Apple Music has selected Cape Town based Hip-Hop artist Dope Saint Jude as the Apple Music’s New Artist Spotlight for November, which coincides with the release of her brand-new EP, Resilient which is now on Apple Music.

As a young girl growing up in the Cape Flats, there wasn’t much a child could do to shape their own destiny, but no one can ever stop you from escaping your surroundings through music.

Having taught herself to play the guitar when she was 12 years old, Dope Saint Jude also started writing poetry to accompany her music. She never thought she would end up making music professionally, but the more she explored performance, the more it became clear to her that it is the only thing she is passionate about.

Fast track to the present, Dope Saint Jude has worked hard to become a rap kingpin and producer, whose music has become a soundtrack for feminist inclusivity, acceptance and empowerment. Her latest EP entitled, Resilient, is a major departure from her, incorporating the works of other producers and introducing different sounds linked by a common theme…resilience.

The tracks featuring on the new EP are inspired by her journey over the last two years. Having suffered a great personal loss during that time, the new tracks celebrates the strength we need to get through difficult times, reflecting the vulnerability that comes with moving forward after suffering. She worked closely with London based producers, Pete ‘Boxsta’ Martin and Dantae Johnson on the new 5-track EP which includes the songs; Who I Am, Grrrl Like, Liddy, Didn’t Come To Play and Inside.

Her music has been described as confrontational, unapologetic and assertive, challenging the status quo and breaking down the exclusion of marginalised people and groups. She is a serious advocate for LGBTQ issues and the continued fight to build strong communities of empowered women.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have been chosen as the Apple Music’s New Artist Spotlight for November. I am so happy that I will be able to reach more people through this amazing platform and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity. I have realized that my young and growing audience appreciate authenticity and I know they support me in my pursuit of fulfilment.”

Apple Music’s New Artist Spotlight is an artist development campaign where a light is shone on a new South African artist each month, giving them four weeks of editorial support across the Apple Music ecosystem as a Hero artist, inclusion in the Mzansi Hits Room and key Apple Music playlists such as The A-List: South Africa, Mzansi Hip-Hop, Best of the Week and more.

Previous South African artists to have benefited from the Apple Music’s New Artist Spotlight campaign include: Darkie Fiction, A Year On Earth, Dutchkid, Emerger, Thandi Ntuli, The Big Hash, Diamond Thug, Sun-El Musician, Shekhinah, Shane Eagle, Elandre, Sketchy Bongo, Amanda Black, Babes Wodumo, Sipho The Gift, Johnny Cradle, Tholwana, Lucy Kruger, Moonga K, Josh Kempen and Alice Phoebe Lou.

With over 50 million songs, Apple Music offers a free 3-month trial with no commitment and is ad-free. Apple Music is available on iPhone and iPad and also for download from Google Play for Android devices