1. Background, recording and release

2. Promotion

3. Album artwork

4. Singles

5. Commercial performance

6. Critical reception

7. Track listing
     Standard edition    Tsholofelo (platinum edition) track list^[26]  

8. Personnel

9. Release history

10. References

• Hip hop
• Motswako
• House
• Kwaito
• Afro pop}}

• Family Tree
• Kalawa Jazmee Records
• Universal Music South Africa}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo (also exec.)
• Ganja Beatz
• Blackstorm
• Masterkraft
• Uhuru
• Riky Rick
• BeatJunky
• DJ Buckz
• Anatii
• Brian Essence
• Aux Cable
• Sean Craig Beats
• Brian Soko}}

Background, recording and release

The idea to name the album after Nyovest's younger sister came after she gave Cassper her allowance for him to relocate to Johannesburg with: "At the time, I had just quit everything and I didn’t have the money to travel and come to Jo'burg to hustle. Ever since that day it has always been about making sure that her sacrifice was not in vain."^[8] In September 2013, Nyovest mentioned that the album was 90% percent done: "I’ve recorded a lot of music, now I just need to conceptualize the story of the album. There’s so much music because I’m currently sitting on like 300 songs, so I don’t even know what to do."^[8][9] He also mentioned that guest appearances on the album would include Okmalumkoolkat, Masterkraft, Kaygizm, Shag, PRO, Kyle Deutschmann, Skales, Riky Rick, iFani and HHP.^[9] In March 2014 a track list of the album was leaked online.^[10] Nyovest would later state that the album contained 19 songs and not 16 as shown by the track list. On 10 June 2014, he revealed the cover for the album, along with the release date.^[2] On Mandela Day, Nyovest released the album exclusively on iTunes without prior announcement. Within an hour of its debut, Tsholofelo peaked at number 1 on the iTunes South Africa albums chart.^[11]

Promotion

In support of the album, many promotional singles were released including "#BMK" and "Wahala" featuring Young Slugz. Both songs were produced by Ganja Beatz and accompanied by music videos.^[12][13] On Valentine's day, 2013, Nyovest released a track titled "Girlfriend" as part of the "TruSSt Thursdays" series. The song features and is produced by Riky Rick.^[14] Nyovest also did a string of radio interviews and performances to promote the album. On 2 July 2014, he performed an unreleased song on Metro FM titled, "Alive" which features Durban based vocalist and Idols SA season 10 top 11 finalist Kyle Deutschmann.

Album artwork

The artwork was revealed via Twitter and Facebook by Nyovest on 10 June 2014.^[15][16] The cover, which was designed by Freshboi, is an illustration of Nyovest's portrait.^[17]

Singles

In April 2013, the album's lead single "Gusheshe" was released. It features Dirty Paraffin's Okmalumkoolkat.^[18]

The second single, "Doc Shebeleza", produced by Sean Craig Beats, was released on 17 January 2014 for free digital downloads. Its music video was directed by Nicky Campos and Nyovest. It has a total runtime of 4 minutes and 2 seconds.^[19] The song debuted at number 4 on South Africa's official music chart.^[20]

"Phumakim", the album's third single, was released on 3 July 2014 with production from Zimbabwean producer, Brian Soko, who co-produced Drunk in Love by Beyoncé. "Phumakim" which is in Zulu, loosely translates to "Leave me alone". In the song, Nyovest addresses the criticism that celebrities receive on social media and makes a reference to his highly publicized feud with rapper AKA. He also raps about how he only dates women as famous as him. The beat for Phumakim was originally meant for American rapper, Future, who declined it.^[21]

"Phumakim" garnered 15,000 downloads within its first minute of release and trended on Twitter in South Africa and in the UK.

"Tsibip", the album's promotional single, was released in August 2014. Two videos were shot for the song to showcase Cassper Nyovest's different alter-egos, "Cassper" and "Nyovest". Both of the videos were shot by Studio Space Pictures. The first video premiered on MTV Base's "Spanking New Premiere". It is a one-take video which shows Nyovest bare chest wearing a wrist watch, a ring and a gold chain around his neck. For the duration of the video, Nyovest tries on and exchanges different caps up until he puts on the cap he is depicted wearing on the Tsholofelo album cover. The second video premiered on Channel O's "Turn Up" on the same day.

