Stream King Dizo’s TwentyFourSeven Mixtape

by Phil Chard

South Africa's King Dizo just dropped his 24 mixtape. The 17 track offering boasts features from Tony Dangler , Londi and Toya Delazy's Klutch Kollective. On first listen this project is definitely worth your megabytes. Despite adopting a perplexing faux American accent Dizo delivers a great set of songs that display his skills as a lyricists and hook writer who find a way to effortlessly merge vernacular and English raps.

Standout track : We Go Hard

Stream H3nry’s – W.T.F EP & His Video For Manasseh

by Phil Chard

Zimbabwean artist H3nry has released his second solo effort title W.T.F. The 5 track EP starts off a little cold and picks up the pace in a big way towards the end. The last two songs- You Want It and Sally ar are by far the standout offerings. The former features a sample of KC & The Sunshine Band's "That's The Way I Like It" that is chopped and screwed as H3nry delivers an impressive verse. On Sally the 20 year old ZImbabwean delves into the topic of mental trauma and sexual assault on a well produced tracks assisted by the vocals of Yoza Mnyanda.

You can also stream H3nry new video for Manasseh directed by Thandi Gula-Ndebele

About the Artist: Henry Masekesa better known by his stage name H3nry, is a Zimbabwean multi genre recording artist based in Cape Town and Zimbabwe. He is an independant artist spearheading the roster for his recently established record label IV-FOUR-VI International Records. He is also the founder of the creative collective '446', which includes frequent collaborator The Don as well as filmmaker Thandi Gula-Ndebele. H3nry began his music career three years ago after having recorded music and played instruments throughout his childhood. His passion for people, art and music led him to pursue a career in music while studying at the University of Cape Town which he then left after deciding to pursue music exclusively. H3nry released his debut single 'Secrets' in 2014, which featured Hillzy, another local artist, good friend and family member. A year after its successful release , H3nry released another offering, his debut mixtape, T.U.T.O.R , a collaborative hip-hop and R&B piece with Hillzy. The mixtape was well received across platforms on the internet and broadcast on Zimbabwean Radio stations with its leading single 'Paranoid' reaching the number 3 spot on Star FM this year. Following the success of his debut mixtape, h3nry began working on singles as well performances in Cape Town, with a stand out show at The Waiting room where he and good friend/collaborator Simmysimmynya shared the stage. He also went on to produce and mastered for South African rap newcomer Simmysimmynya's debut mixtape. H3nry released a second mixtape EP 'Expressions' in October 2015, the thought and emotion provoking piece received positive and raving reviews from local blogs and peers. It caught the attention of international artists and producers such as K.E On the Track and Profit who he went on to work with. 2016 saw the release of h3nry's second music video Manasseh which had great reception across all platforms and featured on a local blog while the single received the number 1 spot on the Stir Up radio show in South Africa. In May he went on to release another well received EP titled 'W.T.F'. H3nry has been working on his third mixtape which he hopes will inspire people and give his fans and others a better idea of who he is while showcasing his undeniable musical talent, the tape will be out in July.

Submission | Project-Kay – The Dark Ages Featuring Soulbass

by Phil Chard

Durban based artist Project-Kay has dropped a song titled The Dark Ages featuring SoulBass. The song has a very reflective and dark theme that is set by the haunting instrumental made up of piano keys, mellow violin strings and soft pads. On the song Kay discusses a dark and depressing time in his life where he contemplated taking his own life.

This song was written during the most difficult and darkest periods in his life and its’ lyrics draw straight from his soul which is exactly how the song was titled The Dark Ages. The courage he had to acquire in order to get through these delicate times is the very reason he wrote this tell-all song, but is also the reason he became the triumphant proud father he is today. He hopes this song will touch others faced with similar struggles and help them by assuring them that with God by your side, you can face anything and come out of it even stronger.

