After more than two decades of trying to make a name for himself and migrating to South Africa in search of greener pastures, Mgcini Nhliziyo, popularly known in music circes as Cal_Vin, says he has finally found himself after a long and tiring journey.
By Sindiso Dube
Of all the changes that Cal_Vin endured in life and career, it’s the religious shift that’s more interesting — an aspect which has moulded him into a multi award-winning artist he is today.
Born in 1985, Cal_Vin’s music history stretches to 1996 when he used to call himself C-Dog, rapping alongside his cousin Thulani. In 2003 he got his first recording deal at Mic-A-Blaze, which also housed rappers such as Orthodox Six.
Cal_Vin became a born-again Christian in 2007.
“I had a friend who made me watch a DVD called The Truth Behind Hip-hop which painted the genre as a tool of the devil. Everything that we saw in the video and was happening in the dark realm I was already doing it, so I dumped rap and burnt all my music collection,” he said.
“I joined Word of Life where people were doing rap music, but it was in a gospel manner. I changed my name to Church Boy after my friends started calling me a church boy. They said I was boring because I was encouraging them to live a Godly life.”
In 2009 Cal_Vin lost his father, a development, which made him doubt God’s power.
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“My dad passed on in 2009. It really affected my faith, I was asking many questions like why did God take my father away when we are busy praying for others? After that I switched back to C-Dog,” he said.
Cal_Vin moved to South Africa where he hoped to get a recording deal.
“I went to South Africa where I tried to get a recording deal. I featured on a televison programme Shizniz where I competed with Nadia Nakai who came first. I also tried to break into the acting industry, featuring on Generations making a cameo appearance, but I couldn’t make it,” he said.
Cal_Vin returned to church when he was lured by a Christian friend who was based in South Africa.
“I rejoined the church where I became a mover in the youth section where I produced music for the church and hosted events with no payment. The numbers of youths in the church grew because of my influence, but still I got nothing. I was struggling to make ends meet, the church made promises which they never fulfilled and I felt used,” he said.
He came back to Zimbabwe and released an album titled Perfectly Balanced.
“Cal_Vin is what I have always wanted to be — being impactful, influential and big. Everyone now talks about me and I don’t regret leaving the church and gospel music. Some people have criticised me for leaving the church, but I am more comfortable with whom I am now,” he said.
“Church Boy was a better character because of the positivity around it but it was limited. I was not free in my creative space and when I did a song, it was censored or would go through a lot of changes. As Cal_Vin, I am in a free zone and my creativity flows so well.”
The Luveve-based rapper vowed not to go back to gospel rap.
“I am okay in my creative space as Cal_Vin. I am no longer going to church but I can guarantee you that my relationship with God is strong,” he said.
His breakthrough into mainstream music came in 2014 after a sublime performance at the Zim Hip-hop Awards. In 2015 when South African hip-hop star Cassper Nyovest came to Zimbabwe he was charmed by Cal_Vin’s song Zkhuphani. The two later joined forces and did a remix Zkhuphani which became a hit.
In 2015 Cal_Vin won three awards at the Zim Hip-hop Awards. He later bagged the Best Hip-hop gong at the Zimbabwe Music Awards.
Last week the rapper was the toast of the day when he scooped two awards at the inaugural Bulawayo Arts Awards. Next month he will host the annual hip-hop concert dubbed Made in Bulawayo.
