I Live Tweeted Cassper Nyovest’s Interview On Sway In The Morning
by Phil Chard
South African rapper Cassper Nyovest is currently in the USA for the BET Awards which will be taking place later this weekend. Before heading to LA, Cassper stopped by Sway Calloway's show in New York for an interview where the veteran Hip Hop journalist discussed Cassper's career , South African Hip Hop and the rise of African music as whole in the West.
The significance of this event was not lost on Cassper as he rapped "Back home they are listening and hoping I don't flop/I feel like the whole fucking continent is on my shoulders!" during his freestyle yet somehow I can't help but feel that he was somewhat unprepared to deal with the gravity of the moment. The sad truth s that when any African artist is allowed to be featured on a major Western platform they not only represent themselves but they also represent their nation, culture and the continent by extension. It may not be fair or right, but that is how the world works. So I couldn't help but feel disappointed when Cassper Nyovest proclaimed that he is known as the Kanye west of South Africa......[insert appropriate meme gif here] Can those that truly believe this notion and have proclaimed t publicly please leave a comment on this post or tweet me.
He also made some incredibly irresponsible remarks about racial epithets and how they are viewed in South Africa before he was finally given a chance to display his lyrical prowess on a radio freestyle. As far Cassper lyrics go the freestyle was going well, despite the small issue of Cassper mumbling a few words and getting caught off beat as he rhymed (so truly par for the course). I did feel he was delivering far too many lines in English and should have ventured more into his native Setswana where he truly shines as rapper. Not really gonna dwell on him fumbling the verse and rack that up to the nerves.
The annoying thing is despite his missteps I hate to always have to call Cassper out when I feel he has done a lot that needs to be celebrated and acknowledged. I am a fan of his work but as always seems to be the case when you're a Hip Hop fan - ours faves always seem to fall over themselves to remind us of their blemishes.
Cassper Nyovest On Sway - Curated tweets by PhilChard
Introducing Kid Tini
by Mayuyuka
Record label TinismDotc0m has unveiled their prized possession Kid Tini as the latest young rapper ready to stamp his mark on the game. Real name Phiwe Unam Tini, he hails from Butterworth in South Africa’s Eastern Cape and is actually the reason for his label's very existence! His desire to do music from a young age inspired his brother, Miso Tini, to build an environment which could nurture the skills he required to make it in the music industry: thus the birth of TinismDotc0m. With that weight on his shoulders, Kid Tini's breakout project carries a lot of expectations with it.
His debut offering, Coming Of Age, is a combination of his experiences, hunger, drive and passion all encapsulated in 18 tracks. The length of the mixtape is a literal reflection of both his age and how much work he's putting in. The project encloses well crafted verses backed up by effortless flows that definitely come with the self assurance of coming into your own.
The most palpable quality of this project is how the rapper presents himself: he sounds right at home on the mic, with an authenticity that makes it impossible to confuse him with anyone else! This is a musical journey penned by an adolescent that will gain plenty of respect from his peers and elders alike. In what's quickly becoming a crowded space of young up-and-coming rappers; you don't get the sense Kid Tini's trying too hard to prove himself and differentiates himself by faithfully telling his own story. With plenty of boxing references and smart punchlines, the sonic balance is achieved through mellow cuts like Sextape and Running Back To You that display a different aspect of the artist's abilities.
Over solid production from the likes of J Smallz, Tone Jonez and Digital Beatz the rapper's versatility is refreshing and promises some mileage well into the future. If he really does have your "role model tripping off his blueprint" it might be because of his ability to fuse elements of his influences whist moulding a distinct sound for himself. This is best reflected on the sincere track Ghetto. This song pays homage to the rapper's favourite local group Driemanskap by interpolating their track S'phuméGugs. Also accompanying that is how the melody of the hook salutes another favourite of his, in the form of Ludacris' Runaway Love.
