MPUMALANGA'S  award-winning hip hop producer Nkosingiphile Ecks Mashabane  is on a drive  to use his recently gained fame to nurture  undiscov­ ered talent in his  neighbourhood. Mashabane  (33), from  the  notorious township  of Pienaar outside Mbombela, was honoured  as the King of Mpumalanga Hip Hop at the South African Hip Hop  awards held  in Johannesburg  recently."I am humbled by the award because I was competing with the best producers who  also understand the hiphop  culture very well. I am planning  to recruit more artists from Pienaar and other  areas within the Province, we have already released a mixtape which comprises many artists," said Mashabane.

Mashabane  is not only a hip hop studio  junky, but recently joined SABC SiSwati radio station  Ligwalagwala FM as a digital specialist. "As a  digital  specialist  I  make  sure that everything that has to do with online content and outside  broadcasting is made possible and delivered timeously, I just love it because it is in line with my passion for music, which started at an early age where my friends and I would sit and  write lyrics during  school holi­ days," he said.

It took one cassette to turn his entire life around. "My sister  bought  a LL Cool J cassette  back in  the 90s and  I fell in love with the music," he said. The young  visionary  has  already signed five artists under his stable, Special Guest Entertainment | MP Hiphop Movement. "Many  recording   companies   turned me  down   and  I am  very   glad  they did. If it was  not for the disappointment I would  have not been where  I am  today. I told  myself that  I don't want to see upcoming musicians going the same route, I'm here to make things easier for them. I like mentoring and producing other artists," said Mashabane.

Mashabane  was named  hip hop  king for having produced  a mixtape for various artists under  "Mpumalanga Hip  Hop  Movement Mixtape Vol 1: Parable  of the Sower". The mixtape was sponsored  by event management company Ziyaphenduka Productions.