The UnderGround Angle

UnderGround Sessionz: Pix from a Getuies gig in the MotherCity!

2010-05-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

Word up underground hip hop headz!

Here are some recent pics of Getuies tearing up the stage at a Cape Town club..

Check it uit of trek jo jacket uit!

UnderGround Awareness: Nine (9) AIDS Activists Detained in Dar Es Salaam.!

2010-05-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

[image source: Averting HIV&AIDS] www.avert.org/aids-picture.php?photo_id=3076

Nine (9) AIDS Activists were detained for questioning by Dar Es Salaam authorities at the World Economic Forum on Africa [WEF] in Tanzania last Thursday, 06[05]2010. The group were arrested after they handed over a memorandum on the need for increased investment in HIV, TB and Malaria in Africa, titled 'Health is Wealth', to two prominent speakers at the WEF.

A press release from the AIDS Rights Alliance of Southern Africa (ARASA), endorsed by the Treatment Action Campaign explains the situation:

"Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a popular South African musician and UN Goodwill Ambassador for the region, and Christoph Benn, the Director of External Relations for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, had arranged with the group to receive the memorandum from them outside the conference centre....

..."The small group had been delegated by 40 NGO representatives from more than ten African countries, who were gathered in Dar Es Salaam to discuss global and regional advocacy strategies to address the urgent need for resource mobilization for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care (universal access), and for replenishment of the Global Fund in October 2010...

...One such strategy included the submission of a memorandum to participants of the World Economic Forum, which outlined the concerns and demands of civil society organizations working on HIV and TB in response to the rapid backtracking of both donors and national governments on their commitments to funding universal access."

[image source: Now Public] www.nowpublic.com/health/world-aids-day-0

[the Truth is Oblivious!]

2010-05-04T07:33:00.001-07:00

UnderGrounD cOnglomerate: The Rise of HitMason

2010-05-04T03:56:00.000-07:00

One of the most ambitious missions that underground independent labels have to overcome, is entering a mainstream market that has been monopolized by major record labels since the birth of the SA hip hop industry.

These label's interests and money are mostly directed at commercial dumbed down hip hop, which leaves underground heads to market our sound through what has become known as the complex street hustle.

One way of overcoming the monotony of major record label marketing, is to form a conglomerate of record labels that fuses independent underground labels under one stable, which would inturn compete with the majors.

Though this concept has yet to be adopted at a rising rate, one such conglomerate would be HitMason, based in Cap City, JSec and Kimberly.

TUA caught up Tujay Harmoniques, reppin that HitMasonary. Check out this innerview right here.

tUa: What is HitMason and who are its affiliates?

HitMason: HitMason is a conglomerate of 4 companies that came together to form a super independent indie to compete in the same league as majors. These companies are 4SITE Muzik, Black Kampain, Embassy Music and Ruff Cuttz Entertainment. Our affiliates are CalmJoy (Durban), NBL (Pretoria) and Royal Swiss Cartel (MafTown).

tUa: What are some of HitMason's successes?

HitMason: Our artists TuJay Harmoniquez and Louis M Songz have appeared on Shiz Niz, with TuJay having had a feature article on the Hype Magazine. In November 2009, Krossword had an interview on Yfm’s show Airborne with the first single of the “Hustler’s Ambition” album having received some airtime on The Hip Hop Hot 9.9. In January 2010 we shot a music video for the main single of “Hustler’s Ambition”.

tUa: Which artists are gonna be releasing or have released for HM?

HitMason: In 2009 we released TuJay’s EP, Parental Guidance,In January we release Smash’s mixtape, One man army. In February we released Krossword’s mixtape, Warning Shots. In September we plan to release the “Hustler’s Ambition” album, other releases scheduled for release this year are; Rythmik X- Ruff Tease (mixtape), Krossword- Warning Shotz: RELOADED (mixtape), HarmoniqueSongz- Cap City, Rapsody, Krossword and Decency- (untitled collabo mixtape).

tUa: What happened between HM and one of your artists; Xcalibre?

HM: He had a problem with authority and our way of doing things and he decided to leave

tUa: How does an aspiring artist join HM?

HM: Members are strategically chosen as HitMason is a movement and every member has a specified role which is more than just music.

tUa: Whats the relationship between HM and underground hip hop?

HM: We provide the streets with a lot of quality music for free. We organize events and give a platform to other upcoming talent.

tUa: links for HM that users can check out?

HitMason: Look us up on facebook for links and exclusive info, HitMason Holdings. For more information and bookings: hitmasonholdings@gmail.com

http://www.streetsheet.co.za/2009/10/26/Tujay-Harmoniquez-parental-guidence

Smash - One Man Army now for freehttp://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=94d283bb0577e93d8d78a0e555291609e62a17409e7c514f416b94653a3044fd

Download Parental Guidance for free @ http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=f3318072f4a60b4290a82c7bb0fad7ad58406841f14003c2f88875faa4c6c51e

In conclusion, .The concept of unifying underground independent labels to push marketing on a bigger scale has proven to be successful for HitMason. Hopefully all you underground headz out there will be inspired to do the same in your own kasi.

Peace 2 Tujay for the innerview.

[the Truth is Oblivious!]

UnderGround aRT!: Bief 37

2010-04-26T04:48:00.000-07:00

So your walking through Ill City on a mission with your eyes wide open. For the last 4 blocks down Cambridge till Fleet street you notice something... On every other corner, roadsign and old ass building you see a GRAFFITI tag written in a style hard to decipher.. These mind boggling writings playback in your head while your feet find your destination. A coupla minutes later you stumble accross the illest/freshest throw up against a wall that makes you take our your phone to capture the moment.

THAT, my fellow underground heads, is the work of one Bief37 - from LifeForces, who cannot be fucked with in EC. This young GRAFFITI writer/ Graphic Design artist/ Hip Hop photographer, has been at the forfront of the BC (Buffalo City) hip hop arts seen since the 90's, running shit straight outta Phakamisa.

Check out some of his work..

UnderGround bOOTleg: Tujay Harmoniquez - U.R.L The Missing Link

2010-04-26T04:24:00.000-07:00

Tujay drops something outta Cap City!

Click here to download.

Look out for an exclusive interview with Cap City record label HitMason.!!

Peace.

UnDER

2010-03-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peak: Upcoming Feature

2010-03-18T23:39:00.000-07:00

Wassup headz

Next week we will be featuring a highly respected underground crew on TUA. This is some of their work, just to let your imagination run wild. peace.

UnderGround Artist: Sanctified Flow!!

2010-03-11T04:27:00.000-08:00

Sanctified Flow is from east london, reppin Sound of Saints Records.

It is important as hip hop heads to feed your spiritual connection with God. Sancitfied Flow aims to do exactly that. They say "We are three dudes who love Jesus Christ,we reside within the Buffalo City four walls but not of it..

Lol..we into Hip Hop to the fullest but injecting Christ into the culture,almost forgot our names are..Luyanda fikilana,Lwazi tom and Luzuko serjoseng you can find us on facebook"

Click here to listen and download.

UnderGround Tribute: RIP Biggie Smalls

2010-03-09T22:37:00.000-08:00

We a little late with it, but yesterday marked the 13th anniversary of the murder of Notorious B.I.G.

Click this link to download a FREE J.Period & G.Brown mixtape with some of the sickest biggie remixes you'll ever hear.. some underground ish on here!!

UnderGround Ad: Hipe Presents: Flêtse Maniere by JAAK!

2010-03-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

Hipe Presents: Flêtse Maniere

01. Afrika Oerwoud (Prod. Maddstone / Dplanet) (02'41)
02. Saam Staan Ft. Cream (Prod. Maddstone / Dplanet) (05'26)
03. Bendelid (skit) (Prod. Hipe) (01'49)
04. Volstruisskop (Prod. Dplanet) (03'57)
05. Begin (Prod. Hipe) (04'28)
06. When God Made You (Prod. Hipe) (03'11)
07. Arika(ans) (Prod. Hipe) (05'23)
08. Sweet (Prod. Hipe) (04'20)
09. Soete 16 (Prod. Hipe) (04'28)
10. Dit Moet Net Yt (Prod. Hipe) (03'53)
11. I Told U B4 Ft. Mpvrs (Prod. Hipe) (03'06)
12. Stuitig (Prod. Hipe) (03'54)
13. Stereotipies (Prod. loufaai) (04'59)
14. Pasop Lumka Ft. Rattex (Prod. Dplanet) (04'19)
15. Skêrts Bruin Ft. Cream (Prod. Hipe) (03'20)
16. Club Bieskop (Skit) (Prod. Hipe) (01'25)

Click here for download link

UnderGround aRT: The deviance of Swazwun!

2010-03-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

Swazwun is from PTA. reppin digital art in GP.

This graffiti writer is responsible for the sickass design of TUA's logo. We give thanks and recognition - peace bruv!

Here are some of his other designs...

http://www.swazwun.deviantart.com

he says" watsup deviants.. my name is francois.. i use swaz as my art alias, im a graffiti artist focusing on alot of other forms and media's of art.. im busy learning digital, i paint canvass, shoes, ANYTHING. Keep peeping!. . ."

UnderGround Artist: Triple M - The Birthwrite

2010-03-02T01:29:00.000-08:00

Triple M is from East London, reppin A-side.

Triple M says "Its my first album, part of the LIP SERVICE series, which is a collection of albums. From Durbs, Jsec, Cpt and ofcourse E.L MCs can be found on it."

Its available on the streets for 20 bucks and has sold 200 000 copies to date!!!!! EXTREME HUSTLE!!.

For a copy, holla at Triple M - 0726412652. e-mail him at 208136215@wsu.ac.za

UnderGround heaT!: tv - Van.Go

2010-03-01T03:35:00.000-08:00

T.V - prononuced TRAINING VISUALS and TUBE VIRUS is about the state of mind the youth has been led into by tevlevision. Oblivious Truth produced it. Listen here

http://www.reverbnation.com/vango

Peace out masekinnes!

UnderGround Sessions: Pics U sent

2010-02-24T23:24:00.000-08:00

Expessionists sessions are on every Friday at TB hall dam at TUT main campus...

email your session pics to oblivioustruth@gmail.com

UnderGround Sessions: Pics U sent

2010-02-24T23:01:00.000-08:00

Greetings people of the underground hip hop.. Gain knowledge to empower yourself.

Here are some pics fom sessions in Cap City that were sent to us....

HIP HOP HURRAY @ ZANZU

If you would like to have your sessions showcased on TUA, email me at oblivioustruth@gmail.com

Represent Ur Kasi!

Peace yo!

