Topics

151

General Discussion / Zimbabwean Rap

« on: December 11, 2007, 05:27:49 PM »

I have a question. It's an honest one, and hopefully Tate and others can shed some light.

Why is it that Zimbabwean rap contains so little reference to Robert Mugabe and the situation in the country at the moment?

I have three thoughts regarding this, and understand that they are all probably way off the mark:
1. Zimbabwean rap is full of songs targeting this exact topic, and I've just been too wrapped up in myself to notice.
2. The climate of repression and retribution for political dissidence is such that any MC who spoke out would find themselves or their families targeted
3. There seems to be little of this dialogue in SA either - I'm not sure of the reasons for this, but when was the last time you heard a SA rap song directed at the ANC?

Now we know there are some shit-hot MCs in Zimbabwe, so what gives? I'm feeling a bit ignorant about this - thoughts?

152

General Discussion / 2007 AWARDS

« on: December 06, 2007, 04:49:16 PM »

20/20 HIP-HOP AWARDS - SHORTLIST

THese are the tracks that got the most nominations.

I will post MP3s of these up tonight, and you'll be able to hear them played on 20/20 hip-hop radio on the next two mondays (Check out http://2020.mypodcast.com)

Feel free to vote for whichever tracks/categories you like, although only one vote per category. Drop a reply or email 2020radio@gmail.com

BEST AMERICAN HIP-HOP TRACK
Marco Polo f/Masta Ace - Nostalgia
Blu and Exile - Dancing in the Rain

BEST EUROPEAN TRACK INCLUDING UK
Stig of the Dump - Introduction
Klashnekoff f/Kyza and Scriblah - Sayonara

BEST AFRICAN
Tumi and Zubz - Big Gangsta
Konfab and Jaak - How We Roll

BEST AUSTRALIAN
Bliss n Eso - Bullet and a Target
Hilltop Hoods - Hard Road

BEST ASIAN
Shing02 f/Ghostface - G.A.M.E
Kwok Kin - Anger


VOTING CLOSES DECEMBER 22.

153

General Discussion / RIP PIMP C

« on: December 05, 2007, 01:44:07 PM »

We lose another one. f***.

PIMP C FOUND DEAD IN LA HOTEL ROOM

http://sohh.com/articles/article.php/13138

Rest in Peace man. You managed to resurrect the UGK with one of the best albums of the year - your legacy is a**ured.

f***, man.

154

General Discussion / Zuma outsells Skwatta Kamp

« on: November 28, 2007, 02:35:56 PM »

The popularity of African National Congress (ANC) presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma has spilled into the music industry, with musicians producing songs with words praising Zuma in an attempt to cash in on his popularity.

On the other hand this pro-Zuma music, mostly played at venues where he appears, has become part of his campaigning mix.

The latest is the compilation of an album by Zuma backing musicians, which has been strategically released weeks before the key ANC elective conference in Polokwane.

Titled Msholozi (Zuma's praise name), the album was selling like hot cakes at the KwaZulu-Natal provincial council at the weekend, where Zuma thrashed President Thabo Mbeki 580 to nine votes in the nomination stakes for the key position of ANC president.

'I discussed it with a couple of musicians, who then agreed that we do something to encourage him'
The album comprises songs singing the praises of Zuma, and also criticising the Scorpions for pursuing fraud charges against him.

Among others, the album contains a dance beat on the Umshini Wami song rendered by popular DJ Black Coffee.

The executive producer and compiler of the album, Sizwe Cele, said that what drove him to put together the album was to encourage Zuma not to give up politics in the face of challenges he was facing.

"I discussed it with a couple of musicians, who then agreed that we do something to encourage him to soldier on and to show him our support. The only weapon we had for this was music. I had more artists who were interested in being part of this project to show their support for Msholozi, but we were limited by the number of tracks we wanted the album to have," said Cele.

He said that a certain percentage from the sales would go towards the Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust.

The album is available at selected record outlets.

It comes on the heels of yet another compilation by the band, Tsunami, which dominated during the court appearances by Zuma in Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

Recently the musical ensemble, Izingane Zoma, recorded a track also titled Msholozi, which spoke about a plot to stop him from becoming the president of South Africa.

