robertoluoch oluoch
June 11, 2019
Lazarus Karandu Shiimi, who is popular as Gazza, is a Namibian recording artist, producer, and entrepreneur, born on the 10th of March 1977 in Oshikuku located in Oshana, Namibia. He is from a family of seven. His stage name, Gazza, came as a result of his enthusiasm for soccer. He nicknamed himself after a famous English soccer player, Paul Gascoigne. He studied marketing at Boston College in Cape Town, South Africa after completing his high school education.
Music Career
During his stay in South Africa, he developed an interest for the South African Kwaito Music. This played a big role in defining his style of music. His music genre is a blend of Kwaito, Hip Hop, Afro House, Reggae and Dancehall. His songs mostly talk about township life, demonstrating the difficulty of life in Namibia. This is something that Namibians from various social classes can relate with.
During his music career, he has released several albums. They include Tanauka (2004), Zula to Survive (2004), Stof-Lap Chikapute (2005), 467/GMP Till I Die (2007), Still The King (2008), Cosa Nostra: Lafamilia (2009), Seelima (2011), Boss (2011), Blood, Sweat and Tears (2013), Ondjila (Long journey) (2015), Pumumu (2016) and Misunderstood (2018). Some of his hit songs include ‘Imba’, ‘Chelete’, ‘Get it On’, ‘Only You’, ‘Misunderstood’, ‘Uuyuni’, ‘Abangani Bako’, ‘Up Up Away’, ‘Kuna M’Kweni’, ‘Shuna’, ‘Something’, ‘Uzo Nkumbula’, ‘Tala Kaantu’, ‘Masarrati’, ‘Dangerous’, ‘Pretty’, ‘Inside You’, ‘Shaya’, ‘Champagne Lifestyle’, ‘Summer Time’ among many others. He has also worked with big names such as Davido, Nyanda and Uhuru.
He has worked under the record label, RC Ghetto Records. He established his own record label titled Gaza Music Productions where he has signed artists Tequila and DJ Shoza. Apart from owning a music label, Gazza owns a clothing line and a sparkling mineral water brand dubbed G-Fresh. G-Fresh consists of nine different flavored sparkling mineral water. He also has a reality show, Just Whyling, airing in the Namibian Broadcasting Channel (NBC). This makes him the first Namibian artist to have a reality show on NBC.
Tours and Performances
He toured the United States and Canada, and performed in Canada. He saw his tour to the United States as the perfect opportunity to record the video to his song ‘Wambo’. This was shot in New York City. Moreover, he shot his reality show in Los Angeles and New York. He became yet again the first Namibian to shoot a music video and a reality show in the United States.
Awards
Gazza received an award at the Channel O Spirit of Africa for the best Kwaito music video. His album Stof-Lap Chikapute earned him ten awards in one year. This consisted of six Sanlam NBC Music Awards, three Namibia music awards and one awards by the city of Windhoek. Earning ten awards in a single year was another set record by him. In 2006, he received six Sanlam NBC Music Awards and three NAMAs. In 2007, he scooped an award at Channel O Africa Music Awards. His albums, Cosa Nostra: Lafamilia and the Boss, each earned him three NAMAs, while Blood, Sweat and Tears earned him two. In 2017, he won four NAMAs.
Endorsements
Gazza signed an endorsement deal with KIA Motors. Besides, he became a goodwill ambassador for Education.
Tags: Gazza, Lazarus Karandu Shiimi, Namibian Music, Gazza Music Career, Just Whyling, Gazza Awards
Music Career
During his stay in South Africa, he developed an interest for the South African Kwaito Music. This played a big role in defining his style of music. His music genre is a blend of Kwaito, Hip Hop, Afro House, Reggae and Dancehall. His songs mostly talk about township life, demonstrating the difficulty of life in Namibia. This is something that Namibians from various social classes can relate with.
During his music career, he has released several albums. They include Tanauka (2004), Zula to Survive (2004), Stof-Lap Chikapute (2005), 467/GMP Till I Die (2007), Still The King (2008), Cosa Nostra: Lafamilia (2009), Seelima (2011), Boss (2011), Blood, Sweat and Tears (2013), Ondjila (Long journey) (2015), Pumumu (2016) and Misunderstood (2018). Some of his hit songs include ‘Imba’, ‘Chelete’, ‘Get it On’, ‘Only You’, ‘Misunderstood’, ‘Uuyuni’, ‘Abangani Bako’, ‘Up Up Away’, ‘Kuna M’Kweni’, ‘Shuna’, ‘Something’, ‘Uzo Nkumbula’, ‘Tala Kaantu’, ‘Masarrati’, ‘Dangerous’, ‘Pretty’, ‘Inside You’, ‘Shaya’, ‘Champagne Lifestyle’, ‘Summer Time’ among many others. He has also worked with big names such as Davido, Nyanda and Uhuru.
He has worked under the record label, RC Ghetto Records. He established his own record label titled Gaza Music Productions where he has signed artists Tequila and DJ Shoza. Apart from owning a music label, Gazza owns a clothing line and a sparkling mineral water brand dubbed G-Fresh. G-Fresh consists of nine different flavored sparkling mineral water. He also has a reality show, Just Whyling, airing in the Namibian Broadcasting Channel (NBC). This makes him the first Namibian artist to have a reality show on NBC.
Tours and Performances
He toured the United States and Canada and performed in Canada. He saw his tour to the United States as the perfect opportunity to record the video to his song ‘Wambo’. This was shot in New York City. Moreover, he shot his reality show in Los Angeles and New York. He became yet again the first Namibian to shoot a music video and a reality show in the United States.
Awards
Gazza received an award at the Channel O Spirit of Africa for the best Kwaito music video. His album Stof-Lap Chikapute earned him ten awards in one year. This consisted of six Sanlam NBC Music Awards, three Namibia music awards and one award by the city of Windhoek. Earning ten awards in a single year was another set record by him. In 2006, he received six Sanlam NBC Music Awards and three NAMAs. In 2007, he scooped an award at Channel O Africa Music Awards. His albums, Cosa Nostra: Lafamilia and the Boss, each earned him three NAMAs, while Blood, Sweat, and Tears earned him two. In 2017, he won four NAMAs.
Endorsements
Gazza signed an endorsement deal with KIA Motors. Besides, he became a goodwill ambassador for Education.
