Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney (born 7 July 1994), known professionally as Gigi Lamayne, is a South African rapper.

Life and career

2001–2012: Education

Lamayne attended Dominican Convent School in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

(2001–2012) and started writing

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...

at the age of 11. Lamayne attended

Wits University The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), is a multi-campus South African public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University or Wits ( or ). The university ...

and obtained a degree in Media and Anthropology.

2010–2014: Career beginnings

Her interest in

rapping Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

began at the age of 16, with assistance from ''Scratchbeats records'', she released her first

mixtape A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...

titled El Principio-16 with help from Munya "Lym C" Chanetsa, Mitchan "Pinkaso" Adams, and Clint Allin. In 2013, she was a runner-up at National Sprite Uncontainable Festival and competed on ''Shiz Niz Mixtape'' competition and won, before signing a record deal with ''Bentey Records''. In 2014, Lamayne was contestant at Jack Daniel's Music Scouts Competition and won. She was discovered by PRO and signed her to his record label, Money First Entertainment. She won Best Female at the South African Hip Hop Awards in 2013. Her first project album ''Colour Reign'' was released on October 2, 2014, produced by Tuxman.

2015–2020: ''iGenesis'', ''VI'', ''Jobs Woods''

In early 2015, she released her single "Ice Cream" which became successful and topped radio charts, and was later remixed by

Khuli Chana Khulane Morule (born August 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Khuli Chana, is a South African Motswako rapper. Early life and career Morule was born in the Mmabatho, North West Province and started rapping motswako at a young age. He w ...

. On September 15, "Jungle Fever" was released as the album's lead single and debuted at number 1 on the African Top Ten Charts. In 2016, She signed a record deal with Mabala Noise and began to record her new album. Her debut studio album ''iGenesis'' was scheduled to be released in July 2016. ''iGenesis'' was released in October 2016. The album was supported by three singles, "Jungle Fever", "Shisa" and "Is'gubhu" featuring Duncan. In December 2016, she headlined the

NH7 Weekender NH7 Weekender is an annual, multi-city and multi-genre, music and comedy festival held in India. It is created by Only Much Louder (OML) and is among the largest South Asian arts festivals. It began in Pune, Maharashtra, India, as a three-day, m ...

event, which was held in

Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...

. At the 2016

South African Hip Hop Awards The South African Hip Hop Awards (commonly abbreviated as SAHHA) are an annual hip hop award ceremony, that celebrates achievements within the South African hip hop culture, established in 2012. The awards are presented annually, and are broadca ...

, Lamayne was nominated for Best Female, Best Mixtape and the Hustler of the Year. In June 23, her single "Lobola" featuring Maraza was released accompanied with a music video. She headlined to Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival on June 24. In December 19, Lamayne departed with Mabala Noise. In early January 2018, Lamayne signed a record deal with Ambitiouz Entertainment and released her new extended play, ''VI'' on July 13, 2018. On January 29, her single "Iphupho" was released. On May 17, her single "Fufu" featuring

King Monada Khutso Steven Kgatle, better known by his stage name King Monada, is a South African singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame after the release of his 2016 single "Ska Bhora Moreki" and "Malwedhe" (2018), which peaked #9 iTunes ...

was released. On February 1, her single "Bozza" featuring

Kwesta Senzo Brikka Vilakazi (born 11 August 1988) known professionally as Kwesta, is a South African people, South African rapper and songwriter. Born in Katlehong, Gauteng, a township also known as "K1". In 2003, at the age of 15, he and his friend ...

was released and debuted at the summit of the Top 50 RAMS Chart. On July 26, 2019, her extended play ''Jobs Woods'' was released. In April 2020, she made her screen debut on ''Hair Jury'' as a presenter, which premiered on April 1 on the Soweto TV channel. In May 2020, she embarked on the Gigi Gang Show in South Africa and toured alongside

Nadia Nakai Nadia Nakai Kandava (née Dlamini; born 18 May 1990), is a South African-born Zimbabwean rapper and television personality. Early life and education Nakai was born in South Africa. Her father is South African and her mother is Zimbabwean. Wh ...

