Baphixile is poised to unleash yet another banger this year. After taking a break from the music scene since the release of their 2000 offering Kasiology, Prof and Blax Myth teamed with some heavyweights to bring you their long awaited album APESAM BAKWADZ-3rd STRYK.

Ruggedman, (real name Michael Ugochukwu Stephens) was born on the 20th of September in Ebem Ohafia, Abia State in Nigeria. He is a graduate of Political Science at the Lagos State University. He started loving rap music from around 1989 and put his first cd out in 1999…

Check out the new video ‘Take A Deep Breath‘ from Ca$hino representing Nigeria (NDT ‘Nigerian Dream Team’) & watch out for a collabo track with PMD from the legendary EPMD. For more info go to www.cashino4ever.com.

Catch Rudeboy Paul (YFM), DJ Bionic (JHB) and Kenzhero (JHB) at Ivory Room 196 Long Street in Cape Town on Friday the 6th August 2004. Cover charge is R40.

5fm presents 50 Cent in September 4th at The Dome as part of Arts Alive. Tickets soon at Computicket. Check out http://www.50cent.com. Sources: Milov_Prosnikov and 5FM.

Prizes have been sponsored for the Champion and the Runner-Up competitors. A panel of judges have been selected to oversee every event and while audience participation in judging is welcome the judges decision is final and will be the deciding factor for each award. In addition an after party has been organised to raise funds for the transport costs of any winners who want to represent Durban at the Cape Town Hip Hop Indaba 2004 at the end of August. Read on for more info.

Capital D’s releases his new single, “Enough Already”. This international release on All Natural Inc. has been a long time coming after a 1 year hiatus when capital D reverted to Islam. “Enough Already” is the lead single for his upcoming album “Insomnia”, and expresses the issue that is clearly stated. capital D has had enough already with the so called tough cats and the sophomore gag rhymes that have plagued the Hip-Hop community.

Hip-hop in South Africa has been underground since the early eighties. It started to gain some light towards the late nineties and early 2000’s. In the last two years some excellent groups have emerged and demanded the public’s attention. The latest to surface is the incomparable Zulu Mobb.

Peanut Butter Karma is a project aimed at promoting social change through the use of progressive youth art and music. From Hip-Hop to dancehall, electronica to township confunksions, turntablism and graffiti to graphic design, Peanut Butter Karma is about showcasing the most active and progressive artists in a socially conscious space…for a broader and greater good than just art.  Read on for details and venues – you can also download the flyer…

DJ Vadim should be touching ground in South Africa soon for all the Ninja Tunes geeks. If you are a fan of the Russian percussionist bring down your Art of Listening vinyl and get Vads to sign it for you personally and share a drink of some Russian vodka. Read on for dates, venues and download the flyer.

The knowledge-of-self aspect of Hip-Hop has always interested me. Unfortunately, this important element is constantly being overshadowed by, society’s need to obtain money, cars and other worldly things. And in our quest to acquire these things, our reality gets distorted and we lose our sense of purpose.

Sheer Hip Hop proudly presents its first major signing, the exciting Zulu Mobb. Incorporating the usual popular hip-hop elements, this album goes one step further by keeping its identity wholly African in nature. Lyrics are in English, Zulu and Sotho, and appeal across cultures. Stepping out from the underground where they have gained substantial recognition, critical acclaim and a firm fan base, Sheer Hip Hop takes them to the mainstream. Read on for more infomation.

Bryan Winchester (Braille) was born in Portland in 1981. Braille started making bedroom tapes when he was 13 years old which eventually led to his first release “The Greyhound Sampler” (released under the name “Reflection”). Over the last 5 years Braille has been with 5 different groups. His latest album “Shades Of Grey” is out now. We decided to get in touch to find out more…

With massive interest and demand for hip-hop in South Africa this brand new label aims at developing, exposing and promoting the genre locally. Although international labels as well as artists will be profiled, the major focus of the label is on the development of local talent. This does abound in our nation, but has never received the support and nurturing it deserves and needs to create our own local Hip-Hop superstars that can take the entire world on!

Do any of you remember Musik G from the track “O Freedom” on the Heal (Human Education Against Lies) album?  Well he’s still busy with music and recently released the EP titled “The Underground Can’t Be Stopped“, which was reviewed on this site last month. Our crew member Bandile wanted to find out more so he interviewed him…