We have been following the HipHopKop contest with much interest over the past few weeks. We put together a list highlighting the cream of the crop, the potentials and other decent tracks that you have to check out. This is by no means a comprehensive review. It must be noted that we do not have access to other reference material in most cases therefore this list is based on the submissions only.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who is running for re-election, is trying to attract the youth vote in his country by performing rap songs.

Terry Tha Rapman (born Joe Spasm) is nothing but a veteran as far as Nigerian Hip-hop is concerned, having started out in 2000 with the Swat Roots Collective ( Six Foot Plus , Mista Baron , elDee XL , Mode9 and Jiddah ). From his base in Abuja, he released his debut album Tha Rapmanifestation on Payback Tyme Records . The album received little or no press, airplay or recognition, which led to low sales and virtually unknown status. Payback Tyme records broke up, leaving each crew member to himself.

If you have ever wondered why hip hop is not taken seriously in South Africa then Sunday evening provided a world of answers.

MTN must have forked out bucket loads of cash all in the name of rap and yet Hype couldn’t even manage to find someone that could auto-cue properly, during the festivities at the Coca-Cola Dome.

Then there was the bad lighting. And the disordered presentation.

In Rap’s beginning, it was born out of a gang truce that was lead by Africa Bambaata and Kool Herk, which started a positive movement on the streets. In that day the first “Street Prophet” I’ve ever seen was Grand Master Melle Mel, who delivered Messages from the Streetz.  Melle Mel Prophecy in that day, thangs that are happening today such as wars, in World War III, "Survival," "Sign Of The Time" and we all know the words of "The Message."
These were some of the greatest of Hip Hop’s History, which Mel did wit the Furious Five. They dealt wit ghetto poverty, crime, drugs, and unfair treatment from government and law enforcement. I met my Rap hero Melle Mel in Las Vegas 2006. Finally I was able to tell him that he is a Street Prophet and should be known as Mr. Rap.
Then came Run. Run is another Street Prophet, one who I prayed for after God saved me, and prayed that God would raise him and use him for God’s Glory.

Rapster Angel is standing on a piece of land in a slum in Nairobi. “Hip-hop in Kenya is so much like this piece of land,” she says in the documentary Noise is my voice. “Inside it is so much talent, so much potential, so much hope. The future of Africa is lying in the ghetto. What we, hip-hop-artists, are doing, we’re trying our best to dig in the ghetto and get the raw talent out, so that this place can look beautiful again”. This week she is together with some colleagues, in the Netherlands for the official launch of Ghetto Radio.

Heal the Hood Project is offering 2 creative Cape Town youth the opportunity to win a trip to Sweden and raise money for their schools. Heal the Hood Project, the brain-child of Emile Jansen of Black Noise, has sent many young artists to Sweden and Germany as part of an ongoing self-funded exchange project. In 2006, Emile and Black Noise will tour schools throughout the Western Cape to encourage creative youth to follow their dreams and to be proud of being South Africa and African. Emile views the lack of love for Africa and lack of South African identity as the root of many ills in society, including crime, child abuse, pollution, teenage pregnancy, drug addiction, the spread of HIV/AIDS, disrespect for elders/ teachers, lack of jobs and many other issues. This tour will address and expose these connections in an exciting and entertaining way. The tour is labelled "Buy South African, for South Africans" and is planned for February and March 2006…

Last week our staff writer ‘Controversy‘ headed on down to the Battle of the Year in Cape Town to cover the live performances plus the Emcee, DJ and Bboy battles. Find out how it went and also check out who won the battles…

Hip Hop kwa Langa has died, it’s so underground people don’t know who, what or where the art is happening, it is as underground as the word underground can ever mean. Contrary to this fact some individuals (hip hop heads) pledge that the genre is still alive and happening. Back in 1998 – in the good old days when hip hop heads where called my man – Langa (Cape Town) was one of the first locations to be up in your face in hip hop…

“Seven Spoon is the fourteen year old daughter of the Spoons. Raised Uptown, Chicago, this eccentric teen spends much of her time observing the world’s hypocrisy and the “grown-ups” that nurture it. A smart-ass far beyond her years, she contemplates the comedy and madness that is humanity. Love her or hate her, she probably doesn’t really care … I bring you Seven Spoon.”

On Friday a group of Maru-a-Pula students and young aspiring Hip Hop artists enrolled in “Rhyme Lab” a music workshop conducted by visiting American Christian Hip Hop musician, Michael Boyer II aka “Verbs” and formerly known as “Knowdaverbs”. Read the rest of it here.

“Afrobeat is a sound and a movement, music and a state of mind. It’s the joyous awakening of a continent from a colonial nightmare and the crushing realization that the nightmare isn’t over yet, anguish and happiness whipped together with traditional drums, cheap guitars, and even cheaper amps.” I came across this tight article about Afrobeat on the Pitchforkmedia website. Check it out here.

Over the past few years the South African rap game has grown into a formidable and firm firmament in which South African rappers can come out and shine. Basking in this success are emcees like Zubz, Proverb, Amu and many more whose contribution to the game has been indispensible.

Elizabeth Mendez-Berry wrote a story about violence against women in Hip Hop for Vibe’s March issue, and she thought you might be interested in checking it out. Here’s the link (PDF Format). If you like the piece, please circulate/publicize/share with friends—it took a lot for these women to share their stories, so I’m really hoping that as many people read it as possible. As you can imagine, there has been some backlash. Lots of love, Elizabeth Mendez-Berry.

It rained this morning at the airport and when I saw the plane it seemed as though the weather just got worse. As soon as I boarded I fell asleep, damn I was tired. Besides I get motion sickness so it’s probably for the best…