Urban Voices once again brings you an exciting Festival programme for 2006. Running from the 28th July until the 5th August 2006, the Festival celebrates its sixth anniversary with a range of concerts and free educational workshops. The Festival takes place in Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town. Read on for more info…

In the past couple of months we’ve noticed that everybody is talking about this mixtape. Eversince we downloaded this compilation from the Harambe website we’ve been playing it to death at the AG headquarters. This release features a range of artists like Subzz, Konfab, 3WR, Han Dolo, Snazz D and many others. There is also a good mixture of producers on here e.g. Ootz, Caveman, Mr C plus others. After receiving a dozen or so emails from people demanding that we find out more I decided to get in touch with Mr C and DeePea. In this interview they talk about the process of putting this out, track selections, inspirations and future releases. Read more to check it out…

it’s been a long wait since the last show in February, but the African hip hop radio deejays are back to broadcast their all-new tunes, news and interviews straight to your pc. This month’s show features a number of very special guests including Professor Jay (Tanzania) live in the studio with Drew & J4 and an interview with Somali-Canadian emcee K’naan. Then we have the full recording of our African hip hop discussion at Black Soil film festival (Amsterdam) last year with Das Primeiro (Angola), Don Klemente & Guderian (Congo) and Liberian-American filmmaker Dante Kaba. Our Egyptian cornerstone Karim is back with a new co-host, dj Sphinx, and Mustafa Maluka mixes tracks from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Joburg. The next show is already finished and will be up in the next few weeks and will feature interviews with Saian Supa Crew (France/west Africa), Emmanuel Jal (Sudan/Kenya), Nameless (Kenya), Writers Block and Jitsvinger (South Africa)…

On the 24th June 2006 (Saturday) catch eNDzi, Shorty, Mandabela, Terror Mc, Illiterate Skills, Cozi, Plan B and O plus guest emcees at the Orchard Bank, Long Street, Cape Town. The show starts at 21:00pm. Also on the decks are DJ Cavera, DJ Madfinga, Baron X, DJ Soulfinga, Killa B plus guest DJ’s. Mixtapes will be on sale and it will cost you R20 to get in. View the poster here (pdf format).  For those that can’t wait here’s a clip of DJ Mad finger at Xito’s Studios.

An ill line up consisting Cape Town’s most Archetypical lyricist who’ve overcome Writer’s Block with their Ill Literate Skill. As a Driemanskap they treat microphones as rodents as they become the Rattex. Khanyi rocks the crowd with her Unic SoundBorn beats. Lyrically infertile beings run out of hiding places on Planet Earth. Sunday 25 June. Live at Orchard Bank (Long Street) – Cape Town. 21h00. 20 Bux at the door. A Sunday without the Sunday rhymes may as well be a Monday! For more info: diggindeepproductions@yahoo.com

Jamayka and Emile met when Jamayka came to South Africa and directed him to a producer where he recorded his first album named Benga. Over the years they influenced each other with ideas to start their own record and clothing Labels. The Conquering Lions concept aims to create an ongoing relationship between like-minded African youth who have the interest of Africa at heart by creating a network for distribution of products made by African for Africans. We see it as a benefit to Africans through the creation of jobs and pride in whats from Africa…

H20 who are still riding on the crest of their hit album Sheleni (nominated best rap album Sama) will be in Pretoria for the whole day (Thursday) to promote the Sheleni album, then on Friday they will wrap up for Pretoria heads with a performance at State Theatre. They will be joined by their stable mates Optical Illusion who will also be pushing their album called The Offering, which has hits such as Ghetto Beautiful, Raw Core and Sending the word. They will be around Pretoria at the following stores: Musica Brooklyn, Hatfield, Centurion, Menlyn Park, Look & Listen stores in Atterbury and Menlyn. Pretoria peeps can also catch them live on their radio stations namely Soshanguve Community Radio and Tng Fm.

Cape Town Hip Hop is about to get heavyweight with the new PioneerUnit Hi-Power™ sound system. Poor quality sound has been holding back Hip Hop in Cape Town for too long. The game is about to change. With state of the art Nexo speakers and Camco power amps we will be providing bone-crunching but crystal clear sound for selected Hip Hop events around Cape Town.

Mad Skills invites you to the launch of the Subculture Party taking place at Rhodes House, 60 Queen Victoria street, Gardens on Friday, 30th June. Cape Town’s finest dj’s included in the line up are Leighton Moody, Matthew Carpark & Willy. Be sure not to miss the world renowned, DJ of the Decade, Ready D( DJ Explode) on the decks! There will also be live djembe drumming, fire poi dancers, b-boying & capoeira! and Doors open at 9.30pm. CC:R60. More info: 0844778817.

Diggin Deep news presents Sunday Rymes at Orchard on the 18th and 25th of June 2006 featuring the illest Cape town Mc’s like Driemanskap, Writers Block, Rattex, Archetypes, Illiterate Skill, Kanyi, Sugar and Spencer, X and Kritsi Yespaza plus many more. The cover charge is R20 and it starts at 8pm at Orchard Bank in Long Street – Cape Town. Open mics too!

If you frequent the AG boards you might have come across the name Jah Fish.  Some of you might have met the man already as he is currently in South Africa. He is a deejay and a dope designer and has done work for some well established artists around the globe. Miss Controversy wanted to find out more about the man himself and also about his perceptions of the African hip hop scene. He talked a bit about his roots, touched on Hip Hop in Europe and also his close encounters with Prophets of the City.  What follows is an unedited transcript from a chat on Messenger. Read on to check it out.

Brooke Valentine’s “rhythm and crunk” hit “Girlfight,” produced by Lil’ Jon, jumpstarted last year a resurgence of hip-hop from Houston that also included other H-Town natives Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug. In addition to releasing her debut, the Subliminal Entertainment/Virgin Records CHAIN LETTER, Brooke also recorded “Boogie Oogie Oogie” with Fabolous and Yo Yo as the lead single from the soundtrack for the Fox Searchlight Pictures film Roll Bounce. Without taking a break, Brooke returns in 2006 with her sophomore set, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, an album that more clearly boasts her vocal and songwriting talents and features production for Deja The Great and appearances from Tyrese, Pimp C, and Krazyie Bone.

It is one of the trendiest streets in the Mother City – Long Street. There is just no way that you can live in Cape Town or visit Cape Town and avoid it. There are certain venues in Long Street that have gained cult status and Zula Bar is one of them. I must confess that I always wondered about the place. However the only time I paid any attention was when I heard of “Party with a Purpose”. So to find out more I spoke to Chad Abrahams (one of the founding members of Party with a Purpose Productions).

Our Girl Brooke Valentine is back with her new single “D-Girl” featuring Pimp C!! Brooke blessed us with the chart topping hit “Girl Fight” produced by everyone’s favorite Lil Jon. Her debut album “Chain Letter” was an obvious ode to her native Houston, TX. with guest appearances from Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug.

This festival has been conceptualised as an alternative yet relevant platform to celebrate Youth Day in a contemporary form. TRI-CONTINENTAL HIP HOP FESTIVAL© is a 3-city tour that will take place in Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban. The festival will serve to entertain and educate the youth.

Read on…