Selekwa

Selekwa was born in Ottawa Ontario and raised by his single mother. He is the youngest of five children. His background roots extend from French Canadian and African (Tanzania). As a youngster, he was often told that the name his mother chose for him, Joseph Benac, had a higher purpose while his father's side of the family called him Selekwa Mtebe, or Treasured Child, which most certainly describes this truly gifted and talented artist.

Selekwas unique sound is natural, soft, raw and raspy, which easily captivates and spell bounds his audience. His urban / hip-hop style is fresh and original. Selekwa sees music as an integral element of existence but also notes its importance of communication as well as entertainment. Through his music, Selekwa opens ones mind up to purity of feeling as well as uncompromising ideas.

Growing up, Selekwa listened to different genres of music, however; he was fascinated by and drawn to hip-hop. At the young age of 12 he began writing poetry. His friends and family told him he had a natural gift. This encouraged him to begin writing lyrics and music, which in turn allowed him to perform in front of his peers. His ability to write lyrics and music gave Selekwa the opportunity to tell his story and connect with people on a completely different level.

Over the years Selekwa continued to master his skills as a hip-hop artist by joining forces with local artists, releasing multiple mixed tapes and by performing throughout Ontario and Quebec. Despite Selekwas success, he longed to go further with his music. In 2010 he signed with independent record label Ravish Entertainment and began working with Manager / Producer Knuckz on his debut solo project. Soon after they teamed up, Selekwa and Knuckz released Selekwas first single Make You Mine, which caught the attention of one of Canadas leading commercial top 40 radio stations, Hot 89.9 where the song debuted. Subsequently it was played on different Canadian University radio stations, which landed Selekwa a nomination for New Urban Single at the New Music Awards in Barrie Ontario, while selling over 1100 registered units.

In November 2011 Selekwa was one of 12 artists out of hundreds of applicants who were selected to showcase their talent at the 2011 COCA Central Regional Conference in Oakville Ontario. Moreover, in December 2011 Selekwa was awarded his first Much Music video grant for his single We Can Get Around featuring J-Bru. The video was released in March 2012 to Much Music and gained rotation across Canada on Much Vibe. In April 2012 Selekwa was again selected out of hundreds of artists to showcase at the 2012 COCA National Conference, which was held in June in Montreal. Selekwa performed his latest single Mad Hatter with Juno Award Winner Choclair at the conference and received an outstanding response. This showcase will give Selekwa the opportunity to start touring across Canada, bring him much awareness and undoubtedly great popularity.

Since having teamed up with Ravish Entertainment, Selekwa has achieved great success despite the fact that he had yet to release his debut album. His singles alone have allowed him to break into the Canadian music industry at a National level. His highly anticipated debut album Top My Game was released October 10th, 2012 on iTunes. Hot on the heels of Top My Game will come Selekwas sophomore album, which he is currently in the studio recording. His 2nd album will feature some well-known Canadian artists and is sure to get a lot of attention.

Due to his continuous hard work, dedication and perseverance Selekwa is starting to gain noticeable recognition in the Canadian music industry. By giving him the opportunity to be heard on a National and International level, it is evident that Selekwa will achieve even greater success. This extremely talented and young artist will surely break the mold and continue to exceed expectations. Selekwa has a bright and promising future ahead; he is eager and ready to take on the world with his music.