N.A.S.A

Now and still after. Yo, 4rm dat title alone 1 shud be able to c the level of depth these emcees have come up with. Now and still after is a mixtape that has been in the market since mid 2008, fortunately I managed to get my hands this year after having asked around for sol long. Love gained from havin have attained this album, twas worth every cent my Nig.

Most songs are produced by Intro and Mo Catalyst, 2 Vaal natives. As matter of fact this is actually a Vaal Triangle project. Apart from a few tracks most songs are from cats from the Vaal. Beatiful music it is, from the intro done by simple humming 4rm Tshwarelo.  6Feet’s wake up is a track directed @ da true lovers of Hip Hop, sayin it right with lines lyk “ It’s about quitin school/ doin drugs, n admittin u lazy.” The Rhyme Slayer Mr Golden Shovel also has an appearance on this Mixtape with a track called “Divine Fury,” this rhymesmith is never short of punchlines.

A track dat also caught my attention was Poltageist’s “Live on stage,” whereby the dude just lays out the picture of being on stage and enjoyin the vibe (only emces wud truly kno da feeling). Having heard the crew Baleloko perform @ the One 2 album launch 1 was not impressed but I might have to change my views on the crew, maybe they had their bad days on dat day. Baleloko’s track “Baleloko” has an unexpected twist in the mid. What they hav done is not completely new to Hip Hop but I gosta say it was executed beautifully, with both emcees delivering perfectly.

Naked Eye the 1 half of One 2 gives us a beautifully constructed track with phase change alongside Tshwarelo. Truly his love for the art has increased a thousand fold as he asys in the track. The Germ to ther album has to be Tongogara a.k.a Battlecat’s speech. Nig be uttering truth as he tells us dat Love is the basis of all dat is, 4 Now And Still Afta.  Nthabi also lends a rap on the track “Life on the Coluorline” The last track on the album, Mothipa’s “cure for the pain” is a climax to an ever enticing album, n ya’ll know Mothipa for being the ever laid back hard spitter he is.

There are not a lot of disappointments on the album but for X-rate’s Mic Check, mediocre track 4rm the talented emcee and the track by the East Rand natives Sake of Skill. Other tracks dat stand out have to be Mo Catalyst’s “8 days in a week,” 6 Feet & Red Antz’s “finders of lost children,” and the combination of Reason, Golden Shovel  and Mo Catalyst’s on “The Streets” One other Killa track has to be Wizardry’s Celebration. Wizardry discusses the struggle apartheid and how the “now” rich politicians r 4getin dat the sacrifice was not by them only, sad realities. Buy this album. 

Luv Ur Hood

Twas the 25th of September. Yeah homie I still rememba twas not dat long ago. 4 weeks back we had the 2^nd quarterly Luv Ur Hood hip hop session. Was a banger of an event if I must say. Shit, the movement began last year August and it seems to be goin on strong given dat more emcees r showin up to flex their skills. Beautiful youth of Shatale came through in their masses and showed us their love.

Held @ Ga- Kabila car wash Shatale, da session saw a few new emcees breakin their virginity in Shatale. We had these 2 cats that came as far as G-town (Graskop) throwing Swag type rhymes. So much love from the G-twn yung uns. We had our regular emcees rippin the MIC; Masta H lepulana as usual started of the show with his laid back Anthem. We had da conceptual Mr A from Majembeni hit us with his hard rhymes before Vulga G n his Crew serenaded the crowd with their Swati infused songs. Mad work from the brothers.

De ever magnificent Mr Do let the ppl know dat Bushbuckridge is his turf as he hit the masses with freestyle after freestyle before he calmed us down with his “re thoma go yekwa.” Skill in abundance from this young man also hailing from Majembeni, sadly not every ear gets to hear the stories told by these Ghetto fellows.  We had our resident dancers (Grand Hustlers 4rm Shatale) still craving for a battle. The B-Boys 4rm Majembeni tried their luck in challenging the Shatale crew. It was sad how the B-Boyz were slayed, but so-so it was worth a try.  As the day progressed we had H-lay flowing effortlessly on a random beat, as well as Kfbee who is a Shatale native. Black Pearl the only female emcees we have at these sessions also entered the stage to the excitement of the ladies who came in support.

Afta having had an article published on Hype magazine, a crew 4rm Nelspruit (One room Entertainment) read a bit about our movement and they decided dey wud also hit our stage. Sadly due to distance they only managed to get through to da sessions late. The climax of the day was when a random (wana try my luck) emcee decided to battle Mr Do. The battle left everybody in jitters as Mr do ripped the random emcee.

Twas a lovely day overall masked by a few glitches there n ther, The sound has been giving us problems ever since day 1, hoping to better it next time. Till the next session all we gota say is Luv Ur Hood G.

