www.instagram.com/stiffpap/
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FADER premiere of TUFF TIME$ NEVER LAST (Official Film):
www.thefader.com/2021/06/24/stiff-pap-tuff-times-never-last-short-film?

New York Times tracks of the week: www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/arts/music/playlist-her-tyler-the-creator.html

Afropunk - TUFF TIME$ photo essay : afropunk.com/2021/06/tuff-time-never-last-a-grimm-story-of-joburg-in-pictures-told-by-stiff-pap-tatenda-chidora/

Stiff Pap announce their most accomplished project yet, TUFF TIME$, an intensely vivid snapshot of life as young black men in Johannesburg, set to the backdrop of a global pandemic that continues to rage on a local level. Showcasing the entire spectrum of their sound, from punked-out rap bangers such as ‘SASSA’, to the expansive dreamlands of ‘I See You’, to the clever integration of traditional sounds in ‘Riders On The Storm’, this project sees them stake their claim as one of the most groundbreaking and engaging acts to come from the African continent.

Following their journey, rising in the music scene and moving to Johannesburg in pursuit of their dreams, TUFF TIME$ is a semi-autobiographical story of rebellious black youth in Johannesburg’s inner city - rebelling against a broken system that South Africa’s born free generation has inherited. Growing up in an era of great hope for the new post-apartheid South Africa, Stiff Pap’s abrasive expression aims to disrupt all perceptions of Mandela’s “rainbow nation”, opening a conversation rooted in post-colonial discourse. In a time where global economies are strained, living as young black artists in the most unequal country in the world provides a sense of urgency to Stiff Pap’s rage and TUFF TIME$ serves as a rallying call for radical change. The story is told through the lens of Stiff Pap’s ever-growing multi-faceted audio-visual universe, touching on issues such as classism, racism and economic inequality as well as the fears of being a young ambitious artist held back by a system designed to disenfranchise you. Through this journey the duo finds healing, struggle and perseverance, fueled by the hope instilled in them by the generations who fought for their freedom and their undying commitment to their craft and each other.

At the forefront of African electronic music innovation, Stiff Pap - AKA Ayema Problem and Jakinda - are mixing a progressive global electronic sound with localised African lyrics and rhythms. Making a name for themselves locally, they are leading the way in an alternative music scene, whilst managing to stay independent with their uncompromising self-expression. 2021 is the year they hit the global stage.