He definitely won't be accused of having no respect for those that came before him! And with the delivery and lyrical content of someone beyond his years, it's no surprise he's “schooling dudes he was skipping class with”. Trying to whittle down this effort to a list of standout tracks is pretty hard between the hypnotic No Favours, Shay Wei, Addiction, Koze Kuse and the earworm Dreaming Out Loud. The beauty of Coming Of Age is how it puts Kid Tini's best foot forward whilst seamlessly catering to different palates.
With the release of the short video for his intro Fight Every Figtht, Kid Tini introduces himself to the world. Peep the visuals below and find out what he had to say when we caught up with him afterwards.
AHHB: Who is Kid Tini and how would you describe your sound?
Kid Tini: Kid Tini is a young dreamer from the Eastern Cape who loves to listen to and create music. My sound is a combination of everything that inspires me as an artist, this could refer to music from some of my favourite artists or art in general.
AHHB: You're only 18... where did all this begin for you?
Kid Tini: I started rapping at the age of 10. I told my brother who is also my label head that I wanted to make music after hearing some of his old work. I got inspired to pick up the pen and I've been writing ever since.
AHHB: In No Favours you speak about being under pressure. Is it because of being signed to family and needing to prove yourself more?
Kid Tini: Yes. Basically, I have a very professional relationship with my brother when it comes to the music. I guess you can say tough love and hard work is the motto. I was never given any shortcuts, hence the title of the song is "No Favours"
AHHB: Who were some of your influences coming up?
Kid Tini: My influences are the likes of J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Drake and Pac. I basically grew up in the studio, with this came perks of being able to watch artists like Ginger Breadman, PdotO and Kid X create music and that's usually the difference between what my peers think is dope and what I think is dope.
AHHB: You've only got a couple of collaborations on the mixtape. Can we expect more in future, anyone in mind?
Kid Tini: There are a couple of artists I admire. You can definitely expect features. I would really like to have a song with Kid X though.
AHHB: At 18 tracks long, you put in some work on Coming Of Age: what's your recording process like?
Kid Tini: I like being in an environment that allows creativity to flow freely. It all starts with an idea, the idea then grows into a whole concept and it keeps growing from there into a whole song. That's what I did with the project and before I knew it we had a full body of work.
AHHB: Preach is one of your standout tracks, when can we expect the video to drop?
Kid Tini: I'm not certain about the timeline about the drop as yet but it should be sometime in July
AHHB: Other than Dj Switch's Now or Never Remix, what's next for Kid Tini and Tinism?
Kid Tini: More music! There's a lot more I wish to share with y'all and I hope it will be received in a manner that allows for more growth.
AHHB: Finally, If you could ask a fan one question what would it be?
Kid Tini: I would ask them how to make their favourite song.
Something Special Happened At The Barclays Center
by Phil Chard
Something incredible happened last night in Brooklyn, New York. I truly feel that decades from now what I witnessed with the One Africa Music Festival will be described as a watershed moment in the global takeover that African pop music is about to embark on.
Though it was not the first all African Music event to be held in America (recently we had the All Access Ghana that was held in Washington DC and Sarkodie impressive Apollo Theatre concert) but this was different for a number of reasons. Firstly, according to reports tickets for the event sold so well that the organisers had to create extra seating to accommodate the demand. According to NotJustOk founder Ovie Ofugara who attended the event, he estimated that about 15,000 people were in attendance. From the images that I received from attendees and what I saw via the livestream provided by Tidal I wouldn't argue those numbers.
Estimated crowd attendance for #OneAfricaMusicFest currently set at 15,000. 13,000 tickets sold, 2,000 complimentary. Game-changer.
— Övie (@OvieO) July 23, 2016
The second impressive feat was this event was promoted without a major sponsor. Not one! As Banky W expressed when he called Paul Okoye (not the P Square guy, the CEO of Upfront & Personal Management and Consultancy). That was a brave and bold decision from Mr Okoye. Having facilitated a number of deals and endorsements on the behalf of several notable Nigerian celebrities and events, access to potential sponsors would not have been a difficult task for him.
