Joshua Gillespie, better known by his stage name Brotha Asè, is a multi-dimensional artist — a third-generation griot, storyteller, and hip-hop visionary. As the grandson of Vusumuzi and Nothando Zulu, Brotha Asè grew up steeped in the rich tradition of African folktales, oral history, and ancestral wisdom.
Drawing from that legacy, he crafts both music and narrative with deep intention. His storytelling work includes original tales like “My Soul Space”, and soulful tracks like “Throw It Up” and “Riders”, all of which offer different vibes for a deep compelling listen.
In his music, Brotha Asè blends that storyteller’s heart with a contemporary hip-hop sensibility. His single “Throw It Up” showcases introspective lyricism, confident flows, and a creative energy rooted in his heritage.
At his core, Brotha Asè believes that stories are “seeds from the divine tree of life,” helping people grow into the fullest version of themselves. With each song and story, he weaves together ancestral tradition and modern expression — building a legacy not only in music but in the powerful, generational art of storytelling.
Brotha Asè is quickly emerging as one of the most culturally rooted voices in today’s hip-hop landscape. Blending the traditions of his griot lineage with a modern artistic perspective, he creates stories that feel both ancestral and urgently current. His work stands at the intersection of music, folklore, and lived experience — a reminder that hip-hop’s most powerful evolution has always come from artists willing to honor the past while pushing the culture forward.
Follow Brotha Asè on Instagram and be sure to check his music out on his Spotify profile and Hip Hop TXL’s latest playlists!