UnderGround Review: Tujay Harmoniquez - Parental Guidance

2010-02-01T23:06:00.001-08:00

Apologies for the hibernation of The UnderGround Angle. We fiunally completed the review Tujay's new project. Check it out. Peace to Decency for the write up.. 4Site what!!!!!!!

Visionaries, poets, lovers and haters, all those have been incorporated in a mix tape that is said to be a taste of what is yet to come. Yes it has been mentioned that this brother will be releasing a mix tape like none other. I am proud to confirm that the Tujay Harmoniquez EP ‘Parental Guidance’ (PG) is out. The EP consists of 8 tracks each with its own unique feeling. On production Tujay has worked with the likes of our very own Van-Go, Krossword and Louis M Songz (Hammanskraal Stand Up!!!). The tape has two feelings in it. Beat wise, one would expect a commercial theme coming through from the lyrical content. Do not be misled, complete concentration in lyrical content is required so as for you to completely understand the story behind the birth of such a tape.

Comparing the PG EP to 16 Bar Wire which is Tujay’s previous offering, one views a complete amount of change ranging from production to lyrical content. The new team behind the EP has opened a new sense of style within Tujay, leading you to viewing him in a completely different way. Truth be told, the tape deserves to be in the shelves of many music stores waiting for true hip hop heads to grab a copy. Surprisingly, a different approach has been taken in terms of distribution.

It is set aside as an interlude to his upcoming Album titled which also promises to be a heavy hitter in both the commercial and underground revolution. I agree, it does deserve to be an interlude. Simply because, he can do better! Fact is that it is easy to view that Tujay is yet to find comfort and understanding in terms of change in production. On the other hand, he has found the winning team.

4SITE MUSIC Presents:
PARENTAL GUIDENCE: THE EP
1) Who am I?
2) Chairman O’ Da Camp
3) Consider Me Whack
4) Evil or Brave
5) I Don’t Wanna Be A Murderer
6) Waiting (Original)
7) Why I Rap
8) Myself The Third Person (Original Version)

Download Parental Guidance for free on this link
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=f3318072f4a60b4290a82c7bb0fad7ad58406841f14003c2f88875faa4c6c51e

UnderGround Artist: Krossword

2009-10-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

Krossword says: "I released my first project in 2006 with the follow up in 2007, both projects circulated in Kimberley and made waves on the internet. In 2008, Rythmik and myself formed a duo called Skriptomaniakz, we released our mixtape over the internet in January 2009. I have performed at a number of gigs in Kimberley, Soweto and Sandton. I am currently working on my mixtape, "The Diamond Rush", this tape will be released in 2010 under my company, Ruff Cuttz Entertainment.

Ruff Cuttz ENT is home to artists Noni, Term, Rythmik, TnT2 and Krossword. with the official label producer being Nuk.

This tracks is the official leak from my upcoming mixtape.
TRACK: Ballad for the headz
Produced by Evo Canevo
Published by Ruff Cuttz Entertainment"

Download 'Ballad For The Headz' now!

UnderGround Ad: Rogue State Of Mind double disc!!

2009-09-09T01:04:00.002-07:00

Rogue State Of Mind is a double disc compilation from High Voltage Entertainment featuring artists from Switzerland and SA. Underground MCs like Godessa, Mr. D.Mus, Jitsvinger, Nthabi Crosby and much much more make an appearance.

To get Rogue State Of Mind contact High Voltage Ent or google them!

[This is a very impressive compilation. Probably the best hiphop/ragga double disc that's gonna come outta SA this year. Get it now! - Oblivious Truth]

Off Da Streets: Def Boyz - UBOM

2009-09-04T03:56:00.001-07:00

Coming straight outta Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. This joint by Def Boyz features Mr.X along a lovely female vocalist (whom we do not know).

This Spaza track is about keepin' on with your day to day struggle. I can relate. Hope you can too.

[Free Download]
[Free Download]
-------------->
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HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!

Off Da Streets: Maniak - Street Fighter!

2009-09-04T03:39:00.000-07:00

This track is by one half of Getuienes - Maniak. Street Fighter is a concept track which illustrates brilliant word play using the game 'Street Fighter 2' as the theme.

Check it yt of trek jo jacket yt!

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!

Off Da Streets: Mr. D.Mus ft Nikotien Long - Gazzie.

2009-08-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Mr. D.Mus has blessed us with another underground offering. This one is called Gazzie, and features a very talented underground MC by the name of Nikotien Long. Download it now!

[My breakfast is kondense melk met versterk druppels, Yes mi lion! - Nikotien Long]

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off Da Streets: Tujay Harmoniquez - Myself The Third Person

2009-08-24T03:53:00.000-07:00

A sample of what Tujay has been up to. Be on the lookout for "PArental Guidance". [His promo scheduled to drop soon]

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Ad: Iapetus Productions.

2009-08-20T23:52:00.000-07:00

These are some of the most respected, gifted and lyrically skilled MCs on the UnderGround scene. Iapetus Productions is made up of hYMPHATIC tHABS, bRAVESTARR, gIN I gRINDITH AND rOBO tHE tECHNICIAN. All backed by infamous underground producer kANIFE.

I been on a hustle tryna speak to one of them (won't say who it is yet). Expect a interview coming soon.

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Gig: Expressionists Torn In Torn Out for the Women!

2009-08-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

Expressionists in Cap City will be hosting the Torn In Torn Out session this Friday, at TUTs main campus, as part of the Women's Month celebration. The event will feature an extensive selection of Cap City FEMCees doing their thing through spoken word, lyrical skills and vocals. Be sure to get at it!

For more info, get on http://jamrockexpress.blogspot.com

Expressionist Express, Jamrock Express!

UnderGround Theory: Third Eye Series - SWINE FLU Conspiracy pt.2

2009-08-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

In her [Burgermeister] April charges, she noted that Baxter's lab in Austria, one of the supposedly most secure biosecurity labs in the world, did not adhere to the most basic and essential steps to keep 72 kilos of a pathogen classified as a bioweapon secure and separate from all other substances under stringent biosecurity level regulations, but it allowed it to be mixed with the ordinary human flu virus and sent from its facilities in Orth in the Donau.

In February, when a staff member at BioTest in the Czech Republic tested the material meant for candidate vaccines on ferrets, the ferrets died. This incident was not followed up by any investigation from the WHO, EU, or Austrian health authorities. There was no investigation of the content of the virus material, and there is no data on the genetic sequence of the virus released.

In answer to parliamentary questions on May 20th, the Austrian Health Minister, Alois Stoger, revealed that the incident had been handled not as a biosecurity lapse, as it should have been, but as an offence against the veterinary code. A veterinary doctor was sent to the lab for a brief inspection.

Burgermeister's dossier reveals that the release of the virus was to be an essential step for triggering a pandemic that would allow the WHO to declare a Level 6 Pandemic. She lists the laws and decrees that would allow the UN and WHO to take over the United States in the event of pandemic. In addition, legislation requiring compliance with mandatory vaccinations would be put into force in the U.S. under conditions of pandemic declaration.

She charges that the entire "swine flu" pandemic business is premised on a massive lie that there is no natural virus out there that poses a threat to the population. She presents evidence leading to the belief that the bird flu and swine flu viruses have, in fact, been bioengineered in laboratories using funding supplied by the WHO and other government agencies, among others. This "swine flu" is a hybrid of part swine flu, part human flu and part bird flu, something that can only come from laboratories according to many experts.

WHO's claim that this "swine flu" is spreading and a pandemic must be declared ignores the fundamental causes. The viruses that were released were created and released with the help of WHO, and WHO is overwhelmingly responsible for the pandemic in the first place. In addition, the symptoms of the supposed "swine flu" are indistinguishable from regular flu or from the common cold. The "swine flu" does not cause death anymore often than the regular flu causes death.
Burgermeister notes that the figures for deaths reported for the "swine flu" are inconsistent and there is no clarity as to how the number of "deaths" has been documented.

There is no pandemic potential unless mass vaccinations are carried out to weaponize the flu under the guise of protecting the population. There are reasonable grounds for believing that the mandatory vaccines will be purposely contaminated with diseases that are specifically designed to cause death.

Reference is made to a licensed Novartis bird flu vaccine that killed 21 homeless people in Poland in the summer of 2008 and had as its "primary outcome measure" an "adverse events rate", thereby meeting the U.S. government's own definition of a bioweapon (a biological agent designed to cause an adverse events rate, i.e death or injury) with a delivery system (injection).

She alleges that the same complex of international pharmaceutical companies and international government agencies that have developed and released pandemic material have positioned themselves to profit from triggering the pandemic with contracts to supply vaccines. Media controlled by the group that is engineering the "swine flu" agenda is spreading misinformation to lull the people of the U.S. into taking the dangerous vaccine.

The people of the U.S. will suffer substantial and irreparable harm and injury if they are forced to take this unproven vaccine without their consent in accordance with the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, National Emergency Act, National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51, Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-20, and the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza.
In the U.S. since 2008, Burgermeister charges that those named in her allegations have implemented new and/or accelerated the implementation of laws and regulations designed to strip the citizens of the U.S. of their lawful constitutional rights to refuse an injection. These people have created or allowed provisions to remain in place that make it a criminal act to refuse to take an injection against pandemic viruses. They have imposed other excessive and cruel penalties such as imprisonment and/or quarantine in FEMA camps while barring the citizens of the U.S. from claiming compensation from injury or death from the forced injections. This is in violation of the laws governing federal corruption and the abuse of office as well as of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Through these actions, the named defendants have laid the groundwork for mass genocide.

Using the "swine flu" as a pretext, the defendants have preplanned the mass murder of the U.S. population by means of forced vaccination. They have installed an extensive network of FEMA concentration camps and identified mass grave sites, and they have been involved in devising and implementing a scheme to hand power over the U.S. to an international crime syndicate that uses the UN and WHO as a front for illegal racketeering influenced organized crime activities, in violation of the laws that govern treason.

She further charges that the complex of pharmaceutical companies consisting of Baxter, Novartis and Sanofi Aventis are part of a foreign-based dual purpose bioweapons program, financed by this international criminal syndicate and designed to implement mass murder to reduce the world's population by more than 5 billion people in the next ten years. Their plan is to spread terror to justify forcing people to give up their rights, and to force mass quarantine in FEMA camps. The houses, companies and farms and lands of those who are killed will be up for grabs by this syndicate.

By eliminating the population of North America, the international elite gain access to the region's natural resources such as water and undeveloped oil lands. And by eliminating the U.S. and its democratic constitution by subsuming it under a North American Union, the international crime group will have total control over North America

Writing: Roy Nelson
Pix: Protect DaInternet

UnderGround Review: Ableton Live v.8 pt.2!

