The State of our Hip Hop Nation Address

Unlike our state of economy which is going south of south, the Hip Hop music genre in Mzansi is souring like seasonal birds swarming the blue sky migrating to the east. All I’m trying to cough up here is that this genre is growing and not only growing but flourishing and bearing great fruits. So, Hip Hop hooray to the old G’s like Tumi from the V, Proverb, HHP, Amu, Khuli (Morafe), Pro, Slikour and his crew who pioneered and stayed with the art to make sure it doesn’t die but kept alive up until today. This is after rap/hip hop went through a severe, gruesome criticism from the public, artist as well as the media; some artist fell along the way but big up to those who believed and carried the baton to 2016. I am reminded of our beloved comrades who fought the struggles of apartheid; it was a cause that sometimes looked suicidal, a mission that sometimes looked bleak but those comrades marched on.

Today state though, it’s crazy, I mean, you look @ the numbers and realize that the books show a positive projection. The culture, today is populating and spreading into every corner of our lifestyle whether we like it or not. From street fashion, dance, airwaves, social media, cooperate gigs, endorsements, language, businesses, tabloid and awards events. The music has evolved, the baton has been handed to the handful who knows how to carry Mzansi swag original. To be honest this is the revolution, an era of youth culture, to us who supported the genre from its genesis we are emotional when we witness the progress. Let’s take a moment, a standing ovation and slowly clap for the Hip Hop nation that stood the test of time.             

Likwid Tongue - Open Miac All Day

Flo n Quaz

Wordplay – dat sums up the poetry heard @ OST. 

Isa

24^th September 2011 saw me walking up n down the streets of Jozi running a few errands. @ da same time I was waiting 4 my Nig Ciamatic 2 show up coz we had a hip hop session 2 go 2. Came 2 find dat the session was actually a poetry 1. We decided to go in sommer not knowing wat 2 expect. Organized by Richard Quaz Roodt n Flo Mokale the Open Mic all Day poetry session was held @ OST. 

The setting inside OST was calm, couches n pillows litter the place makin it an easy sittin. We (Ciamatic n I) came in a bit late coz the show started at bout 12h00, but from what I got in those few hours there It’s like we started with the show. A selection of poets gave us 1 piece each, with a few having stuck in my mind. A lady named Isa gave a rendition in Xhosa laced with English. There was a guy named Mcatastro who got on stage n gave his heart out 2 Hip Hop. Tshepo had us all glued to his words as he told us dat he is da ultimate African. A poem politically influenced had us all thinkin what being African means.

Some of the legs there

Mcatastro

The masters of Ceremony (Flo n Quaz) had people in stitches all through the session with their witty disses towards 2 other poetry crews (Missing Gap n Towers of Thought). @ some point I thought it would boil over as Jeff (leader of Towers of Thought) looked a bit agitated but it was all poetry n peace. Quaz gave us an Afrikaans piece bout how dat language (Afrikaans) becomes a barrier towards the relationships between Afrikaans speaking Africans n the rest. It was short n straight 2 da point with a harmonica sound in da background (played by Flo). Flo also got his shine on stage a he let it rip in Sotho with some piece which left me confused whether it was freestyle or written. The man has great acumen n wit, a wizard with words. 

The Masses

Afurakan who has been in the poetry circles 4 some tym now, gave us his take bout the city of Jozi. He attracted a lot of oohs n ahhs as he let words roll from his lips like he was just takin breaths. I was waiting with bated breath 2 hear Jeff – the target of most of the disses from Flo n Quaz – hit the stage for his retaliation but sadly it was not 2 be. The session came 2 n end roundabout 17h00 with us still relishing 4 more. I am sure hitting OST nxt tym Likwid Tongue has anada session.

Wordplay

Vosloo Kasi Movement

 

Vosloorus, basothong section is where it went dwn on da 10^th of Sep. Vosloo Kasi Movement be the name of the Hp hop sessions which have been running for the last 3 months. The Mad Scientist who has been dormant 4 a while is resurrecting his hood with these particular sessions.

Got der round-a-bout 2 PM, a bit late considering that the session was possed to start @ 1 PM, but I was not dat late after all coz there had been no performances as yet! I chilled took a few pics n popped a beer! Asked around 4 da Mad Scientist and he was apparently still @ work. He showed up in due time and we took a walk along with Laxus to de Scientist’s place. Along the way there I came to learn dat The Scientist was actually the brain behind the Asgard Mixtape. It felt like a blessing having been walking around in da hood with the Mastermind behind 1 of da niciest mixtapes around!

