The Feb/March HYPE issue is out. This is in my opinion the best HYPE issue ever. Here is the Editorial note (before I get shut down again)
I was hangin’ with my big cuz S.E.L.F the other day and I asked him this question: ‘Which direction is hip hop moving towards?’ ‘Hip hop is becoming regionalized,’ he replied. As he explained how artists would gain recognition and support in their home towns before being exposed to the rest of us, it became clear that this hip hop game is all about dominating a piece of the map, and letting the whole world know that.
As I gave it more thought, I realised that this was happening both locally and internationally, the most notable example being that of The Game, who has single handedly managed to restore hope for west coast hip hop and put LA back on the map (p.36). At the same time, Nas has managed to place himself at the forefront of New York hip hop as he carries out his plan to bring the ‘real’ hip hop back (p.34).
When looking at the hip hop game in SA, I see the exact same patterns. Local hip hop is divided into regions. The most powerful players in these regions are the ones with the potential to take over the industry. I decided to talk to headz from all over the country, asking them which hip hop artists best represented their region. When speaking to Cape Town headz, the one name that came up more than any other was that of Middle Finga, one of the founders of a rap sub-genre known as Spaza (p.30). As I moved on to the Eastern Cape, the name of a former Drakensburg Boys Choir member, Trusenz was the most prominent (p.31). Durban was united in its support for their local hip hop band, Big Idea (p.28), while PTA stood behind The Anvils all the way (p.26).
Joburg was a difficult one. With so many stars illuminating the golden city, it was difficult to see which one stood out, so we took this question across the border. Which rapper represents SA/Joburg hip hop in the eyes of headz in areas such as Canada and Belgium. The unanimous answer was Tumi from The Volume, who has managed to take the Joburg sound around the world (p.32). Last but not least, we have an area synonymous with its unique Motswako hip hop style. Who better to represent the North West than the one… the only… Morafe (p.29).
Lets take a closer look at these artists as we find out why they are the leaders of their regions. Kick back and enjoy the Territorial issue.
The HYPE Sessions is crezy. Mixed by DJ Redwood.