The only major strategic partnership that the evet seemed to line up was their streaming partnership with Tidal which is how I was able to view the event. By streaming the concert the One Africa Music Festival became one of the first truly global event in African music. The combination of the artists involved performing in in America, coupled with their streaming partner is something completely new to the continent.
Despite its title, the line up for the “One Africa” concert was very Nigerian centred, featuring Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Flavour, Seun Kuti, Don Jazzy, Timaya, Ayo Jay, Sound Sultan, and Praiz all from Nigeria. Stonebwoy and Efya from Ghana while Diamond Platnumz represented Tanzania. There were the Nigerian American artists Jidenna and Wale on the bill but Wale did not perform for unclear reasons. Essentially this was the Nigerians and friends concert.
The performances and coordination of the event were stellar, outside of a few sound issues that I picked up on the stream. However some of these issues went relatively unnoticed by the attendees that I spoke to who all attested to the incredible energy and atmosphere in the crowd.
The standout performers were Tiwa Savage who gave a masterful live set as she rolled through her hits looking incredibly ravishing and polished before closing out her set by throwing up the Roc to confirm her signing to Jay Z's Roc Nation. Wizkid who was the final act of the night displayed his incredible stage presence as he teased and entertained the crowd while engaging them in between songs. All this was achieved despite not having the support of his full band who could not make the event for unknown reasons. In a high energy moment Wizkid also brought out producer Swizz Beats before they ran through a medley of the Ruff Ryder beat maker’s hits. Throughout his performance Wizzy kept saying that he had too many hits and eventually that proved to be very true as he was forced to skip his last song of the night, ironically it was Final due to time constraints.
Seun Kuti delivered a powerful rendition of his father's 12 minute song Zombies assisted by the full Egypt 80 band. Diamond Platnumz delivered another impressive live set and showed the Barclays Center crowd why he is one of East Africa's most popular artists, all this despite the fact that his trousers kept falling. Jidenna showed off his Nigerian side in a way I have not seen before. Appearing on set with spirit masquerade costume that danced behind him he broke out into dance and impersonations of his father as he kept the crowd hyped, performing songs like Classic Man and his new song Chief Don't Run.
Timaya delivered a high energy set on his own before being joined by Soca star Machel Montano as they performed a number of high energy songs before announcing that a joint album was in the works.
Ultimately all the artists on the bill are some of the best performers in the continent so the quality of their sets remained high as Banky W who played the dual role of host and performer did a stellar job to keep the audience engaged. The only real disappoints were Davido who, despite having a solid repertoire of hit songs once again failed to translate that to the stage as he lip synced most of his set (again). Ayo Jay came out to perform his hit Your Number which was the only song in his performance yet somehow he ran out of breath a number of times.
In summation this was an incredible moment for African Music and the artists involved. Though it was heavily focused on Nigeria and its stars the successes of this night will reverberate across the continent as African stars continue their infiltration of American and European markets. The fact that this event occurred without sponsorship is a true sign of how far the demand for African Pop Music has grown in the diaspora. No longer a genre consumed solely by expatriates it is now reaching new audiences who are more than willing to pay to enjoy the culture. Mr Okoye who clearly has balls made of reinforced steel gambled on himself and the music and won in a big way. The success that was this night was not only limited to the attendees but everyone who streamed it live and saw first hand just how far African Music has gone. This left no doubts that African artists are now ready to expand beyond the continent and the world is ready to receive them.
We have spoken before of how labels are now scrambling to get into Africa, well it seems first world fans are also scrambling to consume the culture and we all saw it take place at the Barclays Centre last night.
Boogey – Show You Something
by Phil Chard
Nigerian rapper Boogey channels Slick Rick and Native Tongue’s acts like A Tribe Called Quest on his new single Show You Something.
The Black Intelligence song pays homage to the classic story telling of the music from the early 90s and Boogey relates a day in his life.