2009-08-11T22:59:00.000-07:00

As promised, The UnderGround aNgLe is proud to present the second half of the Ableton Live review. Enjoy!

Instruments

Built-In
• Impulse is a more or less traditional drum sequencing instrument which allows for defining a kit of up to eight drum sounds. There are a number of options available for preprocessing these samples such as basic equalization, attack, decay, pitch shift, etc. Once the kit is defined these samples are arranged into groups of measures using a piano-roll interface.
• Simpler is a relatively easy to use sampling instrument. It is based on working with a single sample, applying preprocessing and then arranging it in a piano roll interface. In this case, rather than the notes representing different samples as in Impulse, the samples are pitch shifted to the selected note.

Add-On

There are a number of additional instruments which may be purchased separately or as part of the Ableton Suite. [4]
• Sampler is an enhanced sampler.
• Operator is an FM synthesizer.
• Electric is an electric piano instrument.
• Tension is a string physical modelling synthesizer.
• Collision is a mallet percussion physical modelling synthesizer.
• Analog simulates an analog synthesizer.
• Drum Machines is a collection of emulators for classic drum machines.
• Session Drums is a collection of sampled drum kits.
• Latin Percussion is a collection of sampled latin percussion hits and loops.
• Essential Instruments Collection is a large collection of acoustic and electric instrument samples.
• Orchestral Instrument Collection is a collection of four different
orchestral libraries, which can be purchased individually or as a bundle. They are as follows: Orchestral Strings, Orchestral Brass, Orchestral Woodwinds and Orchestral Percussion. The Orchestral Instrument Collection is not included in Live Suite.

Effects

Most of the effects are fairly familiar effects in the digital signal processing world which have been adapted to fit Live's interface. They are however fairly obviously tailored for the target audience of Live – electronic musicians and DJs – rather than, say, post processing a guitar rig.

The audio effects shipped with Live are:
• Auto Filter
• Auto Pan
• Beat Repeat
• Chorus
• Compressor
• Corpus
• Dynamic Tube
• EQ Eight
• EQ Three
• Erosion
• Filter Delay
• Flanger
• Frequency Shifter
• Gate
• Grain Delay
• Limiter
• Looper
• Multiband Dynamics
• Overdrive
• Phaser
• Ping Pong Delay
• Redux
• Resonators
• Reverb
• Saturator
• Simple Delay
• Spectrum
• Utility
• Vinyl Distortion
• Vocoder

Additionally, there are a handful of MIDI effects:
• Arpeggiator
• Chord
• Note Length
• Pitch
• Random
• Scale
• Velocity

Live is also able to use VST and (on the Macintosh version) Audio Unit (AU) plug-ins.
Working with audio clips
In addition to the instruments mentioned above, Live can work with samples. Live attempts to do beat analysis of the samples to find their meter, number of bars and the number of beats per minute. This makes it possible for Live to shift these samples to fit into loops that are tied into the piece's global tempo.
Additionally Live's Time Warp feature can be used to either correct or adjust beat positions in the sample. By setting warp markers to a specific point in the sample, arbitrary points in the sample can be pegged to positions in the measure. For instance a drum beat that fell 250 ms after the midpoint in measure may be adjusted so that it will be played back precisely at the midpoint.
Some artists and online stores, such as The Covert Operators and Puremagnetik, now make available sample packs that are pre-adjusted, with tempo information and warp markers added. The audio files are accompanied with an "analysis file" in Live's native format.

Envelopes

Almost all of the parameters in Live are controlled by envelopes which may be drawn either on clips and will be used in every performance of that clip or into the arrangement so that they vary at different points in the playback of a composition. The most obvious examples are volume or track panning, but these are also used in Live to set things like the root note of a resonator or the delay time or feedback amount for a delay effect. Essentially these map to most of what would be a knob on an effect in a traditional audio processing rack and in fact they may be mapped to knobs on MIDI controllers.

Live 8

On January 15, 2009, Ableton announced version 8 of Live. Live 8 includes a wealth of new features, including an integrated Max/MSP platform, internet collaboration features, and many new effects and workflow enhancements, as well as a refined piracy protection system. Also announced was a dedicated hardware controller developed in collaboration with Akai, called the APC40. Live 8 was released on April 1st of 2009. Max for Live is slated for release in 2009.

UnderGround Ad: ReasonWenzTheAlbumCuminOut? mixtape

2009-08-08T03:19:00.000-07:00

Due very soon. Check out some of the features; Ben Sharpa, Drie, XO and more!

We eagerly await...

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Theory: Third Eye Series - SWINE FLU Conspiracy!

2009-08-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

[I don't normally cut and paste news articles, but in this very special case...]

As the anticipated July release date for Baxter's A/H1N1 flu pandemic vaccine approaches, an Austrian investigative journalist is warning the world that the greatest crime in the history of humanity is underway. Jane Burgermeister has recently filed criminal charges with the FBI against the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), and several of the highest ranking government and corporate officials concerning bioterrorism and attempts to commit mass murder. She has also prepared an injunction against forced vaccination which is being filed in America.

These actions follow her charges filed in April against Baxter AG and Avir Green Hills Biotechnology of Austria for producing contaminated bird flu vaccine, alleging this was a deliberate act to cause and profit from a pandemic.

In her charges, Burgermeister presents evidence of acts of bioterrorism that is in violation of U.S. law by a group operating within the U.S. under the direction of international bankers who control the Federal Reserve, as well as WHO, UN and NATO. This bioterrorism is for the purpose of carrying out a mass genocide against the U.S. population by use of a genetically engineered flu pandemic virus with the intent of causing death.

This group has annexed high government offices in the U.S.
Specifically, evidence is presented that the defendants, Barack Obama, President of the U.S, David Nabarro, UN System Coordinator for Influenza, Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, Kathleen Sibelius, Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, David de Rotschild, banker, David Rockefeller, banker, George Soros, banker, Werner Faymann, Chancellor of Austria, and Alois Stoger, Austrian Health Minister, among others, are part of this international corporate criminal syndicate which has developed, produced, stockpiled and employed biological weapons to eliminate the population of the U.S. and other countries for financial and political gain.

The charges contend that these defendants conspired with each other and others to devise, fund and participate in the final phase of the implementation of a covert international bioweapons program involving the pharmaceutical companies Baxter and Novartis. They did this by bioengineering and then releasing lethal biological agents, specifically the "bird flu" virus and the "swine flu virus" in order to have a pretext to implement a forced mass vaccination program which would be the means of administering a toxic biological agent to cause death and injury to the people of the U.S. This action is in direct violation of the Biological Weapons Anti-terrorism Act.

Burgermeister's charges include evidence that Baxter AG, Austrian subsidiary of Baxter International, deliberately sent out 72 kilos of live bird flu virus, supplied by the WHO in the winter of 2009 to 16 laboratories in four counties. She claims this evidence offers clear proof that the pharmaceutical companies and international government agencies themselves are actively engaged in producing, developing, manufacturing and distributing biological agents classified as the most deadly bioweapons on earth in order to trigger a pandemic and cause mass death.

Check out part 2 of the swine flu conspiracy coming soon!

Writing: Roy Nelson
Pix: Protect DaInternet

UnderGround Review: Ableton Live v. 8

2009-08-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

Ableton Live is a professional loop-based software music sequencer for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. Unlike other software sequencers, Live is designed around the notion of being as much an instrument for live performances as a tool for composing and arranging. It is also often used for precision mixing of tracks by DJs. The first version of the highly popular beat making program was released in 2001 as a commercial piece of software.

Features

Much of Live's unique interface comes from being designed for use in live performance as well as for production. As such the interface is more compact than most sequencers and clearly designed for use on a single screen. There are few pop up messages or dialogs. Portions of the interface are hidden and shown based on arrows which may be clicked to show or hide a certain segment (e.g. to hide the instrument/effect list or to show or hide the help box).

Views

Ableton Live (8) is composed of two "views" – the arrangement view and the session view. The session view is primarily used to organize and trigger sets of sounds called clips. These clips may be arranged into scenes which may be triggered as a unit. For instance a drum, bass and guitar track might comprise a single scene. When moving on to another portion of the composition – a new scene – some or all of those parts might differ and could be triggered in parallel. In Live 6, there is also the addition of "racks" which allow the user to easily group instruments and effects.

The other view is the arrangement view, which is used for recording tracks from the session view and further manipulating their arrangement and effects. This view is fairly similar to a traditional software sequencer interface.
Clips may either be an audio sample or MIDI (triggering one of Live's built in instruments, third party VSTs instruments or external hardware). Live comes by default with two instruments – Impulse and Simpler.

Check out The UnderGround aNgle next week for part 2 of the Ableton Live Review, when we take a look at Instruments, Effects, Samples and special v.8 features!

UnderGround Ad: Skye Wanda - The Valedictorian..

2009-08-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Durban based female MC, Skye Wanda, will be releasing her debut solo titled The Valedictorian on September 7th. She is currently signed to independent label, Lovechild productions. Best of luck with the album ma!

Buy The Valedictorian!

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Theory: Third Eye Series - Globalization Defined.

2009-07-31T04:35:00.000-07:00

"The diminution or elimination of state-enforced restrictions on exchanges across borders and the increasingly integrated and complex global system of production and exchange that has emerged as a result." Tom G. Palmer, of the Cato Institute.

This was once the most accurate definition of globalization. Things have since taken a turn to communication based globalization according to Anthony Giddens, a British sociologist renowned for his 1999 book ‘Runaway World: How globalization is reshaping our lives’, who suggests that communication has become the cornerstone of modern globalization. I present this essay to illustrate the transition the world has taken from economic globalization to communication based globalization.

The term "globalization" has been used by economists since the 1980s. However, its concepts did not become popular until the latter half of the 1980s and 1990s. Early forms of globalization existed during the Roman Empire, the Parthian empire, and the Han Dynasty, when the Silk Road started in China, reached the boundaries of the Parthian empire, and continued onwards towards Rome. In the 17th century, globalization became a business phenomenon when the British East India Company, which is often described as the first multinational corporation, was established. Because of the high risks involved with international trade, the British East India Company became the first company in the world to share risk and enable joint ownership of companies through the issuance of shares of stock: an important driver for globalization.

After World War II, politicians recognized the costs associated with protectionism and declining international economic integration. This led to the Bretton Woods conference and the founding of several international institutions intended to oversee the renewed processes of globalization, These institutions include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), and the International Monetary Fund.