Kundai (Project-Kay) Vera is a music producer, rapper, Award winning film director and VFX artist who was born on the 8th March 1988 in Harare. In 1995 his missionary parents moved the family to South Africa when he was seven years old. By the age of eight, he began playing the keyboard in church which is where he discovered his love for music. He has also directed numerous music videos for Connecting Stars, Quest, and several other television Commercials. He is currently working on his studio album (the Dark Knight Villain) and is his EP "The dark Ages" is available on iTunes. The leading track "What I Want", is produced, engineered and recorded by himself, and features Durban rappers Flowsik, Ushe-S and Clara-T. This body of work along with everything he has done is meant to show case his producing and directing abilities to the world. Other musicians he has collaborated with that are not in the Hip-Hop world per say are the likes of Tresor. Who is an African Pop artist, who Kundai played keyboards and piano on the 2015 studio album "VII" including the hit single "Mount Everest" which also features South African Rap artist AKA. The goal now is to grow into a better well rounded artist and filmmaker and help put Durban and Africa as whole on the global map and become one of the people helping make it a serious contender in both industries.

Submission | Lincoln The President – HANDE

by Phil Chard

New submission from Harare based rapper Lincoln The President titled Hande. The song is an ode to hard and grimy looped beats from East Coast American rap during the Hip Hop Golden age. Much like the songs of that period the beat is coupled with some great rapping skills as Lincoln unleashes an impressive arsenal of alliterations, wordplay and multisyllabic flows in both English and Shona,

Lincoln Ngorima Aka Lincoln the President is a Zimbabwean born Mc /Rapper/Songwriter & Poet raised in the high density suburb of Chitungwiza. The second child in a family of three children. The Prez was born a fiend for melodies &rhythm which found him joining the choirs both at school &church. (Yes choirs) He met with Hip hop through his brother an avid listener, fell in love with the level of expression (which I feel no other genre can match).Eminem, Ludacris & Lupe Fiasco were some of his first influences. This triggered an additional element that is lyricism, carefully conjugated verbs &nouns assimilated into rhythm &melodies to produce beautiful art for ones listening pleasure. My first local influence was &is my older brother Livingstone (AyyDawg) Ngorima .Already immersed in the art he was writing verses at a time I could even grasp the bare basics. So my lesson I got by playing his little shadow like any little brother. Growing into it I was drawn to the art of freestyling, impromptu to spontaneously time your thoughts to the beat which was & is still a power point before I found that which is mightier than the sword. Recorded my first track in 2012 starting up a chain of events that led to a lot of performances, cyphers and the discovery of spoken word through my fellow artist in a coalition by the name "VeKwaSeKe" which comprises of me Aspaya&Kevin Munetsi.With this collective we managed to organise a monthly open mic event Dream elevation movement. Along with Peace in the hoods events, local clubs ,Bocapa shows in 2014 I managed to perform at Shoko festival alongside the country's top tier in the music industry which I consider a marker for me to take things professionally. Participated in the Next level tour of Zim which found me collaborating with American counter parts in performances. Currently I’m about to release my debut project a compilation mixtape" Peasant's Son" early July

Watch Lil Kesh get interviewed on The Juice

by Phil Chard

Lil Kesh recently dropped by The Juice for a sit down interview with Dorcas to discuss his career thus far and plans for the future. The Y.A.G.I Records head revealed a lot during his interview but these are the 4 main points that we gathered

Lil Kesh revealed details of his upbringing in Bariga Lagos . He also covers some these details in his recently released video of Ishe

Lil Kesh was unable to get a place UNILAG College to study Computer Science. So he had to settle for studying Linguistics instead before he dropped out to pursue music.

As a child LilKesh was a member of his church choir where he performed and wrote songs, he also played the drums.

Lil Kesh reiterated that even though he is no longer signed to YBNL the label, Olamide is still his close friend and YBNL still manage him as an artist.

@lilkeshofficial

The Connec Presents Zvidhakwa by Denny Dugg

by Phil Chard

Octave Couplet’s The Connec announced their formation last year with the release on their single Post the Miz which we covered here.

A year later one of the members of the collective, Denny Dugg is back with the second single under the collective’s moniker. The song Zvidhakwa features Denny [playing the dual role of rapper and singer as he speaks on “Zvidhakwa izvi” (these drunkards) over a beat with the keyboard synths reminiscent of early 90s Afro House.

The song tells the tale of a conversation Denny has with a woman I a night out.

@TConnec

The New Scamble For Africa

Chris Brown is not a small fry in today’s musical reckoning, a highly successful, albeit controversial pop star known the world over.  So when he chooses a Nigerian Afro-Pop act like Wizkid as his sidekick on his on-going World Tour, he may be falling in line with the new thinking in the industry.