@BoogeyThat
Nasty C Just Dropped His Video FOr Switched Up: Here Are Our Thoughts
by Phil Chard
As South African Hip Hop continues its astronomical rise into the mainstream, a number of young, talented, and hungry artists have presented themselves as the next crop of youth culture ambassadors. One of those acts is the extremely talented Durban born Nasty C.
Boasting a string of recent radio hits like Juice Back (its remix included) and Hell Naw , Nasty has positioned himself as the lyrical alternative in the complex trap music zeitgeist permeating the current Hip Hop scene.
Where other new acts seemed to have struggled and bristled under the pressures of their new found fame and the scrutiny that comes with it, Nasty has always presented the persona of an artist born to be famous. His hushed and gentle voice, demure frame and boy band good looks are a marketers dream and his penchant for lacing together complex flows and wordplay that can translate into radio friendly hits have made him an unmistakable force in 2016.
With all that in his favour, Nasty C dropped Switched Up at the beginning of the month along with two other surprise releases. The song had Nasty switching effortlessly between a catchy hook and bridge while dropping multi syllabic verses with a stagnated flow.
Three weeks later Switched up now has a video but after viewing it a few times I have to ask the question, “Does Nasty C know that he his famous now?” The video is a drab and disappointing affair whose only real highlight is Nasty krumping in the middle of a quarry.
Well clearly he does, as he declared on his impressive verse on Anatii’s Jump “What you think they taking photos for? I am very important bitch. Please call all the curtains for me. They might be recording this”
Clearly the aspects of his new found fame are not lost on the artist but the question as to whether he fully understands the gravitas of the moment and his brand need to be asked.
Outside of the Sesan and Uprooted Media produced video for the Juice Back Remix , Nasty C has yet to produce a set visuals befitting his current trajectory. My sentiments were echoed by famed host Scoop when he spoke to Nasty C on his show Turn Up after Nasty C released his video for Hell Naw. Nasty is too famous and skilled to be releasing videos that don’t leave an indelible mark in the mind of fans living in an age of microwaveable news and content. Sentimental significance aside the video for Hell Naw, which has become a massive radio and online hit was a forgettable offering and sadly the video Switched Up looks like it will leave a similar imprint.
Scoop and I could very well be picking at the insignificant minutia, an incredible video won’t mean much if the artist can only deliver a constant stream of struggle bars. But of Nasty C is an incredible rapper, with a great deal of momentum and mainstream interest. If he is to truly make a memorable mark on the scene it has to be done though his music, performances AND his videos.
@Nasty_CSA
Introducing Royal Suave
by Phil Chard
A new artist has just appeared on our radar. Going by the name of Royal Suave and hailing from South Africa’s Eastern Cape the rapper sports a nifty high-top fade and an impressive delivery. Royal Suave recently signed to Dr. Malinga’s recently formed imprint and has released two singles to date. The first release was Awazi Fokol which featured AB Crazy and the Doc himself.
His second release is the introspective True Story. There is definitely a lot o=in the small sample size I have heard from Suave and I will be keen to see how Dr. Malinga helps this Hip Hop artist negotiate the music industry.
@RoyalSuaveSA
Milli – Unlooking The Movie
by Phil Chard
After revealing the sad details of his of his tenure as a Choc City artist in a 5 page letter shared with close friends on Facebook, (who eventually leaked the posts to the press) Nigerian rapper Milli has released his first video under his new label Up Next Universe.
The video for Unlooking plays out as an 8 minute movie with the recurring theme “Don’t Ask Me What Happened”. Which I am sure is an ironic reference the label drama that Milli himself brought into the conversation.
Either way we now look forward to hearing more from the artist who by his own admission is in a much more conducive creative environment.
Yung Swiss – David Genaro Remix Featuring Dj Speedsta, Reason & Ginger Trill (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
After an annoying and protracted fight with eTV to get the actor Jamie Bartlett who plays the famed character of David Genaro on the popular evening soap opera Rhythm City, South Africa’s Yung Swiss has released the video his David Genaro Remix.
