Yo! MTV Raps’ African Reinvention
30 years after the premiere of Yo! MTV Raps, MTV International announced that they were launching localised versions of the iconic series in different countries around the world. As a TV show that helped spread hip hop culture around the world at its inception, its rebirth in those countries is a touching tribute to the […]
Owning The Show – SA hip hop’s evolution
Words by Joey Drumz In the kaleidoscopic world of music and the arts, the ability to stand out has always been at the heart of any great success story. In whatever aspect of the game these mavericks have been involved in, their ability to take advantage of the changing way in which we create and […]
Episode 4 of Notes & Noise
Episode 4 of “Notes & Noise” is up. This episode sees Gavin Gutu and Mzwandile Sibanda hosted in studio as we discuss the politics of rappers who rep where they’re from and put on for their cities. We also discuss journalistic duty in growing the music industry, and the art of music critique before talking […]
Imraan Christian: The Storyteller
Meeting Imraan Christian, the person, is foreshadowed by the idea of Imraan Christian, the artist. Ours was an encounter at a vegan restaurant, surrounded by the fruit orchard and vegetable garden that supplies the farm-to-table establishment. Robed in a white long-sleeved linen shirt and a similarly slacked bottom, the idea of his ‘son of the […]
BudX Launches Kings of Music in Style
Words by Mercia Tucker One of the hallmarks of great artistry is the crafting of exceptional live performances that not only endear yourself to your audience but sets you apart from your contemporaries. It’s the trump card in the suit that is the development of their career, and one that elevates the ordinary fan’s appreciation […]
BudX Presents Kings of Music with Black Coffee
This Freedom Day, Budweiser presents #BudX Kings Of Music. Headlined by the incomparable Black Coffee, this event promises and incredible night of live music performances, bespoke fashion exhibitions, fashion giveaways, and more. In the heart of Braamfontein, Shine Studios will host this epic event overlooking the Johannesburg city skyline. Known around the world, Black Coffee […]
Rolo Rozay: The Hustler
The gatekeeper exists within every subculture. In social terms, a gatekeeper is an individual who upholds certain ideals and values that are critical to the behaviour of a particular group or society. Sneaker culture is no different. By virtue of that fact, the gatekeepers in sneaker culture or more commonly known as OGs, are those […]
Hayden Manuel – The Connect
Hip hop and urban culture isn’t averse to the concept of the powerbroker. Where artists tend to get the lions’ share of the spotlight and attention in an industry that favours the flamboyant, the role of the “connect” is one that is largely overlooked. Hayden Manuel is one such role-player that has kept the cogs […]
Zaid Osman – The Architect
Zaid Osman is quietly unassuming. His modest demeanour a stark contrast to the magnitude of his entrepreneurial achievements at age 25, Zaid is the founder of the Lost Property Store, Sneaker Exchange in South Africa and his newest streetwear venture, Grade Africa. On how he got into sneaker culture, he says “Almost feel like I […]
Episode 3 of Notes & Noise
Episode 3 of “Notes & Noise” is here. This episode sees Menzi Mzimela and Sipho Muchindu hosted in studio as we discuss the fluidity of the genre; when is it hip hop and when isn’t it hip hop, and to what degree are artists allowed to play around with the music without dipping out of the […]
MUZI And DEAD. Launch Pop-Up Store
Today, globally recognised South African Producer / DJ, MUZI drops his much anticipated 4-track EP, Stimela Segolide. A WE.THE.BUNDU release, the EP is a sonic commemoration of the historic gold mine migrations in Apartheid South Africa. The EP is released in conjunction with a 4-day pop-up store in Braamfontein (02-05 May 2019), Johannesburg and a 4-day mobile pop-up tour around […]
The Future of Influencer Marketing in SA
Words by Mercia Tucker The Cambridge English dictionary defines an influencer as “someone who affects or changes the way that other people behave, for example through their use of social media.” By definition, this could extend to any person whose paths we cross on social media whose opinion has swayed us in a particular aspect. […]