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Articles Archive for February 2006

Interviews »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

I had previously written a 12 page interview with Dr Na’shat Aqtash, consultant to Hamas during their elections. Dr Aqtash is a gentle man, his voice is deep and rich, words leave his mouth thoughtfully. I wanted a verbal thrashing, he gave me a ballet, but the ballet that he gave me was perhaps far more important than heavy words could ever be…You see, Dr Aqtash is not a member of Hamas. He is a man of the utmost moderation. As he told me, he wants a secular Palestine to be ruled by whomever can rule it with a just hand. I have left his answers in verbal form, because I would like for readers to hear just as he said it, and imagine his voice, and imagine the sound of Palestine…

Announcements »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

Premier Foods, Metro FM, 5FM, Good Hope FM, SABC 1 and Big Concerts are proud to announce the addition of one of the most talented men in music today. Pharrell Williams joins the biggest ever line-up of Hip Hop heavyweights and R&B superstars SA has ever seen – THE PEOPLES CELEBRATION CONCERT. Also on the bill are Hip Hop Icon Snoop Dogg, dancehall superstar Sean Paul, superlative singing sensation Mario, Caribbean Queen, Rihanna, and the hottest acts SA has to offer! The Peoples Celebration Concert is being held in celebration of Premier Foods becoming the biggest 100% Black – owned company in South Africa… The Peoples Promise Delivered! Kicking off on the 27th of April at Johannesburg Stadium, it then heads to the ABSA Stadium, Durban on the 29th, and on to the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, on the 1st of May…

Announcements »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

On Tue, 28 February 2006, Brown launches his debut album Hangin’ In and Hangin’ on and The Brown Foundation at Zula Sound Bar, 194 Long Street, Cape Town. He will also introduce his book, Life Under the Table, and have photographs from his exhibition The Concrete Jungle auctioned in aid of the Foundation. The event is presented by Radio Good Hope and MC for the evening is GHFM DJ and Brown Foundation Ambassador Suga. There will be a free concert for street kids from 13h00 – 14h00 at Zula Sound Bar, followed by Brown having the words “Equality” and “Justice” tattooed on his forearm at Wildfire Tattoos, just around the corner from Zula Sound Bar, between 15h00 and 18h00…

Interviews »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

This week we bring you the interview with Jerry Danielsen, author of Against the Fog and founder of the Los Angeles Poets Press. I once read story about a man, a candle and a war…I can’t remember the war, or his name…what I remember is that night after night after night, this man would stand outside the White House, sometimes in the rain, with a single candle burning. If anyone knew they said nothing. He said that often he would see the shadow of a curtain moving in the West Wing, he presumed it was the White House staff, perhaps even the President himself, checking to see if he was still there…

Biographies »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

Flipsyde’s music is an unconventional, yet harmonious mix of styles. The top and bottom of their innovative sound is straight-up Hip Hop while the middle punches with Rock. These parts are made whole through Piper’s consummate MC skills and stinging rhymes, Steve Knight’s emotive voice and adhesive melodies plus Dave Lopez’ inspired Latin-flavored flourishes of blazing guitar. Of course … Flipsyde is a natural amalgam in a post-modern world where cultures, beliefs and music collide like wrecking balls but, at once, coexist, interlace and augment our everyday human experience. Read on for more info and audio streams…

Biographies »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

Identical twin brothers Brian Casey and Brandon Casey, Kyle Norman, and Richard Wingo–known collectively as Jagged Edge – have built the group’s career and reputation from one simple premise: make great music and make sure the music’s for real. The tabloids are full of urban artists acting flash and talking trash, but while it might be fun to give good copy today, it’s far better to give people music that touches souls deep enough to last a lifetime. Read on for more info and audio / video streams…

Biographies »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

From Rhythm & Blues to Rhythm & Ghetto the new generation of music! Darell Johnson and Danny Jones, these two cousins are R&G Productions. For ten years they have been representing the Midwest and their home town Columbus, Ohio with some of the hottest beats. Darell and Danny released their first CD “The Last Resort” in 1997 and was a part of the Midwest Funk compilation CD’s I & II. Recognized for their numerous talents; engineering, singing, rapping and music video production they have entered the music business on an all around basis. They started straight out of high school and have built a production company that has produced for artist not only in the Midwest but also from the dirty south…

Announcements »