TEN REASONS Y U SHUD PAY ATTENTION 2 MZANSI HIP HOP

a. Da diversity & the authenticity of our diff language makes it all original, unique and 100% Mzansi stylee

b. We’ve got a rich political history and deep cultural background to draw inspiration from.

c. Like our 16yrs democracy, we still new in the game but we making mad waves like tsunami is back again

d. Our country, nation, economy, sports is as developing as the culture of our music and the world eyez are on us

e. We’ve got lyricist dat makes the content and the poetry in the music as pure, original and rich, which makes it hard for the world to ignore

f. We are the ultimate prodigal son behind kwaito and bubble gum

g. This Hip Hop got hammered, beefed and slaughtered form parents, pastors and kwaito fanatics but cats stood their ground until they made the circle bigger

h. It is the next element to the black empowerment strategy without government or Cosatu’s back up

i. Remember Bob & Doc’s ‘get funky’, dats how far we came

j. …and the tenth reason y u shud pay attention to Mzansi Hip Hop is bcuz we(theplatform2.blogspot.com) in it

The Super Women

(The story of National Women’s day and Hip Hop’s own lady Lee Kasumba)

The year was 1956 when Lilian Ngoyi nd Helen Joseph 2gether with other women activist including Albertina Sisulu, from diff races mobilised al women of Mzansi for a march dat will c to change the face history in politics South Africa. It was the courage of these women dat stood nd fought tyrant laws of the prime minister J G Strijdom. More than 20 000 women marched to the Union Building in the capital PTA in protest to an amended Urban Areas Act known as the ‘pass law’. It was a law that required women and men of SA 2 carry the pass (special identification document book) with them always, any where in the country. The petitions left @ the Building signed by more than 10 000 women nd the legendary ‘Wathintabafazi Wathinta imbokodo’ can only mean one thing, women r nd always been the corner stone of our nation, civilisation, freedom nd politics.

It’s been 53 years and yes, its 9th Aug 2010 we are commemorating the day wen our moms, sistas, aunts and grand mothers took to the street in a true soldier style to voice out their state of mind. Theplatform2 is applauding to the struggles dat these women went through to give us such a day to remind us where we coming from as nation and where we going 2 as fathers, mothers, women, children nd future kidz….the Late Mariam Makeba puts bluntly in a song ‘aluta continua’

…and the struggle does continue and one of the women whom I feel honestly she’s carrying the womenship flag very boldly is Lee Kasumba. This young woman, originally frm Uganda is talented, humble, intelligent, outspoken, a Hip Hop fanatic nd she has been @ the fore-front of African Hip Hop for more than a decade now, she’s wat I cal the epitome of modern age female species. Leslie Kasumba, although sometimes I think she’s underrated, makes a day(9th August) like these special, wen I think abt contributors like her in da society, it makes me wanna write, it makes me wanna rap, blog or shout. I wish I was graced with an opportunity 2 interview her. But like they say ‘the route is not 2 the swift nor the battle 4 the strong but time nd chance is given 2 dem al’ so my chance is still coming. Beside her controversial exit frm Y-FM station which she worked for 4 8yrs, Lee has been one of the influential instrument in da media circle. She jumped ship frm working with Bad Boy-T on Harambe to gracing the pages of Y-Mag as an editor nd b’live me u she did an xtraordinary job. Well until the Mag was pulled off from the shelves. I paid my respect 2 Lee as a Hip Hop supporter wen she was on Y station, her knowledge of the musical history and the culture surprised me. Well I guess I wasn’t the only observer cuz she was chosen amongst many to host Channel O’s Sprite Emcee Africa, a programme dat searched and chronicled the best of African Mc’s.4 two seasons she travelled Africa from Niga, to Tanzania to Malawi, Botswana n Uganda listening 2 the best nd worst of Africa’s fine craft of Hip Hop. I envied her job, I marvelled @ her talent, I followed her through the competition xpecially the 1st season. Miss Lee has made a lot of guest appearances in local music vids nd hosted a lot of sessions, events and TV programmes. Did I mention she had work done for the United Nation and also interviewed heavyweights like Dead prez and Mos Def; it’s a pity Y station lost such a young vibrant talent. As someone who embraces da culture of hustling and acknowledges the Hip Hop in us, I say more deservedly, Lee u represent the women in our society, women of da 21st century, u epitomise the ‘u strike a woman u strike a rock mantra’

In respect 2 al the women of this world on this day I say Happy Woman’s day

TUMI – WHOLE WORLDS

1st let me say I respect this nigga, Tumi from the V, is a rapper, he’s not taking chances. The boy is a lyricist, the dude has been rocking the MIC since his days as a spoken word poet, he brazes our stage nd gave us a beautiful album with the rock band the Volume then he took the world on his shoulders as a solo artist. He got me on board, even his critics were silenced. He now collaborates with artist like Shakira n he travels the world showcasing his art. I respect this joint Whole Worlds, it is brewed with consciousness but it came out as commercial project; perfect. It is like brown bread with peanut butter, its not brown bread anymore its peanut butter sandwich. I neva write abt this but ja I guess 2day I will, the cats who did the cover page 2 page u niggas r gud, I give u a round of applause, dat graphic design shit is too dope. 2gether with the contents on the CD it makes the album one of my favourite 2 cum out of Mzansi. Tumi has featured music heavyweights on this one the likes of Brigado, MXO, Tracy Lee, the soulful Sibongile Khumalo and Pebbles. I was disappointed dat the album came with only ten songs 2 listen to excluding the intro but on second thoughts I understood dat it is futile 2 fill a joint with empty tracks nd only have one hit, so Tumi well done buti.

