30th April 2004 at Club Intersection in Randburg. 1st MayY 2004 at Club Who’Zoo (Workers Day Bumshaker) featuring Cashless Society, HipHop Pantsula, Thabiso and Muzkilla. Also DJ’s C-Live and Naked DJ.

If you’re gonna spend all your money on Friday night then come through to Albert Park in Durban on Saturday from midday onwards. Bling Free the Playground Jam will feature live graffiti and breakdancing as well as top turntabalists like DJ Cause, Lapse, MG-Fresh, Papercut, Ghetto Smurf, Soba & Mr Min. The event is sponsored by Anonymis Clothing for Vandals and The Yard All Element Store.

Newtown Music Hall (yes, the one in Newtown) Presents Ready Rolled Party celebrating three SAMA nominations for debut band Tumi and the Volume, 340ml and Fortune (featuring guests By Example, Ramesh, Spex, Shero, Selwyn, Clint, Kabomo, Hilton, Zebza and Amu). R50. Book @ Computicket. Bring your wife, or all of them if you are an aspiring Swazi diplomat…

The last time we spoke to Spex was around 2 years ago. He’s been really busy this year. This year he released “Nothing For Mahala” and he’s also finalising the May release of the first group on UTHOHT Enterprises called ZULU MOBB. He hasn’t had a chance to sleep for the past 3 to 4 weeks but he made the time to answer our questions.

Steve Brown established Ocean Records in 1997 and has since then been involved in releasing albums and doing concert promotions in and around the Pacific Northwest. Last month Ocean Records released Inde Sessions Vol 1 which featured Doujah Raze, Al Tariq, Supreme plus many more. We caught up with Ocean Records to find out more.

Verse a.k.a 410 Live born Nathan Hammah in Montreal was raised in Malton, and later Brampton (a suburb of Toronto) by his two parents. He aptly named himself Verse for two main reasons: the verses themselves were carefully architected, and he was prolific with his writing. His a.k.a. 410 live represents the road which leads to his home which he proudly represents.

One, among many things that I love about Hip-Hop today is the variety of magazines that are available. Unlike the past, where I had little, or no options. I now have the luxury of choosing what and what not to read. I can still remember how excited I was when I bought my first copy of Rap Masters. But lately, I’m only truly stimulated when I’m out in the underground digging for scrolls.

MOS’ YALL DEF, the hard hitting duo from Harare, Zimbabwe are making advances towards securing a place in the country’s Hip Hop book of game. Their first single H-Town Girl was wide received and is certain to have a good video in due course although there is a great buzz about their second single Secret Lover due out end of May off Movip Records.

Goddess, a woman who is widely admired or imitated, especially for her beauty. We diggin into the crates deeper than D.I.T.C. Everyday I realise more and more how every musical genre has that influence of hip hop in it. Wanda Dee does the name ring any bells? Remember KLF (Kinky Love Force) techno/rap group from the U.K that scorched the dance floors globally selling over 15 million albums, yes that’s right 15 million, so go dig into your own crates and you should be able to locate a copy of The White Room. Wanda has toured in every possible place you can think of. Just imagine 10 months of a year being on tour performing in front of 40,000 people taking her beautiful voice and body to over 100 countries? Now that’s what I call some hectic globe trotting. She just joined forces with the likes of C&C Music Factory and Snap on a world tour kicking off in Istanbul and showcasing what traits gave her godly status. The first female member of Afrika Bambaataa’s Universal Zulu Nation and we’re not even talking about the ones residing in KwaZulu Natal, this Bronx diva turned soulstress who once laced the classic hip hop movie, “Beat Street”, where she cameod as herself (Hip Hop’s FIRST female DJ), the diva has been resurrected after continuously touring, touted to star in the new Broadway musical of the life of the legendary chanteuse, Josephine Baker and being a personal target of the head of the Russian mafia, simply because her unparalleled beauty ‘Goddessized’ him to the point that he wanted to take her home with him from her headlining casino engagement in Riga, Latvia. Wanda is the first solo rap female to score two platinum singles consecutively namely “The Goddess” and “To The Bone“. Check out the face, the body, the voice, the diva right here on Africasgateway!

Do you remember the Red Bull DJ Academy (Cape Town) last year that featured Steinski, Prince Paul and loads of other international guests? I had the opportunity to bum rush the show when I was in Cape Town to visit the Milkman in South Africa. I managed to hookup with a very friendly and polite Dj Spair (man weren’t u warned before hand not to be too friendly with these South Africans cos we all suppose to be killers and hijackers?).

Hip Hop artists are working together in the fight against HIV/AIDS with the believe that it would address the high prevelance rate amongst its youth. Local Hip Hop is waging a war against HIV/AIDS with the Abo’ m-Rapper Against AIDS (AMAA) initiative. BLK Storm Entertainment and 8 Bayce Enterprises have taken up the challenge to use hip hop music to encourage sexual responsibility and positive mindsets in conquering HIV/AIDS.

Sat 24 April at The Valve, Parliament Street, Cape Town. Price to get in R50. 21h30: DJ Raiko. 22h30: Live Band with Mc’s Sky189, D-Form & Tumi. 23H30: DJ Ready D. 00H30: DJ Woody. DJ Woody is a turntablist who has taken the coveted World ITF Championship in 2001 and 2002 plus the World Vestax title. Don’t miss this one!

Visionary people like me rarely have the opportunity to share with others. We are normally hushed away in closed-minded communities, where the majority populous explains away our hypothesis and theories as foolishness or even insanity. Two years ago, I could’ve told you that Chicago was soon to become a Hip-Hop and Entertainment Mecca. But at that time I would’ve just as quickly been written off as delusional. As a matter of fact, Five years ago I could’ve told you that people like Kanya West and Twista were all over the Chicagoland area. But today I bet you would dare to believe me, now wouldn’t you?

Levitation Magazine in conjunction with Universal Magnetic present Peanut Butter Karma, an initiative aimed at using innovative Hip-Hop art and music to actively promote social change through its message and fundraising. Read more for details.

Coming off the back of the success of BLURed, held at the Blue and Red Room at the University Of The Western Cape (UWC) on 20 March 2004, 1 May 2004 is the date set for another crazy hip-hop event hosted by Stick Eight Entertainment. BLURed was another successful event and was also the first Stick Eight Entertainment event where South African hip-hop CD’s were sold. Read more for more details.