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Friday, October 11, 2013

Intimate sessions with Ms Isis, Connecting with Yugen Blakrok & Sicknatchas charity report.

To all overs of music, rap and poetry....... this is the place to be!



We've compiled mad amazing articles and interviews spreading across the FS and JHB right down to KZN in the aim of bringing together S.A music in one hub where all crafts are celebrated. Last couple of weeks we had Swrdz X and Fossil records under our radar. This week we bring you two amazing females Ms Isis and Yugen Blakrok!!
We have put the track reviews off in this special offering and will publish them in this blog over the course of the next week.

A place where you can find, connect and interact with other lovers of music, rap and poetry. Get us on our twitter account @NutsAboutRap. Join the Proud NARtjies and get all the news bulletins, events and be a part of that exciting hub where all things creative are celebrated.





Contents:

- Track reviews.
- Ms Isis Interview.
- Yugen Blakrok interview.
- Sicknatcha charity report.
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TRACK REVIEWS:





1.
Artist: Paradox
Track: Industrial breakdown
Link: n/a


Angelah Nimah:
What makes a good emcee? Good content and a killa flow. Paradox is dope, but can work on performing in this song more; his adlibs are on par and make for a capturing effect when bumping his track. However, his content speaks of the manipulation and cons that exist in the industry, also quite controversial, but a dope track nonetheless.
One thing that stands out more is the beats; glorious and quite similar to Jay – Z classics.
“Scrutinised by listeners from different musical interests...”
We hope he doesn’t choke us for reviewing and scrutinising him! J
Out of 10 NARtjies I give the track 5

Thembi Molaba:
The sampled hook was a beautifull stand out to all the other tracks that we got to review. The atmosphere of this beat was unique, the lyricism was engaging (you could see what in your minds eye everything that is going wrong in the industry Paradox makes reference to) This made the experience of this track enjoyable, having the composition stand out. First verse did a good job in ushering you lightly into the heavy matters that this track addresses from the second verse onwards. The best part about this track was the fact that it was able to get you thinking, the political wieght in the lyrical content is worth a listen. The artist addressess issues that effect the growth of our own local Hip Hop.. the spheres, genuin versus the phoney, making the work very relevant to the here and now. This was a noble body of work.
Out of 10 NARtjies I give the track 7.





2.
Artist: Shinzo
Track: Read between the beats. Prod_3s Man
Link: n/a

Angelah Nimah
Coming from a small town in the Free State, Shinzo has steadily gained a large following and has since been cooking up dope songs.
His recent offering Read Between the Beats carries no disappointments. It’s a 16 bar track straight from The Fewture, produced by 3sMan . The beauty of Shinzo’s music lies in his ability to provide mad content; exceptionally well written, consistent content that is both truthful and old school.
"Stop claiming underground and focus on conditions. Hip hop is hip hop, it’s not about tradition.”
If you’re any fan of Shinzo, then you would know that in his second single offering Hold On he represents storytelling, honesty, love, hardships and growth. Here he still manages to do the same in his message about underground rap and the mentality that comes with it.
A mixture of sounds; shakers, clapping, and a chilled out baseline all form a killer combination, so if you’re a lover of jazz and bob heading beats, then this is the song for you.
Out of 10 NARtjies I give it 7.

Thembi Molaba:
The energy wakes you out of any type of fatigue and has you bobbing your head before you notice you'r doing it. The flow is exciting! you almost want to rhyme along to the lyrics. The sound quality was so good each lyric was clear and audible you don't miss anything if you'r really listening. The structural composition of the lyrics was impressive - ARTICULATE SKILL!!
Out of 10 NARtjies this work deserves a 9!!





3.
Artist: Ogehst and Neggzero beat tape
Track: Black Gods
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/download/xg7dtlo9dswajni/Ogehst+%26+NeggZero-BEAT+T

Angela Nimah:
Understand the philosophy of this way towards peace; dealing with your own wars and inner tensions and tensions with the society.”
Elements of spoken word and hard core hip hop beats; this track is the epitome of TRILL!!!
The message is powerful and heavily controversial. If you’ve ever had a bump to Exile, Madlib, and Black Lip Bastered’s aka Ab Soul’s tracks you’ll know what I’m talking when you listen to this joint.
It is very abstract and uses old school archived recording technique over a sick beat – a sample if you may. Philosophical, if that’s your typa ish then jump on this track. Although, due to its heavy sound and abstract feel, it might not be for everyone.
Out if 10 NARtjies, I give it 8.