Ice Prince & Jay Z. Image Courtesy of Ice Prince's Instagram

In 2015, renowned audit behemoth: PwC, in one of its futuring exercises confirmed one of the suspicions of music industry practitioners by predicting that proceeds of entertainment and media will gross $8.5 billion US dollars in Nigeria by 2019, of which music is a major part.

In Africa, Nigeria’s huge population makes it an easy ground for the sampling of different sorts and in most cases, if it sails there, it will have a high likelihood of flying elsewhere on a continent that is now grossed over 1 billion people. By implication, Africa’s next big commercial export will be calibrated in musical notes and we are witnessing the early days of a new scramble for these new artistic resources.

After winning a Grammy in the Best World Music Category earlier this year, Benenoise Angelique Kidjo said: "I want to dedicate this Grammy to all the traditional musicians in Africa, in my country, to all the young generation,”. Now based in New York, Kidjo has had a front-row seat to witness the growth and newfound love for African music in the first world. Late last year Kidjo also collaborated with Nigeria’s Omawunmi, signifying her willingness to collaborate with the rising tide of Africa’s new crop of artists.

The global music business has responded well to the beats from the black continent too with Sony expanding its operations across Africa particularly in the West and Roc Nation’s newfound interest in African acts being the biggest bellwethers of the new trend. As for the former, the business model for Africa has been evolving over the past five years. First, it was Sony Music Africa (an SPV to run their interest in Africa) that has engaged talents. But now, the parent brand Sony BMG has waded in with two offices in quick succession. Some of the artistes that have courted their interest included D’banj (Nigeria), Xtatic (Kenya), Davido (Nigeria), and Alikiba (Tanzania).

RocNation on the other hand still seems to be dipping their toes in the pool, with no deals being signed as yet but there is strong evidence to suggest that they are keenly interested in entering the African market. Jay Z has already had meetings with Ice Prince, Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage. Last year he sent his cousin and business partner Briant Briggs and Jay Electronica on a talent scouting trip to Africa. South Africa’s Nasty_C has also claimed that the Roc has expressed interest in him and contacted him personally last month.

It’s a new age for African artists, especially for talents that have been able to fuse the right contemporary elements into their sounds. Even without the support of major labels or structured industry artists are now money-generating brands within their own rights. Nigerian Davido gawked on his Snapchat that his Pepsi deal was worth 100 million Naira (~$500,000 USD). Cassper Nyovest bragged that he grossed over 1 million Rand in show revenue last year and is rumoured to have signed a deal with MTN worth 7 figures.

Back to Chris Brown’s “One Hell of a Tour” in Amsterdam last weekend, he performed a yet to be released collaboration with the Nigerian titled “African Bad Girl”. From the title to the beat and stage act, it was obvious the world is ready to be entertained by everything the continent has to offer.

As acts like Wale, Swizz Beatz, and Drake have now shown, the tide is shifting. Gone are the days when African artists had to travel abroad with large sums of cash in hand hoping to convince international acts to collaborate with them. The world has begun to take notice and respect the talents of Africa, and they are now more willing to collaborate on mutually beneficial musical offerings.

The biggest challenge, however, is for the industry to be strong enough to trap down most of the proceeds for the benefit of the continent and the artists themselves.

Tipping The Skales: We Take A Look At Bad Recording Deals & Disgruntled Artists

by Mayuyuka

There have been great breakout successes for independent artists all across the world lately. In the States Chance The Rapper hasn't relied on any deals, and in South Africa Cassper Nyovest has built himself an empire with his record label Family Tree.

It's an investment the label makes in an artist, and like any other investment a healthy return is expected

For every great indie success, however, there's a lot more successful artists with label backing. Now what about those successes who we see hit the limelight but are signed to deals which seem aren't in their favour. Once in awhile, the curtain is pulled back and the façade of bottle popping and fresh whips gets put firmly in the spotlight. Well, Skales is a prime example of a major signing gone wrong it seems. Although since resolved; news of his and his managers arrest brought about a slew of documentation online.

