By Staff Reporter
news@alexreporter.co.za
South African rapper, currently based in Los Angeles, Nomoya Refiloe Dube, known professionally as MOYA, is flying the South African flag high as she launches her rap career in the US with award-winning names Lauryn Hill, YG Marley, and D.I.O.
The Mpumalanga rapper with Limpopo roots will make her big rap debut at the MHL & THE FUGEES Tour this August.
The tour will kickstart on Women’s Day, 9 August in Florida, then Atlanta, and Charlotte, and will travel until 22 October, closing off in Paris, London, Paris and Amsterdam.
She has not yet released her debut single in South Africa, but already she is a topic of discussion and touring the US. Her debut single Big Boy Gun is set to be released this Women’s Month.
MOYA was introduced to the South African industry as an actress when she scooped a small cameo role of a slay queen on the Showmax Original Lingashoni, then bagged another role on The Queen and The River and the Mzansi Magic film, Vuthela.
Since then, she has been working diligently on her music behind the scenes after being discovered in 2023 by Asanda Empires, a record label based in the US. She has been working on her music due for release this this month.
“She is very different amongst all the female artists currently out. She has an identity that is going to catapult her peak. Her being from South Africa, her style is genuine, natural ability to get in the studio and start writing is incredible. Her energy is not forced and she is genuinely authentic and appeals to everyone across the world, the US and UK,” Head of 50/50 Global Musik SONY.
“I am so excited. I have envisioned this. I have dreamt about it and saw myself as an international star, so this is a manifestation of my dreams. I can’t wait to meet Lauryn Hill, she has been an inspiration to many women in the Hip-Hop business,” MOYA says.
QUESTION & ANSWER
Describe your sound.
My sound is very versatile more Caribbean , but leaning more towards Country, and Hip-Hop with a touch of Reggae.
Who discovered you and how?
I visited a friend who happened to have a studio session and I jumped onto an Amapiano track and rapped on it. The friend was with the owner of Asanda Empires who let his business associates in the US listen to it. Everyone liked it, and the rest is history. I joined Asanda Empires and have recorded enough songs to release a full project, soon.
How did the tour come about?
My record label took the music to the tour organisers, and they fell in love with it, and next thing I was going on tour with thee Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, and YG Marley.
When are you dropping your first single?
I will be releasing my debut single Big Boy Gun this woman’s month. I am waiting for a confirmation date from SONY. It is a song about my skill in music, my uniqueness, and the freshness, and authenticity that comes from who I am. My label posted a clip of the song on their social media account and the response was massive, especially in the US – where I am currently based. I had over 40 radio stations in the US playing the song. It was Pick Of The Week in one of the radio stations in New York.
You seem to be big in the US and not yet at home.
I am signed to Asanda Empires – a record label based in the us and that relationship opened doors for me overseas.
Who have you worked with?
I have been featured on a Snoop Dogg song with B Taylor – that is not my song, but I am a feature. I also featured on a song with Flo Rida and B Taylor. My music will have surprise acts which will be announced very soon, but big international artists.
What were you doing before the music?
I was an actress. I had quite a few prominent roles. But my passion has always been the music. I have been working, silently, building behind the scenes. I have always dreamt of being a musician, but never expected my debut to be this massive.
About Moya
Nomoya Refiloe Dube, known professionally as Moya, is a South African musician and actress. She got discovered by the label when she did a feature with one of Asanda Empires artists in 2023. Since then, she’s been in talks about joining the label, but due to her acting career, she was busy shooting a TV series at the time. Which meant she officially and fully joined the label in the year 2024.
Social Media:
IG: @moya_top_brigadier_
