Gigi Lamayne
| Gigi Lamayne | |
|---|---|
| File:Gigi Lamayne.jpgGigi Lamayne.jpg Gigi LaMayne in the recording studio | |
| Born | Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney July 7th, 1994 Lenasia, South Africa |
| 🏳️ Nationality | South African |
| Other names | Gigi LaMayne |
| 💼 Occupation | |
Gigi LaMayne (born July 7, 1994), known as Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney, is a rapper, singer, poet, entrepreneur, and songwriter born in Lenasia, South Africa.[1] LaMayne made her debut on the music scene with her 2011 mixtape, El Principio-16.[2] She has four studio albums, Colour of Reign (2014), i-Genesis (2016), Job Woods (2019) and Mermaids and Stuff (2021).[3] LaMayne recognizes her fans as the “Gigi Gang”.[4]
Early life
Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney, known publicly as Gigi LaMayne, was born on July 7, 1994, to Sarah Manney and her husband, Collin Manney.[5]
From the influence of education and culture, she gravitated towards the art of poetry at a young age. Gigi composed a poem at the age of eleven years old entitled “Valentine’s Day[6]”, that was published at the Poetry Institute of Africa. It was posted under the category of Anthology - Fairytale Noon. During her adolescent years, she continued to pursue her aspirations for the arts. At the age of sixteen, she started rapping under the stage name Gigi LaMayne.
LaMayne expresses, “just getting into the studio and rapping for me, that was the biggest thing. And feeling like there is no voice. Like, it’s great that we have all these women in videos but they’re just super passive. There’s nobody coming out and telling our stories and for me, that was the biggest thing…” [7] Genesis loved playing the role of a storyteller, especially about topics that are important and significant to her life. Ms. Genesis claims that her drive for rapping developed when she noticed a gap in the rap industry for storytelling. She felt that everything was “subpar.” Gigi was influenced by artists like Tupac Shakur and Bob Marley that helped shape her music and artistry. Their work ethic, inspirational messages through their music, and hit songs are what she aspired to achieve as an artist.
Genesis received the opportunity to attend an exchange program in England. She earned a scholarship entitled the Richard Branson Scholarship Program at Stowe School Buckingham [8]. At the boarding school, there was a competition she participated in. Genesis won second place for her astounding performance [9]. In 2011, she was able to attend the DCS showdown East District [10]. She received an award in the category of Best in Rap.
Personal life
Gigi has also spoken publicly about having a “tough life” witnessing her parents deal with domestic abuse, alcoholism, and divorce.[11] Yet despite these struggles, she was the first person in her family to graduate from a traditional university.[11] LaMayne received a BA general degree in Media Anthropology from Wits University.[4] Inspired by her love for cultural anthropology, LaMayne began her journey as a “spiritual scholar” and healer in 2021.[12] However, LaMayne has frequently mentioned her ties to the spiritual world began through her lineage and she began noticing it at a young age.[13] After 2018, she noted a period where she began to detach from the South African music scene and focus on improving her mental health.[13]
In October 2021, LaMayne appeared on the Kaya959 Radio show to speak about leaving the South African hip-hop scene because of the misogyny she has faced.[14] She has also spoken out on her social media about the adversity she has faced as a black woman in a male-dominated industry.[15] Some of her tweets discuss that she faced colorism that impacted her growth and was told she was too "ugly and dark to make it."[16] However, she still wants to release and create rap music independently, but also explore genres outside of hip-hop.[14] Around this time, Gigi LaMayne also won the Women of Wonder “Inspiring Trailblazer” in 2021.[17]
Career & Artistry
Gigi LaMayne is part of the “Born Free '' generation. In South Africa, "Born Frees" are those born post-1994, after the end of apartheid. [18] Gigi LaMayne is a self-described feminist. [19]. Gigi LaMayne contributes to hip-pop feminism because she feels that it's time to change the narrative of women in the industry as just video vixens and into directors, producers, etc[19]. Her Hip Hop inspirations include: Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliot, and Tupac Shakur[19][20]. There is a belief among some South Africans that rapping is Americanized culture, but Gigi LaMayne’s flow and style are always credited towards her growing up southside of Johannesburg.[20][19] In October of 2016, Gigi LaMayne released her debut album, featuring her renowned sound, Ice Cream featuring Khuli Chana. This was the song to put Gigi’s lyrical passion and astounding voice on the map for South Africa to absorb.
