that people are not big on buying music, something he is working tirelessly to
address. For aspiring Christian artists Courtney is of the view that there is a
need for them to continue to explore their talent and be comfortable with it as
it is something that is God given.
Since the release
of his first project Courtney has never looked back. He views music as a powerful
medium of expression which if used in the right way, can have a positive impact
on people’s lives. Rap, more so Christian rap, Courtney feels has been lacking
transparency in expressing the challenges that Christian rappers as believers
go through. Something he seeks to change, as he pours his heart out on the ep
through being honest about the struggles he has faced. Courtney’s aim to make
real life honest music is partly where the ep title is derived from. He draws
his inspiration for the EP from the trials and tribulations he has faced,
something which can be felt throughout the EP.
Transparent for
Courtney is a deeply personal project. In the EP he talks of the suffering he
has endured as a result of experiencing loss, how he has come out on the other
end still trusting in God. He relates personal struggles in a bid to motivate
and encourage people to start dialogue and break the cycle of suffering in
silence so as to bring about healing. Transparent for Courtney also represents
a call to challenge wrong perceptions and stereotypes, in ‘Be Yourself’ one of
the songs on the ep. Courtney encourages Africans not to be swayed by the
rhetoric that nothing good can come out of Africa but instead be proud and
embrace their Africaness.
Transparent drops
on the 20th of October but you can preorder the ep here.
