Nyambz recently got in touch with Iceland’s EthyOne to talk about the Freshbreeze production company, favourite producers, making beats, his graf, Crate Diggin and more…

Cape Town based Afrikaans Hip Hop group Kallitz (pronounced ‘Coloureds’) launch their debut album ‘Die Ding Ruk Mal‘ on Tuesday, 15 June 2004 at Long Street Café, Long Street Cape Town. The album will already be available at Musica nation-wide from Monday, 14 June 2004, retailing for R 69.95.  Read on for more details and latest pictures…

Markus Wormstorm, Sibot and Krushed & Sorted have just returned from mastering the forthcoming debut Real Estate Agents triple-cd pack, which will be available in a month or two. The triple cd pack will be innovatively packaged, cheap, and feature full albums from Sibot and Markus Wormstorm as well as a bonus enhanced cd featuring The Real Estate Agents in the mix and music videos. Since there aren’t any thinly-clad glossy breasts in any of the videos, you’ll probably have to buy the cd to get to see them.  For more info visit www.africandope.co.za

206 and Next Movement join forces again to bring you Jambo @ Carfax. On the 206 Floor find Max Normal, 340 ml, Real Estate Agents (CT), Redwood and Obita. At the Next Movement Deep House Floor catch Pepsi, Infinite, Dani, Teddy, Kid Fonque. In the Lounge Amit and Dror (Cohen Bros), The Milk Bar Kid, DJ Bob. More info: alan@88.co.za

Shure Incorporated announced yesterday (26 May 2004) that it will introduce a new competition to the U.S. DJ battle circuit, Vinyl Kombat. The unique aspect of this competition is that it will operate under a “Keep it Clean ” premise to offer a safe and positive environment where competitors and audiences of all ages can participate. “We created Vinyl Kombat as a way to highlight the DJ element of Hip Hop culture,” said Bill “Needlz” Oakley, Marketing Specialist/Phonograph Product Manager for Shure. “We also hope to expose new audiences to this dynamic form of artistic expression.”

The weekend of the 4th and 5th of June is gonna be worth it for any Durban head. Join Illuminating Shadows at the Blue Bottles (Point Waterfront) on Friday the 4th at 9pm for some local vocals, and make sure you spend all your money because on Saturday the 5th The Yard and Anonymis Clothing bring you another Bling Free Playground Jam. Once again it’s a free party with live graffiti and live turntablism. One weekend that’ll complete your live Hip Hop experience of Ethekwini. Be there ekse.

Entrepreneurship is the order of the day if African hiphop is going to become a self-sufficient industry force. This is because entrepreneurship emphasises on spotting a gap in the market and establishing a business that serves that need. Here is a company that sees this vision as far as African hip hop is concerned.

The Songwriters Club, a new live music venue is looking for artists. Every Wednesday night is an open night. Join the Songwriters Club in their search for “what’s new in South African Music” from Jazz to Funk, Hip Hop to Blues, World Music and Folk to Kwaito and Rock, all original South African compositions.  Check out www.thesongwritersclub.com or contact Jason Banks (live@thesongwritersclub.com) on 083 226 3884 to book your spot.

You can find Namibia on the West Coast of Southern Africa, just above South Africa. Besides having dunes and gemsboks they also have fairly active Hip Hop scenes (Walvis Bay, Skwakopmund and Windhoek). One of the people providing a platform for Hip Hop in Windhoek is radio presenter/emcee Eraze. We wanted to find out more about him and the scene. Check the interview for the entire probe.

Philadelphia’s Roots, popularly regarded as among today’s most innovative, adventurous and influential bands, have just completed ‘The Tipping Point,’ their new album for release July 13, 2004 by Geffen. ‘The Tipping Point,’ says Roots founding member and drummer Ahmir Thompson, is the “sum of our 6 records and our 12 years as a band. Most of our album titles are chosen to reflect on the mood of where the group is and we feel as though this album is our biggest step.”

When Bootsy invites you to come play, you know its gonna be one wild adventure. With party animals in the mix like George Clinton, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray, Miss Kier (Deelite), Sly & Robbie, Fat Joe, Bobby Womack, Rosie Gaines (NPG) and yes, the list does go on and on, you know the festivities will be off the “hizzle for shizzle!” Thanks to Jay King, director Thump Classic R&B for bringing a great idea to life with the reissue of the previous import-only Play with Bootsy CD, it’s a party we now all get to attend. Thump Classic R&B will release Play with Bootsy June 8.

For those in the know, “Watch Out Deh Now” is more than a heed to action, it’s the trademark catcall for funnyman J. Anthony Brown. As a forerunner to today’s hot Black comedy scene, and one of the foremost kings of that comedy, J. Anthony Brown is finally receiving the accolades he so justly deserves.

Crystal Knight is the personification of heat. As Playboy TV’s premier hip hop honey, Knight is the wattage that fires up the network’s bi-weekly staple, “Night Calls 411.” The brown bombshell brings it with her seductive take on contemporary sexuality, with a lethal combination of jaw dropping humor and sizzling sensuality. A sister series to Playboy TV’s “Night Calls Live,” Knight’s urban edge has garnered “Night Calls 411” top ratings for the network as the show enters its fifth season. Just ask fans like Treach, Snoop Dogg or Shaq, Knight keeps her viewers coming back for more!

As their debut vinyl-release, Tokyo’s Subcontact Records proudly presents the Grooveman Spot remix 12″ for Raw Produce and their classic song “Cycles“. Featuring the original and one of the group’s eariest, unreleased recordings “Fruit Of Our Labor”, this 12″ has now been imported into the U.S., stores here will be happy to know they can order this release through Crosstalk Distribution. Read on for details on how to get your hands on this!

May 2004 SA, World Groove Records announced plans for USA/Canada Club Tour, intended to launch the StreetD Born in SA CD. Executive Producer Karl Cureton is quoted, “It is our goal to bring the music born from post-Apartheid South Africa to the US. The liberating Kwaito sound will invade our country like the Beatles. We are due for change. Hip-Hop music in America is now overproduced and has bled into R&B. We need the beauty of raw talent born from genuine struggle, this market will respond. We say to the youth of North America… Free Your Mind !” Check us out at www.streetd.com.