THATO ‘SCAR’ MATLHABAPHIRI

HIP-HOP ARTIST AND RADIO PRESENTER

IN THREE WORDS, I AM...
Loud, observant and spontaneous.

IF I’M FRIGHTENED OF ANYTHING, IT’S...
Losing my mother. She’s my pillar of strength.

IF I COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME I’D SET THE DIALS FOR...
The day the Deputy Dean told me I was good at Mathematics so I should pursue Statistics at varsity. I would have given him the middle finger.

MY FAVOURITE PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE IS...
It’s my girlfriend, Nicole.

MY LEAST FAVOURITE PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE IS...
Arsene Wenger, the guy has me looking like a fool whenever I watch soccer with my friends. Arsenal is failing dismally.

THE LAST TIME I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR I THOUGHT...
So much to do, so little time. Go and do it.

IF I HAD TO LEAVE A BODY PART TO SCIENCE, IT WOULD BE...
My huge a$#. It’s the cause of attention among girls and unfortunately guys. Ha-ha!

MY DEFINITION OF LOVE IS...
Something you have to do completely otherwise you won’t fully understand and appreciate it.

THE LAST TIME I VOMITED, IT WAS BECAUSE...
I had nine Tequilas, one flaming Lamborghini, six double J&B and appletizers and on the way home I had a Windhoek beer.

THE GREATEST LESSON LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME IS...
Humble yourself and you’ll be exalted and exalt yourself and you’ll be humbled. Simple.

IF I KNEW THE WORLD WAS ENDING TOMORROW, THEN TODAY I’D...
Cash all my accounts, get on a plane and look for Kim Kardashian…Ha-ha! Ok, I’d probably make sure I’m with my family and closets friends.


THE SONG I WANT PLAYED AT MY FUNERAL IS...
My People by myself.

I WANT MY TOMBSTONE TO READ...
I didn’t want to go out this way!!

IN PURELY MONETARY TERMS, I AM WORTH ROUGHLY...
US$787 million, the USA stimulus plan baby!

NEED-TO-KNOW
1). He’s not only a talented lyricist but he also possesses a good sense of business acumen. This is none other than Thato Matlhabaphiri popularly known to the masses as Scar
.The versatile Hip Hop MC is also the brains behind the popular clothing label simply termed P.O.D.I, an acronym which simply translates into People of Different Identities-a fitting name if you consider the numerous tribes which make up our peaceful country.
Being one of Botswana’s few lyrically-gifted MCs whose knack for unleashing a powerful rendition on stage is unparalleled to none; Scar has been nominated for two categories in the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards.
The young man first broke into the local dog-eat-dog music industry in 2001 and trod where the angels feared by becoming one of the first few individuals to release a Hip Hop offering.
In 2006, Scar resurfaced again and unleashed a very powerful album simply entitled ‘Happy Hour.’

2). Released both under Breakthrough and Ramco Loco Records the super slamming album since its release dominated both local and international airwaves, making it a first for a local Hip Hop album to garner such an immense following.
He is credited among other things to take to the stage alone without any female or male dancer gyrating or twirling alongside him and still be able to tame and soothe the masses making them melt under his hypnotizing musical spell.
The album which was crafted with the help of the country’s versatile producers, Eric Ramogobya and Earth both of Ramco Loco Records and among other artistes the talented lyricist features Kast, Third Mind, Michelle and Eskimos.
The 21-track album also features Shoes of Machesa fame.
As clear testimony that his star continues to shine even beyond our borders, the versatile MC once brought the roof down when he performed at the Big Brother Africa II eviction party held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The show which had more than one million views across the African continent without a doubt thrust our gifted lass from the dusty village of Molepolole into the dizzy pinnacle of fame and this undoubtedly gave him the coveted and much needed advantage at the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Awards.

3). His album, Happy Hour which seemed to be the rapper’s personal lamentations towards society was an instant hit.
In one of the songs, Thibela, which still remains my favourite to date, Scar spoke of the troubles many young musicians face with unscrupulous music executives whom he said were out 'to suck blood' out of the unsuspecting industry debutants, when he rapped;
‘Record label executives
Suits and ties
Thinking I am a clueless guy
Ka ke ikwalela maboko
While I am toothless and shy
@$s kisser like most of these cats in tight jeans
ba ba tswewang ke phefo’
Scar could be regarded to be a Hip-Hop artiste with a much tighter grasp of Setswana and its little nuances.
He has opened for Dead Prez (U.S), Blak Twang (U.K), Hip Hop Pantsula (S.A.), Skwatta Kamp (S.A), Malaika (S.A) and Mafikizolo (S.A). He has also launched a clothing label (PODI-People Of Different Identities) and many were exposed to the young man’s many talents when he was chosen to be one of the three M-Net Africa Idols judges, a music reality show that scouted for talent in Southern Africa. Currently, Scar together with Tumi Ramsden co-host the coveted Yarona FM Breakfast show dubbed ‘The Real Enchilada’.

4). Scar explained that in order to make it for the studio in time, he wakes up at 0400hrs every single day. He enjoys Beef Chow mein with soya sauce.
The versatile rapper hopes to walk down the aisle when he is 28 and said he is also a certified plasterer and tile layer. He dropped out of varsity in 2008 (3rd year) to focus his energy in doing the coveted Idols Africa. Asked to explain this, Scar simply said, ‘Thuto ga e golelwe loosely translated ‘you are never too old to learn.’