Friday, 31 August 2012

Def Jam Monopolizing Hip Hop in Africa

"Official African representative for DefJam Records. We promo everything ranging form african cyphers, hippop music, African rap battles ,African Rnb music, Sprite emcee Africa, African Gospel. with direct links to the major record labels in Africa" defjamafrica.blogspot.com.
It sounds all good and proper doesn't it, power house American record label wants what's best for African hip hop.. really though?

The main objective for any and ALL businesses is to make money, if they're doing so_then to make more of it. Def Jam is no different, they did the research and found out what seemed to be obvious, (well to me), Hip Hop is the fastest growing culture in Africa and are invading Africa's promising hip hop industry.

Def Jam has a strong name in hip hop in the U.S, I mean Jay Z, Nas, Gunplay, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Big Boi, to mention only the tip of a very deep iceberg, not mentioning it's comedic history. The name alone has more than enough power to totally eclipse all other African record labels.

If you think the arrival of Def Jam on African shores, (regardless that D'Banj was made President), then you're insanely naive. Thats like saying the British arrived on the shores of New Zealand to look around and then leave.
What will end up happening is that Africans will continue making wonderfully orignal music, and make mad money that the record label will get fat from. Not to seem intirely doom and gloomy, Def Jam will give the artists, managers, creative team (should it be in house hired) and 37-42% of their proceeds_ Its better that 100% of your own right? (*hinting sarcasm) 

If any thing, Def Jam should be seen as they white fat guy with a fat wallet. My opinion is if they're bored and to do something meaningful, tell the super dope beatmaker Dr Dre to stop spitting other people rhyms and focus on making beats.



And oh, (pause)_ Drake's gay

Thursday, 30 August 2012

which makes YOU move..Electronic or Hip Hop?

In the world of Hip Hop, dance is almost secondary objective (primary objective being telling the story), but ever since the sudden (but inevitabe), immergence of Dance music_and by dance I mean Electronic House,  has  been eclipsing the power hip hop has to move people.
  I remember the first Hip Hop song that actually force me to get and dance. This song was the reason I joined a Hip Hop dance crew :Salty Peanuts (although the name kept changing). The track was Xzibit ft Nate Dogg - Multiply.

The beat was unlike anything I've heard before, it was mind blasting_in that I don't actually recall how good I was dancing, but I felt good wild'n out.
After awhile I started hearing electro sound..although I don't recall exatly which ones, and I felt that something was there that I really like_but not enough to leave hip hop though.

2011-2012 Electro music has popped up and it seems that the methodic rythmical beats of hip hop are being put to the challenge by the wild and all over the place beats of electronic House.
From David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland to Flo Rida, Chris Brown and Lil wayne, the electronic society has found a way to make hip hop lovers transfer to the other side. I mean Flo Rida started on real street hip hop music, now his on some electronic hip hop.

And the question I bare for you this day is which is the music you'd dance to?

But I don't that that's a valid question, the thing is there will always be hip hop as there will always be electronic house, it's just that now,they seem to be intwined together..and honestly speaking, people will always dance to good music!

Monday, 20 August 2012

Got Killed On Your Own Track

Ok the Step Up craze is almost over, just one more thing to mention:
The Graffiti is Awesome!!

Back to the heart of hip hop _ music.
So we all know in hip hop, when rappers collaborate in a track, one of them gets killed by the other ,(not literally though, just by the lyrical content and the flow of the verse).

Here is my top 10 list of the collabo-tracks where one of the rappers got killed! (Be warned though, some of the names might come as a shock)

10. Martians vs Goblins - The Game feat. Tyler The Creator
 The Game got killed on his by Tyler, but to take nothing from Game he also admited it.

9. Gonorrhea - Lil Wayne feat. Drake
 Wizzy totally got killed by Drizzy on this one. Sometimes when listening to a full Lil Wayne track, I feel like bored after the first verse_he just loses me. Drake, with his flow killed Lil wayne on many occasions but not as memorable and subtle as he did on this one..(plus I think he did it on purpose)

8. The Motto (rmx) - Drake feat. Lil Wayne and Tyga
 On this one I have to make a pole, and this for me rarely happens_Lil Wayne killing Drake!
On third place Drake
On second.. Lil Wayne (I mean "..almost drowned in her pussy do I swam to her butt.." )
and on  pole position is Tyga. His verse (for me), was his personal best.

