Eon The Menace Introduces Himself to Hip-Hop with The Release of “Picasso”
At the time of this interview, Eon The Menace (born Neo Hlanyane) is just 17 years old. His EP “Picasso” would lead you to believe otherwise, but the South African artist is just getting started.
The 5-track EP is heavy on the lyrics, and much lighter on the pleasantries. Eon admits that the subject matter is in some parts reflective of his real life and in others, aspirational. He shares his thoughts on the state of the music industry in South Africa, his dreams for the next 12 months, and what excites him most in our interview below.
This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.
Jade Kelly: Who is Eon The Menace?
Eon: I’m a 17-year-old artist from Bloemfontein in South Africa, and I’ve always had a passion for music. I started writing in grade 8 [which is when] I started to take it seriously. At 16, I released my first single and people loved it-so that’s what pushed me [to make this project].
You’re in the process of developing your sound as an artist right now, what does that look like?
I’ve always been a person who loves loud and vibey music, and this influenced my process. I’d like to think of myself as more of a trap artist who gets you [moving] but also delivers strong lyrics in every song.
Who are you inspired by right now?
Artists like JID to be honest the way he hops on a song really gets me going. [More] recently I’ve been getting a lot of inspiration from Lucasraps who I think is the one of the best at the moment-I’d love to hop on a song with him.
As someone who’s just coming up, what are your thoughts on the state of the music industry in South Africa?
I think South Africa is very limited when it comes to making room for new talent. [With regards to] information to help emerging artists develop their sound and integrate, I think there is still a lot to be done.
Where do you see yourself in one year from now?
I’d really love to perform at Cotton Fest-it’s what I consider to be the biggest event int he country, especially for artists who are just coming up.
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