Globalization has been facilitated by advances in technology which have reduced the costs of trade, and trade negotiation rounds, originally under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The barriers of international trade seemed to have been broken down, or at least lowered through international agreements. GATT, in cohesion with the World Trade Organization (WTO) then carried out certain initiatives that established economic trade as the fundamental keystone of globalization. These initiatives include;

• Promotion of free trade:
o Reduction or elimination of tariffs; creation of free trade zones with small or no tariffs
o Reduced transportation costs, especially resulting from development of containerization for ocean shipping.
o Reduction or elimination of capital controls
o Reduction, elimination, or harmonization of subsidies for local businesses
• Restriction of free trade:
o Harmonization of intellectual property laws across the majority of states, with more restrictions.
o Supranational recognition of intellectual property restrictions (e.g. patents granted by China would be recognized in the United States)

Looking specifically at economic globalization, the establishment of fast-food chains is a very good example of the rapid growth that economic globalization in a short space of time, this demonstrates that it can be measured in different ways. These center around the four main economic flows that characterize globalization:
• Goods and services, e.g. exports plus imports as a proportion of national income or per capita of population
• Labor/people, e.g. net migration rates; inward or outward migration flows, weighted by population
• Capital, e.g. inward or outward direct investment as a proportion of national income or per head of population
• Technology, e.g. international research & development flows; proportion of populations (and rates of change thereof) using particular inventions (especially 'factor-neutral' technological advances such as the telephone, motorcar, broadband)

As globalization is not only an economic phenomenon, a multivariate approach to measuring globalization is the recent index calculated by the Swiss think tank KOF. The index measures the three main dimensions of globalization: economic, social, and political. In addition to three indices measuring these dimensions, an overall index of globalization and sub-indices referring to actual economic flows, economic restrictions, data on personal contact, data on information flows, and data on cultural proximity is calculated.
“However, I don't believe either the skeptics or the radicals have properly understood either what it is or its implications for us. Both groups see the phenomenon almost solely in economic terms. This is a mistake. Globalization is political, technological and cultural, as well as economic. It has been influenced above all by developments in systems of communication, dating back only to the late 1960's.” Anthony Giddens.

In his lecture, Giddens goes on to explain how the political and cultural globalization has become just as important as the economic factor. This brings into light the influence communication has had on globalization. It is important to realize that globalization cannot be credited to the ‘open economy’ but to a number of other factors, which include a more technologically advanced society that interacts on a more personal and instant level.
Globalization thus is a complex set of processes, not a single one. And these operate in a contradictory or oppositional fashion. Most people think of it as simply 'pulling away' power or influence from local communities and nations into the global arena. And indeed this is one of its consequences. Nations do lose some of the economic power they once had.

However, it also has an opposite effect. Globalization not only pulls upwards, it pushes downwards, creating new pressures for local autonomy. The American sociologist Daniel Bell expresses this very well when he says that the nation becomes too small to solve the big problems, but also too large to solve the small ones.

Since the burst in world wide trade and the breakthrough of economic globalization, much has changed. Most credit should be given to the internet for putting communication based globalization on the map so to speak. As the most influential country’s economies are heading towards collapse, only time will tell if the shoulders of communication are broad enough to carry globalization.

Writing: Submerged Knowledge
Pix: Protect DaInternet

[From what you have read above, do you know see how first world countries are using globalization and online communication to further expand their empires? It is only a matter of time before we are introduced to the New World Order and One World Government! Thank you SK. Peace – Oblivious Truth]

UnderGround Ad: F-Eezy - Skelem 4 Sale

2009-07-24T02:09:00.000-07:00

This one is cheduled to drop very soon. Keep your ears to the street for more.

Also, We are pleased to announce that we will be doing a review on the latest beat making program thats hot right now; Ableton Live. Look out for more on The UnderGround aNgle

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Opinion: Synoptix Tha Distorted One!

2009-07-23T00:49:00.000-07:00

Now, I’m an old school type of head. You know, the boom bap, soul beats and intellectual raps type of head? But, there seems to be a problem with my kind of people. They choose to keep their knowledge and enlightened sense of hip hop to themselves and will not share this knowledge that they have attained with the new school heads that need it in order to understand the culture and mature themselves musically. In instances like these I find myself asking, why?

I often hear heads asking where ‘the real’ has gone to, and then blaming it on the young ones saying that they know nothing about the roots of the art. Well, here’s my viewpoint. The young heads won’t wake up one morning and start quoting classic scripts from Big L, Rakim and KRS1! They don’t know about these people and so therefore need to be schooled about them.

The new school heads are exposed to the bubblegum and pop beats type of crap (can’t call it music) and will therefore associate themselves with it because it’s what they see in the media, meanwhile the real heads keep pointing fingers and blaming the youngns for not following true hip hop. Truth is, you can’t blame these people for not knowing because to them Soulja boy is real hip hop and this happens because no one is there to teach them what real is.

Some of us heads (if not all of us, I don’t know) started out listening to the commercial nonsense before we met someone who said to us:” Kid, this is what you should be listening to.” Or “What the hell is that bullshit! This is what hip hop is kid.”

And then letting you listen to Wu-Tang or Pac portraying their life through a beat for your young mind to relate to. Now, is this not what we “real heads” should be doing today? Schooling the young heads, which will in turn help the culture to flourish and not be misinterpreted by some clowns who want to make a quick buck at the expense of the art form that means so much to you and I.
Don’t you think that if that Dem Franchise Boys track were to be substituted by an optical illusion capital O killer cut, we would have more young’ns recruited to our side? How did it feel when that older brother, Cousin or friend introduced you to that Illmatic tape by Nas? You were most probably intrigued by this music and felt like you wanted to be a part of it, and now you are! So now it’s your turn to give back what hip hop gave you.

Hip hop helped you grow and opened your eyes to the injustices and beauty of the world. Wouldn’t it be great if you could give the same gift to someone else? So the next time you see a kid in a multicolored hoodie with Soulja boy playing on his phone speaker, don’t diss him and blame him for the path that hip hop has taken but rather show him what real art is and then next time he might know how to sift through the wackness to get to the dope.

This is our job as heads because this will save our music from destruction and therefore build a new breed of heads who can continue the culture and help it grow. Let’s stop monopolizing hip hop, it’s ours to share.

Writing: Sipho “Synoptix” Khumalo
Pix: Synoptix

2009-07-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

This is a documentary about the elusive money powers that run the world. I posted this so you can see that the exact same thing is happening in SA!

Open your eyes before they stitch it shut! POWER!

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Innerview: Tujay Harmoniquez

2009-07-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

If there was ever a definition of an underground MC, this would be it. Tujay Harmoniquez has been on the South African hip hop scene for a number of years now, and has already released his first album, started his own label, recruited new underground artists and is currently working on two new releases scheduled for late 09- early 2010. Now you might be asking yourself; why am I not familiar with his music? Answer: Cos he’s too underground for ya!

The UnderGround aNgLe was lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with the man himself about where he’s been, what he’s up to and what’s dropping next. Peep this.

You’ve been putting in mad studio time since you dropped 16 Bar Wire in 2008, what are you working on?

Just been hard at work with my album R18VSNL (Visual Sentences N Lyrics) and my upcoming promo titled Parental Guidance. I also been grindin’ on a couple features and projects I’m invited on; like the Lyrical Murda mixtape in London.

What’s 4Site Musik, and who are the artists affiliated with it?

4Site is my label. The name was inspired by me being a visionary, but also that I one day want it to be a internet driven label strictly selling online on mobile and pc. We affiliated with Ruff Cuttz Entertainment, we actually also working on making a conglomerate called Hitmason Family which is founded by my boy Krossword(Ruff Cuttz Ent Head) and myself.

What’s your relationship with Royal Swiss Cartel (R.S.C)?

I had been looking for management for a while man... I actually tried couple people that had big promises but never followed up. When I met K-Swiss, she told me bout R.S.C and I was very interested. they'll be releasing a compilation titled 'The Vault' with artists that they’re affiliated with including me and other big names like Rashid Kay and A.K.A to name a few. That'll be also touring the album.

When can we expect R18SNVL?

Ima’ release Parental Guidance first. That'll have my 3 singles and some tracks on used beats and some that didn't make the album. So during 'The Vault' tour, I'll be giving it away for free. Once there's demand, then I'll release R18VSNL.

Who are you working with on your next project?

At the moment I’m working my homies Krossword and my artist Trey Eighty. With production, also Krossword but I’m always chatting and networking, meaning a lot of production will come through so I can’t mention everyone now.

How are you planning on getting your music out there?

Mostly on the net bra, but also at gigs and Slam poetry sessions which is something I’ve recently taken on.

In the meantime, where can heads listen to Tujay Harmoniquez?

Get it or listen to it on Soundclick.com/TujayHarmoniquez or check me out on
Loadtheshow.com/show/TujayHarmoniquez

Make sure you get on these sites to check out Tujay Harmoniquez!

Writing: Unconscious Reality
Pix: 4Site Musik

UnderGround Beef: Munetsi vs. Zubz?

2009-07-12T23:27:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this diss track aimed at Zubz the Last Letter on SS. From what I can tell, mUnesti is a Zim rapper who claims that Zubz has no support from his hometown, Harare, and that he called out the Golden mic holder but Zubz backed out??

Not sure if he's just taking shots. Anyway, check out the track titled Dzino owns you on SS.

PS: Dzino is the owner of Outrageous Records.

UnderGround Workshop: National Arts Festival hip hop workshop

2009-07-07T01:19:00.000-07:00

Hip hop Activism is a seminar that will be held by Dr. Adam Haupt from UCT on Saturday 11 July at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. The seminar begins at 2:30 and will run for 60 mins at the Blue Theatre Eden Grove.

Info on Dr Haupt and Hip Hop Activism: Author of Stealing Empire: P2P, Intellectual Property and Hip-Hop Subversion, ADAM HAUPT asks "Is hip-hop blinged out?" Critics have made a great deal of the extent to which consumerism has overtaken youth culture, and hip-hop is their favourite case in point.

In this lecture, Haupt explores that part of hip-hop that "won't stop" - hip-hop activism. Haupt is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town. He has taught in the English Department at the University of the Western Cape as well as in the English and Drama departments at the University of Stellenbosch.

Tickets are available for R20 on www.nationalartsfestival.co.za. Book Now!

UnderGround Ad: RoadKill Magazine drops 2nd issue!

2009-07-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

RoadKill Magazine is a local publication with the sole purpose of capturing Graffiti, as well as other illustrations, in South Africa’s major cities. This is their 2nd issue, which features high quality pictures, interviews with upcoming Graf artists as well as features on some of SA’s best underground Graffiti crews.

RoadKill Mag is available at the Shelf Life store in Cape Town, Ritual Store in Jsec or you can get it straight from the production company for R50! Cop it now!!