In due time we got back to Self Express Car Wash the venue of da session. Music was blarring from the speakers, old school hardcore hip hop. It was easy to tell dat most of the cats there where old school cats who where down with Hip Hop in da 90’s.

DANC where the first to grace the stage. Just like myself twas their 1^st time @ these sessions. They gave us 3 politically motivated tracks, white screaming out Fuck Eugene Terreblanch, Fuck DA, and Fuck ANC. These had 1 guy saying “hey watch it u in da hood.” V dot graced the stage with his motswako laced tracks that got us moving side to side. Laxus also hit the stage and gave us a few well versed tracks.

More cats hit the stage but I failed to get their names as I was 2 busy takin snapshots of da cats in da dark smoking on something something. Unfortunately I had to get out of da hood n go back 2 my humble abode in Germiston. The session was possed to run till 23:30 and I got da feelin dat it was gona get crazier! All was well except dat da sound may hav been a bit off point and there masses also did not rock up as expected. Well the sessions are held the second Saturday of every month and I am surely hitting it again next month! Vosloo Kasi Movement is not a competition but a movement!

MANGOZI YATALA KA SPICE - Thulamahashi

Mr Do

Twas da 2^nd of July, twas mid winter this side of da world. Being in da far end of Mpumalanga we did not feel the dire cold dat seldom affects ppl during these times. Twas a sunny day with a slight wind which faded as the day progressed.

Pleasant and Dialletic

A ride had been organized to ferry us to Thulamahashi, and interesting conversations had sprung up in the car to signify that we shud have a fun filled day! A conversation regarding the recent killing of a 3 year old by a pack of dawgz in S.A got us asking what the roles of pets where in our lives.  With that being spoken out, we spoke bout nature’s culling methods on humans; free flowing conversations set us up for a good day!

13:25 Thulamashi.

No sound yet! Oh well, it shall be here when it is here. As we familiarised ourselves with our surroundings I spotted the mellow Spoja, sitting on da stage with a friend who introduced himself as DJ Buswa/Pap/Porridge.  (Hip Hoppers and names! Lmfao, Now how the fuck u gonna call urself DJ Porridge?). He good though! As we waited for the sound system my tummy started reacting on me so I had to look for a nearby toilet. Find 1 I did, although it was not the cleanest toilet around, but hey who I to complain am. Tis the hood after all and we shud clean it ourselves.

Sound was ready by the time we got back (Shout out to S.K, for providing the sound and stage free of charge) and the Hip Hop music was blaring from the speakers. Shit had to start poppin, after all we were a bit short on tym. As the sessions always begin all emcees graced the stage n started to deliver sum freestyles just to warm up! A few emcees came hard, as in Rash n K.G with Mr Do always crackin up da masses with his constant switch between Xitsonga n Sepulana.

I and Mr do graced the Mic 1^st n gave our Anthem “Batho ba Shota”, a song dat originated on stage @ 1 of our first sessions. CHP muvemnt who has always been gracing our sessions hit the stage and the energy dat yungin oozes is astounding. With Dj S. K alternating between beautiful hip hop the day progressed. Third eye a native of College View hit da stage n kinda changed the mood of the session with his hardcore lyricism on da song “Travel.” Pleasant and Dialletic did a fascinating collabo which got every1 of their seats.

CHP muvement n Panda

The dancers Wild Catz (Batau) graced da stage n had other dancers in da backropund get out from hiding with a battle dat came out of nothing. The Crazy Dawgz reunited for 1 track which saw our Dj hitting da stage! Masta H did 1 of his finest tracks with Mr Do following with his “Re Thoma Go Yikwa” a whole lot of ada performers also hit they stage n flexed their Vocal Cords.



Pedi Swag n Masta H



CHP Movement hit the stage again with his 11 year old lil sis. She kinda stole the shine from every1, coz she will remain da topic of this Hip Hop session. We had Yvonne from BBR news present and she said a story will be in da paper! Overall twas a start in Thulamahashi which shall c us going further! Before i disappear, shout out to Pedi Swag’s Oscar n K.G who was also present at da session all da way from Mashishing. They have been featured in AB Crazy’s Man of da moment vid!

One Love!

Young black and gifted....?

They were young; they were black and intelligently radical. The young organised people of ’76 run to the street of Soweto in June 16 with a mission at heart and a vision of a clear South African education system in mind. They made their statement, revolutionised and created history. Every year we stand still in remembrance of this heroic action our fellow young soldiers endured. They aggressively paved and painted red the road to freedom for us, Mandela walked on it fist in the air and gave us the independence. One thing in common here between us and ’76 generation is the aggressiveness, the drive, passion, the radicalism of young blood, the death drive. We are the generation that can take up arms and fight for our leaders; we are the kidz that get on skateboards and paint walls; the brothers and sisters who eat sushi on top of naked bodies, like the Outlawz we rebel against the system that we don’t understand.

