This week Africasgateway talks to Monwabisi Jack aka Catalyst, a producer, composer and writer based in Uitenhage which is located in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Catalyst has worked with big names like H2O and JBux and is currently finalising the release of his album. In this interview we get to know Catalyst more in depth and we also throw in a special mp3 zip file at the end for you to download.

With 2010 still a recent memory, Bay Area favorite Roach Gigz is kicking off 2011 in high fashion, releasing his highly anticipated new project, Roachy Balboa 2. The mixtape is the follow up to Roach’s highly lauded project, Roachy Balboa, released last year, and like its predecessor contains all original production. Closing 2010, Roach released a handful of singles and videos from RB2, including fan favorites “Pop Off” and “Can I Rap,” among others, and with the 18-track project being released today as a free download, fans can look forward to a number of new singles and videos from the project going forward, as well as a limited-edition physical release of Roachy Balboa and Roachy Balboa 2 together in one double-disc package.

Inner Loop Recording artist and CEO of the HD Life movement, Laelo Hood has been paving his lane in the D.C. Hip Hop scene for over a decade and is now preparing to take his movement global with his second full length album entitled “F*ck The World,” a direct reflection of Laelo’s world over the past few years.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who is running for re-election, is trying to attract the youth vote in his country by performing rap songs.

As 2011 kicks off, Tanya Morgan is excited to announce a brand new tour for the New Year, the Value Menu Tour, with Big Pooh, Hall Of Justusas well as The Young Americans(Big Pooh and Roc C). The 10-stop, 11-day tour will kick off in the Pacific Northwest at Habana Sodo in Seattle before making stops in Portland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and more.