Look out for a full feature on Digital Design in underground hip hop coming soon!

UnderGround Style: The Motswako Nation

2009-06-29T23:21:00.000-07:00

According to the largest online encyclopedia in the world, Wikipedia, Motswako is a Southern African genre of hip hop most popular in Botswana and South Africa. It consists of a mix of rap lyrics in both the local language (Setswana), and English layered on a steady beat. Other languages used include Zulu, French and Afrikaans as per the rapper's origin. The genre gained popularity in the late nineties as acts like Hip Hop Pantsula (Jabba) and Scar started rapping in Setswana, resulting in an increased followship from the local population.

From an underground perspective, mostwako is an every growing sub-genre of hip hop that should not be overlooked by underground MCs as commercial or sub-ordinate to other underground styles. Just like Cape Town gave birth to Spaza Rap, Mafikeng has given birth to motswako, and with more and more underground MCs preferring the style over the conventional English raps, it has become evident that motswako has firmly cemented its place in underground hip hop culture.

Acts like Jabba, Morafe and Tuks are not necessarily the pioneers or the best at the motswako style. Underground MCs like Katz, Molemi, KT and many more have been actively promoting social awareness through the motswako style and have gained a substantial following whilst doing so. This proves that though many perceive the style as a ‘good party mood tracks’, motswako should not be regarded as just that, and can be utilized to spread knowledge to those who are attracted to the style.

In Cap City, artists like Lyrical Eye and crews like Expressionists have managed to re-define the boundaries set for motswako and subsequently have brought more headz into underground hip hop. Other artists like Hakeem (Flex Boogie) have taken socially conscious lyrics and a message of power and prosperity to a national level through this style.

Disliked by many, understood by few and utilized by a minority, motswako has not only opened up another avenue for MCs to express themselves, but has also given back to the disadvantaged through financial returns. So as corporate companies pump money into motswako, underground headz should be the first to use that money and spread knowledge, social awareness and messages of peace, power and prosperity to all.

Motswako Nation Rise Up!

Pix: K Steph
Writing: Oblivious Truth

UnderGround Crew: Illumenati Getuies (DMus & Maniak)

2009-06-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

Getuienis is an Afrikaans duo coming straight outta Cape Town with raw story telling and an in-depth representation of real life on the Cape Flats through underground hip hop culture. Made up of West coast hip hop veterans DMus and Maniak, Getuienis arrive back on the scene with their new project titled Illumenati Getuies. DMus has featured on countless mixtape's in and around Cape Town including the underground mixtape Ancient Men, produced by Hipe and released in 2001.

Their new offering is very well thought out and their content on each track leaves listeners with something to think about every time they get on the mic. Songs like “Freedom Fighters” and “A Place” are excellent examples of the struggle that this crew represents.

"Thabo Mbeki/ Julle system het nog nooit gewerkie/ My mense raak pandiete en bergies/ Want ons kry nie werkie/ Nou hoe kan julle expect, ons moet vir julle respekt/ As julle ons dis-respekt en neglect, Voetsek" – Maniak.

One half of Getuienis is Maniak. This is a guy that needs to be given a platform on the underground as soon as possible. With his socially conscious topics and messages of bringing freedom and justice to the coloured society on the Cape Flats that have been neglected by their government and leaders, Maniak inspires listeners not to accept their situation of poverty and to rise up against oppressors.

The UnderGround Angle was lucky enough to receive some music videos from DMus and Maniak with their new album. Once you take a look at the footage that is shown in these vids, you quickly realize that Illumenati Getuies is about much more than bling and money. Their honest desire to spread knowledge and awareness around the struggle that millions of South Africans go through on a daily basis is to be admired.

Tracks like DMus’ “Rymklets” and Maniak’s “Devide en Conquer” stand out as underground hits. Though the production on Illumenati Getuies leaves a lot to be desired, their content and flow more than makes up for the beats. On the music vids, you can expect to hear some classic Hipe beats such as tracks like “Rebel With A Cause”.

For more information, and to see the Getuienis music video's, look out for The UnderGround Angle's "youtube" channel launching soon.

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!

UnderGround Tribute: R.I.P. Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T03:33:00.001-07:00

R.I.P to the legend!

UnderGround Gig: Expressionists Keep It Blazing!

2009-06-22T02:41:00.000-07:00

The highly anticipated Expressionists Keep It Warm session went down on the 12^th of June at the TUT main campus hip hop spot, Jamrock. The show served as an initiative to empower all in attendance with expression in its most natural form and help those less fortunate by collecting blankets, clothes and food. Performances by the Expressionists and an extensive selection of other underground MCs, poets and hip hop lovers from around Cap City and beyond.

Though the show went on for a while without a microphone, the poets in attendance kept the crowd entertained with scripts of valuable wisdom, love, death and hip hop. Local food outlet Romans Pizza also extended a helping hand to hip hop culture by donating two umbrellas to give the Expressionists Keep it Warm project a more professional appeal.

All together, many underprivileged families, youths and adults were able to benefit from this initiative and will be kept warm this winter through the power of hip hop.

For more information and to see the show's gallery, get on jamrockexpress.blogspot.com

Expressionists Express!!

UnderGround Review: Mothipa - Cure For The Pain

2009-06-17T02:23:00.000-07:00

This album is a definite underground must have. Not only does it add respect to your collection of underground hip hop, but also spreads knowledge and might just teach young hopeful underground MCs a thing or two about lyricism with his new LP titled Cure For The Pain.

Addressing a range of different issues, such as crunk music and “Cap City cats who weren’t ready for his dope style”, Mothipa has put together a wonderful contribution to underground hip hop music. He starts off with an intro that clearly explains why the project had to be made, and progresses through with dope rhymes on nice beats. Tracks like “Hypnotic Hip Hop” and Industry Hijack represent him well and exhibits his excellent writing skill.

So much more could be said about Cure For The Pain but it would be best if you just copped yourself.

UnderGround Theory: June 16 Series - The Aftermath

2009-06-17T02:16:00.000-07:00

It is ironic that the first known political activist, of the day, to be arrested was George Wauchope, who was the Chairman of the Johannesburg Central Branch of the B.P.C.

Magaute Molefe, Administrative Secretary at the Head Office of the B.P.C., followed. By the end of July 1976 almost all active members of the B.P.C. in Johannesburg had been detained, including the President, Hlaku Rachidi and the Secretary General, Thandisizwe Mazibuko.

The flood of young people into exile after the uprisings served as a serious indictment on all the liberation movements. The fact is that prior to June 1976, there wasn’t enough pressure exerted on the South African regime military either because the organisations lacked the capacity or the political will to do so.

The formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF), which the B.C. camp aptly named Uniroyal, Dunlop and Firestone after the tyre companies because of the number of necklace murders they carried out against anybody that disagreed with them or presented better arguments to their, was an effort on part of one of these organisations to show a presence in the country.

In 1978 at the Modder Bee Prison where most activists were imprisoned after the banning of the B.C. organisations, some turn coats, as one would expect them, went all out to attack the B.P.C. and the Black Consciousness Philosophy. This came as a result of a Radio Freedom broadcast which condemned the Committee of Ten – forerunner to today’s civic movement in this country – and thus the B.P.C. as “sell-outs” who deserved the firing squad. This broadcast was heard by inmates at the Modder Bee Prison.

In 1979, some of these turn coats went about telling members of the Azainian Peoples Organisation (AZAPO), which was founded on the 28th of April 1978 and had most its leadership harassed, imprisoned and banned, that if they did not disband by the end of July 1979, they would not be held responsible for what would happen to AZAPO and B.C. adherents. Several meetings called to try and address these tensions failed and that in fact was the beginning of the “politics of intolerance” and political hegemony among the oppressed in the country.

Very inflammatory statements against AZAPO in this same year by one cleric after the abortive Ted Kennedy visit to South Africa did not make things any easier.

It is indeed ironic and sad that some of the B.C. cadres that fled the country in the mid-eighties to seek political asylum in foreign countries did so not in flight from savage Boer repression, but form the UDF activists who were hunting them down with obvious intention of killing them in the savage manner that they had grown accustomed to and which had become their trademark, the necklace – Black South Africa’s curse of the century!

All these things were done with the misplaced hope that the B.C.M. would be removed from the South African political arena. How wrong they were!

CONCLUSION

The events leading up to the June16 1976 uprising, the event itself and its aftermath made a significant contribution to the freedom we enjoy in South Africa today. The courage and militancy displayed by those fearless young people on that faithful day, against armed and trigger happy apartheid soldiers, will forever be remembered in the history of South Africa. In declaring June 16 as South Africa’s Youth Day our government recognized the role played by the youth of 1976 in achieving democracy in South Africa.
President Mandela when addressing a rally on June 16 1994 remarked that “the brave young people of the 1976 generation are today eminent premiers, ministers and members of parliament. Today they are indeed the premiers and members of parliament.

Whist the Soweto uprising sparked a movement that led to the dismantling of apartheid, it is extremely tragic that so many young people were killed on the road to justice and democracy. Those schoolchildren who were murdered on June 16, 1976 will always be remembered by new generations of students in South Africa and everywhere in the world. – by Submerged Knowledge

UnderGround Ads: Album and Mixtape drops!

2009-06-17T02:03:00.001-07:00

Durban Stand Up! Finally we see some provincial unity! big up Durbs for the effort! [heard this is hot too!!]

This guy is no stranger to the underground. Black Moss up in this!

You might remember PH from the "Money" track with Reason, Driemanskap, XO and Ben Sharpa. Definitely worth your hard earned cash!

UnderGround Theory: June 16 Series - The Uprising.

2009-06-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

On June 16 of 1976, more than 10,000 school children went into the streets of Soweto (South Western Township) to protest against educational apartheid. As they were walking and singing peacefully for a planned rally at Orlando Football Stadium, a white policeman threw a tear-gas canister, without any warning, and throughout the rest of the riot police fired their automatic weapons on the students. At least four of the protesting youths were killed. This ignited what is known as the SOWETO UPRISING, the bloodiest episode of riots since the early sixties.

The aim of the protest by the Soweto schoolchildren was to prevent the white government enforcing Afrikaans as the language of instruction to black pupils. They already suffered discrimination with the inferior “Bantu Education” created especially by the apartheid regime.

June 16, 1976, and the defiant young black opposition to white rule, led to many South Africans of that generation stopping their studies or going into exile. Some never went back to school.

The first victim was 13 year old school boy, Hector Petersen, whose near lifeless body in the arms of Mbuyisa Makhubo came to symbolize the struggle of the youth of South Africa. A picture taken by Sam Nzima of the dying schoolboy was soon on almost every front page of every newspaper across the world.

