“It’s Brenda Fassie, Mandoza, Vicky Sampson And Myself,” JR On How Big ‘Show Dem’ Is

“It’s Brenda Fassie, Mandoza, Vicky Sampson And Myself,” JR On How Big ‘Show Dem’ Is! Rapper JR is the latest Mzansi rapper to feature on the popular YouTube show, Podcast and Chill With MacG. The two had a fruitful conversation, as they touched on various topics surrounding the Motswako rapper, such as his hit single, Show Dem (Make The Circle Bigger). It’s hard to think of JR and not think of his mega-hit, Show Dem (Make The Circle) which was released in 2010, taken from his sophomore album.

Speaking to MacG, JR spoke about the “anthem”, which could be described as his biggest hit. MacG asked JR how big was the song, as he felt like everyone in the country knew the song and could be heard saying “make the circle bigger”. “I believe it’s Brenda Fassie, Mandoza, Vicky Sampson and then it’s myself,” said JR and then he went on to explain there is a commonality amongst him and these artists as they all had an impact in terms of cross over music. ‘Vulindlela’, Nkalakhatha and ‘Show Dem’ falls into the category with those legendary songs. These are songs that were nationally enjoyed by listeners no matter what demographic.

JR describes Show Dem as falling under the genre ‘Barcadi House’ Barcadi meets normal house, Barcadi meets Tecno. The song was produced by Sticky. The rapper then goes on to explain that

“So I wrote this song, I was like somewhere, there are different versions of how this song came about. I’ve got a friend of mine who says me and my cousin used to say it to you all the time and you used to say it would make a good song and you wrote a song about it. Then there is a version where I went to Roxkie’s in Melville for a party but I went on the wrong day and when I got there it was a party for an event called a C4 party, a coloured party. When I got there it’s a C4 party but I was like I don’t know anyone but I’m seeing everyone is moving and doing this chant ‘make the circle bigger’ it was like a big coloured chant. So then I was like this song could work. I had already in my head written this verse, “when I go to yesteries to see my honde.”

The entrepreneur then explains that he got a call from the late HHP and Sticky telling him that they have this beat and don’t know what to do and want him to come and write. Once JR is there and starts writing, Jabba then says to him “I think you should get on this song”. The three later work on the track, with JR hitting the booth, there and there, and after JR laid his verse and the chorus, Jabbaman was like “this song is finished” and then smash hit was created and they later agreed to release the track jointly on each of their respective albums.