It's the second installment of our Hip Hop Fridays review with guest writer Zole Moloi.

This week Zole breaks down B3NCHMARQ's video for their latest single, entitled Bonang.

Here's what the hip hop textbook had to say about the song...

Newcomers B3NCHMARQ have released the visuals for their controversial single “Bonang”, and that has left a lot of people wondering if the song is about Queen B herself, Bonang Matheba, or just a song about a random girl named Bonang? 

It really isn’t clear. This is hot on the heels of their label mate EmTee’s recent release “Pearl Thusi”, a conspicuous ode to the ever vocal radio personality, presenter, model, and apparent Bonang Matheba hater. 

So is this a coincidence or a strategic move by the Ambitiouz Entertainment stable to capitalise on the rivalry we’ve seen brewing between the two ladies? 

Me thinks it is a ploy by the burgeoning company to create industry buzz and for their new acts to trend around these here interweb streets.

That isn’t a bad strategy, given today’s nature of pushing music, especially if the ‘talent’ leaves much to be desired; latch on to the latest ‘whatever’s popping’, sprinkle some slick phrases over a beat, add a good measure of turn up juice in a styrofoam cup, and voila, you’ve got a recipe for a potential hit. But maybe that’s just me?

Back to the video.

Aesthetically, it is a simply shot video that has three primary scenes captured in what looks like a warehouse and a studio set. 

Read the first installment of Hip Hop Fridays here

It is to the point and uncluttered; focussing squarely on the two rappers, and obviously the video vixen playing the role of ‘Bonang’. The video features B3NCHMARQ’s other label mate, Fifi Cooper, who can be seen dabbing with the duo as they lament their love interest’s infidelities and subsequent break-up.  

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Even though the visuals are not necessarily compelling and captivating, this no frills, no fuss approach works here. Anything more would’ve been overkill. 

Except one thing: Bonang Matheba being in the video. Surely that would’ve been a coup for the group as much as it was for EmTee with Pearl? Maybe they couldn’t get her to agree, maybe she didn’t want to be associated with further comparisons? The speculation is endless. Or maybe, just maybe, the song isn’t about the Queen B at all….or is it? 

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Image Credit: Instagram @B3nchmarq