The high energy track features Reason , Ginger Trill and the high energy adlibs of DJ Speedsta (in reality he says like 3 lines). The Kyle White directed video features the famed charachter doing what soap opera crime bosses do while the rappers enjoy a house party with an incredibly favourable women to men ratio.
@YungSwissPgp
The AHHB Podcast Featuring Solo, Rouge and Kwesta
by Phil Chard
AHHB Podcast V 2
Welcome back to the African Hip Hop Blog Podcast for another incredible and potent dose of high grade African Hip Hop music and news. This week we play music from R2Bees, VENGEmuzik, King Dizo, Blayze, Assessa, BETR Gang and Reason.
We also have throwback interviews with Kwesta, Rouge, and Solo, while also sharing news about album release dates, slap happy DJs, and ghost writing accusations.
Be sure to hit us on twitter and Facebook with your feedback
@africanhhb @PhilChard
Sarkodie – Bossy Featuring JaySo (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
Friends turn into enemies; it’s called life Two speakers, one flow and 4 mics
New video from Sarkodie titled Bossy featuring JaySo. The Juice Bigfellow directed video sees him engaged in a violent gang war with a Hong Kong crime syndicate.
The Best West African Hip Hop That You Haven’t Heard Yet
by Mayuyuka
West African music is steadily spreading its wings and its influence can be traced in other regions of Africa as well as on a global scale. This is great for the continent and reveals how the world is finally waking up to the potential of our arts sector.
We usually focus on Nigeria and Ghana as the centers of cultural production in the region, and for good reason... with a string of acts breaking through over the years these two countries are stamping their place on the musical map. For a bit of a switch up though; we decided to list a few gems from other West African countries that deserve our attention. Here's a little taste of some of the artists who grabbed our ear:
Weei Soldat - Tignè Fogné
Weei Soldat is out of Mali and his track Tigne Fogne has a hint of trap to get us started. The cut is taken off the album Magnum Vol. 1.
Kossi - Ape' Son - Elahoba
Togolese artist Kossi Ape'Son is a traditional singer and this video pays homage to Senegalese culture. From the setting to the colourful fabrics, it's a great watch. The song Elahoba matches the visuals in this impressive track from the man who started under the tutelage of the renowned King Mensah.
Joey Soldat - Burkin Bâ
Joey Soldat of Burkina Faso released this track Burkin Ba that shares a name with his album a couple of years ago. This catchy song is a definite head nodder, don't snap your neck!
DenG - Put Foot
For a dabble in Koloqua music, Liberian DenG is the go to guy. His Killerbeatz-produced track Put Foot is a great companion to his previously released Lappa Fine. This is another infectious offering!
Liberian Hip Hop seems to be in a good place, so while we're on the topic let's have a peek at the Lib Hip Hop Cypher that happened at the recent Liberian Entertainment Awards:
Anny Kassy - Nimba
On to Guinea, the home of rapper Anny Kassy. The artist dropped a socially conscious offering with Nimba, aimed at promoting the upliftment of young girls through education. The amazing video is worthy of high praise too.
E.Ray - Ma Prière
Maintaining the theme of social awareness we have E.Ray, a renowned rapper from Benin. His song My Priere is a lyrical masterpiece that sees him exercise his civic duty by evaluating the political realities of Beninese society. The lyric video and simple melodies help you get the message with this one.
Akhlou Brick Paradise - Ara ak Dayza
Finally, we head to Senegal for a track with a great hook by rapper Akhlou Brick. His song Paradise features Dayza and the track is as clean as the visuals!
To wrap up here's another cypher, this time from the Galsen Hip Hop Awards showcasing some of the rap talent Senegal has:
As usual , you can let us know of any other artists we should check out in the comments section!
Chron Burgundy – SlumLxrd
by Phil Chard
I’m so vain I pinch nerves and stink of green
South African rapper Chron Burgundy is prepping for the release if his upcoming EP New Rap City with HuckFinn.
