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Fifi Cooper

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Fifi Cooper
Fifi Cooper in 2024
Background information
Birth nameRefilwe Boingotlo Moeketsi
Also known asMotswako First lady
Born (1991-10-24) 24 October 1991 (age 33)
Montshiwa, Mahikeng, North West, South Africa[1]
GenresMotswako, R&B, hip hop
Occupation(s)singer-songwriter, rapper
InstrumentVocals
Years active2008–present
Labels

Refilwe Boingotlo Moeketsi (born 24 October 1991), known professionally as Fifi Cooper is a South African recording artist.[2][3] Fifi Cooper started her music career as an R&B singer before her musical versatility saw her release her breakthrough rap single "Chechela Morago" in 2010.[4] In 2015, she released her award-winning debut studio album 20FIFI.[5][6]

Early life and education

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Fifi Cooper is the last of three children. She had her early education in Montshiwa, Mahikeng, South Africa, where she also harnessed her ability in singing and dancing. She completed her secondary school education at Batswana High School, Mahikeng and her higher education at Boston Media House where she studied Media.[7][8]

Career

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2008–2014: Early beginnings

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Fifi Cooper began singing at the age of 8 while in primary school; participating in various social extra-curricula activities. She professionally started her music career in 2008 when she made a guest appearance on Mo'Molemi's Motzamai: Rebel With a Pause album. Her breakthrough however came in 2010 following the release of her single titled "Chechela Morago", a rap song that received massive airplay and did well to gain her new grounds in the South African music industry.[9][10] Fifi Cooper also made vocal appearances in the remix of AKA's "Baddest Remix" single, Mo'Molemi's album titled Asia, Khuli Chana's Lost in Time and Lection's Gentlemen's Club.[7]

2015–2019: 20FIFI

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Main article: 20FIFI

In 2015, Fifi Cooper signed a recording contract with Ambitiouz Entertainment, a South Africa-based record label. In early 2015, she released an AB Crazy-produced song titled "Kisses". The music video for "Kisses" was directed by Dino Benedetti and was released on YouTube on 24 May 2015.

On 13 November 2015, Fifi Cooper released 20FIFI, her debut studio album which won three awards at the 15th Metro FM Music Awards[11] and was further nominated in the "Best Newcomer of The Year" and "Best Female Artist of The Year" categories at the 2nd edition of the South African Music Awards.[12]

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In February 2017, Fifi Cooper departed from Ambitiouz Entertainment along with A-Reece and the hip hop duo B3nchMarQ.[13][14] Following Cooper's departure from Ambitiouz, a court case ensued in which the label successfully sued her for copyright infringement. The Johannesburg High Court ruled that Cooper no longer had ownership of the songs she recorded under the label and ordered her to either return or delete all copies of the material. Additionally, she was required to pay damages and cover the legal costs of the case. This legal action stemmed from Cooper’s resignation without obtaining a clearance certificate, leaving her unable to use or perform her own music.[15] In the aftermath, Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), intervened after learning of Fifi Cooper’s legal dispute with Ambitiouz Entertainment. Viewing the case as a systemic injustice, the EFF supported Cooper and negotiated an out-of-court settlement. This agreement restored her rights to perform her music and continue her career. Malema framed the intervention as a stand against inequity rather than a personal endorsement of the artist.[15]

2020-present

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After the departure from Ambitiouz, she founded her own record label Mo Cooper Records and later released her first album. The 21 track album titled "Take Me Back" which includes songs such as "Freedom & "Zwagala", features the likes of Thabsie, Moozlie, Towdeemac and Leon Lee.[16]

In November 2020, Fifi Cooper released her first single "Net So" off of her upcoming 2021 album titled Chapters. The music video for "Net So" which was shot by Mo Cooper Visuals, is also written & directed by The Boss Lady herself. On 11 March 2021, her single "Motlogeleng" was released.[17]

Artistry

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Regarded by the local media as the "Motswako first lady", Fifi Coopers' musical versatility can see her rap and sing. Credited as the vocalist on Khuli Chana's hit single "Mnatebawen", she does the hip hop and Motswako genres of music.[18] In an interview with YoMzansi, Fifi Cooper describes her style of rap as "unpredictable, punchy and hearty".[19]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details
20FIFI
Take Me Back
  • Released: 2018
  • Label: MoCooper Records
  • Format: digital download