Thembi Molaba:
This was a crazy cool idea.... No rap, no poetry just a combination of sound bites that get your message across.. very original!! was a breathe of fresh air that broke the monotony of contemporary rap.
Out og 10 NARtjies, This jam deserves a 10!! 

(we got so many tracks this time that we selected only 3 to review the rest we will review in our next offering, thank you to every artist that sent us material to listen to. Word!!)
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EYE W(RIGHT) - Ms Isis Interview.





By Angela Nimah

My first interview in a while and my first ever interview for NAR, and I must say I really enjoyed this one. On Saturday, 5 October 2013 we met up with Ms Isis, for not only an intimate session but as well as an intimate one on one interview.




A blazing day it was and I’m not just talking about the gig - 30°C, sunny, but cool. The wind blew haphazardly and there was a calm optimism in the air. I arrived at The Bohemian flushed and dizzy, so I found a place to sit down, got myself a drink and observed. Cigarette smoke suspended in hot air and hippies were having an excitedly awesome time getting drunk while others sat by the bar enjoying the game, a few were playing pool in the corner and the rest relaxed at the back in a mystic-like garden, which is where I was sitting. I got there at around 2pm and the show hadn’t yet started.

A few hours passed and incredibly artistic people started filtering in, the mood was fresh, light and young and it didn’t really matter weather things were delaying or not – the timing couldn’t have been any more perfect. And then, the moment of truth had come, Ms Isis and her crew entered the scene and suddenly things were starting to look up. Nervous as hell LOL I decided to approach her for a mini conversation before we got down to business.

A humble soul with a gentle heart she was. She herself was quite nervous and in her words, “very shy”, but our energies had a way of calming us both down. I retuned back to my seat just so I could go over the questions I prepared, after about an hour or so I called the lovely songstress to the side and we had or rather I had one of my most inspiring interviews ever and this is how it went.

 




Angela Nimah: Hi Ms Isis [giggles]

 

Ms Isis: Hi! [giggles]

 

Angela Nimah: I’m so excited! Uhm, ok! Is this your first time in Johannesburg?

 

Ms Isis: No, not my first time in Jo’burg. I’ve been around – since I live in Pretoria I came to study here and so it’s not my first time here. I’ve travelled to do shows, to see shows. So it’s definitely not my first time. It’s also not my first time performing here. I’ve done a few shows at a few places like Kitcheners. They’re not in my head at the moment but I’ve done a few gigs here in Jo’burg – not a lot though but we’re trynna increase the numbers.

 




Angela Nimah: Ok, and how do you find the crowd or rather the people here different from the crowd/people in Pretoria?

 

Ms Isis: Well, they’re laid back. Here there’s not a big difference in terms of like people’s vibes and stuff. People are the same in term of meeting them and talking to them, everyone’s nice, everyone’s sweet, the vibe is cool. Uhm, there’s not much of difference – there’s a lot of love, people give you a lot of love and maybe I’d say the amount of people because here you can get a lot of people more than you get in Pretoria. I think people here are more open to different things, uhm, but yeah, basically I always get the same reaction, it’s always a good vibe.

                                        

Angela Nimah: As far as your journey in hip hop and music in general where does the producer in you originate and what’s the story behind wanting to make beats?

 

Ms Isis: Tjo! What happened? Well, I had this thing that I wanted to sing, I can sing, but I’m not sure, I didn’t know if this was something I really wanted to do, something I could live off of, you know? Well everyone just discouraged me, they always thought it was  a hobby, but I decided that I do wanted to sing but getting someone to support you was always very hard especially coming to Jo’burg you’re fresh, coming to Pretoria you’re fresh and I didn’t know anyone. People needed beats, people had beats and that was very hard for me to get in.