SlumLxrd is a slow tempered song where Chron delivers some impressive rhyme multi syllabic schemes that also include the use and perfect pronunciation of “cabinet sauvignon” before he confidently brags “I don’t need to spread my wings I’m already fly” on the hook.
@chronburgundy
Meet JayDogg Beats, The Cape Town Producer Working With Ice Prince, DJ Speedsta, DJ Dimplez And More
by Sabelo Mkhabela
JayDogg Beats is a producer from Cape Town. He is silently working with superstars – the likes of DJ Speedsta, DJ Dimplez, Ice Prince and more. His biggest production is “Bae Coupe” by DJ Dimplez featuring Ice Prince, Emmy Gee and Riky Rick.
In the interview below, he speaks about how “Bae Coupe” came about, how he got to work with all these stars, how his life has changed, money, his current projects and more. He also plays some of his new material. Listen to the interview below, and check out his SoundCloud page.
@jaydoggbeats
Myke Pimp Run It Featuring Gold Finga
by Phil Chard
We last heard from Myke Pimp on the laid back Get Mine featuring TRK, this time the Zimbabwean rhyme-slinger is back with a more aggressive Run It featuring Gold Finga. We see a man on a mission to let people know that he is going for the crown as he delivers his bars in a husky voice. We look forward to hearing from this guy. Let us know what you think of the song.
@MykePimp
uSanele – Amabhodlela Featuring Mashayabhuqe KaMamba (Official Music Video)
by Phil Chard
The BoyzNBucks members uSanele and Mashayabhuqe KaMamba just released the Director Kit produced visuals for Amabhodlela.
As one would expect, the video is an impressive and visually appealing product featuring rich pastel colours, lots of milk, a tropical jungle sets, a lot of fruits and beautiful women in equal measure. (OK maybe the other stuff is a little unexpected)
The video also features a number of cameos, from other BoyzNBucks members to Ganja Beats (the song's producer) and a number of other cool kids who can also be found frequenting Braamfontein establishments.
@u_Sanele @Mashayabhuqe_ZA
Watch Priddy Ugly’s New Video For Hunnids And Stream His Album
by Phil Chard
Despite our numerous accolades (no humble brag) we are not an infallible entity, and there have been times when we have literally been caught sleeping on some incredibly talented artists.
Without question an artist who should be a regular on our site is South Africa's Priddy Ugly. Despite us being aware of and being impressed by some of his high profile collaborations , we have inexplicably been caught napping on his solo work. I was privileged enough to see Priddy perform at Back To The City during my last trip to South Africa, after witnessing his set up close, I can indeed say that young man has the juice. The combination of his stage presence, energy, and chiselled features had the crowd (particularly the ladies) in a tiff.
Boasting a solid catalogue to his name and having just released two versions of his You Don't Know My Name album Priddy certainly has the talent and drive that could translate into success if he remains consistent.
He has also been releasing a solid set of visuals to accompany his songs for some time now. His new video for Hunnids is no different. The Nkululeko Lebambo directed video makes excellent use of tracking and lens zooming effects to tell a story cantering around store fronts and what nefarious activities may go on in the back
The Wichi 1080 song is available on Priddy's YDKMNY project.
Stream | Assesa – Music
by Phil Chard
When it comes to the debate of who one of the best spitters in South Africa is, there are a number of names that are always annoyingly left out of the mainstream conversation. One of those individuals is Assessa. I am not talking about the somewhat exclusionary “Best Women in Rap” discussions, I mean amongst everyone!
I personally witnessed Assessa rip the souls out of her competition at Back To the City two years ago in a series of rap battles that left her opponents dumbfounded. Her 2015 offering Yim Lo was also a massively impressive offering that displayed her lyrical dexterity and ability as a song writer (a skill many battle rappers fail to possess).
If it were not for the fact that she was up against Nasty C’s astoundingly polished Price City mixtape I am more than certain that Assessa would have walked away with the Best Freshman Award to couple her Best Female Award at the 2015 SA Hip Hop Awards.
