Rouge (rapper)

Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi (born 13 September 1992), professionally known as Rouge (/ruˈʒ/), is a Congolese-South African rapper, author, and television presenter.[1] Her debut album The New Era Sessions, accompanied by a short film, received a South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film.[2]

Rouge
Birth nameDeko Barbara-Jessica Wedi
Born (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
OriginPretoria
GenresHip Hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • Singer
  • Author
  • Television Presenter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2013–present
Labels

Early life

Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi was born on September 13, 1992, in Pretoria, Gauteng. She is of DR Congolese descent as both her parents were born in Congo.[3] She started songwriting at the age of 12, which resulted in her taking part in acting, public speaking and poetry.[4] She started rapping at the age of 19, when her friend suggested she should rap to her own R&B songs she composed.[5] She attended the University of Pretoria, where she completed her degree in Drama & Film.[6]

Career

2014–2016: Beginnings

In December 2014, Rouge released her second single "Mi Corazon" featuring rapper BigStar Johnson, following her debut single, "Party".[7] The following year, rapper AKA featured Rouge alongside other female rappers in the remix of his song "Baddest".[8] As for 2016, Rouge then released the song "Mbongo Zaka" featuring Moozlie. The song gained her prominence as it was her first song to top charts on all major radio stations across South Africa.[9]

Rouge was listed as one of six best female rappers in Africa by hip hop website Creative-hiphop in 2017, alongside fellow South African Nadia Nakai and Ghanaian rapper Eno Barony.

In October 2016, Rouge was one of the mentors on the Vuzu reality game show The Coalition, which involves interns undergoing challenges with the assistance of the mentors.[10] She also participated on the MTV Base Cyphers in the "New Skool" (2017).[11]

2017–present: The New Era Sessions

The New Era Sessions was released on September 8, 2017, which debuted no. 2 on the local iTunes charts.[12] On September 15, 2017, she premiered the short film for the album as a video anthology and drama.[13] The short film aired on MTV Base starring Atandwa Kani, Fikile Kani, Denise Zimba and herself.[14] She released 5 singles from the album, including "Mbongo Zaka" and "Dololo". The visual album won several accolades, including a South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film Award, and a South African Music Award for Best Music Video of the Year.

In 2018, Rouge was the presenter for SABC 1 music show Remix SA. She is also one of the deciders of candy company Halls SA's hashtag competition HallsOMFCC.[15] On March 14, 2019, Rouge announced signing with Sony Music South Africa.[16]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2018 South African Film and Television Awards Best Micro Budget Film Award New Era Sessions Won [17]
South African Music Awards Best Music Video of the Year Arumtumtum Won [18]
South African Music Awards Best Hip Hop Album The New Era Sessions Nominated [19]
South African Music Awards Best Newcomer Of The Year The New Era Sessions Nominated [19]
SABRE Awards Africa Best Southern Africa PR campaign New Era Sessions – Rouge Won [20]
SABRE Awards Africa Best Corporate image New Era Sessions – Rouge Won [20]
SABRE Awards Africa Platinium Award New Era Sessions – Rouge Nominated [20]
All Africa Music Awards Best Female Southern Africa Rouge Nominated [21]
All Africa Music Awards Best African Lyricist/Rapper Rouge Nominated [21]
All Africa Music Awards Best African Dance/choreography Arumtumtum Nominated [21]
2017 South African Hip Hop Awards Best Female Artist Rouge Won [22]
South African Hip Hop Awards Freshman of the year (NewComer) Rouge Nominated [23]

Discography
  • The New Era Sessions (2017)

Tracklist
Track Title Producers
1 Intro Wichi 1080
2 Underrated Nizi (Kids Of Crackling)
3 Celebrity Mae N. Maejor / K-Beatz
4 Let It Go Lionel Soulchildren
5 Déjà Vu Ron Epidemic
6 No Pressure Ron Epidemic
7 Dololo feat. Bigstar Mae N. Maejor / K-Beatz / Add. Ron Epidemic
8 Arumtumtum Mae N. Maejor / Wichi 1080
9 Naledi Mae N. Maejor / Wichi 1080
10 The Breakup Wichi 1080
11 Simon Says feat. Kly & Shasha Wichi 1080
12 No Strings Mae N. Maejor
13 Mbongo-Zaka feat. Moozlie Tweezy
14 Sheba Ngwan O Wichi 1080
15 Mabele Mae N. Maejor / K-Beatz / Add. Wichi 1080

Single Release

Track Title Producers
1 Bazigally Wichi 1080
2 Popular (feat. Emtee) Tweezy
3 No Cap (Freestyle) Wichi 1080
4 One By One (feat. AKA) Tweezy
5 Popular Remix (feat. Costa Titch , Hanna , Blxckie & Tumi Tladi) N/A
6 WAG (WhatsApp Group) (feat. Sarkodie & Youssoupha) N/A

References
  1. "Rouge: Raising The Bar | The plug". theplugmag.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  2. "Watch Rouge's Saftas Winning Movie New Era Sessions". People Magazine.
  3. "High heels & bling don't tell the full story about Rouge". TimesLIVE.
  4. YFM. "Artist Info – YFM | Yona Ke Yona". YFM. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  5. "Up Close & Personal With Rouge". Bona.
  6. "5 things you might have not known about Rouge". Channel24.
  7. "Rouge – Mi Corazon Ft BigStar Johnson [Official Video] – The African Hip Hop Blog". The African Hip Hop Blog. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  8. Madisa, Kgothatso. "AKA empowers female rappers with Baddest Remix". Sowetan LIVE. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  9. "Mbongo-Zaka (feat. Moozlie)". iTunes.
  10. "The Coalition Exclusive: Rouge". Vuzu. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  11. MTV Base Africa (22 November 2016), MTV Base Cypher New Skool – Rouge, Maraza, Priddy Ugly, archived from the original on 3 March 2018, retrieved 1 December 2016
  12. "Rouge's New Era Sessions Debuts at No.2 on iTunes". Zkhipani.
  13. "Watch Rouge's New Era Sessions' (The Movie) Chapter 1". Hype Magazine.
  14. "Rouge Set to Drop New Era Sessions Album with Movie Debut – ICEKREAM". Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  15. "Rouge Is Looking to Unleash 'Cool". SA Hip Hop Mag.
  16. "Rouge Is Taking Things to the Next Level by Signing with Sony Music". Cosmopolitan.
  17. "IOL".
  18. "IOL". 2 June 2018.
  19. "South African Music Awards – SAMA24 NOMINEES". www.samusicawards.co.za.
  20. "2018 Winners". www.holmesreport.com.
  21. "All Africa Music Awards – 5th-AFRIMA-Nominees-List". afrima.org.
  22. "IceKream".
  23. "NOMINATIONS". SA HIP HOP AWARDS.
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