The Nigerian allegedly signed a 200 Million Naira deal with the then Howie T and Dipo Abdul-helmed record label Baseline Music. Now if this is all factual, it intrigues me because the deal purportedly included a new car, a lifestyle allowance and a new house (legally, and not mistakenly referred to as property). Now I say that somewhat facetiously but the point of ownership is essential to talk about when we speak of record deals. Along with an artist receiving an advance to record music with the best facilities available to them, all these other perks are considered loans from the record label. It's an investment the label makes in an artist, and like any other investment a healthy return is expected. That means any advances offered to an artists have to be paid back through sales and a cocktail of other revenue streams. Before that debt is settled though... the label has access to any surety it can get. Surety is literally insurance on the prospect of future losses. Put simply, an artist's value is tied to the label for as long as they're contracted to them: until they recoup a return.

Now let us track back a little: A label willing to give an artist an extreme makeover (rapper edition) deluxe package isn't being charitable and is just putting as many eggs into a basket they believe in as they see fit. So it wasn't a surprise to hear that Skale's earnings were reportedly divided in a 70– 30 percentage split in favour of his label.(of course Skales has denied these rumoured percentages to be true, so let us assume that those are splits, or arguments sake.) This agreement applied to income from both his current and any previous deals apparently, meaning he sold off his previous and potential earnings to a corporation. What's most striking is the alleged 10 Million British Pound fee he'd have to pay to buy himself out of the contract.

I'd hazard a guess that the typical 360 Degree Deal is responsible for a lot of artist's unhappiness. In such a deal the label has access to an artist's image rights, copyright, performance fees, syndication fees, royalties, publishing rights and literally any other income the artist earns from. All signed away in exchange for the access and perks the label provides. As preposterous as that sounds, it is somewhat the norm. It sounds harsh on an artist, but when you have access to an allowance, studio facilities, distribution and other perks the price to retrieve your freedom is pretty high! In Nigeria alone there have been a range of artists leaving after being at loggerheads with their labels.

Here's a few of the verifiable accounts we have so far:

Milli just parted ways with Chocolate City apparently due to having his music unsupported by the label and a collaboration with Wizkid shelved. He goes so far as accusing label honcho M.I Abaga of stifling his career! We've seen contractual disputes between D'banj and Don Jazzy tear apart their partnership as well in eerily reminiscent fashion. Meanwhile, Ice Prince has moved on to form his own label, an imprint under Chocolate City, after announcing that his original deal with Choc City had expired two years ago.

What seems very unnatural is the relationship with Runtown and Eric Many Entertainment. His label allegedly breached their contract after failing to pay him his 35% split over a couple of years. He has a sordid tale to reveal which includes broken promises, extortion and death threats! The artist was banned from performing due to an injunction and subsequently terminated the agreement.

And now a run-down of other Nigerian acts who split from their labels, as per Pulse:

This sort of strife for artists isn't only isolated to Nigeria, as in South Africa there are plentiful stories with artists signed to labels such as Ghetto Ruff where popular musicians such as Ishmael and Zola have had varying disputes with label head Lance Stehr. The problem is clearly not limited to individuals either as the issues Zambian outfit Zone Fam have with Kenyan label Taurus Musik proves. Kenyan femcee Xtatic recently had an online outburst aimed at her label: she blames Sony Music Entertainment Africa for allegedly shelving her project even though she met her end of the deal. She goes on to list more East African talents she feels have been exploited in her exasperation, such as Ugandan rapper Keko.

It seems year after year we hear stories of beloved artists passing away broke and the like. And this is where stories like these take my mind. There are whispered tales of composers of indigenous music having their work owned by people with foreign names... and even artists' families inheriting their indebtedness! The vast amount of African legends, in any genre, that have been dealt hands they either were unaware of or misunderstood is extensive. Even if a label sounds like the underdog in relation to mainstream players... every label operates like a label: whether it is indie, an imprint or multi-national. In the relationship between artists and label the word partnership only counts in press releases and is rarely accurate. You are employed by a label to recoup its earnings, and in the meantime anything attached to you they own!

The tales of these artists converge to remind us that the music industry functions on a lot more than just talent, hype or the glitz and glamour us consumers literally buy into. Even talented artists require an understanding of what they seek to achieve. Sometimes being independent is the best way and other times a label provides much needed structure, distribution and reach. All this, however, should be negotiated. When signing to a label not every right needs to be cashed in! Without keeping some form of musical ownership... great strides such as the quotas in Nigeria or the newly enforced 90% local music on South African radio will all be in vain (like only play-listing songs from decades ago). With no publishing or royalties to their names, there'll be very few benefits for the talented folk who entertain us!

