Local rapper pays tribute to gun-violence victims

A LOCAL lyricist rapper is using his talents and platform to write songs about people who have lost their lives to gun violence.

Yung Dtrey, 29, told the Daily Voice that he enjoys storytelling and that two of his friends were killed two years ago which motivated him to tell stories of people and share them on his social media platforms.

Dtrey says: “It started out when I wrote birthday songs for the small fans that I had and rhymed their names of where they stay which kind of tells a story of where they come from.

“When I make the videos I usually get approached by people, the only story I did out of my own was the Joshlin Smith case because it was a big case.”

The rapper who asked not to disclose where he is from said he has been rapping for 20 years and has been telling stories for 10 years, all while having a full-time job.

Dtrey added he is aware that his songs or stories may not be chart-toppers, but he assures mense that it comes from a good place and does not monetise on making the songs.

The talented klopper adds: “I don’t expose anyone who may have killed these victims, I just say their name and write on the information the person gives. 

“If someone gets killed I normally make a song for people around the world to know what is happening in the Cape Flats.

"People who criticise me saying I sound, I just say that I am doing from a good heart and do it as a favour not for the views and if the family likes it I’m not worried what people say.

“It’s not my intention to make money off of the videos. I only tell these stories, because I grew up in a community where people get shot and die in front of me, but their stories never get told.”

He added that the process takes an hour to write a song or story after he gets information on the person.

Dtrey has written songs about Cwecwe, who was allegedly raped in October 2024, Sarah Bathii who committed suicide after being bullied and many more.