Violence continued, engulfing the West Rand Administration Board and various Government beerhalls, as well as private businesses. The unrest went on for days and started to spread across the country, so the demands of the students became broader. They wanted all those who had been detained to be released, and they anted to end racial discrimination. The students called on their parents to stay at home and many of them did.

The students took it upon themselves to put an end to racial discrimination, and to start a revolution with the expected result. - by Unconscious Reality

UnderGround Ad: Robo The Technician

2009-06-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

This one is also already out. You might remember Robo from Back to the City. He was the dude that Hymphatic came on stage to introduce. Mad Dope!

I wonder if he's also gettin his beats done by Kanife?? Should be interesting.

Nevertheless, this album is availible at Ritual Stores inb Newtown, Cop it now!!

UnderGround Theory: June 16 Series - Background

2009-06-10T00:48:00.000-07:00

Today, several organisations and individuals have claimed responsibility for the uprising. However, events prior to June 16 1976 will show that no one other than the students themselves, under the leadership of the South African Students Movement (SASM), can claim responsibility. To this end, we will look at events prior to the day in terms of:

-Political trends obtaining at that time
-The Afrikaans Issue

POLITICAL TRENDS
The political balance was shifting significantly against the South African Government through a process that began with strikes in Natal, Transvaal and the Cape in 1972. In neighbouring states, Frelimo in Mozambique and the MPLA in Angola began their guerilla war against their oppressive governments. This inspired black people inside South Africa who saw other oppressed people fighting oppression and racism.
Another philosophy had begun to take root inside the country under the leadership of Steve Biko. Black Consciousness was a philosophy of black pride and a commitment to the fight for freedom. The South African Students Organisation, which played a major role in the events leading to the June 16 uprising, was born out of this philosophy.
From its inception, the South African Students Organisation (SASO) had initially placed emphasis on the psychological liberation, which was the driving force behind the student uprisings of 1976

All Black organisations that were operating above the board in that period were doing so under the broad banner of Black Consciousness (B.C.) – there was this common understanding and approach to the liberation of the country. Even organisations such as Inkatha Cultural Movement, which were at odds with the B.C.M. on a number of issues – such as operating within the Bantustan system, were appreciative of B.C.

Thus prior to 1976, the Black Community did not have the political cleavages currently obtaining. Consultations were held across known political affiliations. Therefore, the Black People’s Convention (B.P.C.) could easily consult with the known members of other organisations.

THE AFRIKAANS ISSUE

If there is anybody who could claim responsibility for the June 16 1976 Uprisings, it could be Dr Andries Treurnicht, who was then Deputy Minister of Bantu Administration, Development and Education in charge of Bantu Education, under Minister M.C. Botha. His Memorandum to School Boards, Inspectors and Principals instructing them to use Afrikaans as the medium of instruction was the direct cause of unrest.

The first group to respond to these instructions was the Tswana School Boards. As early as January 1976, these school boards in Meadowlands, Dobsonville and other areas under the Tswana School Boards had taken an attitude towards this instruction. An excerpt taken from the minutes of the Meadowlands Tswana School Board of the 20 January 1976 is instructive:

“In urban areas the education of a black child is being paid for by the White population, that is English and Afrikaans speaking people…” “…In future, if schools teach through a medium not prescribed by the department for a particular subject, examination question papers will only be set in the medium with no other option of other language.”

The objection of Tswana school boards was the control of their school boards had shifted to the Bophuthatswana government in terms of government legislation and that the central government no longer had any jurisdiction on them.

The B.P.C., through its Secretary General, Thandisizwe Mazibuko, participated in all meetings called by the Tswana School Board, together with Thomas Manthata in his capacity as an official of the Council of Churches. As a matter of fact, at the time of the outbreak of the unrest, the B.P.C. and the Tswana school board had engaged services of a lawyer to work on an interdict against the Minister.

In the meantime, the students in SOWETO had formed the Student Representative Council (S.R.C.)

The B.P.C. was in a better position to liaise with the S.R.C. in that some members of the organisation had been teachers in some of the Soweto High Schools like Ntoane, Naledi and Orlando West High.

It must however be made very clear that the planning of the march was left to the students. The weekend before the fateful June 16 day, a meeting was held between the students and members of the B.P.C. to finalise the strategy for the march.

Earlier I mentioned that the cornerstone of the B.C. philosophy was psychological liberation. The Afrikaans Issue was seen by the community and students at a large as part of a strategy National Party to oppress Black people psychologically. Thus, ways and means had to be found to counter this threat. The war of psychological liberation was therefore imminent. - by Oblivious Truth.

UnderGround Gig: Expressionists Keep It Warm for Charity.

2009-06-10T00:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, we back. Lemme not waste any time and get straight into it.
This seems to be one of the coldest winter’s we’ve experienced since forever! In true hip hop fashion, The Expressionists in Cap City have been utilizing hip hop culture to benefit those less fortunate during these cold nights, by having blazing hot hip hop sessions and collecting blankets, toys, books, warm clothes and food parcels.

The Keep It Warm Charity Project will be running from the beginning of June until the 12th, and will end with an underground concert at TB Hall at TUT main campus. During winter, more than 500 000 thousand people in South Africa have to face the chilly weather each day and night with nothing to keep warm. Through avenues like underground hip hop, these crimes against humanity can be exposed and with the help of underground hip hop organizations like Expressionists we can all make a difference.

The Expressionists Keep It Warm concert is scheduled to go down on the 12th of June and will feature an abundance of underground talent. Live comedy, open mic sessions, killer performances and a constant flow of slam poetry can be expected.

To make a donation, simply drop your items off at the student life offices, at the residency entrances at TUT’s main campus, or at the charity concert. Entrance is free and refreshments will be sold. Come through and help sustain the spirit of Ubuntu.

For more information visit jamrockexpress.blogspot.com.

Expressionists Express!

UnderGround Ad: ProVerb drops Write of Passage!

2009-05-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

This is just to let you know that it's out there. Get yourself a copy at most music retailers today and find out what's on Verb's mind. I only heard one or two joints and DAMN!!!!!!

Look out for the review coming soon. [All writer hopefulls please email me your details and a sample of your work ASAP!]

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Launch: Perspektif presents Views & Insights

2009-05-26T23:42:00.000-07:00

Western Cape MC Perspektif and DJ Madfingaz will be holding it down in Cape Town tonight as Verses presents the Views & Insights Mixtape launch at Zula Bar on Long Street. Perspektif will exhibit his new material that he has been working on since the breakup of his former crew, Supadan.

Views & Insights is his new mixtape, alongside DJ Madfingaz, that displays his lyrical skill, thought provoking concepts and showcases some older verses and material that was recorded by Supadan before 2006. DJ Madfingaz mixed the entire new project and will also play a set at the launch. Other artists to perform include Blaq Pearl Band, Badilisha! X-Change Poets with Boeta Gee on the decks. Tickets are available for R25 at the door. For more information you can add Perspektif on facebook by simply searching for his name.

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!

UnderGround Ad: Ootz & XRate presents Nauts & Crosses

2009-05-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

A giant leap foward for underground hip hop. Look out for the review coming soon.

PS. Check out the artwork on this project. Very impressive don't you think?

UnderGround Review: Driemanskap - Igqabhukil' Inyongo!!

2009-05-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

I’ve wanted to do this review ever since I copped the album at Back to the City. However, we decided that it would be best to wait until after their official release date, 11 May, so the underground could get their hands on it and experience the sound that defines Cape Town Spaza rap for yourself.

If you’re unfamiliar with Driemanskap, here’s some background info. Their latest album, Igqabhukil' Inyongo was released under Pioneer Unit, and is their third offering. Their first two albums, The Battle of Gugulethu vol. 1 & 2, stirred up tidal waves on the underground with tracks like Mhee’, S'fikile Qha and Kwek’ Madoda to mention a few. So three albums in and with no sign of slowing down, El Nino, Ma-B, Dla and Redondo, who joins the crew after being released from Pollsmore prison last year, have once again made a classic contribution to South African hip hop.

Igqabhukil’ Inyongo directly translated means the gall bladder has split, but loosely translated means things are about to get crazy. Some would consider such a title a very bold statement to make on your album cover, but if you take a listen to the material, Driemanskap have more than just backed up the claim. The album is filled with bangers and exhibitions of platinum Xhosa lyrical skill. Tracks like 2000 We Shine, Snakes and Fakes Tsotsi, I Will Make It and Bambelela are all excellent representations of the everyday struggles faced in the Cape Town townships and that fine tuned Driemanskap sound.

A masterful solo effort by Redondo called Sphithiphithi serves as a hood anthem and a shout out to everyone out there on the hustle. This on its own should tell you a lot about Driemanskap and the connection they share with the underground community and all their fans.

In terms of production and cameos, the album features guest appearances by an all Cape Town cast that includes Sugar, Bizzah, Kanyi, Siya, Black Dillinger and Macho. On production, DPlanet put in most the work with 6 contributions. Other producers on the album include Hipe, Beatology, El Nino and Planet Earth. Overall, Igqabhukil’ Inyongo is another must have for fans of that real hip hop.

Igqabhukil’ Inyongo is available nation wide at most leading music retailers.

UnderGround Rating: * * * * and a half.

Ratings: * - Wack Shit, * * - Don’t Bother, * * * - Nice One, * * * * - Brilliant, * * * * * - UnderGround Classic.

UnderGround Theory: Keeping it Real vs. Keeping it Profitable, The Compramise.

2009-05-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

- To the left – Morale, Maggz and L. Tido have chosen the compromise in search of fame, riches and diamond rings.

Since the inception of hip hop culture into the mainstream corporate market, artists have been forced to compromise their style of music to fit audiences that major record labels target as majority investors. Labels identify the trends in urban culture and propose the idea of making music which appeals to urban youths following that trend. What results from this is a compromise in style that is made by the artist to achieve high financial returns.

Evidence of this compromise is very visible in the United States hip hop market, with artists like Chingy, Plies, Soulja Boy etc, and has recently infiltrated South Africa, where artists have become tired of preserving real hip hop for minimal financial compensation. Between 2006 to now, a new style of hip hop has emerged in SA. A style that incorporates the commercial aspects of urban culture in order to make hip hop culture more appealing to modern day teens who are no longer interested in the metaphors, similes and the conscious material of artists of the past.

A new breed of MCs, dancers and DJs who have no problem with conforming to the ideologies of corporate giants was subsequently born and have since stepped onto the forefront as the new image of hip hop culture in South Africa. i.e. Da Les, L.Tido etc. Though artists like Zuluboy, ProVerb, Pro, Reason, Zubz and others continue to work hard to preserve ‘original’ hip hop by presenting it to the youth from new innovative and fresh angles, the simplicity and swagger filled lifestyle presented by these new ambassadors of hip hop is still chosen as the most popular style of music by high school kids and other impressionable youths.

