Biography of Rouge (Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi)

Rouge, whose real name is Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi, was born on September 13, 1992, in Pretoria, Gauteng. She comes from a Congolese background, with both her parents being born in Congo. Rouge discovered her passion for music at a young age, starting to write songs at just 12 years old. Alongside her interest in music, she also dabbled in acting, public speaking, and poetry. It wasn’t until she turned 19 that she began rapping, encouraged by a friend to rap over her own R&B compositions. She pursued her education at the University of Pretoria, where she completed a degree in Drama & Film.

Rouge

Facts
Birth name	Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi
Born	13 September 1992 (age 31) Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Origin	Pretoria
Genres	Hip Hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper Singer Author Television Presenter
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Sony Music Warner Music South Africa

Career

Rouge’s music career kicked off in December 2014 with the release of her second single, “Mi Corazon,” featuring rapper BigStar Johnson, following her debut single, “Party.” She gained further recognition when she was featured alongside other female rappers in the remix of AKA’s song “Baddest.” In 2016, Rouge released “Mbongo Zaka” featuring Moozlie, which became her breakout hit, topping charts on major radio stations across South Africa. Her talent didn’t go unnoticed, and she was acknowledged as one of the best female rappers in Africa by hip hop website Creative-hiphop, alongside artists like Nadia Nakai and Eno Barony.

2014–2016: Beginnings

• In December 2014, Rouge released her second single “Mi Corazon,” featuring rapper BigStar Johnson, following her debut single, “Party.”
• The following year, rapper AKA featured Rouge alongside other female rappers in the remix of his song “Baddest.”
• In 2016, Rouge released the song “Mbongo Zaka” featuring Moozlie, which gained her prominence as it topped charts on all major radio stations across South Africa.
• She was recognized as one of the best female rappers in Africa by hip hop website Creative-hiphop in 2017, alongside fellow South African Nadia Nakai and Ghanaian rapper Eno Barony.
• In October 2016, Rouge served as one of the mentors on the Vuzu reality game show “The Coalition” and participated in the MTV Base Cyphers in the “New Skool” category.

2017–present: The New Era Sessions

• Rouge released her debut album “The New Era Sessions” on September 8, 2017, debuting at no. 2 on the local iTunes charts.
• On September 15, 2017, she premiered the short film for the album, serving as a video anthology and drama, which aired on MTV Base.
• The album produced five singles, including “Mbongo Zaka” and “Dololo.”
• The visual album won several accolades, including a South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film and a South African Music Award for Best Music Video of the Year.
• In 2018, Rouge became the presenter for SABC 1 music show Remix SA and participated as one of the deciders for candy company Halls SA’s hashtag competition HallsOMFCC.
• On March 14, 2019, Rouge announced signing with Sony Music South Africa, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Highlights

Rouge’s career continued to soar as she took on roles as a mentor on the Vuzu reality game show “The Coalition” in October 2016. She also showcased her skills on the MTV Base Cyphers in the “New Skool” category in 2017. However, her biggest milestone came with the release of her debut album “The New Era Sessions,” which not only received critical acclaim but also earned her a South African Film and Television Award for Best Micro Budget Film, thanks to the accompanying short film.

Rouge’s journey in the music industry is a testament to her talent and determination, and she continues to make waves as a rapper, author, and television presenter.

Album

Tracklist: The New Era Sessions (2017)

1. Intro – Producer: Wichi 1080
2. Underrated – Producer: Nizi (Kids Of Crackling)
3. Celebrity – Producer: Mae N. Maejor / K-Beatz
4. Let It Go – Producer: Lionel Soulchildren
5. Déjà Vu – Producer: Ron Epidemic
6. No Pressure – Producer: Ron Epidemic
7. Dololo (feat. Bigstar) – Producers: Mae N. Maejor / K-Beatz / Additional production by Ron Epidemic
8. Arumtumtum – Producers: Mae N. Maejor / Wichi 1080
9. Naledi – Producers: Mae N. Maejor / Wichi 1080
10. The Breakup – Producer: Wichi 1080
11. Simon Says (feat. Kly & Shasha) – Producer: Wichi 1080
12. No Strings – Producer: Mae N. Maejor
13. Mbongo-Zaka (feat. Moozlie) – Producer: Tweezy
14. Sheba Ngwan O – Producer: Wichi 1080
15. Mabele – Producers: Mae N. Maejor / K-Beatz / Additional production by Wichi 1080

Single

1. Bazigally – Producer: Wichi 1080
2. Popular (feat. Emtee) – Producer: Tweezy
3. No Cap (Freestyle) – Producer: Wichi 1080
4. One By One (feat. AKA) – Producer: Tweezy
5. Popular Remix (feat. Costa Titch, Hanna, Blxckie & Tumi Tladi) – Producer: Not Applicable (N/A)
6. WAG (WhatsApp Group) (feat. Sarkodie & Youssoupha) – Producer: Not Applicable (N/A)

Awards and Nominations:

2017:

• South African Hip Hop Awards: Won Best Female Artist.
• South African Hip Hop Awards: Nominated for Freshman of the Year (Newcomer).

2018:

• South African Film and Television Awards: Won Best Micro Budget Film Award for “New Era Sessions.”
• South African Music Awards: Won Best Music Video of the Year for “Arumtumtum.”
• South African Music Awards: Nominated for Best Hip Hop Album for “The New Era Sessions.”
• South African Music Awards: Nominated for Best Newcomer of the Year for “The New Era Sessions.”
• SABRE Awards Africa: Won Best Southern Africa PR Campaign for “New Era Sessions – Rouge.”
• SABRE Awards Africa: Won Best Corporate Image for “New Era Sessions – Rouge.”
• SABRE Awards Africa: Nominated for Platinum Award for “New Era Sessions – Rouge.”
• All Africa Music Awards: Nominated for Best Female Southern Africa.
• All Africa Music Awards: Nominated for Best African Lyricist/Rapper.
• All Africa Music Awards: Nominated for Best African Dance/Choreography for “Arumtumtum.”