We are the unpredictable social-network junkies, risk taking ambitious youth of 2011 but our future looks bleak, I’m saying bleak subjectively looking @ our present state of affairs, I’m not prophesying; I’m just saying, the rising in stats of HIV/AIDS infections amongst the youth, according to information released by South Africa Institute of Race Relation there is an increasing number of unemployment between the age of 15 and 25, teen pregnancy, the level of our education and our so-called society role model, the likes of Mandla Lamba and khanyi Mbayu. Maybe is only the worry of the elders, who’ll always say ‘eish, abatwana ba la malanga’. Where is our inspiration? Where is our death drive directed to? There’s no question about the energy we exude, we have so much energy we can light up one Eskom power station for a day, that’s how much power we have. An ANCYL conference is an epitome of the energized generation that we are. We engage our leaders, take on technology, accessorize and flirt with every modern fashion trend and infiltrate every social network system like we are promised a seat in paradise. I am writing with mixed emotions here, with so much vigour, a nation of 46 million in population nearly quarter n half of it being the youth, we fail to mobilise and come against piracy so our artist can sell 50000 units? How are we dealing with the reality of HIV and Aids? The government and the ruling party put it in simpler language ‘this is not a fight of one man, but it is everyone’s fight’. Are we weary to fight or we just don’t give a crap. In this era where everyone wants to be a tenderpreneur, we still battle to acquire comforting results when it comes to Maths and Science. Have we lost the objectives of the freedom fighters, the dreams and ambitions of Steve Biko, Chris Hani and Solomon Mahlangu?

The truth is, Mzansi’s troopers are us (youth) and we are sitting in the middle of the sea with a sense of direction but no compass or a captain. We need to sail our ship to the right direction and see in us the heroes and legends of the 20th century, lets hustle the hustle like the boys and girls our age; Proverb, Slikour, Noni Gaza, Kabelo of TKzee, Goodenough Mashego, Teargas, Kgebetli Moeli, Kgoshi Tshwarelo esengMogakane, Zizo Beda, Khensani Nkosi of Stone Cherrie, Katsuko, Siyabonga Ngwekazi of Ama kip kip, Monice of Monice entertainment... I can go on and on. This route is not to the swift my young friends but time and chance is given to us. What do we do with the freedom we have in our hands?   

Luv ur Hood and recognize is al gud        

LUV UR HOOD vid by Goodenough Mashego

Who gives a sh*t if I’m Black or White?

…truly speaking, who gives a rat if I’m black or white, really who cares, except for the corporate world documents that expect you to classify yourself according to colour and race. They are the biggest ogre in the race card so maybe they might be excused as uninformed. From last decade it was the whole system of Verwoed screaming and stamping black, black, black, kaffir, kaffir, hate….we learnt, persevered and adjusted to the situation. An extraordinary Golihlahla Mandela comes out from the sea try to rebuilds the nation and re-invents the flag into a rainbow symbol with the hope to end all discrimination and injustice, in good spirit that all shall be one. Well, it didn’t quite happen, lately it was Malema accusing everyone and everything with racism, Kuli Roberts had her opinion just like everyone else but she was strongly vocal about it with the emphasis of ‘race’ she was accused of racial comments, then there was Trevor Manuel and Jimmy Manyi’s publicity squabble; and Steve Hoffmeyer…WTF? Who do you think you are to make such degrading comments? Even if racism is not a crime where do you get a leg or the platform to stand and say such things? Do we need to unleash Malema on you? And wasup with Donald Trump questioning the whole President of the US’s academic credentials is it because he’s black?

The world and its people is engrossed by the cataclysmic events nature has bestowed on us, we don’t need you (racism). Honestly, the world is big enough for us to live as people, not as people with colour. Shit is, I see the colour that has been defined and engraved in my mind as green, stupid, loud, unintelligent, and aggressive before I see you. They say I’m defined by culture, tradition and race but I’m the motherfucker with the personality, what was I before I came out with my skin pigment? South Africa has come a long way since the apartheid regime but apparently we are still living in the after effects of that segregation. Which gave me an excuse when my girlfriend accused me of racism, I literally said, it’s a reverse hatred, like a boomerang, I give back what they gave me. For a little I sounded like Julius. The brutality of racism is so severe that if experienced it can leave someone scared for life, so I heard. But we don’t need that kind of shit in our lives, do we? Jay Z was quoted saying ‘these generation, especially the Hip Hop generation is the least racists kind of people’, I really want to concur but if morons like Steve Hofmeyer, Donald Trump and Jimmy Manyi will come out in public and spit such ignorance, like being a certain colour is a curse, then fuck being black, fuck you cause you not same colour as me! I’m not saying this cause I’m black or because I think the radar is going strongly towards the south, I’m saying this as a human being, as an Hip Hop ambassador, as moral species of the earth; racism is an demonic iniquity that need to be exorcised form humanity cause I’m so full of it!!!! Who really cares if I’m red or bliue?

