The AHHB Podcast Featuring Kid X, Mr. Beef & BK
by Phil Chard
The African Hip Hop Blog podcast returns with another incredibly entertaining episode lined up with news, interviews and music for the AHHB faithful. This week Phil plays music from Cassper Nyovest, Stanley Enow, C-Real, Boolz & Ricky Rick. He also digs into the vast AHHB vault and plays interviews with Kid X, Mr. Beef and BKAHHB Podcast V 2
Kid X speaks to us about his SAMA nominated mixtape ¾ Pace, Mr. Beef shares a brief introduction into his history and release plans, while BK who was recently signed by Sony Music tell us about her long and storied relationship with the music industry. The rapper/vocalist/producer also shares her plans for her mixtape, EP and eventual album release.
Major shout out to Ts’eliso Monaheng (Nemesis Republik) who can be heard as the second interviewer during the BK interviewer, Ts’eliso has assisted countless times with gathering AHHB content.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @pbafrica & @philchard
Yanga – Not Enough
by Phil Chard
Sill counting my paycheques, y’all so impatient.
I mean if you did this would you get paid?
Last year I skipped Christmas and 2 birthdays.
My lil’ sis wants shoes all day,
And if this kills me who gonna pay?
I have been anxiously waiting for the release of Yanga’s Touch Is A Move EP like the second coming of Jesus. As it stands the project is 2 months overdue and Yanga seems to have been hard at work on finishing it or just adding more songs to it as he alluded to in this clip below.
If Not Enough serves as barometer for what the PE native will be delivering on his project I will gladly exercise a little more patience. On the high energy tracks Yanga delivers another incredibly catchy verse and series of bars that display just how far his rap skills have improved.
Falz Shares How He Broke Into Music in Interview On The Juice
by Phil Chard
@falzthebahdguy
The rise of Falz "The Bahd Guy" has been steady and impressive over the last few years but in the last 6 months his ascension and solidification into the Nigerian and African Hip Hop and Pop Culture lexicon has been nothing short of impressive. From the release of his impressive debut effort with a handful of breath taking videos, his popular skits on social media, a number of TV hosting gigs and now his budding acting career which helped him secure an AMVCA Trophy, Falz is quickly becoming one of Nigeria’s most popular and diverse entertainers.
On the season premiere of Season 3 The Juice, Ndani TV interviewed Falz for a candid and humorous chat. During the chat Falz shares that he was practicing as a lawyer before he decided to swap the courtroom for a studio. Contrary to popular belief Falz was recording music as far back as high school and recorded his first professional song in 2009 but his music career only began to take off after his antics on social media started going viral.
The AHHB Podcast Featuring Blayze & The Ladies Night Review
by Phil Chard
In this week’s episode of the African Hip Hop Blog podcast I sit down with South African rapper Blayze, for a live review of his new offering The Ladies Night EP. We discuss what went into the making of the project, the emotional rollercoasters that inspired it, industry politics, and Caitlyn Jenner.
In the news rundown we also discuss Da L.E.S, Nasty C and our search for new members of the AHHB Team.
I Spoke To DJ Capital, This Is What I Learned
by Phil Chard
AB Crazy, Reason & DJ Capital performing Hell Of A Life at Kool Out
I recently sat down with South Africa’s DJ Capital to discuss his entry into the music industry and his new single Hell Of A Life featuring Reason and AB Crazy.
During out interview Capital shared that his forays into the music industry came about when he would promote and host parties in University and he was forced into becoming an impromptu DJ when one of the acts he had booked didn’t pitch. Capital also revealed that he writes the hooks for his songs before sharing the process that went into making Hell Of A Life.
You can watch the full interview above and the video for Hell Of A Life below.
@DJCapital90
This Is What I Learned When I Interviewed Da L.E.S.
by Phil Chard
I recently interviewed Da L.E.S for 2 Broke Twimbos in an incredibly informative and engaging interview. During the interview we discussed the North God’s ascension from his birth in Washington DC to moving to Houston and finally back to Johannesburg. We spoke about how he and Bongz first bonded over skating and music in Primary School and how that common interest would help reconnect them later tin life to form Jozi.
Da L.E.S also spoke very candidly about what led to the breakup of the group.
“I guess some individuals kinda felt like they weren’t eating enough… some individuals felt like 360 was a bit like weird, some individuals felt like we were being played”
In between the recording of Jozi’s first and second album Da L.E.S also went on to record his debut effort Fresh2Def , which, according to Les helped contribute to the demise of the group as jealousies began to form within the group. Coupled with all this Da L.E.S also shares some incredible stories about how he linked with one of my childhood friends TeqNiq, formerly known as TekNeek . Les also shares that Riky Rick was a prolific battle rapper back in the day who would go out and win R3,000 battling on a few occasions.
“I knew [Ricky Rick] & TekNeek was out there battling for cash… They were getting guap. Like putting up stacks… putting up 3K[R3,000] and come out with 6K [R6,000].
According to Les the Last Summer Tour (The joint mixtape he did with Riky Rick) was borne out of necessity when the two rappers found d themselves stranded in Cape Town after turning up a little too hard and Les being The North God that he is, refused to take the train home.
We also the construction of Les home studio, his subsequent albums, how he has manged to secure so many iconic collaborations and his extremely popular All White Party.
Without tooting my own horn this is one if the best interviews that I have ever conducted.
Watch the full interview to above and check out more 2 Broke Twimbos content here.
@2FreshLes
AHHB Viber Public Chat: How Artists Can Manage Their Brands & PR with Kelebogile Mabunda
by Phil Chard
The African Hip Hop Blog was chosen as one of Viber’s launch partners when they launched their new Viber Public Chat feature a few months back. Since it began we have experienced tremendous growth and engagement on the platform. We use our Viber public chat as a forum to allow for discussion and debate cantered around the African music industry and the culture. We encourage anyone interested in getting the latest news and opinions from influential voices across the continent to follow along. If you would like to be part of the debates and contribute, please get hold of me on twitter @PhilChard.
This past week we invited Kelebogile Mabunda , a Public Relations expert and media maven to share her insights on how artists can better managed their brands and image. The discussion can be viewed in the image gallery live. To follow the discussion live and contribute please follow our Viber Chat here.
Kelebogile on Twitter: @KelzMabunda Email Kelebogile: kelebogile@klmpublicity.com
Jabba Man fka HHP Interview on DJ Sabby’s Best Drive
by Phil Chard
Jabba Man fka HHP was recently on DJ Sabby’s YFM show for an incredibly lively interview. During the discussion HHP discussed his Back To The City performance which fell just a few after he left rehab to ween himself off depression medication. He also speaks of his new found love for boxing, his name from HP to Jabba Man, his plans to move to the USA and the benefit he will be holding at Bassline to benefit Zoey who is currently suffering from cerebral palsy.