The song achieved double-platinum status, with more than 100 000 copies sold.

So a deluded, politically incoherent song by a bunch of brainwashed f***faces who have the collective IQ of a soggy cornflake sells more than Skwatta's last three albums COMBINED?!?!

What the f*** is wrong with these idiots? How do you manage to breathe?

I suppose, devil's advocate, that if we can approve songs that criticise our leaders and the establishment we must also allow songs which put forward views we might find repulsive, otherwise free speech is meaningless. Doesn't make me want to vomit any less, though.

155

General Discussion / 20/20 HIP-HOP AWARDS

« on: November 19, 2007, 12:07:37 AM »

I need some help guys.

The 20th episode of my podcast, 20/20, is coming up. It will be available on Christmas eve, and I want to do something special. With a view to it becoming an annual event, I'd like to officially introduce...

THE 1ST ANNUAL 20/20 HIP-HOP AWARDS

The format of the awards will be five winning songs, as voted for by you (and everyone I can tell to vote, really) in the following five categories:

- Best African
- Best American (North and South)
- Best European (Including the UK)
- Best Asian
- Best Australian

The idea is to nominate, in as many categories as you like, the song you feel has been quite simply the best this year. Feel free to nominate any track you like, using your judgement about beat, lyrics and delivery to guide you. Feel free to nominate your own tracks if you like - ultimately the final ballot will be of the tracks which received the most nominations.

You can nominate in three ways:

- Leave a post on this board. I'll check it regularly
- Email 2020radio@gmail.com
- Drop a comment on the website under one of the podcast episodes.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 2 2007. After that, voting will be conducted with a poll on these boards, as well as on others, and you will also be able to vote using the above methods.

I'm open to suggestions and comments - this is the first time I'm doing something like this, so I expect things not to go as planned.

In the meantime, check out the website: http://2020.mypodcast.com

(Oh, and the winners don't get anything - just the kudos of being featured on the best radio show on planet earth. Really.)

156

General Discussion / 20/20 HIP-HOP RADIO

« on: November 16, 2007, 02:46:49 PM »

The last one got deleted, so thought I'd push this again (I learnt from DP and his relentless Planetary a**ault...)

20/20 HIP-HOP RADIO.

20 minute podcast. Free to download. Available every monday. The tightest hip-hop tracks from any and all countries, plus your hip-hop news. Hosted by yours truly.

http://2020.mypodcast.com

(STREAMING AND SUBSCRIPTION VIA iTUNES AND GOOGLE ALSO AVAILABLE)


Don't forget to check out our affiliates:
http://hiphocalypse.mypodcast.com - HIPHOCALYPSE FORTKNIGHTS hosted by AG's own Sensai Tate
http://btns.mypodcast.com - Msanii XL in the building
http://xbcjumpoff.mypodcast.com - Fresh Zim hip-hop

157

General Discussion / Site design

« on: November 12, 2007, 11:41:15 PM »

Just wanted to say the site looks HOT. Good looks Milk!

158

General Discussion / Jay-Z - American Gangster

« on: November 08, 2007, 01:15:40 PM »

Apologies if this has been done before.

I just finished listening to American Gangster, and I'm blown away. This is one of the finest, most complete albums Jay has put out since his debut - not perfect, but damn close.

Blueprint soul samples with Reasonable Doubt lyricism and focus. Even without the movie link this would still be a great album; it sets out to tell a story and builds on itself like a great one. It's not in the never-skip-a-track league, as there are one or two small mis-steps, but this is one of the most impressive albums of the year.

Thoughts? Comments?

159

General Discussion / AG Bugs

« on: November 01, 2007, 04:18:31 PM »

Can the mods shed any light on where the hell all the threads have gone? There are some ma**ive bugs in the system

160

General Discussion / AG Bugs

« on: November 01, 2007, 04:18:15 PM »

Can the mods shed any light on where the hell all the threads have gone? There are some ma**ive bugs in the system

161

General Discussion / CHECK THIS OUT...