Like I said the album has only ten banging tracks, tumi’s music is futuristic, its consciousness, poetic, commercial and educative. Wat I lyk abt him is he touches almost every element of social responsibilities nd social ills, in his own words he says “we have a responsibility, a social responsibility”. The two first singles that r already enjoying a major airplay r Bambezala Ft Bricks nd Family Plan Ft MXO, these r killer joints, especially Brigado, he really makes his voice 2 felt on Bambezela. Then cuns Let it Burn nd Stage Lights Ft Masauko nd Sibongile Khumalo which is one of my favourite tracks, the lyrics cum from the heart and Tumi rhymes beautifully with his high pitched tone and the harmonising of the legendary Sibongile, u gotcha luv it. There are five traxx be4 Whole World, which can take u form one mood 2 another depending on how, where, what is yr game @ the time n moment but b’live me the songs r gud. The title traxk ‘Whole Worlds’ is a favourite of mine on the whole of the album, im not ganna say anything more but get this album nd realise how far we came 2 b as country, as artist, as a Hip Hop nation, as people.

Support Mzansi Hip Hop

We are ALIVE with possibilities

It has been concurred, after 31 dayz of thrilling football tournament, by the Pres. of FIFA Sepp Blatter and his associates, by Pres. Zuma and his cabinent and by the organising committee who marvelled @ da beauty of their dreams dat Mzansi is alive with possibilities. With hosting such a magnitude of an event, silenced ur critics, it changed da mind set of fellow Africans, it gave hope 2 people like us but of course we knw from the moment Madiba walked out from that cave, Robben Island, dat our history is abt 2 b written. The xtement and the atmosphere of the tournament reminded us where we cuming frm as a nation, beside the early exit of our national squad, it ignited the fire in us. Like the Japanese said after the attack on Pearl Harbour, “we have just awakened the sleeping giant”. That’s it homeboy, we r da giants nd its abt time the world realize how mighty, strong, intelligent, fierce and educated we are. It is still sixteen yrs of ur rainbow nation nd we r making it rain, well, not really rain but we do make the rain clouds gather. We’ve seen real transformaxion in its might, abo-guluva ba se kasi becoming designer’s nd business men, the story of Loxion Kulca (Wandi and Sechaba collabo). The story has life nd possibilities written al over it

Mzansi, has thousand of these encouraging tales nd they r al translated in our works, in our values like Ubuntu, in our music, in our magazines, in our smiles nd enthusiasm. The stories of the ordinary Vuvuzela, becoming a sensational accessory out of the Fifa World Cup. These r our stories we own them, we tell them in Hip Hop, we translate them in rhymes, we r the generation dat is making the circle bigger. We r da Ama kip-kip generation nd we are pimpin’ up yr shoes. Proverb prophesised on the action like these in his 2006 album, wen he raped “together we stand/ divided we fall/da better we can/ provided we ball/ we played the background long enuf / we neva back down rap’s now strong enuf /…nd we r free @ last.” He had a dream, which we r almost living now. The pimping of tattered All-Star tekkie 2 an ice-cream-fashionable shoe is the examples of possibilities of wat we have as a nation(Pimp my shoes enterprise by Katsuko). The truth is me, u nd the rest of Hip Hop nation r the future after we were given 9/10 ratio for a successful World Cup. Danny Jordan nd them niggas gave us the dream just like Madiba did, but we made it possible. Together with headz, producers, emcees, beat-makers, graffiti artist, b-boyz, break-dancers, poets, bo-mrapper, honeys, hustlers and gang-stars, theplatform2 is holding the flag quite high 4 the possibilities of hustling 2 b possible. We r the platform 2 this thrilling era of Pisces, our vision r aligned with yours, we want 2 make the world stand nd listen without the Vuvuzela. We want the world 2 listen without bombs and Xenophobia 2 ur colourfull stories, nd we have planted in us to do that!

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RHYME CHAMBER - Dynamic

Meadowlands native, Dynamic is trully a hard workin cat in the industry right now. I actually bought this album from his stand at the Back 2 da City gig. Mad huslter ryt there. Rhyme Chamber . First thing fdat struck me bout this album was the packaging. This kid went all out to make this album eye friendly, it is beutifully packaged.
I did not know exacltly watr id find by buying this album, in dat I heard never heard this dude;s music at all. I foyund out bout obn facebook a she pushing the huslte lyk real hard. Hittng me with messages n all bout this n dat. I thought, Oh well support those who r persistant. ( Like we suppoert Coca – Cola, just because they in ur face all da tym). Rhyme Chamber.
This is a load with 23 tracks which starts of with a beutifully crafted intro n follows with 4 tracksdone by Dynamic only. I would say those first 4 tracks r the low point of the album. Dynamic is really a good producer, but as for rapping he comes of short. He feautures a couple of cats on the album. The federation lend a helping hand on the track “Rapper Maniacs” n give a beat to for the track “Stand with Us” which is one of the track dats stands out.” Finally here” is one odf those boom bap trap tracks n the dilevery of the cats on this 1 is on point. Planet Universe did a beautiful job on the track “Landing on the Moon,” but u gosta get ur Vocab on check in otder to hear wat this dudes say. Oristocratic produced a nolstagic beat for the track “Fortune Cookie” n Living Proof give sound rhymes to make u think beyond the average.
A track dat is fresh in dat it sways from the rest is Choose the Bride, it aint necessarily a beautiful track but it give sdat comic tone to the album. "History in the Making" with Dark Spark is a another 1 of those u wnt b tired of listening to. The dude ‘s delivery is fresh n it sounds hungry, other tracks dat stand out are Hip Hop, Street Niggerz n a select other few. Like I said this is a Moderate album, the production n sound quality is on point, but some of the other Emcees fall short.