, Moozlie and

Boity Thulo Boitumelo Thulo (born April 28, 1990), popularly known as Boity, is a South African television personality, rapper, actress, businesswoman and model. In 2019, Thulo was named as one of ''Forbes'' Africa's 30 Under 30 for her contribution in the ...

. In March 2020, she made her screen debut on ''Hairy Jury'' as a host, which airs on Soweto TV.

2021–present: ''Mermaids and Stuff'' and ''Set In Stone''

On June 4, her single "Feelin U" featuring Blxckie and

Mi Casa Mi Casa is a house trio based in Johannesburg, South Africa and consisting of three members, Dr. Duda (producer and pianist), J'Something (vocalist and guitarist), and Mo-T (trumpeter). The band was formed in early 2011 in Johannesburg when a ...

was released as the album's

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

. On July 15, 2021, her fourth studio album ''Mermaids and Stuff'' was released and received positive reviews from music critics overall. On September 17, it was announced that she would host TikTok's Africa music chart show. At the 2021 Women of Wonder Awards, she won an award. She received a nomination for Best Female at the 2021 annual South African Hip Hop Awards. In February 2022, she announced her fourth studio album, ''Set In Stone'', and the release date. ''Set In Stone'' was released on May 20, 2020. It features artists Majorsteez,

Big Zulu Siyabonga Nene (born 7 April 1986), known professionally as Big Zulu, is a South African rapper, songwriter and actor. He rose to spotlight after releasing the single "Donsa Nkabi" in 2016. He signed a record deal with Universal Music in 2015 ...

, Busiswa, MusiholiQ,

Makhadzi Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona (born June 30, 1996), known by her stage name Makhadzi, is a South African singer. Born and raised in Ha-Mashamba, Limpopo, her career began at the age of 12 as dancer prior pursuing a music career as a singer, while she ...

and Kid X. In 2023, Lamayne made her voice acting debut in the

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...

animated original '' Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire''.

Influences

Gigi Lamayne was inspired by the likes of

Jean Grae Tsidi Ibrahim (born November 26, 1976), known professionally as Jean Grae (formerly What? What?), is an American rapper from Manhattan, New York City. Jean rose in the underground hip hop scene in New York City and has built an international f ...

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

Brenda Fassie Brenda Nokuzola Fassie (3 November 1964 – 9 May 2004) was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the "Queen of African Pop", the "Madonna of The Townships" or si ...

and

Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the Li ...

Endorsements

In February 2017, she was announced as the ambassador of Run the Streets Campaign by Puma. In early February 2018, she was the ambassador of the Avon product fragrance called Free. In May 2022, she announced a partnership with Fenty Africa. In August 2023, Lamayne was announced as the ambassador of Afroslim International.

Tours

* Gigi Gang Show (2020)

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Colour of reign'' (2014) * ''i-Genesis'' (2016) * ''Mermaids and stuff'' (2021) * ''Set In Stone'' (2022)

EPs

* ''I.V'' (2018) * ''Job woods'' (2018)

Singles

Awards

Gigi Lamayne won the best female at the

in 2013 and in 2014. She also won the Jack Scouts challenge endorsed by

Jack Daniel's Jack Daniel's is a brand of Tennessee whiskey. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee, by the Jack Daniel Distillery, which has been owned by the Brown–Forman Corporation since 1956. Packaged in square bottles, Jack Daniel's "Black Label" T ...

in 2013 and 2015 where the winners were given prizes, including a trip to

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

. ! , - , 2022 , Herself , Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year , ,

National Film and Television Awards

, - , 2023 , Herself , Best Female Personality ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lamayne, Gigi Living people 1994 births South African women rappers 21st-century rappers 21st-century women rappers 21st-century women singers