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Written by Administrator   
Friday, 13 September 2002
BUX is a talented emcee from Port Elizabeth, a tiny city on the south coast of South Africa. AfricasGateway.com recently spoke to him regarding himself and about the hip hop scene in Port Elizabeth.

Can you start off by telling the people out there who you are, where you from and what you all about?

Yo first of all bigup for this opportunity man and much respect for keepin hip hop alive. My name is Bux. Residence is PE (Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape). What I'm about is preserving hip hop culture whatever I can do to keep this culture alive I'll do. Right now I guess I'm sustaining its existence in PE by expressing myself lyrically.

In your view what is the hip hop scene like in Port Elizabeth?

Well in PE the scene is quite devided. I mean u have your typical battle cats down with only mcing. Then bboys down with only the bboying element (shit some cats dance to rave tracks). We got some djs very few though who play there trade at cyphers but they mostly older 9 to 5 cats who aint really that commited but of course we got our true heds who are serious about this culture. So unity man thats a major problem down here cause its like the mcs are mainly "black" cats then bboys are mainly "coloureds". I guess its geographical cause the cities located like in between Joburg and Cape Town. So I would say hip hop is quite big in PE but its too devided in such a small city for it really to prosper. Plus I feel that if the smaller cities pull their weight in joining in the efforts of Cape Town and Joburg heads then the process of puttin hip hop on the map will definately gain momentum.

How did you get involved with Hip Hop and do you have any interesting old skool stories you'd like to share with us?

My earliest memory of an encounter with hip hop was my uncle pumpin Kurtis Blow at full volume every mornin at my grans place. Shit I had hip hop for breakfast every morning I remember reciting the 1st verse on the breaks and entertaining my moms an'em. They'd always laugh at me trying to rhyme in that american accent wit no fronts a "true pre- school" mc ha! That was like 87 but I was too young to really understand the significance of this era. Only towards the early to mid 90's is when I really identified myself with hip hop culture or rap as was known to me back then.

You've been known to battle cats at a drop of a hat, what would you say would be your best and worst battle you ever had?

Battlin thats always a touchy subject for me. Well I don't regard myself a typical battle mc but I have indulged in some battles around the city. Personally I feel battlin is a fundamental part of being a complete mc. And like it or not you have to showcase this deadly skill sometime or another to boost your credibility amongst some heads, I mean you just won't be respected if you dont battle. As far as best battles go I havent had that much but there was this one at this club called Eyethu. Incidently its my best and worst battle. You know the scenario bad sound quality, cats not wanting to pay to get in, mad low budget an shit. At first I wasnt down with battlin that day. But shit there was this cat actin like God tellin cats they aint rhymin cause their punchlines didnt rhyme. So I decided to step to the mic, fuck it we got into a heated fracus before we started battlin an when we started I was totally not focused and he dropped me infront of the crowd. But shit we decided to take the cypher to the bathroom (ceramic tile equistics is my thing). Damn it was classic, cats beatboxing, mcs busting wit vengence. I was so hyped I took out almost all the cats in that confined space except my arch nemisis for the nite who was probably too shook to enter the torture chamber. But eventually we took the thing back to the audience who were by now mad confused coz all the mcs who were in the bathroom insisted on a rematch between me an the "shook one". Of course I was so hype by now I took him out without even breaking a sweat and a couple more who dared to step up.

As far as emcees, both national and international, who do you find inspiration in?

P.O.C have definately been a major influence. These cats are as far as I'm concerned local hip hop icons. Shaheen man he was my favorite local mc I mean the brother could spit ill shit in both afrikaans and english. Plus the accent was straight Cape Town hence straight South African true local music. PROPHETS OF DA CITY are THE HIP HOP PROPHETS OF SA MUCH RESPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then of course there are some tight cats around now like SQUATTA CAMP, BMP, SNAZZ D, THUMI and many more who have won my respect locally.

Then internationally KRS ONE, ROOTS, RED MAN, WU TANG, BLACKSTAR the list is endless all have influenced me but there hasnt been anyone specific who has influenced me. Basically anybody who is true to the art regardless if they commercial or underground I can listen to.

As far as plans go, what are they for the next 2 years?

Shit thats something I havent given much thought but of course I'd like to have matured enough in the next two years to do an album but right now I'm just writing rhymes, learning and living. But I do see myself being part of this influx of true hip hop artists bombardin this South African industry in the not too distant future.

What do you write about in your songs?

T try not to limit myself. I don't have any paradimes. I live hip hop, so anything in the realms of being true to myself and this culture is what I write about.

What frustrates you right now?

Kwaito cats biting from hip hop and then callin hip hop heads wanna be americans. So ignorance is something that frustrates me. This is what's keeping this culture from growing in s a.

Thanks man, I know we are going to hear a lot about you in the future, do you have any last words?

HIP HOP FOREVER. WHAT!!!!!!!!!




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