We've spoken about having a great team around you in a musical sense before. But an artists squad goals should include certified managers, publicists, accountants and more especially lawyers. We need people to turn up with, but we also need people to turn up... when we're signing on the dotted line!

“I see too many rappers, and not Enough CEOs”- Cassper Nyovest (Skelm)

The New Scramble For Africa

by Phil Chard

Chris Brown is not a small fry in today’s musical reckoning, a highly successful, albeit controversial pop star known the world over. So when he chooses a Nigerian Afro Pop act like Wizkid as his sidekick on his on-going World Tour, he may be falling in line with the new thinking in the industry.

Ice Prince & Jay Z

In 2015, renowned audit behemoth: PwC, in one of its futuring exercises confirmed one of the suspicions of music industry practitioners by predicting that proceeds of entertainment and media will gross $8.5 billion US dollars in Nigeria by 2019, of which music is a major part.

In Africa, Nigeria’s huge population makes it an easy ground for sampling of different sorts and in most cases, if it sails there, it will have a high likelihood of flying elsewhere on a continent that is now grossed over 1 billion people. By implication, Africa’s next big commercial export will be calibrated in musical notes and we are witnessing the early days of a new scramble for these new artistic resources.

After winning a Grammy in the Best World Music Category earlier this year, Benenoise Angelique Kidjo said "I want to dedicate this Grammy to all the traditional musicians in Africa, in my country, to all the young generation,”. Now based in New York, Kidjo has had a front row seat to witness the growth and new found love for African music in the first world. Late last year Kidjo also collaborated with Nigeria’s Omawunmi, signifying her willingness to collaborate with the rising tide of Africa’s new crop of artists.

Jay Z, Tiwa Savage Don Jazzy

Global music business has responded well to the beats from the black continent too with Sony expanding its operations across Africa particularly in in the West and Roc Nation’s new found interest in African acts being the biggest bellwethers of the new trend. As for the former, the business model for Africa has been evolving over the past five years. First it was Sony Music Africa (an SPV to run their interest in Africa) that has engaged talents. But now, the parent brand Sony BMG has waded in with two offices in quick succession. Some of the artistes that have courted their interest included D’banj (Nigeria), Xtatic (Kenya), Davido (Nigeria), and Alikiba (Tanzania).

RocNation on the other hand still seems to be dipping their toes in the pool, with no deals being signed as yet but there is strong evidence to suggest that they are keenly interested in entering the African market. Jay Z has already had meetings with Ice Prince, Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage. Last year he sent his cousin and business partner Briant Briggs and Jay Electronica on a talent scouting trip to Africa. South Africa’s Nasty_C has also claimed that the Roc has expressed interest in him and contacted him personally last month.

It’s a new age for African artists, especially for talents that have been able to fuse the right contemporary elements into their sounds. Even without the support of major labels or a structured industry artists are now money generating brands within their own rights. Nigerian Davido gawked on his snapchat that his Pepsi deal was worth 100 million Naira (~$500,000 USD). Cassper Nyovest bragged that he grossed over 1 million Rand in show revenue last year and is rumoured to have signed a deal with MTN worth 7 figures.

Back to Chris Brown’s “One Hell of a Tour” in Amsterdam last weekend, he performed a yet to be released collaboration with the Nigerian titled “African Bad Girl”. From the title to the beat and stage act, it was obvious the world is ready to be entertained by everything the continent has to offer.

@THEREALSWIZZZ vibing to @RealBlackCoffee | there are levels to this life thing yo pic.twitter.com/pBpjP1U9qJ

— Phlynt Phlossy™ (@PhilChard) April 22, 2016

As acts like Wale, Swizz Beatz, and Drake have now shown, the tide is shifting. Gone are the days when African artists had to travel abroad with large sums of cash in hand hoping to convince international acts to collaborate with them. The world has begun to take notice and respect the talents of Africa, and they are now more willing to collaborate on mutually beneficial musical offerings.

The biggest challenge however is for the industry to be strong enough to trap down most of the proceeds for the benefit of the continent and the artists themselves.