As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ZA
"Truth or Dare 2.0" 2016 —
"Stop (Coke Studio South Africa: Season 2)" (Fifi Cooper, Ryki) —
"Phambili" —
"Take Me Back" 2017 —
"Zwagala" (featuring Obakeng Moribe) 2018 —
"Net So" 2020 —
"Motlogeleng" 2021 —
"Ngeke" (featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu) 2023 —
"Running" (featuring Swift1520) —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Personal life

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Fifi Cooper is a single mother, she has a son named Resego.[18]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award ceremony Prize Work/Recipient Result Ref
2015 15th Metro FM Music Awards Best Newcomer Herself Won [21]
Best Produced Album 20FIFI Won [21]
Best Female Album Won [22]
2016 22nd South African Music Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Nominated [23]
Female Artist of the Year Nominated [23]
2023 Basadi in Music Awards Hip Hop Artist of the Year "Ngeke" featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu Nominated [24][25]

[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Fifi Cooper Biography". amdb.co. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. ^ https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2023-03-01-where-has-fifi-cooper-been-star-explains-her-absence-from-spotlight/ [bare URL]
  3. ^ therealntokozo (29 January 2016). "'NO WITCHCRAFT FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER' – FIFI COOPER". QuenchSA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  4. ^ "TOP 10 THING'S YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT FIFI COOPER". SA Hip Hop Magazine. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  5. ^ Dayile, Qhama (28 February 2016). "#MMA15: Best Female Album winner is Fifi Copper – '20FIFI'". The Edge Search. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  6. ^ Dayile, Qhama (11 April 2016). "Ambitiouz artists on the rise". DRUM Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Fifi Cooper: An interview with Motswako's 1st lady of raps". Hye Magazine. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  8. ^ Madibogo, Julia (1 October 2015). "Fifi Cooper: First lady of motswako". Sunday World. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  9. ^ Pantsi, Nandipha (9 February 2016). "MTV reveals SA's hottest newcomers". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  10. ^ Gaetsewe, Dyaelle (28 February 2016). "Fifi Cooper a rising star in SA music industry". South African Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  11. ^ Phathi, Dineho (2 March 2016). "Fifi Cooper wins BIG at #MMA15". Independent Online. Retrieved 29 May 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Newcomers Fifi Cooper, Nathi and Emtee lead 2016 SAMAs nomination list". Sunday World. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  13. ^ "Shocker! Top rappers Fifi Cooper, B3nchmarq and A Reece Leave Ambitiouz". The Citizen. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Breaking!!! Fifi Cooper, B3nchMarQ And A -Reece Leaves Ambitiouz Ent… Fifi Unveils Own Record Label". ZATrends. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  15. ^ a b Mambana, Duenna (5 July 2018). "Malema On Fifi Cooper: We Couldn't Sit Back And Watch Injustice Prevail". Huffington Post. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  16. ^ Bambalele, Patience (26 March 2021). "Fifi Cooper on starting her own record label, touring Africa and a new single". Sowetan LIVE.
  17. ^ "Fifi Cooper Drops Motlogeleng Off Her Upcoming Album! - Mgosi". Mgosi. 9 March 2021.
  18. ^ a b Tjiya, Emmanuel (23 September 2015). "Fifi Cooper: Hip hop's next big thing". Sowetan Live. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  19. ^ "INTERVIEW WITH: Fifi Cooper talks new upcoming EP". YoMzansi. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  20. ^ "20Fifi by Fifi Cooper". 13 November 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Emtee, Fifi Cooper, Nathi win big at Metro FM Awards". The Chronicle. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Emtee, Nathi, Fifi Cooper rule Metro Awards". South African Broadcasting Corporation. 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  23. ^ a b Klein, Alyssa (21 April 2016). "#SAMA22: The Nominees for the 2016 South African Music Awards (SAMAs)". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  24. ^ Rhode, Jade (30 June 2023). "Here are the 2023 nominees for the Basadi in Music Awards".
  25. ^ "Basadi in Music Awards returns for second year — Here are the nominees". TimesLIVE.
  26. ^ Digital, Drum. "Basadi in Music Awards back to celebrate more women artists and creatives, with new categories". Drum.
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