Khaligraph Jones's story has never been fully told. To understand this brutal force of nature in the music business, you must have a peek at his past.

The rapper who has become one of Africa's biggest stars has made a name for himself using his street smarts and pure grit.

"I come from humble beginnings. I came from something, but it was nothing compared to the standards that I have set right now.

Many people see me and make assumptions based on their first, second and even third perception they have of me.

Their first perception of Khaligraph is that I come from a well off background. Like I'm a rich kid. But that is not really the case.

I was born and raised in Kayole, from preschool all the way to high school I was in Kayole. Basically that is where my history with schooling ended.

After high school, I never attended any university or college. Not because I did not want to but it was because of the circumstances at that particular point.

What were your dreams back then?

"I was just dreaming of...you know, back in those days, the circumstances were different. Right now, if you ask me what I'm dreaming of, I will tell you, 'Five years from now, I want to have built a very successful empire. I want to have started initiatives in places where I come from or the youth. Back then, I did not even have bus fare to go to gigs or even money for food. Our dreams were, 'Man, what I would do to get a plate of chips and chicken."

"Our dreams were very limited until time progressed and our perspectives broadened that is when we began to understand life. But at that time we did not have dreams men. We just wanted to eat and live good and buy good clothes."

What does your mum have to say about your music?

My mum loves my music. She is a staunch Christian, loves the Lord and is in the ministry. She is a pastor. Yes, she loves my music but she loves the songs where I'm singing, not rapping. She loves my single Kasayole. Anytime, I'm singing she gets fascinated by that. She is a fan.