Bullied as a child, soft-spoken by nature and inspired by hip hop’s greatest storytellers, Taurin is stepping into the spotlight with a debut EP that promises substance over spectacle
GOSEGO MOTSUMI
Botswana’s hip hop scene has no shortage of lyricists. But every so often, an artist arrives with something harder to fake than bars: perspective.
Meet Taurin.
The 32-year-old rapper, born Refiloe Sasa Chaka, is preparing to introduce herself to audiences at a listening session for her debut EP, Code of Conduct, on July 9 at La Parada, Molapo Crossing. While the project marks her first full body of work, Taurin insists this isn’t simply an EP launch, it’s the beginning of a conversation about identity, purpose and the stories that shape us.
FROM SILENCE TO STORYTELLING
Before rap, there was poetry.
Before confidence, there was a young girl searching for a voice.
“Growing up, I was bullied and extremely soft spoken, so writing became a safe place for me to express myself,” Taurin told Time Out.
That safe place expanded after discovering Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., whose fearless storytelling transformed poetry into possibility. Rap became her new language, while “Taurin”—inspired by her Taurus zodiac sign—grew into the woman and artist she was becoming.
She said: “My goal is not simply to participate in Botswana’s hip hop culture. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to it.”
MORE THAN A RAPPER
Taurin refuses to squeeze herself into the industry’s familiar boxes.
“I’ve never approached hip hop trying to compete with men or trying to fit into expectations of what a female rapper should be,” she said.
Instead, she leans into her lived experiences as a woman, mother and entrepreneur, believing authenticity is an artist’s greatest competitive advantage. “Perspective is one thing no artist can copy.”
A DEBUT WITH PURPOSE
Appropriately titled Code of Conduct, the EP explores values, boundaries and identity rather than chasing fleeting trends.
“I wanted to create something honest, intentional and timeless rather than chase trends or moments,” she explained.
When listeners gather at La Parada this week, Taurin hopes they leave knowing one thing above all else.
“I hope people walk away understanding that Taurin is more than a rapper. I’m a storyteller first.”
For an artist making her formal introduction, that’s a memorable first impression.