24 Years Running+, Thorne Laroq

 

24 years behind the mic as an artist and producer, 10 years behind the mic as an MC and event manager, 4 years behind the mic as radio personality, Zim hip hop awards 2019 radio dj of the year Thorne Laroq is not phased by anything with his 8 Zimhiphop awards nominations as a dj and promoter in the last 4 years. The hustle and grind is real for trenchmen like Thorne because success is based on the number of artists and projects promoted annually. Pushing at least 350  songs a year, red carpet events are just a celebration not a competition. Thanx to platforms like the Quest, Young talent awards made possible by the group Soul Eternal now known as Africa revenge, Teen Queen, Teen Scene and Otis Fraser, the first competition and stage experience in the mid 90s set the bar for what has come to be the Bulawayo hip hop scene benchmark.

We learnt sound engineeering and production coz producers wasn't listening, we learnt event management coz promoters wasn't listening, we got into film because we lacked representation and reflection of self, we became journalists and radio personalities so our story can be told precisely and explicitly clear with no compromised curves, said Thorne. Even when it was a cooperate opinion that the genre is a waste of time in the City, Bulawayo continues to export internationally aclaimed artistry. Its 2020 and we still fighting against  the suppression of growth by pretenders masquarading as activists.

 For the culture we will never turn down a nomination and we are forever greatful to the award platforms that aknowledge our hustle and grind. Usually, I get 3 or so nominations a year but as a promoter covid messed up the grind. Still in all we celebrate the national nomination as well as the ROILBAA nomination on behalf of the city's hip hop culture and movement, said Thorne.

I'm forever greatful to Skyzmetro and off course Mjox for setting it off and putting me on 4 years ago, coz thats when radio began for me which kind of makes it even more challenging that I'm in the same category with Mjox, same man that schooled me to the game. Zimbabwe should know that the biggest hip hop movement in the city, Its Bigger Than Hip Hop was founded by P. O. Y. 

Khulumani Fm and ZBC gave me freedom as a creative to let my imagination and intellect breathe. Here we are, 2020, 8 award nominations, one Zim hip hop award in 4 years of broadcasting. What can I say, I'm smiling. Said Thorne Laroq.

This nomination and the ones before wouldnt be possible if I didn't have the amazing music that at artists have been sending in over the years. Without the hip hop community and its hard work, non of this would be possible.