With a history of firsts, Cardi B adds one more to the list
The first time I’d heard Cardi B in an interview was almost four years ago with the legendary Combat Jack. If “palms are sweaty, knees weak, lisp is heavy” were a person, Cardi was the [adapted] lyrics personified. Her nervousness was palpable, but as she eased into the conversation more and more of her personality […]
Love & SA Hip Hop – Our Valentine’s Picks
It’s that time of year again when your timeline is filled with either cynical thoughts on the capitalist drive behind Valentine’s Day or the sweet mushy stuff between lovers celebrating each other. Hip Hop is not averse to the mushy stuff, the rappers usually don’t wanna let you know that they’re some of the biggest […]
Music and gaming intertwined
Gaming rules the entertainment industry. It has risen to become a behemoth that eclipses both music and film. Globally, music (R273bn) and film (R590bn) combined couldn’t reach the lofty heights of gaming (R2 187bn) in revenue generated and South Africa is no stranger to its rise either. Whilst the scene here is not boasting the mouthwatering […]
Gigi Lamayne’s “Jou Stad” is a tale of three cities
Repping your city is far from a novel concept in hip hop. A genre rooted in identity presentation, it’s almost unheard of to *not* let your fans know which city you’re putting up for. In 2010, Bittereinder released “A Tale of Three Cities” off the album ‘n Ware Verhaal. With all three members of the […]
The New Wave’s new normal
In its evolution, hip hop’s newer entrants are taking the genre in a different direction. Misa Narrates defines and interrogates the “New Wave” in 2020. South Africa’s hip hop community has grown in numbers over the past five years. This flood of newcomers genre-bend with ease, and wear a lofty, devil-may-care attitude towards the dysfunctional […]
Bubbling Under: Roy August
We wouldn’t be The Plug if we didn’t plug you, right? This month, we’re relaunching our Bubbling Under feature where we plug you to up and coming artists in SA that you should be taking note of. We kick it off with Roy August. Formerly known as Roy Charamba, this 20 year old has been […]
The Plug x Castle Lite present: 100 Most Influential People in Urban Culture
“There’s no argument. I am a hundred percent the reason why hip hop is drenched.” Part of his Utatakho Remix verse that shook up the fourth quarter of 2019, Riky Rick stakes his claim on the game boldly with that bar. Hubris is almost a cornerstone of hip hop, but who really got the block […]
Injayethu uSliqe on his new album
Gospel is king in the South African music lover community, even the SA hip-hop legend Sliqe agrees. He shared this a moment before sitting down to discuss the past two years of his life and creating Injayam (Vol. 2). Where music consumption is concerned, gospel music is likely the one genre in the country that […]
Khuli Chana: The Blueprint
Khuli Chana begins “Endurance” – the opening track off his upcoming album, Planet of the HaveNots – with the lyrics “’Ha o tshwere Chana go ka palang?’/ the confidence was colossal, no sekala se se ka e kalang/ had to learn quick or hung out to be dormant/ flipped a couple of pages, learned all […]
Solo’s Dreams lead him on a journey of balance
“Thank you for your RSVP. As a sign of our gratitude, we would like to gift you with the first song off of ‘C.Plenty.Dreams’ titled ‘Two By Two’ by Solo featuring Buks. An ode to love and family.” This is the message – and track – you received when confirming your attendance to the Langa […]
5 Women In SA’s Urban Music Scene You Have To Hear
Hip-Hop was born out of struggle and the desire to tell a more relatable story than what existed in American pop culture in the 1970s and 1980s. In the South African context, hip-hop was not nearly as recognized as the soundscapes we associated with pop, traditional or any other genre of music. However, today, South […]
Electro-Soul Artist SIÓ Sets Her Sights On Greatness
Electro-soul artist Sio has opened her heart to the world with her debut album “sbtxts”, which delves into her personal views on the joys and challenges of romantic love by combining soulful storytelling with electronic music. Refusing to be confined by any predefined category of musical expression, she fuses and blends many styles and genres […]