MAROPE REYA MAJA HIP HOP SESSION

Yeah, twas a day full of fun, joys n laughter. U wud no doubt have laughed as our Comic Emcees blast. U wud felt the joy as they rapped bout their heritage. Fun always incoporates hip hop. Marope ReYa Maja no doubt. Shit, wat beta way to encapsulate Bushbuckridge than to name a Hip Hop session after 1 of its most loved dilicacies. Yeah Nigga 4 de ppl of bushbuckridge dat shit is a dilicacy, Found no where else apart 4rm our beloved Mapulaneng place.
The 1st in the Marope Ra Maja installments was a blast. Yo, we had like six Hip Hop session’s last year. Da most number of Emcees we have had has been like 8, cum this past session n we went up to 23 Emcees. Year boy, Bushbuckridge heads came through to strut their words.
Street Beatz hailin 4rm Acornhoek came through 2 show their luv. A crew made up of 10 cats including 1 lady. dey introduced themselves with their track “we here” as the masses were flockin in. Seems we be stuck on the same ol’ bullshit of ppl cumin through late. Y is it dat we say we begin at 1pm n ppl wana b there @ 3pm n when we supposed 2 end dey say its early. Now how does 1 run a successful show when every 1 wants things 2 b done their way! Damn man! But anyhow the show went on .
All the emcess hit the stage n gave n introduction through freestyles. We had Cats from BushBuckRidge, Dwaarsloop, Mbombela, Majembeni, Casteel, Shatale. U name a Taal n I bet I wud have pulled out some1 4rm the Emcees 2 spit in dat taal. H our resident Emcee did his track “ Luv ur Hood Anthem” n the ppl were Mesmerized by his articulacy in Sepulana. Math who is part of “Street Beatz” perfomed two tracks n got the other emcees 2 pull up their socks.
The Shy but potent Slow Poison lambasted with 1 track n got mad applause. It was fulfilling to see him comin out of his cocoon. As the Grand Huslters took to the stage n battled the B-Boyz the crowd went crazy as this session was reaching a high note. It was pure luv homie all through. Vulga G did his bit on the 1 2’s but due to time most cats had to spit like 1 track. When the Comical Mr Doo took to the stage the masses were berzerk with Joy n Fun. He neva disappoints as always, whether he be on a Freestyle tip or Scriptin u bound to listen.
It was a day worth noting. The youth of Shatale showed their support for LUV UR HOOD 1 more tym. Its a simlpe concept, jst luv the place u live at n it will luv u back. With dat in mind we on a mission to bring Hip Hop to the homelands Nigga. LUV UR HOOD n Recogniz when its all Gud

Fifth Floor – Attention 2 detail (CLASSIX)

Classix r hardly found in this young Hip Hop industry in Mzantsi. Classix; da evalasting shit, da ever potent spit, tymless shit. Tymless in dat it cannot be confined to a certain era. Classix, lyk Meatloaf, classix lyk the cranberries, classix lyk Sebastian Bach.
Yeah I said it lyk Sebastian Bach. This is how this album feels. Classic Hip Hop which cannot be confined to a place or tym. This 2000000000 Album is one of S.A’s finest works.
Fifth Floor, a crew 4rm CPT gave us an album in the infant stages of our game which was overlooked by the masses. ATTENTION TO DETAIL. That tittle shud be proof enough dat it is a banger.
The album starts of with ‘Higher Learning’, a soft drum track which gives a pace for the album. With lines lyk “for knowing 4 fact, dat Jesus is black, believing he is white” we given there idea dat the album ain’t just punchlines n rhymes but thought provoking music.
‘Creation’ the only track dat had mad rotation on da radio stations, ups da pace as Koriander hits it off with a ragga influenced flow with Camo in tow. 1 cannot wanda were there dude has hid himself (Koriander), mad talent ryt there.
‘Relax’ a track by Camo n Casual T slows down the pace as they tell a story of takin it easy. They paint a picture of how beautiful life cud b if the mind cud be stress free on a sweet beat by K Nzama.
Z Mazola of Freshly Ground lends her beautiful sound to give ‘Siveni’ a mellow tone to the album. De track tells of how Africans r actually rich beings who have just been misplaced and misled into unknown territory. Mayibuye!
Praise to the feminine species is recited on ‘I adore u’ and Koriander and Fungus blast at it with ‘Cant Cool,’ with Final call n the beat.
The album aint one for the clubs or for fast paced atmosphere it needs one to pay Attention in order to feel the gravity of it. It is a collage of storytelling to simple emceeing as we see on the track ‘Celestial Mechanism’
A few tracks slack off lyk ‘How u lyk it’ n ‘Posse Cut’ which features Snaaz D and Gemini 4rm Cashless Society. 1 wud have thought it wud be 1 of the hardest tracks on the album but it sadly it falls short.
Other tracks which r worth noting have to be ‘Imbumba’ n ‘Soul Control’
The crew likes to refer to themselves as the Fifth Floor family. I have no idea how many Emcees r actually part of the crew but lyk dey say ‘de more de merrier’ as it has proven on this album.

