Artist Jeranimo From Wellington Shares His Music Journey

At 22 years old, Jeranimo Van Wyk has already lived through multiple phases of self-discovery, creative exploration, and resilience. He was born on 12 July 2003 in Grabouw, where he spent his entire childhood. Jeranimo’s earliest influences came from Afrikaans music and local rap groups that sparked his love for the art form.

In 2014, when he was in Grade 5 at Kathleen Murray Primary School, he and his cousin Jade David began listening to groups like Wolfpak, Cream Machine, and Klein Duiwel. By 2015 and 2016, they were exposed to their own hometown rappers, namely Y.C.S.B, W.C, and Tsepzee. The cousins then decided to form their first rap group called C4L (Cousins For Life), which later evolved into N.S.K (Non Stop Killers) with new additional members. Jeranimo performed under the name KingJayV before changing it to Rompi-G.

By 2017, he shifted into dance, joining a group called Blurrr Gang, which was inspired by Ayo and Theo, before later forming The Future Reverse Kings (and Queens) with friends. But Jeranimo stepped away from music and dance when the group split, while his cousin continued in English rap.

His passion started again in 2020, when Jeranimo, his cousin Leandro Wilson, and friend Miguel Theunis formed the dance crew Homeboys, inspired by the Jabbawockeez. This period also marked the birth of the idea that would define his brand, called B.A.A.S (Boss At All Stages).

By 2022, Jeranimo returned to music as an independent artist under the B.A.A.S. movement. What began as an attempt to break out of his introverted shell quickly became a career path. “I just started making music again to get out of my comfort zone and then realised I actually have a talent,” he says.

Today, Jeranimo describes himself as a versatile artist whose style blends catchy hooks, emotional storytelling, and hard-hitting rap. “My sound is unique, and I deliver music that resonates on all levels,” he explains. However, His journey, hasn’t been without challenges. As a naturally quiet person, he initially struggled to share his music publicly. He also notes that while strangers often show him more support, some people he knows personally have been less encouraging. Still, he embraces these experiences as part of his growth.

Most of his songs reflect on his journey. One of his meaningful tracks is ‘Timezone’, which he wrote during his battle with depression and tells the story of a shy student finding his voice. Another song is ‘WEN’, which is a declaration that he will succeed in the rap game no matter what, while also representing his B.A.A.S philosophy. Another song is ‘Op pad’, which is about staying focused on the path to success despite criticism, while his other song ‘Fake Sh*t’ is an emotional track about overcoming his first heartbreak.

For Jeronimo, music is only one part of his vision. His B.A.A.S movement is a platform for young people to showcase their talents, from music and dance to fashion, photography, content creation and more. “Being a B.A.A.S means being your own boss, no matter your situation,” he says. “It’s a mindset. Depression? You can fight that. Overthinking? A boss mindset helps you overcome it. Gangsterism? That’s not being a B.A.A.S. Be your own boss.”

Now he is based in Wellington, Jeranimo balances his studies with his music career. He spends two days a week at the office and the rest focusing on recording, writing, and planning his next moves. He is currently working on new projects and has already started receiving invitations to perform at shows. 

His dream is to grow his career while building a legacy through B.A.A.S. “If my time runs out, I want people to remember me as someone who went out as a B.A.A.S.,” he said.

For him, music is not just about streams and views. It’s about inspiring the next generation. “This life is challenging and surprising,” he says. “But with the B.A.A.S. mindset, we can all win.”