7. Echo - Bad Meets Evil
 I know they're a group or duo, but Eminem got killed by Royce on this track, and this track is the only track in existence that his verse is surpassed by someone else.

6. Renegade - Eminem feat. Jay Z
 Well it's quite obvous,isn't it? If not_ Jay got murdered by Eminem

5. As We Enter - Nas feat. Damien Marley
 The whole album Nas performed less than wonderful, as therefore I deam him killed by Damien Marley on this one.

4. Tswa daar - Khuli Chana feat. Notshi
 New kid Notshi proved to everyone that he can hold his own..well he did more than that actually_he killed superstar Khuli C.

3. Lekwalo to Motswako - Morafe
 I know its a group but they're not active as one at the momement. Tody Mac kills Khuli_period!

2. Beez in Trip - Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz
 This was a major shock even to me, that Barbie could be roadkill on her own track by a rapper of 2 Chainz's calibar..(I mean really his not all that). But he kills her on this track

And at number one, a group collabo. Stundee - Cashtime Fam feat. Teargas
To everyone who listened to this track know..I mean they KNOW that the Cashtime boys brutally killed South African power group Teargas.






ON THE OTHER SIDE....
I'm listening to Take Off by Dj Elque feat. Sean Pages, iFani &Kid X.
iFani kills everyone on there by there way

Friday, 17 August 2012

Step Up Suprise!

Yes, this week was mostly Step Up and here's a bit more.

The movie is not as I imagined it, but don't get me wrong_ it's not the best Step Up. I mean we (Evangeline and I) didn't scream at any of the performances..mind you they were sick, but also I ..no, we felt something was missing, (Lord knows what that is)

I might be rambling or maybe the sweet fragrance of the woman besides me clouded my judgment, but that movie felt lame and acted_(I mean you could tell the lead was an actor).

That is not the surprise though, nope not by a long shot.
You might have seen the trailer, or not, but you know that Moose and some of the old gang would rock up. What you didn't know is that Step Up 4 went all out and brought some mad dope amo.
 They got dudes So You Think You Can Dance, ABDC crews such as Poreotics, Phunk Phenomenon, I Am Me and Street Kingdom.

But what needs more mention than that is Emilio of I Am Me, and the legend himself doing choreographed moves aswell as his infamous creation Tight Eyes of ABDC crew Street Kingdom.

I mean After reading that and knowing what these crews can do, you'd be crazy not to want to watch Step Up 4.
Im rating the movie 7/10 (for a Step Up franchise)


next week I ask people which Step Up was the best!

Thursday, 16 August 2012

'Step Up 4' part 2

I know yesterday's blog post was less than appealing_apologies to everyone or anyone who read that. This is what I should've said after what I said:

Imagine the same old story line, battles of two incredible crews fighting for pole position,prize money or even a girl, but then give it a twist_ there are more than two incredible crews..alot more.
What are they fighting for?
This time, not for pole position or a girl for that matter.
This time it's about land.

The crews have banned together to protest..or rather creative protest against a tycoon who wishes to destroy a dock that employs a lot of people.

The crew aren't the least bit happy with this and take to te streets to protest. The music, insane dance moves and the rugged landscape of large crates of the docks creates the perfect environment to bust out sick moves with your crew.

Regardless of the storyline  the movie will be something to see. And yes, it's about how a boy falls for a girl with the aid of hip hop dancing
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view some videos on the previous post.

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Step Up 4!!

The only time that my other half of the blog raises from it's resting place, is only when hip hop and movies combine.
Yes_the long awaited Step Up 4 is afoot, 2 days to be exact.

Ok to get the obvious out of the way, the movies' storyline will be less than amazing (as all step up movies were), the characters will be barbie-type girls and pretty boys and be sure of some beef stewing in the movie. That being said, that never stop the success of the movie, because we (the audience) are anxious only on the fresh new dance moves, which is the best thing about the movie_ and another thing, the best decision they made_ they are kept your boy Moose (Robert Alexander III), so you know it's going to blow everyones head off.
I mean even the cinemas are fully booked!!

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

nil 43 ill-C (origin)

2009 Hlonela Ngqwebo approuched Samkele Letese with a dream of making East london's hip hop scene known to the rest of South Africa, and a way of making this dream a reality was with a label. At the time, it was nothing but that, a dream. That is until the Redbull crew invaded their high school, East London Secondary School_ (and by "invaded", I mean came with permission from the principal), was their dream truly realised.