The AHHB Podcast Featuring Award Wins, SABCs, Ice Prince , Anathi And The SAMAs

by Phil Chard

AHHB Podcast V 2

After taking a week off due to unforeseen circumstances (the movers bundling my equipment with the “stuff I don’t really need” box) we are back with another episode of the AHHB Podcast.

This week we have another highly entertaining episode featuring music from Kiss Daniel, Gemini Major, Akan, Worlasi, Phyno, N’veigh, Blaklez, PDotO, Ras, V-Way, Rosah-Joy, AY, Diamond Platnumz, Emtee and more.

We also have interviews with Anathi and Ice Prince and discuss all the latest news from across the continent, including million dollar lawsuits, bad contracts, The SAMA awards and much more.

Don’t forget to follow on Twitter @africanhhb & @PhilChard.

PS: I apologise for the acoustics of the episode, I am still setting up the studio at the new place.

Americana - Aspiring by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licensed

Source | Artist

Complex – Televised Featuring Shad

by Phil Chard

New video from American based Zimbabwean rapper Complex tilted Televised featuring Shad. The song and video aren’t going to blow you away, but it does represent a consistency and improvement in Complex’ music, who seems to be etching out a following for himself amongst a diasporans and local Zimbabwean fans alike

However Complex might want to change his name and/or the font for his name if he doesn’t want Marc Ecko and his lawyers knocking at his door soon.

MMT – Live For Today

by Phil Chard

After a long hiatus and a number of solo efforts the Zimbabwean Hip Hop super group MMT hath returned with a comeback single titled Live For Today produced by Young Nash.

The song follows the tried tested lyrical formula that brought MMT to into the focus of the mainstream – use witty, controversial lyrics with a fair dose of name dropping, coupled a catchy hook.

@thatMMTmusic

We Got Another Accolade At The African Blogger Awards, Here Is Our Soopy Thank You Speech

by Phil Chard

The African Blogger Awards were last week and after the judges deliberated, tallied the votes, did google searches and debated on who had the prettiest site ( we really don’t know what happens behind that curtain), it was decided that The African Hip Hop Blog is the second best music blog in Africa.

First and foremost we would like to thank the fans, the readers, the link sharers, the retweeters and the commenters. Without you, we would be blogging to an audience of 1. Thank you for trusting us to become a part of your culture. Secondly thank you to the artists, it might not seem like it when it takes us weeks to respond to you or when we constantly reject your music, but it is because of you that we have something to write about. We need you more than you need us and we thank you for entrusting us with your art.

Thank you to the team, who sacrifice countless hours, reading, researching, listening and writing for little reward. You guys are the real MVPs.

Here is a full press release detailing our achievement

The African Hip Hop Blog recognised at the 2016 African Blogger Awards

For the second year in a row year the African Hip Hop Blog has been honoured as one of the continent’s premier blogs at the African Blogger Awards

The African Blogger Awards, which are now in their third year aim to highlight the best blogs and social media influencers from around the continent. This year the awards received over 2,000 entries in 36 categories almost doubling the number of entries from the previous year. The awards gauge metrics such as audience size, blog relevance and how far the blog’s content resonates outsides its own community.

After vetting the 2,000 entries from across the continent, The African Hip Hop Blog was judged to be the second best music blog in Africa. This award comes after the African Hip Hop Blog scooped The Best Blog About Africa prize in 2015– the award’s most prestigious award.

The African Hip Hop Blog was founded in 2008 by Zimbabwean, Ross Hagan while he was a student at Rhodes University. Since then the blog has grown immensely and now has contributors from across the continent. The website is now run by Ross Hagan , Phil Chard (both Zimbabwean) and Twaambo Haamucenje who is a web designer based in Zambia.

“We are all very honoured that our efforts are being recognised and we continue to be rewarded. Thank you to the African Blogger Awards and most importantly our readers for helping us become who we are” said Chard.

“"Thanks to the readers and thanks to the artists. We do it for them.” Said Twaambo Haamucenje.

Producer JayTip’s Top 5 Kasi Rap Heaters

by Tseliso Monaheng

We asked Pretoria-based producer JayTip, who's originally from Durban but now resides in a city where he splits time between lecturing Physics, writing academic papers, making beats for artists such as Sabza (a member of the AHHB team) and winning Back To Cty's 10K Challenge, set time aside to compile this playlist for us, as well as share a few words on each track. You can listen to 'Tip's production on his soundcloud and follow him on twitter.

