Meet Jo Black… a South African Afrikaans hipster who’s first single and music video ever, is going viral internationally.
His new single… which is also his first, has just surpassed Karen Zoid on the South African iTunes downloads plus the music video has almost a million views, in just a matter of days.
It would seem that Jo Black is becoming an online sensation due to him breaking all Afrikaans music stereotypes with his full arm tattoos, hipster looks and rocker sounds but we believed that there was more to his story.
And we were right.
They say that our behavior reflects our environment. In most cases this is true, and Black was no exception.
It would defeat his purpose to deny his past, but it is in his past that his courage is born. As humans we are all too aware of our own inner turmoil, even through our personal need for connection we are blinded by it.
This is where Black earned the title of teacher and role model.
Born Jo Engelbrecht, the talented singer grew up in Pretoria North and started working straight after school.
He ran his own construction company where, for approximately 8 years, he built everything from roads and bridges, to hospitals and houses.
Black soon realised that there is more to life than just work, and things took a turn for him. He called it living an unsustainable lifestyle.
The Afrikaans hipster will tell you, the only thing that is significant in being driven to your knees by an unsustainable lifestyle, is the overwhelming discovery of your power there.
“From the ashes of a life that would render the majority of us clinically insane, I made the choice to rise into responsibility for myself so that I may gain the strength and self-respect to take care of those closest to me.”
But he did not stop there, he couldn’t.
Black started a concept in January this year called ‘Be That Guy‘… an initiative that saw him engaging with more than 150 schools all over South Africa in an effort to create a chain of honour, ethics, respect and integrity among the youth.
The message of the “Be that Guy” campaign is that one needs to stand up for what is right and that it is “cool” and acceptable to stand firm in one’s faith and to live according to one’s moral values.
That journey, of starting “Be That Guy” and all lifes experiences have led him to a space where he realised that he could use singing – a medium that he loves – to continue inspiring those around him.
His first song ‘Skepe’ which he released a couple of days ago is going viral internationally… even though its in Afrikaans!
The song is about the hope that we all stand for… a beautiful message delivered with well written lyrics and an incredible performance. It is also the first single on his upcoming album, and after listening to the song, we cannot wait to hear the rest of what Jo Black has to offer.
By the way the video is being shared and liked… it seems the world can’t wait either!
Watch the full video below:
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Great stuff Jo Black en jou boodskap aan jong mense absoluut great!!
Well done. Jo Black (Engelbregt) as a pupil bred at “Pretoria-Noord Hoërskool” we are proud of you. I made the comment in English so that everyone could understand. Our school is all about Christian morals and it shows that it remained part of your person. May God bless your carreer.
Hi
How about a concert in werlkom?
After live shop at the Poison, I was hooked.
We saw Jo Black on Noot vir Noot last night and were so impressed by his range of songs and rich voice. So good to read today more about him. Someone making a difference. Thank you.
Hi Jo,
My child was born and raised in Pta-North (Lucas Meyer Street 786. She is now in a rehab for a year.
Is it possible to go to the rehab to give them a talk to uplift them please
Goeiedag
Ek wil graag meer uitvind oor be that guy. My seun is in gr 8 en besef net elke dag met was se elemente hulle gekonfronteer word elke sag. Daar is verskeie elemente soos dwelms + boelie. Kry hierdie kinder so vreeslik jammer, het n paar wke terug n selfmoord pogging by skool gehad en d kids besef net ni wat hulle aan d arme kind gedoen het ni, sy wil maar net hoort……
Ek wil weet of daar nog plek is vi 2018 en kostes.
Baie dankie
Wanda Scallliet
0836311399