Hip Hop is here to save the World

It’s young, its radical, its poetic, its revolutionary, it’s prophetic, its offensive…one music genre that is brutal in story telling in the form of hardcore beats, lyrics and Beethoven notes. It’s a movement that was not only started to save the world but to revive mankind from the iniquity of its own. Well, maybe it’s just here for me and Lupe Fiasco. Remember what B.I.G used to say ‘if u don’t know, now you know’.....this culture made millionaires from drug fiends; it was the same movement that turned gangsters into intellectuals and drug dealers into street presidents. When the music skipped borders and mountains from the native of American boroughs into the rest of the world we embraced it like it’s our last hope. We believed in the brutality of the story telling like it was our religion, we relate to the offensive poetry, we listened with intent to niggas calling revolutionary against poverty, racism and phoney politicians.

It was the 80’s, the street were getting crazy, politics in SA was also reaching its peak, rebellion was looming in the atmosphere; young men were sent to penitentiary for their involvement in the struggle and by then we were awaiting the release of our future black president. Hip hop was taking another form of the struggle; our street revolutionary activist like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Big Daddy Kane, NWA and TuPac were doing what Steve Biko, Kwame Nkrumah and Mangaliso Sobukwe did for Africans in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s respectively. Kids were emancipated; we smelled freedom even before it came. Niggas were sharing with us untold-stories that were scary to share or talk about; they reminded us of the street we live in and our roles as men in the society. MC’s spat expletively against anything and anyone they didn’t understand. They called women bitches, called a black man niggas, named homosexuals faggots but we understood cuz they were speaking to us. Hip Hop music logged in a new fresh of breath into our lungs. We run intelligently wild looking for walls to paint, looking for personal space so we can turn them into production houses.

I have to honestly admit that the music has evolved from the consciousness that we are used to, to a commercial money making system. Just like our politics, technology, fashion and lifestyle the music has changed, and we changed with it. But unlike politics, religion and technology this music, this Hip Hop has a chance to save this world. It’s the music of the youth, the Y generation; I’m talking Bo- Proverb, Tumi from the V, HHP, Khuli Chan, Maggz, AKA, Mode9, 2Face, Tay Grin, Sugasmaxx, K’nann, Zubs and 9ice. These are young men with a message to share, like Martin Luther, they have a dream to tell and only if the world can listen. Its unfortunate that the world can’t see the graffiti on our walls, it can’t listen or read the poetry we write, it can’t interpret the dance moves we make, its unfortunate. The Greek philosophers like Socrates, Aristotle, Plato helped shape up the world and this culture is about to embark in that mission, where politicians failed. This is the culture that is here to revolutionise the fundamentals values of life, it is here to revive our Trust, Love, Ubuntu, Respect, Pride, our Integrity, Humility, our Intentions to live.

XO's PODCAST 2 (Nauts & Crosses)

If this is called Podcast 2, I wud figure dat ther is a podcast 1. Unfortunately I did get to hear it, oh well, m stil alive ain’t I? There’s stil chance 2 cop it. A buddy of myn recommended this, (the Jacket Shop). 2 put it simply he hustled me 2buy it. Ain’t disappointed though. This is an album/ mixtape 4rm X rate (who took center stage during the highs of Optical Ill,he not part of crew though) and Ootz a producer of note slash Emcee.
1 thing bout this album is dat it is short. As in, it plays 4 lyk 30min 4rm track 1 to de last track. Some of de illest spitters feature in this mixtape. We got Reason, Zubz is also featured, with Nthabi lending her feminine toxic spit (the poison ivy in the album). Battlekat lends his Rhymes n a classic (Battlekat) beat on the track “for the cause.”
Tracks dat really stood out are “1 Word Trigger”, “1 thing on my Mind”, “It’z a problem” and the ode to Mpefa, Motekwane, Mpange, Patje “the Khala Green.”
The Mixtape tends to b monotonous @ some point; in dat de beats n styles of flow seem to b chopped 4rn the same tree. Over all it is a gud buy, another one 4rm S.A 2 add 2 my collection. Big up 2 all those who were involved in de project.

Track Listing

INTRO – Oh my go0dness (Prod. Ootz)
SINK OR SWIM – Xo (Prod. Ootz)
THE FOURTRISS – Big C’s n Recoil (Prod. Reason and Ootz)
XO ROCKSTEADY - SKIT
ONE WORD TRIGGER – XO feat Ph n Nthabi (Prod. Ph)
SIPPIN ON (INSTRUMENTAL) (Prod. Ootz)
TIME WASTIN – X-Rate n Zubz (Prod. Battlekat)
ONE THING ON MY MIND – Ootz n Eli (Prod. Ootz)
FOR THE CAUSE – X-Rate n Battlekat (Prod. Battlekat)
JUSLIVIN (INSTRUMENTAL) (Prod. Ootz)
X RATE BAD LUCK Verse (off Nthabi’s 4rm the Lab 2 da Streets Ep) (Prod. Mr C)
THE KHALA GREEN – Greenh0use Producti0ns Feat XO, Ph, Nthabi, Killa, Reason(Prod. Madnick)
XO IN THE BUILDING – SKIT
IT’Z A PROBLEM – XO featuring Headbanger (Prod. Headbanger)