Knowing that hip hop was the most loved 'adopted' culture in E.L and that it was growing at an unimaginable rate, they went to work_juggling with their school work.
At the beginning of 2010, alot of names had been thrown around, some being; Apostrophe, Silly Goose, (and my personal favourite) Checkmate, just to mention a few.
They felt that none of those names fully captured the hip hop spirit of the city.

And then the Dancer- Samkele and the Rapper- Hlonela,combined their brilliance to create ill-C nil43, fully accompanying the dance and rapp element of hip hop.

After some time of strategising, their planning on introducing their creation to the world come December 8th.
ill - C.jpg
(image courtesy of  hlonela ngqwebo)





                                                                   signed, sealed and delivered

Monday, 13 August 2012

Exclusive!!!! ill-C plans it's debut

 The official launch of a hip hop label is set to launch in East London on the 8th of December this year.

A fog storm that has been creeping through the streets of East London since early 2010 is planning on causing havoc on the city's hip hop scene on it's debut!. "To monopolize the hip hop game of East London" is the aim  of this fresh and new clothing brand; ill-C.

It's said that the label will engulf all aspects of hip hop in E.L, beit rapp, krump, pop n lock, graffiti, baggy or skinny jeans, it will give hip hop in the city an identity.

read on tomorrow for a more detailed post on this "marvel" - ill-C

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Aaliyah Is BACK _ Enough Said

The music world is a wonderful industry that produces great sounds. The wonder of the music produced by two artists and the excitement it creates to the audience..especially when those two artists have are from different genres. Hip hop and house, hip hop and raggea, house and RnB, rock and hip hop, RnB and gospel and hip hop and  RnB. I know there's too much hip hop, but lets face it, hip hop goes with everything, like margerine.

It seems that in this particular industry DEATH is a good thing, (profit wise) - when you die, you make more money than when you're were alive, (I know, tough to swallow, but it's all true). B.I.G and Pac sold more record after their "untimely" demise than they did when they were alive and kicking it.

No much has changed, Aaliyah, who died more than a decade ago is set to release an album, her new track featuring Drizzy Drake (pause), Enough Said dropped yesterday on Metro. This new upcoming  album is said to be produced by Noah "40" Shebib and more other known and unknown producers.

Why is this so though?, Is it intentional or is it based on a wish and a prayer?..I'm leaning on the intentional part. Obviously not for the artist, but the recording company. In the time an artist spent with a company, he/she will have music that were not accepted to be release for whatever reason, and those songs will be the property of the company.

No? How else would you explain the sudden wave of music after the artist has died?
The company makes money off the name and worse of all the memory of the artist.




(All images are courtesy of www.google.co.za)


                                                                   signed, sealed and delivered

Monday, 6 August 2012

Today, typical Monday, I woke up late_ walked to school on a pretty cold dreaded winter morning until something wonderful happened.
About 750 m, I 'stumbled' upon a former club banger_which has more than enough potential to be one againm, DMX feat. Swizz Beatz - Lets Get It On.

I can still remember the first time I heard it, at my uncle's place, who was a huge DMX fan, I can still see him lip rapping while awkwardly tried dancing, but you can't blame_ that beat almost forces you to move. S Beatz killed it, severely!

I wonder the reaction of that track to a hip hop crew/crowd. I just get excited imagining the sick moves  they would blaze the stage with.

I mean even the pic. makes you wanna move something



Sunday, 5 August 2012

AKA #Jealousy

"..#Jealousy flooded twitter timelines, becoming a trending topic in South Africa in less than five (5) minutes after debuting." DJ C-Live.
AKA has totally outdone himself with this one, turning haters into fans. I, myself must admit that I wasn't quite a fan, but after this track_ oh man AKA is the man aiming at the No. 1 spot here in Mzantsi.

I didn't quite fully comprehend the enormity of this track, (I might still not), but all I know is that people everywhere has been wondering where to downloading this monster of a track.

Well I might just have a solution for that, Miller has the Jealousy - track,but only to listen and will have it for downloading early this week!

So if you haven't heard it, here's a link, check it out
 #Jealousy courtesy of Miller www.millersa.co.za/blog/2012/get-your-hands-on-jealousy-by-aka/ (and if you're lucky, they might've it released today!!)


 

                                                                                                                        signed, sealed and delivered