The Holstar

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The Holstar
Born
Duncan Sodala

(1982-05-10) 10 May 1982 (age 42)
Lusaka, Zambia
Other namesHolstar
Occupation
  • Singer
  • Producer
Years active1993–present
Notable credit(s)
WebsiteWebsite

Duncan Sodala known professionally as The Holstar , is a Zambian hip hop recording artist producer and music promoter from Lusaka. In 2004 he adopted the name The Holstar a name that embodies his lyricism and style of music. Holstar is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of his own label imprint, Slam Dunk Records , which he founded in 2007. His interest in hip hop started in 1993 when he heard Snoop Doggy Dog’s first album Doggystyle and was further influenced by 90s rap and hip-hop produced by the Wu Tang Clan and Nas. He made his first studio recording in 2004 which lead to an EP as well as his friendship and producing relationship with Patrick Kawanu.

Early life and education

Born in Lusaka out of a family of five Sodala is the last born. He attend his school at Namununga Primary School and he did his High school in South Africa at the International School of South Africa but he completed his school in Zambia at ITS in 1999. He went to ZICAS and got a certificate in the Institute for Management of Information System and the he got a diploma in the same field at ZBIC

Early career

His first job was at Zamtel in the marketing department he was then moved to the billing department after Zamtel he worked for a imagining solutions where he did some administration works. A year later after working for imaging solutions he moved to trendsetters magazine doing sound engineering for a radio show youth media and he did a bit of consultancy works as he tried to find his footing. While at train setters they started an organization called Hip-Hop Foundation of Zambia at the time Hip-Hop was still growing in Zambia. During that time they had a number of events at the Lusaka Play House.

Music and career

Holster's music career started when he was in high performing in school talent shows. He was inspired by a local rapper Arkitect in the late nineties and seeing someone like him trying to break into the business gave him the courage to try his luck. The Holstar establish his own studio in conjunction with Pope called “The Zone” and then later he created his own imprint Slam Dunk Records in 2006 and has released two albums on this label Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Part 2 these where not commercial albums that could be found in sound stores or shops, this was the music he would take to radio to be played on air. In an interview with Holstar he say that that first Dj to play his and who Zambia Hip-Hop on the map is Gilbert Tembo aka Dj Drex because he played everyone on radio. In 2007 he released a joined mix tape with his produce Patrick Kawanu at the time he was called Pope. During this time that's when started to meet with the Zone Fam guys. It is believed that Alkani is the one that introduced Holster to the Zone Fam crew to be more specific Dope G who was the first to be introduced to him then after wards it was Jay Rox. In 2009 he released his third album called H3 – Love Me or Hate that's when they grouped together now as Zone Fam a total of 6 members at that time.

At Zone Fam

Original Zone Fam crew

The Holstar one of the original members of Zone Fam formed in 2007 together with Alkani, After the group was put together they met a producer online from Nigeria called Teck-Zilla from the website Africanhiphop.com releasing mix-tapes such as The Full Script produced by Nigerian producer Teck-Zilla. In 2009, he changed his role in the group and become the manager but still he continued to produce music as a solo artist.

Personal life

External links

References

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