BACK TO THE CITY

They came. They came in droves n in drags. The hip hop generation. Yes, they came to da sick city of JHB 4 a celebration on another level. They were all there, the poets, biters, retired emcees, the future, punks; skaters, graff artists, b-boyz/girlz, abomrapper, pot heads, hype men, emcees, beat boxers, the illusive cipher disciples and extra fine hunnies. They came.
The 3rd annual BACK 2 THE CITY gig saw me drag my homie Khulumane along on a freezing 2sday to Newtown 2 witness S.A Hip Hop @ itz best. Shit! Did I mention dat it was freezing? Oh well, we weren’t the only 1’s who braced da cold 2 enjoy hip hop.
The gig supposedly started at 10h00 but we only made it there at bout 13h30, hoped I wud not be late but shit happens. The first thing I noticed as 1 approached the venue was baggy pants, baggy pants. Shall hip hop ever loose dat trademark? Yeah, I had made it 2 my 1st BACK 2 THE CITY gig. I felt lyk a kid who just received dat sought after present, excitement to the 3rd degree.
The cover charge was R50, we got dat settled n entered da venue. Yep, it was all there. All dat cud encompass hip hop was all there. I was awed at the amount of luv peeps got for Hip Hop considering dat it was freezing. I was caught between goin from 1 vendor, to the B-Boys stage back, to the main stage, n back 2 the vendors. I was …… (Fill in a profound synonym 4 excited).Der I was 1 moment listening to Kwesta the next I was checkin out da B-boys, the next I was witnessing da graff artists. It was a wild 1 4 me. For some reason I ended up doin wat I had intended on not doin (sippin). 4 a second I actually cursed de excitement.
I caught da homie Dynamic pushing his album de Rhyme Chamber, n not far 4rm him was R-Senic also pushin da mad hustle. Do what u gosta do homies! A few other vendors were present. Butan wear had slashed their prices to a minimum n I also came across a crew pushin a sneaker brand called Kgolelogo Sneaks. The Jacket Shop was also present n still doin his hustling straight 4rm out of da jacket. “Much respect homie, u a true hip hop ambassador.”
The Emcee stage had many rappers to please the average hip hop digger. We had peeps from CPT, Bloem, Durban, P.E, and Jozi but sadly a whole lot of other cities still did not hav representatives. A whole lot still has 2 be done in order 4 da movement 2 reach da darkest spots of our country. Harembe my ppl.
Adbus gave a wild performance with his Zulu punchlines and 4 sum reason, we seem 2 have an escalating number of emcees who b spittin hard punchline rhymes in isizulu. A certain dude with a name dat sounded lyk Mhlithi impressed the crowd with his calm, raw flow. The Federation also gave an outstanding performance. AKA hit the stage n held it down, as he gave way 2 Khulu Chana. Light showers started hitting us for short repeated intervals, but cats just stayed in da rains the emcees serenaded us with beautiful music. Talk bout luv homie!
There were 2 many performers 4 me 2 recall who did what @ what tym, but I did witness the crew Black Gold get boooed at the end of their set. Fifth floor gave a performance dat was received with much luv. I was actually surprised @ the reception dey got. Have dey bcum legends? Lee Kasumba n Siya Mkwanazi did a good job in keepen the crowd in a hype mood. As I went hither n tither I came across a few ciphers, with passionate cats battling it out, all I gots 2 say is, dnt stop dnt quit, it might be u on dat stage next year. The homie Ondeground was 1 of the homies who threw a few lines durin 1 of da ciphers. Shud he not b on da line up, homie been ‘round 4 years.
Other emcees who came through were Black Moss, Deep Soweto, KGB, Deep Level, Takeaway, Projectah, Glitz gang – I heard day also got booed – n a whole lot of others artists I did not get 2 c preform. De sound got cut off during de show while 1 of da cats was doin his set. I at 1st thawt Telkom but den realised dat de lights weren’t off. After waitin 4 lyk 15min dey managed 2 repair what had 2 b repaired. Music banged on. I got 2 hear Kenzhero do a set, the legendary DJ at his best, C-live and # of other DJ’s were also present to do their thing on the ones n twos.
Ill Skills 4rm CPT, also put on a set but 4 sum reason their performance was not audible. I have 2 say their music has a high quality but the same cud not b said bout their performance. As de nyt progressed n it got colder, we got 2 c Mr Selwyn hit da stage n he gave us a warm up with da hot 16 from Amu’s track Attention. He went on 2 perform his recent tracks with a good reception Pro Kid closed the show alongside Red Button. Ppl braced da weather 4 his performance n I hav 2 say de wait was worthwhile.
@ bout 22h45 we found ourselves havin 2 hunt 4 a cab 2 get us back 2 Germiston. All we wanted was 2 rest our cold tired bones. (Did I mention dat it was freeeeeeeezing)? I came across de emcee Substance on our way out n requested 4 a pic n had 2 explain why I needed it. Does he think I’m part of da CIA or sumthin? Gee, dnt u hav fans homie? We managed 2 get ourselves into a cab at bout 23h45. It was a quite ride home, I guez we were both in a hurry to get sum rest. It was fantabulous day with minor disappointments. Now to those who hav neva attended any of the BACK 2 THE CITY gigs. U shud fucken get ur behinds ther next year 2 b embraced by da future b4 we enter da future. I surely ain’t missin it.
Peace.