Now the question is raised: Is this new perception of hip hop culture in SA a natural progression for our movement? And, will artists like Hymphatic Thabs, Ben Sharpa, Last Days Fam, Katz and others be forced to subject themselves to the compromise offered by the corporate world, in order to make being a hip hop artist living in contemporary SA financially viable?

Either way, the progression of hip hop in South Africa can only be determined by those who support the culture, and if heads come together to speak out against useless lyrics, capitalist views and first world corporate ideologies being pushed as hip hop in South Africa, the sense in our culture may well return. Until then, the artists on the strings of their puppet masters sing along and encourage urban youths to disregard reality, education, the dismantling of poverty, and to rather get those new Air Yeezy sneaks and get on your Tippy Toes.

Keep it Real, Profitable and Alive.

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!!!

[Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of The UnderGround Angle and heads who share our stream of thinking.]

UnderGround GiG: Killah Priest invades S.A. this month...

2009-05-06T05:27:00.000-07:00

3 days from now on 9th May, the Assembly in Cape Town will play host to one of the underground’s living legends, Killah Priest. The Wu-Tang affiliate will rock the show alongside DJ Raiko and special guests. Tickets go for R150 pre-sale and R170 at the door.

For all you Jsec underground heads who wanna party with the legend, no stress. Killah Priest will also be in Jsec later this month. Stay on The UnderGround Angle for more updates on the Jsec show.

HIP HOP LIVES!!!!!!

Shout out to Swazone and the 4site team!

UnderGround Crew: 10 Digits drops History In The Making!

2009-05-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

Our UnderGround Artists’ profile for this month will focus on Eastern Cape & Durban MCs and crews, so without further delay (once again) The UnderGround Angle is pleased to introduce to you, 10 Digits.

Reppin’ Uitenhage in P.E, 10 Digits emerges as a united movement of eight MCs, currently under the Hidden Prospects Entertainment label, who have just released their fourth mixtape titled ‘History In The Making.’ Though the name might sound unfamiliar, these cats have been on the grind for a minute. Formed in 2007 as a unified movement of MCs in the Nelson Mandela Bay area, 10 Digits have gone on to release three underground projects that have received much acclaim in the Eastern Cape, earned them a feature in HYPE magazine and a guest appearance on lifestyle TV show Ses’khona on SABC 1.

Beat maker and front man for 10 digits is Catalyst, who is also a member of EC's biggest hip hop crew around, Meta4. This Numb City native has been making a name for himself and pushing the Hidden Prospects stable in and around P.E so much that he got the UnderGorund shook. Catalyst has worked on projects with the likes of Dangatye, JKoaotic, Sensitive and Qalazive to mention a few, and has now focused his attention on 10 Digits’ ‘History In The Making.’

Not much is know about the new mixtape, which dropped on 2nd May, so it would be best to reserve our comments until after the UnderGround has had a good listen.

10 Digits consists of Loog, Major, K-Do, Loly-T, Extacy and Catalyst. For more info add Hidden Prospects or 10 Digits on facebook.

UnderGround Scene: Get-To-Spit, hip hop Nourishment for the Mind and Soul.

2009-05-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

House No.6 on Leah Mangope Road normally operates as a Halaal spaza shop, but once a week Al-Shaams Halaal foods serves a rare delicacy on its menu, lyrical expression! Get-To-Spit is an open mic underground hip hop session hosted every Friday in Mabopane, a hood north of Pretoria which fell under the former Bophutatswana homeland during Apartheid. Heads, MCs and poets from Mabopane and surrounding areas are offered a platform to express their opinions on the deepest issues facing their respective communities, most of which are battling the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.

Reminiscent of Black Sunday in Soweto, Get-To-Spit provides opinionated & articulate young hip hop heads with a positive way to express their most intimate thoughts about living in the ghetto and the state of general society. As word spreads, the organisers might have to search for a venue bigger than the current lapa to accommodate Get-to-spit's growing audience, not to mention more spathlos.

If you happen to be in and around Mabopane on Friday make sure you get to Al-Shaams Halaal foods for Get-To-Spit from 6pm till hip hop infinity. - story compiled by Mooketsi 'Elite' Nthite

For more info or to perform, contact DJ Bosti on 0721406712

UnderGround Battles: Nick Explicit retains the War with Words 3 crown

2009-04-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was filled to the brim with hip hop events and festivals. We had international flow masters Elzhi and T3, Slum Village, come through to Bassline on Sunday night and the infamous Back to the City hip hop festival on Monday. For the underground, this past weekend was all about ciphers, punchlines and most importantly, Battles!

Crazy 88 was taken over this weekend by surprise after a crowd of cut throat MCs with lethal rhymes invaded the spot for the War with Words 3 Rap Battle for R10, 000. Once again, that crazy white boy came through and ripped the place to shreds! Nick Explicit came out victorious this past weekend when he defeated all opposing challengers in the 3rd annual War with Words Rap Battle to win 10 grand.

The event was originally scheduled to go down at Platinum in Fourways, but at the last minute, 6pm, SMS’ were sent out to inform everyone of the change of venue. What resulted from this late shift was a smallish crowd with not that many hip hop heads out to show support. We could argue that the shift in venue made it a little easier for Nick to take it, but then again, between taking the crown in 08 at the same event, and beating Pro, you can’t really hate on him. Well done Nick, represent for the UnderGround.

UnderGround Business: Getting Paid with MTN Xploaded!

2009-04-29T02:07:00.000-07:00

Making money off your music as an UnderGround hip hop artist in South Africa has never been as easy as right now. Cellphone operator MTN has introduced a new portal called MTN Xploaded where MCs can register their music, and have it sold via the MTN mobile portal at costs that range from R2 to R5 a song. This means that on an underground mixtape with 20 tracks, minimal return is 40 bucks, of which the MC gets 33% in the their pocket, for one copy sold. South African artists like Jus Dat, Zaki Ibrahim, Ba4za, Rattex, JR and Shugasmaxx, to mention a few, are actively involved with MTN Xploaded, as well as all the artists that feature on the HYPE magazine mixtape that is released with the magazine every two months.

Not only does having your tracks on MTN Xploaded cut out manufacturing and distribution costs, but also allows headz to access South African underground hip hop from anywhere in the country and beyond!

For so many years the industry has been complaining about the lack of avenue’s to push underground hip hop and the lack of returns when it is done independently. In S.A, underground hip hop artists battle with actually getting their mixtapes sold on the street, securing performances at gigs that cater to mainly commercial artists, minimal compensation for performances because the underground is not considered commercially viable and for extra measure, have to face the humungous task of fighting piracy.

Finally the underground has been exposed to a platform that allows the fans to choose the music for themselves and not be subjected to playlist rotations on commercial radio stations. The UnderGround Angle encourages all headz to get involved with MTN Xploaded and help build the hip hop economy!

Visit http://www.mtnxploaded.co.za/ for more info and details on how to get your material on there!

UnderGround Crew: Backyard Crew emerges from the deep Underground.

2009-04-24T02:51:00.000-07:00

Backyard crew is a collective of five Khayelitsha MCs who have been tearing sh*t up in the Mother City for more than 8 years now. Coming through on that Spaza Rap tip, Kideo, Point2, Phoenix, Vannemerwe and Mashonisa, who also does the beats, see themselves as the true representation of life ekasi.

The name Backyard Crew is based on the principal of good hip hop artists in Khayelitsha and its surrounding areas that want to get the recognition they deserve, and the Backyard Crew are the headz out there representing for them. In terms of style, these cats are classic underground Spaza. Kinda like Driemanskap when they first came out.

“Our music is about our township, Khayelitsha, and its social issues. We want to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with townships: violence, women and child abuse, etc.” the crew explains.

Though their names might not be highlighting huge events, Backyard Crew have had their share of successes. Having opened up shows for Zola in April 08 and a getting their track, “Hayi”, to number one on the Yfm hip hop chart in October that same year, proves that these hip hop headz are certainly not wet behind the ears.

Their first album, “Sebenzel’eyadini”, has 17 bangers on it and is available through their label, backyard records. For more info, get on http://www.backyardrecords.co.za/ or email distorshine@gmail.com

UnderGround Art: New by-law threatens CPT graffiti!

2009-04-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

Graffiti artists in and around Cape Town have come together to oppose the new proposed by-law that deems authorised graffiti on private property illegal. The by-law states that even if the owner of the building or house has given the graffiti artist permission to spray the wall, it is still considered illegal.

This means that home owners will no longer to be allowed paint anything other than the house number on their walls and may not allow any graffiti artists to do a piece on it. South African underground creative’s have come together to oppose this and a petition to amend the new by-law has been started on the internet.

As many signatures as possible is needed to give to the Cape Town city council during the public participation meeting scheduled to be held soon. Murals like the Faith47’s piece shown above will be painted over and declared illegal if the law is passed. We call on all hip hop lovers, UnderGround and Commercial, to sign the petition and protect a crucial part of our culture.

Get on www.petitiononline.com/art4all/petition.html to sign.

UnderGround Poetry: Street Poets, Freedom vs. Democracy.

2009-04-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

Over time, Slam Poetry has worked its way into the foundation of hip hop culture, thus creating another avenue for headz to express them selves. Because of the complex material which is studied at tertiary institutions, University Slam Poetry has often manifested itself as a mouth piece for the solutions of intricate problems, as well as the reflection of thoughts that belong to the leaders of tomorrow.

Street Poetry is an organization on the Tshwane University of Technology Cap City campus that has grown so rapidly that we had to take notice. Consisting of everyday students studying courses that range from Engineering to Criminology, Street Poetry has become much more than a society for students who wanna be cool. Today, the society will host a “Freedom vs. Democracy” slam poetry event, to celebrate yesterday’s national elections, which is scheduled to take place at the Coffee Theatre in building 4 on TUTs main campus.

Performances from an assortment of cerebral students ready to express truth and feed minds with revolutionary views can be expected at the very least. The event kicks off at 1:00pm and entrance is free. For more information, visit www.jamrockexpress.blogspot.com

UnderGround Workshop: Back to the City 09. learn, build, grow.

2009-04-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

Unlearn and Ritual Stores presents the “Back to the City” Freedom Day Festival in Newton Johannesburg on Monday the 27th of April 2009. The event is an all day hip hop convention, that features countless hip hop workshops and performances from some the best on the S.A. UnderGround. Sh*t kicks off at 10:00am to 10:00pm, R30 gets you in.