In 2019, Gigi LaMayne released, Fufa featuring King Monada, under Ambitiouz Entertainment. Gigi LaMayne says her music "... has been a friend to me and a refuge when it comes to dealing with things, whether I am listening to music or creating music. It takes me to a different space".[21]. Recently, Gigi felt that her creative space was being placed in a constructive box, instead of allowing her to expand as an artist. In 2021, she announced on Pop Radio that they will be parting from Ambitiouz Entertainment[22]. Gigi was one of the first South African hip pop artists to organize her own artists called the Gigi Gang Show.[22]
In the year 2020, Gigi LaMayne took a spiritual journey away from music and the world, but in the midst of it, she managed to release an album. Mermaids and Stuff was released in July of 2021 and is quoted as her last South African hip-pop album[22]. Because of competitiveness instilled in South African hip-pop, the industry is viewed as making moderate progress. Gigi has said that this environment was making her "sick"[22]. Gigi stated as she transpires into a businesswoman, artist, and now healer; a bigger challenge is needed within South African hip-pop. Gigi Lamayne says that she searches for the positive energy that the music industry should have, but lacks. [22]
Awards and Nominations
While still in high school, Gigi LaMayne participated in an exchange program in the UK through the Branson Scholarship at Stowe School Buckingham. There she showcased her musical talents in a performance that earned her recognition.[23] One of her first awards came in 2011 at The DCS showdown East District where she won the Best in Rap category.[23] An event that set the tone for her rise to stardom was the Jack Daniel’s Music Scouts competition of 2014. Gigi battled her way to the finals and then succeeded at becoming the first female Hip Hop act and youngest to win.[24] In 2016, she was recognized as one of the "Hottest Newcomers of 2016" by MTV Base.[25]
The South African Hip Hop Awards has been a stage for Gigi to gain multiple achievements in her career. Starting in 2013 when she won Best Female, Best Newcomer, and Mixtape Of The Year all at the same award show. Then in 2014 Gigi won the Best Female award and followed that with Mixtape of The Year in 2016, and Best Female again in 2019.[26]
List of Awards and Nominations
- 20111, Won, Best in Rap, DCS showdown East District
- 2013: Runner up, National Sprite Uncontainable Festival
- 2013: Finalist, Shiz Niz Mixtape competition
- 2013: Won, Best female newcomer, South African Hip Hop Awards
- 2013, Won, Mixtape of the Year, South African Hip Hop Awards
- 2014: Won, Jack Daniel’s Music Scouts Competition
- 2016: Won, Mixtape of the Year, South African Hip Hop Awards
- 2016: Recognition, MTV Base Hottest Newcomers of 2016
- 2021: Recognition, Official ambassador for Silapha artist programme
Discography
| Title | Album Details |
|---|---|
| Colour of Reign |
|
| i-Genesis |
|
| Job Woods |
|
| Mermaids and Stuff |
|
References
- ↑ "Gigi Lamayne". ADE. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
- ↑ "Gigi LaMayne". Genius. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
- ↑ "Gigi Lamayne". Spotify. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Meet Performing Artist, Gigi LaMayne, retrieved 2021-11-15
- ↑ Nkosi, Joseph; MA. "Gigi LaMayne biography: age, tattoo, parents, education, label, awards - The Nation". Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ↑ "Gigi Lamayne". ADE. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ↑ POPradio S1E15 - Gigi LaMayne - New Album, Business ventures, Spiritual Awakening, Travelling, retrieved 2021-11-30
- ↑ Avhurengwi (October 2020). "Namesto Mathlaga, Diamond Queen from Botswana and Gigi Lamayne, Rap Goddess from SA". Spotify: 1000 African Voices Podcast. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ↑ Avhurengwi (October 2020). "Namesto Mathlaga, Diamond Queen from Botswana and Gigi Lamayne, Rap Goddess from SA". Spotify: 1000 African Voices Podcast. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ↑ Avhurengwi (October 2020). "Namesto Mathlaga, Diamond Queen from Botswana and Gigi Lamayne, Rap Goddess from SA". Spotify: 1000 African Voices Podcast. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Unscripted: Gigi Lamayne, retrieved 2021-11-15
- ↑ "Her Calling", Not For Luck, Michigan State University Press, pp. 31–32, 2021-01-01, doi:10.14321/j.ctv18zhcmj.21, ISBN 9781609176631, retrieved 2021-11-15 Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 Episode 001 | Gigi Lamayne on her Life , Spiritually , Musically, ( New Music Album on the way ), retrieved 2021-11-16
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Peterson, Sean (2018-10-09), Burton, Justin D; Oakes, Jason Lee, eds., "Hip Hop without a DJ", The Oxford Handbook of Hip Hop Music, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190281090.013.54, ISBN 978-0-19-028109-0, retrieved 2021-11-15
- ↑ Vernon, Jim (2021), "'Pure Treason, I'll Tell You Why': The Erasure of Hip Hop Culture by Rap Music and Postmodern Hip Hop Studies", Sampling, Biting, and the Postmodern Subversion of Hip Hop, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 25–42, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-74903-3_3, ISBN 978-3-030-74902-6, retrieved 2021-11-15 Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ "@gigi_lamayne twitter post". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-11-15. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Inspiring Trailblazer Award via @gigi_lamayne". Instagram. Retrieved December 7, 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Mpongo, Sipho (2016). "The "Born Free" Generation". Anthropology Now. 8 (3): 95–110. doi:10.1080/19428200.2016.1242919.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Clark, Msia Kibona (2021-02-18). "HHAP EP. 63: Gigi Lamayne on Representation & Dismantling Respectability Politics". The Hip Hop African. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 3 MINUTES with Gigi Lamayne, retrieved 2021-11-18
- ↑ "5 minutes with Gigi LaMayne". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 POPradio S1E15 - Gigi LaMayne - New Album, Business ventures, Spiritual Awakening, Travelling, retrieved 2021-11-18
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Gigi LaMayne | Drooble". drooble.com. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ↑ News 17. "Gigi LaManye crowned Jack Daniel's Music Scouts 2014 winner!". Hype Magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ↑ "MTV Base Africa". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-12-03. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Mngadi, Mxolisi (2020-07-07). "Happy birthday Gigi Lamayne: 6 quick facts on the award-winning rapper". Briefly. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
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