Luv Ur Hood nd recognize iz al gud

I once heard the revolution will not be televised

We’ve been out of touch for long now, we’ve been out of the site, and out of Hip Hop happenings for long, it felt lyk a backsliding Christian. The best thing iz tha world doesn’t stop spinning, shit is happening whether we here, there or not. Since we’ve been hibernating, the Egyptian Mubarak has resigned after 30yrs in power, Tunisians citizens have manage to revolt against their own and got a bit of triumph; Mummar Gaddafi told his Libyan ppl dat he’s not moving an inch and he did just dat. As the world turns, the Ivory Coast nation have fought a bloody coupe against Laurent Gbagba while the world was watching; Indians see themselves as Cricket world champions while our Proteas boys came home again without a silver wear, but its al good cuz we are used to this. All these happening while me nd my bro were hibernating. It’s an interesting world out there and out here the ruling party has marked its territory b4 the municipal elections and they have proclaimed, ‘they are ruling until Christ comes’. We disappered for a sec we came back and Teargas have pushed boundiries and units and apparently certified gold, the beef between Aka and L Tido has been settled, as if we don't have enuf beef in Africa already.

As beautiful as our world is, we still see the heinousness of world leaders and smell the craziness of human species but Hip Hop will remain. Within these chaotic continuous happenings around the globe we are here again to share moments within moments in this history. We saw the revolutionary been televised and we are blogging abt it while, peeps and teens are twitting abt it. They say God works in mysterious way ask Zimbabwean ppl they’ll testify to it, even the Libyans believe Mummar Gaddafi was sent to them by God, except for the rebels of course and those who are after Gaddafi’s resources, but yes, if he does work in mysterious ways then my stint of hiding away from the blog is for a reason. To be realistic me nd you are watching as government mount each in greed, as African leaders walk this path without a back bone; we are watching as economy collapses and nobody dared to explain reasons, we are watching as commodities prices rises while employment declines. We are watching the revolution as humanity collapses. Luv ur Hood is back to comment abt the world and yes we are still talking Hip Hop Hooray!!!

Luv ur Hood nd recognize iz al gud

Kwesta – Special ReKwest

I have to admit or maybe is just me but rappers nowadayz are sounding the same and nothing they bring is shocking to our ears. Don’t want cats and the whole rap fanatics 2 get me wrong, Kwesta is talented cat but I think, again my opinion, as a writer I’m allowed 2 have dat kind freedom aren’t I? ok as I was saying, cats fall short on their music, on this particular one, Kwesta. Special Rekwest is his 1^st album from Bittabing Entertainment, a special one indeed cuz Kwesta since joining Slikour’s joint four yrs ago, he has created himself a fan base, I must admit the boy has a good following. Kwesta came out last yr Sept with a single ‘Stomp’ which rocked the GP air waves and TV screens, I was convinced until I heard the whole album this Jan. My opinion is, Battabing cud have gone with a diff joint as a 1^st single, but well I guess itz al marketing strategy. Kwesta is fresh right, but the album feels luk warm; all 14 tracks r well produced nd have the kind of sound that grabs yr attention, but fifteen min wthou dat sound u almost 4get wat have u been listening to. There r catchy tracks lyk ‘flash it’ my favorite on the album by the way, Babhemi ft Sandile Ziqubu and ‘Flava’. The second track on the joint, ‘Ekhonenei’ it feels like something Prokid will do but he actually did a gud job on it. With the likes of Proverb, N’ veigh, Red button and flabba which is an unlikely collabo the album gets some bit of a spark towards hip hop headz. Most of the songs are g2G( gud to great) but forgettable but for the die hard fans well,  this is it. I respect Bittabing Entertainment for what they did with ‘Mr Cool’ himself, b4 I forget there’s a track ft RJ, Junya Skills nd T’do it’s a keeper but I was disappointed by Mr Cool, lyrically on this song but its well produced joint. Kwesta says he’s not her for the fame but to give u music that u like, that’s wat he’s here for.

Luv uR Hood nd recognize its al gud       

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!

Support Mzansi Hip Hop

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.