Ikesi by Maraza

I like the fact that he decided to use the not so common Zulu terminology, like the first line, he says “Lasuka lahlala baphuma abafana beqhol’ amakha amaningi.” You’d probably never hear another rapper use the word amakha, which refers to perfume.

V’walla by Abdus

Well Abdus is known for his witty lines, and this joint offers nothing less. The beat is the type you bob your head to. He is proving a point with this one, “ngifahlaza you favourite rapper, that’s why you calling him your man crush” (fahlaza means crush). And he sure does address most of his haters as he raps “abangifiseli unwele olude oDililah, bahlukumeza uSamsoni."

Ziyasha by Breeze

You can call him a modern “dzansansa”. This is your kasi turn-up type of vibe.

Imadlana yok’gcina by Kid X

I dig the kwaito feel and the fact that he didn’t just let the beat do the work for him, he actually wrote. This is definitely one of my festive jams.

100K macassette by Okmalumkoolkat

This is my act silly jam. Dig the (M'du) loop idea but wish they could have done more to it. Malum’ always has something to say that will leave you in stitches.

TCHOPDYE – Désintégrés

by Phil Chard

Language barrier aside it is very hard to describe the music of TCHOPDYE. The duo are a fusion of Hip Hop, Pop, Alternative music and a self described "Afrofuturiste" style. That being said their single Désintégrés which roughly translates to disintegrates is a deconstruction of the genres I listed above in an incredibly new and entertaining sound that forms a unique pairing of the sounds from the two nations the group calls home . France & Cameroon.

Epixode – Body Body + Ghetto Anthem

by Phil Chard

Theophilus Nii Arday Otoo known also known as Epixode is a Ghanaian Dancehall artist who dabbles in Hip Hop on occasion. Currently signed to Gbevu Music Group, Epixode was a winner at the African Youth Choice Awards in 2015 .

Epixode has just dropped his debut album Spar Junkiez. Amongst the impressive and catchy Dancehall releases is the mellow Hip Hop & R&B fusion titled Body Body featuring Mr. Eazie. Epixode is definitely a talent worth watching in the future.

You can also view his international collaboration with Kerwin Prescott for the Ghetto Anthem remix

Event |Miami to Host Afrikin Fest in November

by Phil Chard

Afrikin Fest, an African inspired food and music festival will be held from November 18-20, 2016. The weekend-long event will feature the ingenuity, economic and social opportunity of the world’s fastest growing region – Africa. In addition to a first-rate culinary experience and top tier musical acts, the festival will celebrate the accomplishments of influencers and innovators from the African diaspora.

“Africa and African culture are now a driving force in commerce and the arts,” said Alfonso D’Niscio Brooks, Afrikin Fest founding partner and producer. “The establishment of a gathering that not only fuses the finest in music and food, but also notes the waves being made by Africans in business, technology, and education are components that must be supported. This is the ideal time to leverage the popularity of food and music festivals to amplify the profile of Africa and its descendants.”

Afrikin Fest will host talks over the weekend celebration that will feature a “who’s who” panel of educators, influencers, and business executives. Brooks and Team Afrikin are dedicated to cultivating a spirit that will shape innovation across multiple platforms. The festival is currently in pre-production and a crowdfunding campaign will launch later this month. In addition, a series of Afrikin networking events leading up to the November festival will be hosted in secret locations throughout Miami, with the first event on July 2nd. “It’s important to emphasize the potential of the ‘Black Dollar,’" said Julie Mansfield, Afrikin Fest founding partner. “Now more than ever, the limelight is being shed on Africa as a place of innovation and economic potential. Attendees will have fun, of course, but they’ll also leave informed and inspired.”

Proceeds from Afrikin Fest will benefit Give Me Dignity, a nonprofit organization with a resounding voice against Childhood Sexual Abuse

Navy Seal – 100 Dollar Bills Featuring Phuture Phil

by Phil Chard

Bulawayo's Navy Seal just dropped his new single titled 100 Dollar Bills featuring Phuture Phil (no relation) who was also responsible for production.

100 artworkThe song itself is a decent trap offering that touches on the much covered topics of sleep deprivation, putting in work, hustling for dough and derivatives of the MOB adage.