Commercial performance

In April 2015, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa, selling over 40,000 copies.^[22][23] To celebrate this, Nyovest released a platinum edition of the album which features new material and old songs which never made the final track list of Tsholofelo.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Tsholofelo received generally positive reviews. Tsepang Tlhapane of Live Mag felt the pitfall of the album was its lengthiness and its production. However, he praised the album's intro, calling it "heartfelt" and commended its drum arrangement. He also praised "Tsibip" for its witty punchlines and "Skeptedaba" for embodying elements of 90s Kwaito music.

Andy Petersen of PLATFORM gave the album a score of 82/100 adding: "This is an artist in motion - one unafraid to exhibit his growth. Tsholofelo is certainly not a perfect album, but it is a very good one. And it hints strongly of someone who is only going to get better."

Track listing

Standard edition

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Khumoetsile Tshegofatso Koobetseng}}

• Brian Essence
• Cassper Nyovest{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Bantu Hanabe}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Kyle Deutschmann}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Mzondeleli Boltina
• Themba Sekowe
• Sihle Dlalisa
• Xelimpilo Simelane
• Nqobile Mahlangu}}

• Uhuru
• DJ Buckz{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Jabulani Tsambo
• Linda Mkhize}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Smiso Zwane}}

• Ganja Beatz
• Cassper Nyovest{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Anathi Mnyango}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Rikhado Makhado}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Busisiwe Nolubabalo Nqwiliso}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Kgaugelo Choabi}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Bass Q Mdlongwa
• Themba Sekowe
• Sihle Dlalisa
• Xelimpilo Simelane
• Nqobile Mahlangu}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Raoul John Njeng-Njeng
• Sunday Nweke}}

Tsholofelo (platinum edition) track list^[26]

• Refiloe Phoolo
• Anathi Mnyango

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Anathi Mnyango}}

• Refiloe Maele Phoolo
• Rikhado Makhado}}

Notes

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies a co-producer

• ^{{{note|b|[b]}}} signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits for Tsholofelo adapted from AllMusic.^[27]

• Anatii – primary artist
• Base – primary artist
• Mzondeleli Boltina – composer
• Bucie – primary artist
• Kgaugelo Goodchild Choabi – composer
• Kyle Deutschmann – composer, primary artist
• Aashish Gangaram – composer
• HHP – primary artist
• iFani – primary artist
• Kaygizm – primary artist
• Khumoetsile Tshegofatso Koobetseng – composer
• Rikhado Makhado – composer
• MasterKraft – composer, primary artist
• Bass Q Mdlongwa – composer
• Linda Mkhize – composer
• Anathi Mnyango – composer
• Busisiwe Nolubabalo – composer
• Ntukza – primary artist
• Cassper Nyovest – primary artist
• Okmalumkoolkat – primary artist
• R.M. Phoolo – composer
• Tsholofelo Phoolo – composer
• Pro – primary artist
• Obakeng Ramahali – composer
• Riky Rick – primary artist
• Jabulani Tsambo – composer
• Tshego – primary artist
• Uhuru – primary artist
• Young Skalez – composer, primary artist
• Smiso Zwane – composer

Release history

References

• Michael (Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band song)
• Michael Geoffrey Hare Duke
• Michael Geoffrey Hare-Duke
• Michael Georg Conrad
• Michael George
• Michael George Bowen
• Michael George Dupée
• Michael George Gibbins
• Michael George Mulhall
• Michael George Parke Stoker
• Michael George Pitman
• Michael George Prendergast
• Michael George Scandolera
• Michael George Simmons
• Michael Georg Link
• Michael Geraghty
• Michael Gerald Hastings
• Michael Gerard Grimm
• Michael Gerard Ingham
• Michael Gerhardt
• Michael Gericke
• Michael Gersher
• Michael Gething
• Michael Gettel
• Michael Gettys