« on: October 28, 2007, 07:24:20 PM »

Rob's got a new one...

TRIUMPH - Rob One
Produced by: Alias
Engineered by: Rob One @ BlanketHead Studios
Contains a completely unauthorised sample of Marcia Religiosa performed by Nino Rota

FREE TO DOWNLOAD

LINK: LINK REMOVED/audio/4510085f0be980/

162

General Discussion / Royce 5'9"

« on: October 11, 2007, 10:55:02 PM »

Hey guys, I need some help.

I'm looking for a track Royce 5'9" did that was his version of Ca**idy's 'I'm a Hustla' - I think Royce's version was called 'I'm a MC'

I have no idea what the real name of this track is, what album it was or where to get it. But I must own it. Can anyone help?

163

General Discussion / SA Rap vs Comic books

« on: October 10, 2007, 02:10:43 PM »

The AG bug rears its ugly head again!

I'll resurrect this. Best ones so far IMHO:

Konfab vs Spiderman
(Both are agile, quick and both can shoot sticky objects from their hands. Sort of.)

Tumi vs Kingpin
(Weighty and with lots of influence. Perfect match)

Mr Devious vs Mr Sinister
(Both are enigmatic and both, after a fashion, live on after their deaths - RIP and no disrespect)

Wolverine vs Ben Sharpa
(The sharpest knife in the drawer vs the sharpest claws in the world. Plus, if we are to judge from his quick recovery after being hospitalised from diabetes, Sharpa has a mutant healing factor too!)

Blakrok vs The Engineer
(The Engineer is a member of the Authority, a crack superhero team, who can manipulate liquid metal and control machines at will, as well as being a shape-shifter. Blakrok's imagery and imagination make her a worthy opponent)

Zubz vs Green Lantern
(The Golden Mic vs the Rings of Power. FUll stop)

Skwatta Kamp vs the X-Men
(Yeah, we got our own Superhero team to!)

Reason vs Apocalypse
(The Mad Ma**acre against the being who actually causes Ma**acres. The jury is still out on whether Reason is actually immortal as well)

Nominations welcome. Who's gonna coach these guys?

164

General Discussion / New 20/20

« on: September 30, 2007, 11:33:47 PM »

Brand new, cats! Episode 8

Back with the good stuff, too: the brand new Blak Twang. Oh yeah, and Ba4za, Tumi (plus the Volume), Fifi, Prevail, Moka Only, Abstract Rude, the RZA and Afrob and Sekou from Germany.

News has got the new Jay-Z album (another one?), David Banner and Master P talking sense and the Volume doing their thing.

Oh yeah, wanted to say: if you like 20/20 (and judging by the download numbers, some of you clearly do!) drop a comment and let me know if there's anything you want to see on the show that isn't there. Just click the 'Make a Comment' button below. We do it because we care. 20/20 - because you're worth it etc.

Good to be back. Peace!



http://2020.mypodcast.com

DOWNLOAD or SUBSCRIBE or STREAM

165

General Discussion / 20/20 EXCLUSIVES!

« on: September 16, 2007, 07:07:23 PM »

New 20/20, cats. http://2020.mypodcast.com

It's all about the exclusives that no-one else has on this show. This time the Roots get the five star treatment. Hub, the ba**ist, is retiring after 17 years service, and we've got his last performance on record, complete with champagne-pa**ing-hijinks and a rare ?uestlove speech.

The performance was at Moedown in Turin, New York state. Thank you to the anonymous fan who recorded the show!

Plus, two other Roots tracks to keep that one company - a joint from the OKP compilation, plus a full-length live jam. And no, it's not Water.

That, and Tumi, Syntax, Midas Touch, Fifi, plus a live recording of Ewok (IllShad) and Infinite (sick beatboxer) linking up to demolish.

News as well: new SA rap compos, 50 is crap, the DMC champs are coming - and Common and Q-Tip joining forces? f*** yeah!

20/20. Once again, back by popular blah blah etc. etc.


Oh yeah, and if you want to be put on the mailing list, so you get the heads-up before anyone else, just drop me your addy on a PM. Sweet.[/img]