Compilaton “Rap Style” (2CD) is without doubt first polish hip-hop release big like that. This project is released by newly originated hip-hop label “Amstaff Records” in co-operation with “Music Net” and Universal Zulu Nation Chapter Poland. On this compilation you’ll find well known artists from USA, Poland, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Holland, Canada, GB etc. In Eastern Europe the compilation is available by distributor “Music Net”, in western Europe by German firm “Efeler”.

Are we currently losing too many young people to drugs, violence, and sexually transmitted diseases? Studies show that 2.5 million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV and 3,643 children under the age of 19 died of gun related injuries in 2000. We at Shaft Entertainment feel these rates are extremely alarming which is why we, in collaboration with our newest artist, Paris Diamond, have created a valuable tool to help children make the right decisions. Shaft Entertainment as well as Paris Diamond, want to change the negative perception people have of hip-hop music. We are one of the few record labels showing that there is positivity in hip-hop.

Boombox Distribution markets some of the wickedest freshest sounds coming out of British HipHop. Some of the artists on the BOOMBOX label include JEHST, TOMMY EVANS, YUNGUN and most of the artists are on the YOUNG AND RESTLESS compilation, also from BOOMBOX. For more information on Boombox distribution and products contact EWOK at whatkindekse@hotmail.com

Locals such as Even Odds, Metafizical Freiz, MIC, Quencher+, Rhymestein (last years Hip Hop Indaba Battle Champ), Swords in Verbal Attack and many more will be launching a mixtape in Welkom (FreeState) on the 25th June 2004. The event will feature battles, freestyle competitions and track performances. Production is by Lifeform at the Lyrical Lab in Welkom. Anyone interested in this event please call Lifeform at 0733529144.

AG is by far the largest hip hop portal based on African soil generating huge interest around the world. Right now we are enjoying traffic from around 100 countries and are growing at a rate of 5 to 10% every month. Due to this growth we decided it was time to sit down and do some serious work. Read on to see our plans for expansion.

Juma4 for Africanhiphop.com: In June 2004, the Committee of Censorship in the Democratic Republic of Congo censored all Congolese rap groups and foreign music. This decision was taken by the Attorney General of the Republic. Thus the clips and music may no longer be broadcasted in Congo, with the example of ‘ndombolo‘, a dance with roots in Congo. The program director of Kinshasa’s private television chain Tropical Channel TV, Mr. Kabeya Pindi Passi, was held during several hours last Thursday for ‘having broadcasted foreign clips and Congolese rap’. It took the intervention of President Joseph Kabila to set him free. The reason given for banning rap is that it is supposedly obscene and violent and causes the youth to behave badly (where have we heard this before?)

The Hiphocalypse is considered the truest representation of raw street level hip hop culture in Grahamstown and surrounding areas. As the National Arts Festival draws closer the movement gets larger as evidenced by this MAJOR site update.

Afrikaans hip hop group "Kallitz" launched their debut album "Die Ding Ruk Mal" on the 15th June 2004 at Long Street Cafe in Cape Town. You can buy the cd at Musica Stores, CD Warehouse (Waterfront – Cape Town), Mabu Vinyl (Cape Town) and at Musica.co.za. You can get their mp3’s at SAMP3 and MWEB. You can download their music video here.  Don’t forget to watch "Pitstop" on SABC 2 on 23 June 2004 at 18H00 to see how the launch went. Click more to see a detailed list of where they will be performing in June and July…

Basketball, Hip Hop, Fashion. Its’ on this Saturday 19 June 2004 at the Newtown Square. 10 am to 6 pm. Catch South African’s Cashless Society, V Lab, DJ Bionic and Naked DJ.

Hip hop heads, it’s time to be heard. For the first time in Africa, a magazine is catering directly to the needs of the hip hop community. So to all the B-boys out there, the MCs and the DJs, the B-girls and the graffiti artists, mark down Wednesday 23 June. It’s the day that Hype hits the shelves. This one’s for you. Read on for comments from Ready D and download the cover.

The music was hot, the freestyles hotter, the first half of the freestyles only had MC Ekks, Militant and Katty Katt dropping words over a new beat right of the oven from the Black Market Stables. Kitty Katt came thru to drop his track “Reflection of a dope Emcee” which had Kannibal the leader of the Militant and Black Market in house producer, working his Fruityloops magic. The track is hot, the beat is mad……

Lot’s in store for Durban heads as Cashless Society land in KZN for the public holidays. But don’t despair because they will be back in Gauteng on the 19th. Read on for details.

AfricasGateway.com brings you the first African-based but global crate digging portal. It is officially open. Read more for details.

This week we interviewed Cavera C, a producer, mc and song master and member of the Angolan / Cape Town based underground hiphop group called TRIBO SUL. On the 23rd April 2004 they released their first album, “GRITO DE LIBERDADE” (Shouting for freedom). We got in touch to find out more.

Mob Life Records releases a mixtape titled On The Grind. The mixtape features Cormega, Outlawz, The Game, Shock G (Digital Underground), Napoleon, Mopreme Shakur, Tha Realest and many more. Read on for details and exclusive snippets of each track.