Vusa Blaqs

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Vusa Blaqs
Vusa Blaqs.jpg
BornVusa Hlatshwayo
Kwekwe
EducationFoundation College
Occupation
  • Video Director
Known forBeing a video director.
ChildrenAyanda, Andile

Vusa “Blaqs” Hlatshwayo is a Zimbabwean video director who has shot music videos for Takura, Ammara Brown and EX-Q.

Background

Blaqs was born in Kwekwe in a family of three. He grew up in and grew up in Bulawayo. He is married and has two sons Ayanda and Andile.[1]

Education

He went to Mbizo Primary School then Luveve High school (O-level). While at Luveve, he studied Theory of Music and Majored in Classic Piano while at Luveve. Blaqs met Polite Sithole while there and they began working together to groom young artistes.

He then went to Foundation College for A-level, that is where Blaqs was born as he was introduced to Creative Writing and Poetry.[2]

Career

At first he was more into being a musician than being a video director but after failing to make it in the industry, he found his calling in videography.

After completing his A’ levels he went straight into the music industry working with different artistes who were also trying to break into market. His first studio experience was with Joe Maseko at House of Rising Sound. With his best friend Polite Sithole, he produced tracks that attracted the attention of Man Soul Jah. We were both signed to Icons Music as producer and artiste respectively.He worked for his friend Handsome Ndlovu who runs Digi world Studio and worked on his photography, videography and video editing skills while at the company.[2] One of his productions was House Rebels’ Godobori that catapulted the group to international recognition, leading to a performance at the Miami Music Conference.[3]

Shooting video for $100

In an interview with The Herald in January 2017, he said he was happy shooting ExQ and Ammara video’s ‘‘Bhachura’’ on less than $100. Said Blaqs:

The ‘Bhachura’ video cost about $1 200 but that is not to say that is how much I got. I invested all the money back into the project. I got less than $100. My base charge is $1 000. I can’t say artistes are undermining film directors, on this one was my choice. Some artistes though do undermine directors and I usually hold discussions prior to the deal and reading their minds so they understand the value of their money. As for how much I got on ‘What you want’ video, I can’t disclose.

[1]

Quitting

In March 2016 he revealed that he was calling it quits after a very short spell in which he produced breathtaking visuals for local rapper EXQ’s song titled Bhachura, as well as Ammara and Chengeto Brown’s Watchu Want. In a post on Facebook he said that he was quitting due to personal reasons.

He wrote:

Today I’m on my last shoot. No more music videos. My heart is heavy but it has to be done. Thanks to all the stars that gave me a chance to work with. It’s been a truly electrifying experience. God bless you all.

In an interview with NewsDay he confirmed that the announcement was true. At the time of the announcement Blaqs was sitting on a number of unreleased video projects including those of Killer T, EX-Q, Tammy Moyo, Fungisai Mashavave and Tehn Diamond.[4]



Criticism

Controversial rapper Stunner criticised Blaqs for his failure to deliver artists' videos on time. In the Facebook post Stunner accused him of doing a bad job on Takura's video for the song "Mungandidi".[5]

An artist who spoke with a publication on condition of anonymity said that Blaqs was sabotaging other artists because he was now part of Jah Prayzah's Military Touch Movement.[6]

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References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tafadzwa Zimoyo, ‘I got less than $100 for EXQ video’, Herald, published: January 5, 2017, retrieved: May 19, 2017
  2. 2.0 2.1 Peter Matika, Vusa Blaqs: the eyes behind Ammara,Chengeto’s video, Sunday News, published: January 8, 2017, retrieved: May 19, 2017
  3. Bongani Ndlovu, Passion for video filming drives Blaqs, Chronicle, published: May 3, 2014, retrieved: May 19, 2017
  4. Kennedy Nyavaya,ts-shooting-music-videos/ Vusa Blaqs quits shooting music videos, NewsDay, published: March 2, 2017, retrieved: May 19, 2017
  5. Stunner blasts Vusa Blaqs, Zimbojam, published: May 18, 2017, retrieved: May 19, 2017
  6. Stunner and Video Director Blaqs: The Real Story Behind The Fued, Zimbuzz, published: May 19, 2017, retrieved: May 19, 2017


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