[24 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

Battle Rap is a contest and video game all in one. Rappers compete against other Rappers through our Global Battle Ground – BATTLERAP.COM. Registered users within the on-line user database have the ability to download original professional beats from celebrity producers, overlay rap tracks via an on-line editing tool and go head to head with other Rappers from around the world. All officiating is done by celebrity producers from the Hip-Hop industry. Ultimately the Rapper who wins the most Battles will become “King of the Battle Ground”. The winner of the Battle Rap Showdown is given a $100,000 and a record deal with Pure Records and an opportunity to show the world what they’ve got…

Announcements »

[17 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

South Africa’s premiere turntabilst group, Cape Flats Beatbangaz has just launched their site. The group consists out of 3 times D.M.C. champ Ready D, deejay for BVK, Godessa & Jits Vinger – DJ Azuhl, hip hop activist and founding figure of Cape Town hip hop scene – Shamiel X, hardcore, innovative scratch artist and founding B.V.K. member E-20 and female deejay Angirl. Collectively and individually the Beatbangaz are active in the hip hop scene locally and internationally. They have a impressive resume and are very involved in community events and workshops. They are currently recording a project and they are also releasing their album later this year. Check the site www.beatbangaz.co.za.

Announcements »

[15 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

At 1am Sunday morning 12th February 2006, popular hip hop dj and producer Bradley Williams aka DJ Bionic was physically assaulted and beat to the ground by M-Net Supersports presenter and 5FM radio jock TONY NDORO. This somewhat bizarre activity took place outside the Capitol Records / bar on Tyrwhitt avenue in Rosebank. Williams was Rugby tackled to the ground and punched more than five times by the 6ft plus Ndoro…

Movies »

[12 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

THE UNTOLD STORY OF EMMETT LOUIS TILL is a documentary investigating the murder and subsequent injustice surrounding Emmett Louis Till’s death. Many consider this case to be the true catalyst for the American Civil Rights Movement. In August 1955, Mamie Till-Mobley of Chicago sent her only child, 14-year old Emmett Louis Till, to visit relatives in the Mississippi Delta. Little did she know that 8 days later, Emmett would be abducted from his Great-Uncle’s home, brutally beaten and murdered for one of the oldest Southern taboos: addressing a white woman in public. The murderers were soon arrested but later acquitted of murder by an all-white, all-male jury. However, Emmett did not die in vain. His horrific, senseless death sparked national media attention when his mother insisted on having an open casket funeral.

New Releases »

[12 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

Lately there seems to be a diversity of fresh sounds blowing in from the windy city. From the head-nodding anthems of Kanye West to the corner stories of Common to rapid-fire delivery of Twista, the mid-west city of Chicago has been the motherland for a generation of premier rappers and producers that can compete with any other spot on the hip-hop map. Still, in order to stay at the zenith of their game, there has to be another brother chilling in the wings who can flow with the best and rock shows with the rest.  Read on for more info and audio / video streams…

New Releases »

[12 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

At the height of the politically, socially charged late-1960s, as wars and poverty raged in every corner of the globe, and America’s non-violent Civil Rights movement clashed with the burgeoning forces of Black Power, many voices sang out as mirrors of the times. Defiant and outspoken, Nina Simone (1933-2003) inspired audiences with her stance as both activist and diva, brilliant pianist, songwriter and prophetess, whose art encompassed and transcended her roots in classical, jazz, blues, folk, standards, and the anachronistic contemporary pop hits that curiously appealed to her…

New Releases »

[12 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

“As in ‘third time is the charm,’” Bubba Sparxxx explains the significance of the title of his newest album THE CHARM, due on fellow southern rapper Big Boi’s new imprint with Virgin Records, Purple Ribbon Records. But also as in “platinum plaque,” a “charm” the deserving southern-bred MC has yet to take home after his first two critically-acclaimed albums on Timbaland’s Beat Club Records (Interscope). Born Warren Anderson Mathis in the small mill town of LaGrange, Georgia, Bubba Sparxxx burst onto the scene in 2001 wearing overalls and driving a tractor in the video for “Ugly,” the Timbaland-produced frenetic hit single from Bubba’s gold-selling debut Dark Days, Bright Nights.

Movies »

[12 Feb 2006 | No Comment | ]

A real crowd-pleaser, “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” spotlights comedy superstar Dave Chappelle in all-new freestyle standup material, and also one-time-only performances by Kanye West, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, Jill Scott, and The Roots, among others. The unprecedented combination of comedy and music was shot on location, as Mr. Chappelle threw a party in downtown Brooklyn, inviting local residents and cameras. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michel Gondry and cinematographer Ellen Kuras captured the exclusive performances, offering moviegoers front-row seats at a unique experience. Read on to view trailers…