K’naan – Troubadour (Champion Edition)

First of al, I take off my hat for this Somali boy, dis is the best Hip Hop album I have listen to in a long, long time, b’live me. The Platform2’s aim nd obligation is to the transforming, building and supporting of Mzansi Hip Hop but dis time we had 2 outstretch our hand into Africa. We searched Africa nd we find a nigga in Canada, a Troubadour (medieval travelling poet and singer) from Somalia. K’naan the grandson of a poet left Somalia in times of Civil War to the native land of Canada where he resided with moms and the nigga found himself and his music. But I’m not here to tell u abt the history of this artist, u can visit Wikipedea encyclopaedia for dat, I’m here to review the album. K’naan has done justice to the Hip Hop family; he’s the God gift to Hip Hop. Troubadour is a classic album, its fresh, hip, conscious and revolutionary. He brought in the heavyweights like Mos Def, Damien Marley, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 fame and Chubb Rock but the best part is, the whole album is produced by K’naaan.

K’naan knws how 2 make agood album, rap and do the other staff dat Wayne nd Drake do. From the first track dat we knw him of ‘T.I.A’ (which means this is Africa) to the last track which is the Coca-Cola anthem for the World Cup “Wavin' Flag’ the songs r of the world class. K’naan brings the soul of Africa in every song xpecially in song ‘America’ featuring Mos Def and Chali 2na nd the original ‘Wavin flag’. In his words the rapper says ‘I got my own sound/ I don’t sound like the rest’ and yes he doesn’t sound like the rest, he holds his own on outstanding tracks like ‘I came prepared’ feat Damian Marley and ‘Bang Bang’ feat Adam Levine true hits. Well, all the songs r outstanding, I’m jus mentioning few dat r produced 4 commercial market but not diverting from the message. I seriously b’live whole-heatedly dat this is one of the dopest album and dat K’naan is in 4 the big kill, he’s fresher than the word Ayoba and doper than Mike Jones…..nd I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s raving abt this dude, the FIFA body and World Cup Organising team approached him for the remix of the Coca-Cola anthem. In 1999 K’naan was invited to speak on behalf of refugees before the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees where he also performed a Spoken Word poem, in 2009 he performed again in the UN’s Millennium Development Goals Ceremony. He’s the son of Africa, carrying the glory of Africa around the globe. Troubadour is an album I have been looking 4 after I listed 2 Nas’s Untitled, I encourage bo - mrapper 2 get this one for keeps…u wont regret.

On his biography on Wikipedea, they say he fuses the style of Eminem together with the consciousness of Bob Marley…I can’t agree more.

ColourFULL – JR

There is no doubt abt it, Mzansi Hip Hop is raising like the sea level in the Antactica and JR is in the middle of it but he best describes it as ColourFULL. He made SA knw who he was with the ‘gata lenna’ tune and yes we took notice, motswako nation expanded and the man knwn as JR became a house hold name in the rap scene up till to this moment. Well it is 2010 and the nigga is making music and to be clear it is ColourFULL as it gets. He reminds me of Andre 3000 nd Big Boi wen they started without the bling. JR knws how 2 make a dope tune u can dance to within the perimeters of Hip hop, I listen to ‘aga shame’ his first single of the album and yes u guessed its motswako. Then came ‘go JR’, ‘hao Jaive’ ft Thebe nd Nothende and ‘show dem ft HHP, it’s a marathon of the nigga spitting punch lines dat, don’t really hit u back or chill yr spine but r hard to forget. Xpecially with the way his delivering the lyrics on the fast paced beats its hard not to fall in love with dis motswakolisto, he says “I can’t stop nje nge VW e phele ma-brake pads”. There r tracks like ColourFull Music ft TeePee nd O Batshabe ft Bantu Sould & Bloque which I think were saved by those individual respectively. On the other hand N’ veigh came on track # 10 called ‘toast to da nu breed’ and he literally kicked JR’ s ass on 16 bars, the nigga forgot abt the ColourFULL musique nd he raped nd im pleased to say the track rocks, so is track # 11 Y B R F( Young, black, rich & Famous). JR took time to come up with dis one but im questioning his commitment to the project, like the fact dat the CD has only eight original tracks if u take out the intro, outro, skit and the remix. Dis is a very beautiful, nice music 4 my collekxion nd maybe 4 u too. Remember, spin n span, we do it 4 Hip Hop, we do it 4 art and we do it 4 the Love.

