Brickz, (Rapper / Song Writer)
Born: February
Birthplace: South Africa
Best Known As: Andapende

Sipho Ndlovu a.k.a Brickz, was fonded by Mapautsi. DJ Cleo spotted his enormous talent and offered him a deal with his record label, Will of Steel Productions

Discography:

Solo
     Album Title: Facebrick
     Artist: Brickz
     Category: Rap/Kwaito
     Label: Will of steel Productions/Ghetto Ruff
     Format: CD
     Release Date: 2005

Group/Duo

      Album Title: Izinja
      Artist: Mapaputsi
      Category: Rap/Kwaito
      Format: CD
      Label: Ghetto Ruff 
      Release Date: 2002

      Album Title: Kleva
      Artist: Mapaputsi
      Category: Rap/Kwaito
      Format: CD
      Label: Ghetto Ruff
      Release Date: 2003

      Album Title: Mthandazo Wabolova
      Artist: Brown dash
      Category: Kwaito
      Format: CD
      Label: TS Records/CCP
      Release Date: 2004

Soundtracks

      Album Title: Tsotsi
      Artist: Various Artists
      Category: Rap/Hip Hop/Kwaito
      Format: CD
      Label: Ghettoruff
      Release Date: 2006

      Album Title: Yizo Yizo III
      Artist: Various Artists
      Category: Rap/Hip Hop/Kwaito
      Format: CD
      Label: Bomb/CCP/EMI
      Release Date: 2006

Nominated:

Best Kwaito Album - Brickz (Facebrick) 2005
Best Newcomer - Brickz (Facebrick) 2005
Song of the year - Sweety ma baby (Facebrick) 2005

Awards won:

Best Kwaito Album - Brickz (Facebrick) 2005
Best Newcomer - Brickz (Facebrick) 2005

Birth Name: Sipho Ndlovu
Genre: Kwaito
Active: 2000s
Instrument: Vocals

Experience combined with talent has done wonders for this another one from Zola artist, Brickz, with DJ Cleo, behind him, one of South Africas top producers.  Brickz as a kwaito artist has made a huge impact on a music genre that most would call a dying artform.

Brickz began by singing in gospel choirs before performing in his first group which also featured Speedy. In fact Brickz received the nickname Half Brick because he was the youngest person in the band. That was back in the nineties when he was just a young teenager.

I loved singing gospel but my childhood friends in my Zola neighborhood people like Mapaputsi got me into the whole kwaito thing, recalls Brickz. It was fun.

Mapaputsi advised him to simplify his name to Brickz because it had more of a kwaito feel to it. Its a much stronger name. Its kinda like the last man standing, explains Brickz.

Brickz then went on to work with Mapaputsi on Izinja and his second album, Kleva. He wrote the track Ukufa on Kleva which features Mandoza, Zola and Bravo. Immediately after working with Mapaputsi, he worked with Mdu and Brown Dash.

It was round about then that DJ Cleo spotted his enormous talent and offered him a deal with his record label, Will of Steel Productions. I felt that I needed to establish myself more before I signed a record deal, said the down to earth Brickz as he recalls why it took so long for him to et a deal.

Brickz contributed a track to the Yizo Yizo 3 soundtrack called Emasimini. It was actually a demo but the producers were so impressed with the quality that they took it as it is.

Soon after that, Brickz began recording with DJ Cleo. The first release was Andapende (Zulu word for underpants).

Now Brickz and his producer DJ Cleo, have unleashed his debut album on music fans. It is called FACE BRICK and is a powerful kwaito album with glimpses of ragga. Of the album Brickz says: It will relate to the youth even though its a very personal album. It is about my love life, township occurrences and I also wrote about my late mother. It is a ballad where I actually sing on the song. Its a very emotional track with harmonies.

Brickz says overall the album is honest with deep ideas. Although I have simplified the message, he adds.

I want people to understand my music and what Im saying. I want people to make love with their partners, to share love and give love. The ghetto kids must have hope that it will happen for them because I believe that we will achieve something as a nation. We just need to work really hard as a nation.

The first hit off FACE BRICK was Sweety My Baby, which charged up the charts country wide.

With Brickz in demand all over Africa and his album being nominated for the Metro Awards, was enough proof that working behind big guns as Mapaputsi and more, sure has its output.

Brickz is a new shooting star and there is still a long road destined for this young star.  Though recently seen performing as the closing artist for the 2006 South African Music Awards, also received two awards for Best Newcomer and Best Kwaito Album of the four nomination that he received his destiny can not be far off.

Having already sold over 60 000 units for his debut album, Brickz has truly paid his dues and is ready to take the world by storm

Email: info@willofsteel.co.za

For comments email: djcleo@willofsteel.co.za

or checkout www.willofsteel.co.za

For more information contact Ghetto Ruff/Will Of Steel Production at

Tel: +27 11 484 7263  or  +27 11 447 1943 

Fax: + 27 11 447 1607 or +27 11 484 1306

Last Updated 2006