Assessa has now released a new single titled Music that is the perfect aural representation of what she embodies as an artist. With a hard hitting and technically complex delivery that merges elements of traditional and modern music this song is everything I love her music.
Submission | Fade Orange – Alive Ft. Tyler (Prod. VI Bittz)
by Phil Chard
New submission from a South African rapper based out of East London going by the name Fade Orange. His song Alive features Tyler was produced by fellow "043" resident VI Bittz and is the first single off his upcoming release The Dire Times of Fade Orange
Beat Tape | Stream Myndphlo’s – Beats With Uncompressed Snares Sounding Like Frying Pans Dropping On A Marble Floor Tape
by Phil Chard
Not since the the Wayans brothers did spoof movie on classic black movies of the 90s have we seen such an incredibly long and descriptive project title. I guess Durban's Myndphlo (pronounced Mind Flow) clearly has a sense f irony and humour to go with his talent as a beat maker. His 16 track beat titled (deep breath) Beats With Uncompressed Snares Sounding Like Frying Pans Dropping On A Marble Floor Tape is an ode to the boom bap and looped soul sample that the puriss will love.
Myndphlo has been in the Hip Hop and entertainment industry since early 2000 where he released his project Redemption while studying at The University of KwaZulu-Natal. Since then Myndphlo has released a number of collaborative and solo projects as a rapper and producer. Myndphlo has also collaborated with artists like Jay-Tip ( who we featured here) in the Myndphlo tape, as well as having his show on campus radio at UKZN.
You can read Myndphlo's full bio below
Standout beat: Last One
South African Durban-based Hip Hop Producer drops a BeatTape with an unusual long title-Beats with uncompressed snares sounding like frying pans dropping on a marble floor TAPE.He describes it as an offering for the "Heads" He refers to himself as the quintessentially prolific purist, a modern-day philosopher, writer, producer and MC.
Raised in the rusty dusty streets of Botshabelo (50km outside Bloemfontein) Tshepo ‘’Myndphlo’’ Nthebe fell in love with Hip Hop at the tender age of 12. The now 31-year old MC, turned producer recalls how he saw two of his friends back in primary school do what is known as freestlying(the ability to instantaneously rhyme words from the top of your head), and from that moment on he knew that he wanted to be an MC. In 1998 he began his quest to stardom by entering many talent shows in High school and performed at various school functions. Although reciting other famous rapper s’ lyrics at that time (2pac and Notorious BIG) he recollects how he got kicked off stage at a local soccer tournament and talent show held in his hometown sponsored by MTN, (ironically, a company that he works for today) due to controversial lyrics caused by his inexperience .
In early 2000 he started writing his own lyrics and spent most of his time perfecting his craft. After completing High school he moved to Durban and enrolled at UKZN (University Of KwaZulu-Natal) The campus life exposed him to a more definitive pinnacle of artistry as he met many like-minded individuals. He released his first EP called “Redemption” which he recorded in his friend’s room using a guitar and low-cost microphone. The EP was well received and saw him joining Keen Artist-a campus art and poetry organisation.
In 2005 he released his first mixtape collaborating with a campus friend M-kiss, now referred to as DJ MZU of Panache Boys fame, using beats provided by various producers on campus. The mixtape was a success and saw the two opening for the likes of Malaika, L-vovo Derrango, DJ Tira and Mahoota at campus bashes. The duo teamed up and promoted the mixtape outside Campus, performing at various schools in Umlazi, the biggest township in Durban. Myndphlo’s determination and resilience saw him excel in a freestyle battle contest which won him JAYZ and Rihanna concert tickets. He was also invited by NOKIA to perform at various Hot spots around Durban. Given the impact of his skill, he was easily known around campus and this saw him having his own Hip Hop radio show on campus called “The Myndphlo Show” which aired every Friday afternoon. In 2007, he worked with one of Durban’s most gifted producer Nkululeko Sibisi of Lakeyz Production, the two recorded “Shape of Sound”, a title track used for a mixtape (Shape of sound Mixtape) which circulated around Durban.