Battle of the Month

the ANC youth league Pres is taking on the Mighty Media, in wat we call 'Me(lena) against the world'

Julius Malema
a.k.a JUJU

Ya’ll kno u can’t touch me/
Ya’ll kno I’m da ultimate G
I’m da future of A.N.C/
I’m da future of this country/
Although I got a little cheddar/
The poor r with me, cause they think I’ll make their lives a little betta/
Go ahead n blabber/
I ain’t part of the companies u speak of / I sit back n throw a Molotov cocktail at ya/
Ask my lawyers/ I ain’t got tym 2 engage with racists/
The media be out to Sabotage me/
Ya’ll dnt wanna c a black diamond shine/ U’ll ppl wanna shine on my shine/ get ur own n steady ur own/
Yeah I might hav a Range Rover/ Yeah I myt b livin in a mansion/ So what?/
Mandela gave me da Freedom to pursue this riches/ n with a little extra cash I myt score sum bitches/
Ya’ll been sent by ppl who wana c me turn into nuthin/ But with so much support this shit will turn into nuthin/
Fuck SARS let them investigate/ I’ll get the president, n he’ll clear my name/
Ya’ll playing games/ this ppl God in my name/

The Media
a.k.a T.M

We need sum explanations/ With so much poverty that we facing /
Greedy Niggaz ain’t needed/Malema, the almighty one/ U can fool sum but we ain’t the ones/
U still a major Shareholder in ur companies/ u screwing the ur ppl claiming u dwn with the poor/
Believing u cant be touched/ We’s about 2v get u hushed/ Ur whole image is about 2 be flushed/ like ish dwn the sewer/
U reckon u omnipotent/ rolling in a rover/Drinking Moet n all that/ all because of ur political affiliations/
U getting 80% of the cake in Limpopo/n thus ur fellow brothers r gonna b hobos/
Explain ur R140 mill/ explain why u ain’t paid ur tax bill/
In essence u dnt give a fuck bout the youth u claim 2 represent/
All u want 2 be is a black diamond/
Although diamonds r flawless/ U’ve proven 2 be one that is flawed/
Busy shakin ur ur pants cause the may be an audit/ Juju Malema u askede for it/

We All Take Refuge in L.O.V.E

On dis lovely Valentine’s Day 14 Feb. 10, which I sadly spend alone; I think its safe 2 say, like rapper Common did “we knw wat luv is, we can even find it in the ground where da thugs live” how beautiful is dat line? 32 dayz after one of the biggest earthquake hit the small nation of Haiti we found ourselves celebrating dis pimped out version of love; Valentine. “Fair is foul n foul is fair”…well we r really leaving in a cataclysmic world and the closest salvation to dis drama is sharing da Luv within ourselves nd amongst ourselves. It sound cliché but it’s biblical. I’m xcited, and not cuz of dis commercialised overrated romantic month but b’cuz the Hip Hop community has come 2gether in times of need 4 da Haitians. It is clear dat wat hit Haiti cannot b comprehended or compared 2 anything according 2 one of SABC journalist but the love, the compassion and sympathy dat my Hip Hop community has shown is beyond the guns nd Hennessy they rap abt. In the month of love niggas had 2 dig deep 2 find theirs, but wen they do it cums with bling and dignity.

The Haitian born Wyclef Jean came through 4 his brothas & sistas tremendously in dis agonising times of need. Mr Wyclef did not only use his Twitter network service 2 create ‘YELE’ an charity organisation aid 4 the Haitians but he also pleaded on his blog, with da world to pray nd support them. He even released a single called “Hold on’ Ft Mavado dedicated to his hometown, which apparently is available on Itunes. It’s a side we don’t get 2 c often with the Hip Hop generation but inspiring 2 knw dat niggas care. Dis is wher 'Luv yr hood nd recognize iz al gud' come through. With the remake of Wacko Jacko’s ‘We R The World’’ which iz 4 the benefit of Haiti, rap stars came rushing in for the remake version, from LL Cool J to Drake to Snoop Dogg…it’s a refreshing thought. HHP nd other Mzansi cats joined in the wagon 2 contribute 2 the disastrous events of the earthquake. Its just unfortunate dat we show our affection side in times like dis but wat would the world b without the love dat we share….”how beautiful love can b/on the streetz love its hard 2 c/ it’s a place I got 2 b/ loving u its loving me” Common.

4 the small Hip Hop community of Haiti – ‘aluta continua’

Wat a Christmas special? – Luv yr hood Hip Hop Session

‘Luv yr hood nd recognise its al gud’…. It all took one cat 2 realize dat Shatale and the rest of Bushbuckridge is full of potential nd he started wat is called Luv yr hood Hip Hop sessions. Wat a blast, on the 26th of December I was invited 2 xperienced a phenomenal event, the sixth instalment to Luv yr hood session after missing five of them. Once again, Katsuko came through; we invaded Kabila’s car wash @ zone 2 as young, gifted and artistic youth of Bushbuckridge. From every cnr of Mapulaneng headz came through in numbers and the session had everything a hip hop event could have from classical rap beats, break dancing, poetry to MC’s freestyling and I was there 2 witness it all.

Katsuko took the stage together with Mr Tu from the infamous Majembeng township on a freestyle tip with a catchy hook ‘batho ba shota’, the crowd was charmed by Mr Tu’s special deliveries and ppl started pouring in. It was a great start dat was followed by performances from H-Lepulana, Kfbee, G7, Dialetic and a special treat of performance from one of the members of Kwame xperience, a young lady called Nkutu. She brought the show to the climax with superb vocals accompanied by a freestyling flow then the Hip hop dancers took 2 the dance floor. The boys did their thing, got xcited a bit as young gals screamed their lungs out and they started battling. The crowd was amused as the day progressed towards the end of 2009, like I said it was a Xmas special a Hip Hop special treat straight out of Mapulaneng. Big up to all the MC’s dat grace the stage and laced the verse, we doing it the art, 4 the love, 4 the youth….we doing it 4 Hip Hop