CQ, Familia sweep Born & Bred Awards

Comments on Spotrunnaz from DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill published in the Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet, October 6, 2000 : "Great! Much energy and good flow. One other thing I like is that they don't use so much American slang. Many Europeans have the tendency to make that mistake and just f*** it up instead. It's better to come up with ones' own phrases and words. They should have a chance to be a hit in the US."

Back in the days of MC Hammer there was a mobile disco in Lusaka called Hot Feet Disco. To accompany it was a dance group called Clutch-B-Swing that was made up of Andre Makulu (believe it or not), Tivo Shikapwasha (haven't we come far), a guy called Makanga (has anyone seen this man?) and Morton Sakwanda.

Well, many years later, the boys have turned to men and others still - fathers (there is a difference you know), and all have gone their separate ways. Passing through Lusaka for the occasional family visit was Morton (pronounced the way you're reading it but spelt differently in Swedish) now 25, donning an earring and puffing away on a ciggy. Now based in Stockholm, forming half of a funky and energetic rap group - Spotrunnaz and co-founder of Juju Records, 'Moe' took some time out (an hour to be exact) to chat with us.

Seeing (or rather hearing) as I know next to nothing about rap, I earlier on had to find someone with a little bit more experience for an opinion. I didn't have to look far. My brother Simon 'Tru Playa' and my cousin Sizwe 'Ba Dogg', very seriously checked out two of the CDs I gave them and after 2 hours told me, "ali che'".

Morton was born and schooled in Zed. His interest in music was sparked by his fathers mobile disco, but years later after only coming up with "some very underground stuff", he had almost given up his dreams of becoming a musician. That was until he met Aaron Phiri, a Zambian doing well in Sweden. Being half Swede and being able to speak the language, it wasn't difficult for Morton to settle in Stockholm.

Abandoning college, Moe Deejayed in some of the most happening gigs in Stockholm, then he later teamed up with Mickey Asante to form Spotrunnaz. They started off as curtain raisers for various groups like the Canadian crew Razcals Artifacts who are based in the USA. Spotrunnaz eventually hit the road with other young and upcoming musicians on the Common Sense Tour. Their first release, a single called 'Good Enough' was released in 1999, but their first full album, a double album in both Swedish and English was released a year later. "It almost didn't happen", Morton tells us, after running into so many problems they "pushed out 12 inches" (whatever that means) and produced the album themselves under the name 'Breakmecanix'.

This guy, who also considers himself a nerd, "because I spend so much time in the studio", eats, breathes and sleeps music. He only realised how popular they were in Sweden when one of their songs was played on MTV Europe. His aim as a musician, he says, is to attain 'the Four elements of Hip Hop (sounds spooky): Deejaying, Dancing, Producing and rapping. Shouldn't be difficult for this rapper who's blowing up and whom DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill speaks so well of.

Asked if he's thought about doing something for the people back home, Moe says he does actually think about it, but not just yet. His immediate plan is to cause havoc in the US of A. Well good luck Morton… go get 'em!

Also visit the site www.spotrunnaz.com or their fanclub at www.spotrunnaz.fanglobe.com

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