Do not miss this!! This is gonna be a historic day for hip hop!

PS,

Come through and hang with The UnderGround Angle crew. If your an underground MC, and your any good, step up to get your innerview!!

UnderGround Gigs: Flex Boogie, The Pens & Swords launch.

2009-04-19T23:19:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, 17 April 09, the much anticipated Flex Boogie, formerly known as Hakeem, launch went down at the State Theatre in Cap City. The event had been waited on by headz for so long and much to our surprise, the attendance did not reflect this. Hakeem is a well known figure on the Cap City underground, so why did headz not come out in support? Was it because the cover charge was 60 bucks? Psh… The turn out was very disappointing and I think we as the hip hop community, especially Cap City, should stop complaining about not enough Underground events and actually support the one’s that we have.

One a lighter note, Flex Boogie’s new album Pens & Swords is another must have for fans of real hip hop. We all know that Hakeem is a lyricist. His exhibition of skill is to be admired, his flow is too dope, and in terms of concepts, H’ got it on lock. The new album boasts some new characteristics from Flex, but the jazzy piano and bass guitars are still there.

Featuring bangers like Tswakomore and Thwantsha Monwana, Flex Boogie displays the lyrical genius of Hakeem that we all know so well and a tribute to his baby girl shows off the soppy dad side of him. With such brilliant material on the new album, it’s almost sad that the event could have been more of a success. Big Ups to Flex Boogie for holding it down for the UnderGround. Cap City, WAKE UP!! Pens & Swords is available in most major music stores around GP. Get on houseofhiphop.co.za for more information.

Look out for features on RAS, Poet the Sonnet and an in-depth look at UnderGround business. [How to get Paid]

UnderGround Wear: KasLam, Back to eKasi.

2009-04-17T02:58:00.000-07:00

KasLam is a proudly South African clothing brand that has taken GP by storm. The concept is intricately simple. A t-shirt with the names of the most popular cities around the world is invaded by your hood’s name. The name of your Kasi is then blown up and stands out, as to suggest that your hood reigns supreme. The initiative encourages South Africans to take pride in their roots and support their own hip hop culture.

Founded by Brix in November 2008, KasLam has been overactive in terms marketing and brand distribution. KasLam t-shirts can already be seen all over Cap City as well as Jsec, Durban and some parts of the Eastern Cape. On the 20th of March 09, KasLam had a fashion show at Zanzu, the popular student spot in Hatfield, Cap City.

We caught up with Brix to hear how things went. “The show was off the hook. The response that the students have given is really good and we’re hoping to infiltrate the different varsities in S.A by the end of year. Hopefully everything goes well.” To get hold of one of the famous KasLam Ts, go to www.kaslam.co.za, email them at info@kaslam.co.za or contact Thato Moloto at 082 929 7453 for any further information

UnderGround Theory: The Rise of Commercialism.

2009-04-17T00:38:00.000-07:00

For so many years now, the line between commercial and underground hip hop has been distinctively drawn as a battle field for underground MCs to express their discontent towards the commercial market. But why? As the hip hop community, we should have the final say on what should be considered commercial or underground hip hop, so why is underground considered a sub genre of hip hop when we started this shit.

In the early 90s, corporate America made a business move that would forever change the direction of hip hop as we knew it. By signing the most influential hip hop artists of that time to major record labels, the corporate world was able to enforce their own ideologies on the entire universe, under the banner of hip hop. Leaving the everyday hip hop head on the street, who is all about expression and empowerment of the youth, to submerge into the UnderGround. And so our society of UnderGround artists was born.

This gave rise to a new generation of MCs that were no longer expressing themselves, but pushing the disguised agenda of a corporate giant with hopes of becoming wealthy. i.e. Soulja Boy. So where does this leave us? Fair Enough, we have our Black Thought, Madlib, Mos Def, Ben Sharpa, Hymphatic Thabs, Nick Explicit and so on, but why is the S.A. UnderGround not making the impact that artists like Da L.E.S and Soulja Boy are making?

As the hip hop community we should take to arms and buy into what we believe in, and not what we are being told to believe in. Realistically, none of us are living the lifestyles of the commercially successful artists but most of us can relate to the struggles of Thabs or Ben Sharpa. So why endorse artists that we cannot relate to, and ignore the brothers that are telling our story. The major record labels, in S.A and elsewhere, are endorsing their own ideology that encourages people to aspire to lifestyle that will ultimately keep us in poverty, and keep the corporatist extremely wealthy. So, why endorse that lifestyle in the first place?

Let the UnderGround Unite, Let us create or own corporate world. Let real hip hop have the final say.

UnderGround Artist: The Almighty One

2009-04-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

Our Underground Artist Profile for this month will focus on Cap City MCs. So, without further delay, I present, The Almighty One. Bruce is one of those MCs that leaves everyone in the battle venue shook. Coming through on some gruesome lyrical display with vulgar metaphors, The Almighty One, as he is known, is laying the foundation for his Underground career. Though he hasn’t been getting much work in, One plans on dropping some of that fire on the upcoming Expressionists tape and also plans on taking the game to places unknown.

The Almighty One’s career has gotten off to a shaky start though. In 2008, Bruce went up against Cap City underground veteran Phats, at the Expressionists first formal gig. Needless to say, The Almighty wasn’t that sharp on the day and was left on the floor by the intricate word play and over your head lyricism of Phats the freestyle fiend.

I caught up with B’ to get his side of the battle down: ‘Yeah he [Phats] was just on point man. Our styles are completely different, but I guess his was just popular on the day. But the Almighty never sleeps dog, there shall be a return.’ Look out for more of the Almighty One on the Expressionists mixtape, coming soon!

UnderGround Scene: TUT (Totally Underground Thinkers) Hip Hop Sessions.

2009-04-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

South African tertiary institutions have always been recognized as the breeding ground for the leaders of tomorrow. At the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the fusion of these bright minds with hip hop has given birth to Street Poetry & Expressionists.

At first glance, they might seem like just another group of students having a chill session, but upon further investigation you realize that these group of individual’s posses a lyrical gift. From gangster rap and intricate flows to mad word play and some of the sharpest lyricism in Cap City, TUT’s hip hop culture is, for lack of any other word, mad ill.

Every Friday from 12 to 5pm, a group of creative minds gather at the TUT Pretoria campus. Their meeting is in the name of hip hop, rhymes, punchlines and flows, but most importantly, expression. What had started out as a group of friends just hanging and kickin’ ciphers has developed into the birth of a vibrant movement. Expressionists are a collective of students from in and around Cap City that are pushing hip hop on the underground. Boasting with MCs like Lebses, Toxic Verbalist and The Almighty One.

Right now Expressionists are planning the release of their first mixtape, which will be pushed on the Cap City street hustle. Look out for interviews with Expressionists members and a review of their upcoming mixtape.

UnderGround Style: Spaza Rap, More than just a Cipher outside the Corner Store.

2009-04-14T04:17:00.002-07:00

If you’ve ever heard a Driemanskap joint and found yourself wondering, is that a South African language? Well the answer is no. That is Spaza Rap, and it’s straight from the streets of the Mother City!

Spaza is a slang word meaning informal, and is more commonly known for its reference to a township store without the legal formalities. Spaza rap is a sub – genre of hip hop, with its roots in isiXhosa, which originated in the Western and Eastern Cape.

Back in the day when cats first started rapping in their mother tongue, (vernac) the unwritten rules were very rigid. If you were spittin in Zulu, then it would be pure Zulu and nothing else. The same rules applied for all of the other languages. As early as 93’ Western Cape hip hop crew, Maniac Squad were mixing up their mother tongue, isiXhosa, with English as well as the
slang used at the time.

This new kind of rhyming went on to be known as Spaza rap and wasn’t received well at first. Maniac Squad crew member and now renowned Spaza rap artist, Rattex, remembers when they used to call it a Spaza – rhyme. When they would rap in isiXhosa and English in one verse, and weren’t taken seriously by heads who claimed that it wasn’t pure hip hop.

“Spaza was small back in the day – it was all about English raps. English rappers used to call us Kwaito MCs.”

The criticisms of the first Spaza MCs were their weak rhymes and predictable flows, but after the new generation of MCs, which included Rattex, Driemanskap, Ben Sharpa and Kristi Ye’spaza, came through and changed the whole perception about Spaza rap with dope flows, rhymes, metaphors, similes and multi syllables the industry started to take notice.

In 2004, after a chance meeting with Eastern Cape rapper Trusenz, Damian Stephens aka DPlanet decided to launch his own production and publishing company, Pioneer Unit, to release Trusenz’s debut album Nomadsland. This label would go on to be the driving force behind Spaza rap.

Over the next few years the Unit would go on to release a number of mixtapes and albums, including Planetary Assault and Rattex’s Bread and Butter, which has cemented Spaza rap’s place in South African hip hop history.
Most recently Pioneer Unit played host Lyricist Lounge all-star Wordsworth and managed to get him in studio with Cape Town hip hop veteran Ben Sharpa to lace another D Planet classic.

In 2005, Driemanskap, a Spaza rap group from Gugulethu in Cape Town, went on tour to the Baobab Festival in New York, performing with the legendary Dead Prez. This in turn brought a lot of attention on the Spaza rap culture and recently landed the trio a deal with Pioneer Unit.
Now with the likes of Ben Sharpa, Rattex, KONFAB, Kristi Ye’spaza and Driemanskap in studio, DPlanet and his team seem set to take the market by storm.

With the recent hype surrounding Spaza rap, another compilation, titled Spazashop, is set to drop in 2009 with the only information being available on myspace.com/spazashop. Spazashop boasts Soundbourne on production, featuring Korianda, Kritsi Ye’spaza, Driemanskap, Khanyi, Chronicseed, Soulja, Mfanekiso Ngqondweni, Unic, Lady Slice, De ja Vu and Lungelo on vocals.

UnderGround Artist: Tujay Harmoniquez

2009-04-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Straight outta Cap City and crunkin up the streets we have Tujay Harmoniquez. With the 2008 release of his debut LP, 16 Bar Wire, and launching his own entertainment/music company (4site), the Rustenburg bred MC has made in name for himself, and left heads in anticipation of his next blessing, R18 VSNL (Visual Sentences n Lyrics) scheduled to drop in 2009.

Tujay’s unique style and voice mixed with a sick flow guarantee’s that he’ll leave his mark. After dropping tracks like “boxing ring” and “do what you want” from his first offering, he has definitely become someone to look out for in 2009!

Right now Tujay is busy setting up his own studio and working on a new management team. Look out for more updates and an exclusive with Tujay.