MUSIC: Stiff Pap – Young Kids Doing Dope Sh*t.

Stiff Pap is no stranger to labels- even though they really, really hate ’em. They’re also not strangers to the pressure of living up to expectations (a pressure which they refuse to succumb to). It’s these two qualities that make the duo so refreshing. To put it simply, in their own words: ‘We’re just young kids doing dope shit’.

For their Three Magazine feature, shot during their Stokvel tour, we decided to bypass the moodboard and go another route, giving Stiff Pap complete creative freedom. For their interview, we also decided to forego the usual formula and get to really know AyemaProbllem and Jakinda. Via each other. This is what happened…

What’s the significance of a stokvel to Stiff Pap?

Ayema: [A stokvel is…] “let’s just put money in a box or a bag” and then at the end of the year they take out the money and they distribute it however they see necessary. So basically that’s a stokvel. [to Jakinda] Over to you, sir.

Jakinda: So that’s a great label for the period we’re in in our lives; where we’re basically finding our feet as artists and building ourselves and taking things into our own hands. Becoming our own people and literally putting together what we have to get ourselves on the road, and get out there and get our name out there.

We literally live like we’re married. Like literally we share everything, like all of our money. None of my money is mine. Its our money. For us we have a shared vision, so whatever we can put together to make that come alive- whatever skills I have, whatever skills Ayema has, whatever skills other people have to bring to us… We’re all about putting that together and having that finished thing at the end of it all.

“The hustle becomes a collaboration.”

We’re just bringing that vibe here to Cape Town where we kind of started our music careers, including the Jo’burg aspect, and showing how we’re making use of that dual presence.

What aspect of the Jo’burg scene do you like most?

A: The hustle. Like, you hustle. If you want something to eat on the daily you have to work. You have to think about working. You can’t sit down cos we see other people doing stuff and you’re like ‘Wow, I’m as talented as them so how are they doing that?’ And you find out and you hustle.

The dope thing about it also is, when you’re hustling other people see what you’re doing and they’re like ‘Aweh, we see what you’re doing, come through lets work’. The hustle becomes a collaboration.

BONUS ROUND

Describe his style in 3 words?

AYEMA

A: Progressive, I’ll give you that one. I’d say quirky. [thinks]

Trash.

J: [laughs] Lit!

JAKINDA

J: Hood, gotta add that. Nostalgic.

A: Say it bro.

J: [Thinks really hard] Sporty, actually!

Pet peeve…

AYEMA

I don’t know man I’ve pissed him off so many times. Being inconsiderate, he doesn’t like that.

JAKINDA I feel like he said it for me. People being inconsiderate, people that’s like not caring about what you want or you think. People being selfish.

What makes him happy, without a doubt?

AYEMA

A: Chocolate. Sweets and stuff. Money, man. [Laughs]

JAKINDA

A: [Whispers something]

J: I’m thinking of saying that, do you want me to say that? [Laughs]

A: Please do not say that.

J: You want that in the interview?

A: No!

J: Ooh, I’ve got a good one. Trips to the church [laughs]. I don’t know what makes you happy besides the other thing.

Check out our 3Qs with the guys here:

Since our interview Jakinda and AyemaProbllem have gone on to perform at Boiler Room JHB (hosting the official after party), release their sophomore EP and play at Smoking Dragon (to name a few highlights). They’re fresh, they’re dynamic, they’re hustling, they are what they are.

Whatever that is, we’re down for it.