In 2009 Myndphlo took an interest in beat making, he realised that music was constantly progressing and he wanted to explore other avenues within music. This saw the release of his first beat tape called “Laureate’s era” which was released online and introduced Myndphlo to an online audience which in turn took notice of him. In 2011 he came 3rd in an annual “All Elements Battle of the Year” contest, hosted by legendary producer Hiperdelic from Cape Town. The contest exposed him to the market of beat production as many MC’s started purchasing his beats.
In 2013, he competed at BACK TO THE CITY Festival, an annual Hip Hop event held in Johannesburg. The beat battle allowed him to network with other artists and producers from Gauteng and all over the country. He collaborated with Jay-tip, a Pretoria based producer and the two released a beat tape titled JAYPHLO, the tape saw over 1000 downloads and received positive reviews on social media. He has produced for upcoming artists like Subverse, Raheem, Kullax and Psychonic and many more. 2014 saw Myndphlo release his single-The Essence feat.Raheem Kemet and Canis major,a soulful jam encapsulated with articulated lyricism.The track received maxim attention online and became Number 1 on Eldos876FM’s Hip Hop show called #Cypher629 On Sep.16th He dropped his long-wait anticipated beat tape called BeatSmith Avenue,a 4-beat EP which is currently circulating online as well.
He once again collaborated with JayTip and released Underground Astronauts Vol.2 which was also well received.In September 2015 he won the Durex BE THE ONE KZN finals battling with Lwansta and taking the crown.He represented KZN in Johannesburg and came out 3rd. 2016 June 13 sees the release of his boombap inspired BeatTape titled Beats with uncompressed snares sounding like frying pan dropping on a marble floor Tape.The beat tape is sampled based rugged street and soulful sound. His inspiration for music is derived from what he believes is an astral-ancestral spiritual force that only he can pass on as none from his family were musicians. Myndphlo s’ journey seems to have just begun, as he plans to explore all available avenues to put his music out there and touch the nation. This year sees him selling his beats to a growing clientele of new artists all over the country. “Despite our cultural and ethnic diversity, we all relate and speak the same language through music”-Tshepo “Myndphlo” Nthebe
Submission | Sheen Skaiz – Towers (Official Video)
by Phil Chard
New video submission from a new act to appear on our radar. Durban producer and rapper Sheen Skaiz hopped on a Sketchy Bongo Hip Hop/Dubstep/Trap fusion beat on a song titled Towers. Sheen delivers a very simplistic flow with a predictable cadence that somehow fits the beat perfectly as his lyrics give a glimpse into the culture of Durban we have not seen as yet
This is how Sheen described his video
The “Towers” music video follows rapper/producer Sheen Skaiz as him and his crew scout Durban’s CBD, in search of opportunity. They explore urban landscapes and abandoned ruins as they look for a way out of the struggles of the lives that they lead. During their urban exploration, the city of Durban becomes their playground. This illuminates how seeking “more from life” becomes exciting, and how adrenalin from keeping on the grind kicks in and paves the road to success. Sheen Skaiz and his crew have only one agenda, and that is to work their way to the top. The over-all theme of “Towers” (“from having nothing to gaining everything through work”) is depicted by Sheen Skaiz and his crew in the music video as they embark on leaving their imprint on Durban. There are various visual connotations referring to the overall theme of “Towers”. The dilapidated buildings are signifying ‘the struggle’ and the defined architectural structures are metaphors that relate to success, stature, status and power. The masks that Sheen Skaiz and his crew have on as they venture around Durban CBD, emphasize how when you’re down and out, you’re barely acknowledged, no one knows your name – you feel faceless. But, the mask also has a contrasting significance because even with that mask on, you are striving to do great things; you are hustling and working hard so that everyone remembers your name, and knows what you are capable of.