Music and photography: ‘Music is my life,’ Bonolo tells the world.

By: Tebogo Molefe

BONOLO MADUMO, popularly known as Brian KnockMainbeatz, is living his musical dream at 24. He did not become a musician by accident; it is something he dreamed of way off before he was born, he says. Bonolo is everything in music, so much that he is a rapper, record producer, graphic designer, among other things. He is also the CEO of Cheeseboy Media Empire where they do photography, graphic design, music, fashion, fine art, marketing, and he is the one producing and mixing music in the company. He heads the musical side, in a company called Grind Hustle Records (GHR) and the co-owner and president of the company, Themba Mmotong, is an artists’ manager.

Music is my life and I would not want to do anything else, although I’m not there yet but through hard work I will be where I want to be. I just want to be the best at what I do and make billions; I also want to see the company grow locally and overseas as well. Bonolo’s inspiration is Kwesta and he has worked with a lot of artists like Polo Banner, Toby Main, Global Firm from Harvest Music, Tumi Waywad, Happivaal and a few others and he would like to do collaboration with Andrew Khubayi  who is a local music producer as well. ‘We have talked with Andrew about collaborating but nothing has come out of it yet.’

Bonolo says it’s hard in the industry but with proper management we get ‘’by’’.’’ People only respect people they know in this industry, if they don’t know you they don’t give you a chance,’’ he says. The company has eight artists and nominations in the East Rand nominations awards, for best new comer, best new group and best vernacular because he does most of his tracks in vernacular and Kells who is one of their female artist, was nominated for best female artist, just to name quiet a few. The challenges we face, firstly, are the lack of sponsorship for artists. Secondly, because the pricing structure in the business is not regulated, some artists charge less and people go to them, but I feel that we are worth the money we charge. That, is one of the reasons we want to move if only we can find someone to invest in the company.

He grew up in Zenzele in Daveyton on the East Rand where he stayed with his two siblings and mother, he went to Lerutle Primary then went Dinoto Technical Secondary School where he completed his matric and his subjects were Setswana, English, Mathematics, Physical Science, Motor Mechanic and Technical Drawing. ‘’My whole school life I used a candle to study because there was no electricity and water in Zenzele. Zenzele is in Benoni and was very rural and backward,” he says wryly, “but that did not stop me from studying hard and dreaming because my mother, who is my role model, inspired me to keep going.” He is grateful to her mother because, he says, “although she was a single parent she worked hard to make sure that we are taken care of.”

“My parents separated when I was still young and my father lived in Pretoria,” Bonolo points out.  “My mum and I stayed in Zenzele and I only visited my dad during the school holidays.” He says a man called ‘Mr David’, a family friend, was the closest thing he had for a father-figure. “I could talk to him about boy stuff as we spend most of the time at his house when my mother was not home. In 2013 I moved permanently to Etwatwa, a neighboring township, to be with my step-father.”

After matric, he went to study photography at Vaal University of Technology for four years but his first choice was sound engineering but this course was not offered there, he had to settle for photography. Bonolo does not regret his decision and his family supported him but he is planning to study sound engineering part time. But, it is music which rules the pulse of his heart. “I wrote my first track when I was in grade five and I performed the track in grade eight at Dinoto Secondary School and I can still remember the date. It was on the 14^th of February, Valentine’s Day. I performed it in front of the whole school and everyone was impressed, including teachers, and that’s when they started to call me Msawawa because Msawawa was still a big hit in the music industry at that time.

When asked what would he say to a young boy or girl who wants to be like him, he says ‘’trust in yourself, believe in yourself, and do a lot of research about the industry. Develop confidence and keep pushing and dreaming until you get to where you want to be.”