The feelings I get when I listen to such music are very similar to how I feel when I see a new Porsche. “It's great but I can't tell what is different with this model over all the other Porches out now.”

The song is a decent effort and clearly displays the talents of both artists. However it also reveals the biggest flaw I've found with the music being made by Navy Seal - it has no identity. Every song I've heard from Navy Seal has been a good exercise in copying and pasting American sounds and dialect. From his song Elevated to the Art Department offering While You Were Sleeping (Navy Seal is one of the three members) I have repeatedly thought that these guys would be great if they stopped trying to be American.

I genuinely wonder how many kids in Bulawayo use words like "skrilla" and speak of moving "keys" in a faux American accent and don't get laughed out the room while doing so.

I'd be more interested in Navy Seal using his talents to tell a meaningful tale about his life and surroundings delivered in a voice that he uses when he speaks to everyone on his "block"

#RapShootr | Photographing Ghana’s Yo-Yo Tinz

Words By Tseliso Monaheng

#Rapshootr’s a series of interviews with photographers who engage different elements of hip hop culture throughout the African continent with their practice. Some already have their own platforms while others are igniting their own fire beneath the radar of an international gaze. We spoke to founder Selorm Attikpo, who is a filmmaker, photographer and cultural promoter based in Accra, about documenting the Ghanaian hip hop scene.

HOW DID PHOTOGRAPHY FIND YOU?

I think I found photography. My initial interest was and still is film. I was introduced to a Canon 7d, if i remember correctly in 2011. I discovered I could have both photos and videos with just one camera and also the relief of not having to capture tapes. So just trying all the possibilities with a DSLR camera, I gradually developed an interest for photography.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST EXPERIMENTS WITH THE CAMERA?

My first experiments was to try how everything work in a manual setting. The shutter speed, aperture, the picture styles, iso -- everything just to understand exactly how they work. But the challenge was that I did not own a camera when I started so between when I get to practice and when I see a camera again, I would have forgotten some things already. But with time I just got it but sometimes a little rusty. Good thing is I managed to get a camera now and i have cameras around me most of the time.

WHAT INSPIRED THE CHOICE OF THE SET OF IMAGES YOU’VE SHARED WITH US?

The thing I like to capture the most is moments. I enjoy my subjects with attitudes or a lot of mannerisms. I want to show you your picture for you to question exactly when you did that move or to say, you got that?! Sometimes the subject is just dull and you would not exactly get some great moments and sometimes you will just love it !!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT TO SHOOT? HOW DID YOU STUMBLE UPON IT, AND WHY THE SUBJECT SPECIFICALLY?

I love shooting concert I think, mainly because I get to capture lots moments, so anyone on stage with the right moves is my guy. [It is awesome if] the lighting is great since i almost don't shoot with flash. Apart from getting all those moments, I love to shoot people with style.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PEOPLE WHO’VE INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

No I don't have people that influence me but I really do appreciate a lot of photographers online. I wish I could get my pictures to look as good as theirs. I guess that's where I need to get back to practicing. I have recently been looking to find out what makes some photographers the big deal by looking at their photos. Who knows I might just stumble on one that will eventually influence my photo. otherwise I look for an interesting background, mostly outdoors ask the subjects to be the self then I click to shoot. I don't stress myself too much apart from getting my settings right. But then again I'm sure all these photos online influence me somehow, but I'm not aware of exactly how. Imagery is a big deal in terms of structuring one's ideals or perceptions

HAVE ON-LINE SOCIAL PORTALS HELPED IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW SO?

Yes it has. I get to see a lot of photos online that make me question my photos. It pushes me to find ways to make my photos look better . It also any easy way to show a potential client my works online which I have been bad at promoting especially in the filed of photography.

YoYoWebsite | YoYoTwitter | YoYoInsta

V-Way – Queen Twerk

by Phil Chard

You can marry Minnie, I just want a shot at Queen Twerk.

Faith Nketsi more popularly known as Queen Twerk finally has the song she deserves. The young South African lady has improved the lives of so many people with her general aura, dance skills and curvature that it is about time artists began to pen songs in her honour. The pioneering artist that delivered a song good enough to bear her name is from South African rapper V-Way. On the uptempo single V-Way uses his lyrical skills to elaborate on all the ways he adores the object of his attention.