Mwila Musonda, more widely known by his stage nameSlapdee is a Zambian hip hop and rap musician. Having won multiple awards since his debut in 2006, he is often regarded one of the pioneers of Zambian Hip-hop.
Career
His musical career began in 2006 when he released "Asembe Isebenza". Slapdee has released six studio albums: Asembe Isebenza, So Che, Black na White, True Story,The Business and Black na White 2 . Slapdee is signed to the Zambian record labelXYZ Entertainments. Slapdee has received nominations and awards, including the 2009 Ngoma Music Award for best hip hop artist, AFRIMM Award nomination for Best Male Southern Africa, 9 ZMA awards for best male and hip hop artist, and six Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards, winning three in 2017 and three in 2002. Slapdee participated in the 2017 Coke Studio Africa television series. As of 2017, Slapdee was the most searched Zambian musician on Google. He is the regional brand ambassador for Kung FuEnergy drink, Africa Bet, the Frutiola drink, and the Itel mobile phone. In 2019 He featured on the CNN African Voices CHANGEMAKERS as The multi-award winning Zambian hip-hop artist who helps support local kids in Zambia through his record label and raising donations for local orphanages and children's hospitals.
Early life
Mwila Musonda was born on the 27th of April 1987 in Zambia. After his parents and brother died when he was young, Slapdee lived with his auntie, who moved around the country for work. He attended schools in Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa before moving to the Southern Province back in Zambia where he attended high school with fellow musician Hamoba. During high school, the two spent time making music. Slapdee later moved to Lusaka, where he made friends with videographer and now-fellow rapper Macky 2. In 2006, at the age of 19, Slapdee was discovered by radio promoter Sync and released his first album, entitled 'Asembe Isebenza'. However, due to the record label's terms, the album was only released on cassette, rather than CD. Slapdee then decided to found his own record company, to support the growth of the local hip-hop and music scene, entitled XYZ Entertainment which he says stands for "Example Yapa Zambia", meaning "Example of Zambia" translated to English from the Zambian languages Bemba/Nyanja. Some of the musicians originally signed to the record label included his friends Ruff Kid and P-Jay.
