with all this talk of local hip hop having reached a kind of cul de sac, i figured i would put this up just to see where everyone's at?
so how do you feel?
I've been away. From where I'm standing I'm checking one way streets and crowded high ways but not dead ends. Not sure what aspects psertainin to SA hip hop you refering to so imma speak in general.
I've been into this hiphop shyt for a while and every year it surprises me. I feel we are approaching dawn, but so darn slowly. Like that baby who takes a while to learn to walk.
I think the foundation of our hiphop is really strong but like we are falling behind on building a pad that will sustain the harsh elements of an unpredicatable industry.
I see a lot of people hustling and getting places. Independent projects, virtual hookups and people pushing their shyt to a seemingly growing market. There are women at hiphop gigs these days, not just same old Lu and nat at the sausage fest. It's refreshing.
I think our guys need to focus on the entertainment factor. I've seen a lot of hiphop bands perform, The Roots, QTip what have you and they PUT ON a SHOW!
You get your money's worth.
With most cats here I find you might as well be in your car or your room bumping it coz ain't no difference. R U there? Yes: but where are you dawg? Where's the performance?
Cats like The Anvils with their props, dancers and freestyles, T and V with the live band, Reason with crowd participation, bands like these and many others give me hope.
There's your HYPE, your indi record labels, your clothing brands (wa**up butan!), your radio shows. This shyt is ours, we can shape this movement and own it.
There also a lot of killer collaborations between the different elements, Hamma (Super DJ)and Zubz (Inspirational MC). Remember how Mr Fat used to have bboys live on stage as he performed, that's the kind of dirction we should be taking I reckon. It's such a small movement, we need to help eachother if we gonna grow and expand into markets with buying and gain confidence of majors and mainstream media but some people wanna beef.
As if Kingpin,Tupac and Biggie died for nothing. Who knows about what went down with Raiko on friday niht? Care to elaborate?
I wish I had stayed long enough to see Poverb perform last Friday at Zula. Still ain't seen him. How was was it?
On the whole, I feel it's growing, it's been coming, we sitting on the cusp.
Is it feasible? Is South Africa ready for it? Can you define it, does it have an identity? Do people care?
Poll