 

So one day I was like yo! Friend of mine, show me how to do this and he showed me. Uhm, how to move the mouse here, keep this here, cut this there and eventually I started playing and it was interesting and I started liking it and I was like maybe this is something I could do, and then it started turning from a hobby to something that I liked. I began making people listen and they were like wow your beats are actually quite cool. So I’ve always had that music thing but the producing thing is just a step ahead.

 

Angela Nimah: Was that when you decided you wanted to this. Did it lead you to that conclusion?

 

Ms Isis: Yah! Not necessarily because of producing or anything like that, but from when I was young – I don’t remember but from a small age people were always like, oh you have such a beautiful voice, but I would never take it seriously and only when I was very old when I would going to gigs, watching that space, being in that space – I was like maybe I can do this and I actually fitted in and I gave it a try. I think it was back in 2000 or ’99; I was like music is something that I wanted to do.



 

Although I tried to study it, it didn’t work out so well – in those times maybe I was 22 -23. I was always surrounded by musicians, my brother was doing this music thing, uhm, so it was very easy…well hard…well, I don’t know whether to say easy or hard but it was always comfortable to be around the musicians and I was like this is home for me and this is what I wanna do – I wanna do music. And I’ve been pushing, well, since now. [giggles]

 

Angela Nimah: What are you currently studying?

 

Ms Isis: Now I’m studying bass guitar at Vusi Mahlasela – it’s called Vuma, uhm, I’m doing theory 1, so I’m back to basics. I’m like a kid in school. So I’m doing theory 1 and hopefully we’ll gradually get to 2, 3, 4, and 9. Because me liking producing… I like to produce music but I don’t think it’ll help me get there, so bass guitar is a sort of instrumental foundation. I chose the instrument and I loved it, I still love it, and I’m hoping one day obviously I’ll do my thing on stage with my bass, and that’s the plan really. I just progress like that.

 

Angela Nimah: How would you describe your relationship with hip hop?

 

Ms Isis: Wow! I don’t know why, but I’m finding it hard to step out of it because I think I’m just used to it too much. I like the fact that hip hop has always had a message; it’s always had meaning, because you won’t just listen to a song and it’s telling you to go out and do this and that, uhm some people that you listen to they tell you to go to school, you can do it, pick yourself up, uh brush yourself off, it doesn’t matter where you come from, whether you’re rich or poor, believe in who you are. So hip hop for me has always been comfortable; I didn’t find it in Kwaito, I didn’t find it in uhm, jazz in a way, I didn’t find it in a lot of music but with hip hop I thought I fit in here.

 

But since my brother introduced it to me, that’s just all we used to listen to and I was automatically attached to it. Until today I’m still that ‘hip hop girl’, I mean I don’t rap; I’m not an emcee, I don’t necessarily consider myself a hip hop head but I love hip hop to bits and I think that’s where I fit in the most.





 

Angela Nimah: How do you remain consistent and relevant, because as a musician you’re only as good as your last performance?

 

Ms Isis: I think you just have to always be working. It’s even tough for me because sometimes you get tired, you get frustrated, you get annoyed at the situation especially if you don’t have a certain surname you can’t get anywhere, if you don’t have money you can’t get anywhere. An I consider myself a normal human being in terms of  fitting with everybody, so trynna push the music is quite hard for me, but it’s something that I wanna do, it’s something to live for – it’s a living. That’s why I even decided to branch away from just being a musician by hosting shows where I’m doing poetry and people come, so it’s embracing the whole hip hop art, soul music culture, and it’s a slow, slow journey, I mean some people get there faster some people are slower, but I’m getting there and I’m having a lot of fun – a lot of complications, but a lot of fun [giggles].

 

Angela Nimah: Do you write your own music?

 

Ms Isis: I write my own music, uhm…

 

Angela Nimah: What goes into the whole creative process of writing a good song or making a tight beat?

 

Ms Isis: Uh, let’s see. Well, I never have a day, but sometimes you feel compelled, ‘ok, today I’m gonna sit down and write a song’, sometimes it comes to you because of how you’re feeling and if you’re a person who likes to write thoughts you don’t know how else to express yourself, or you’re a person who’s bottled up or… I always thought let me write a song, let me write a poem, it’s my thing, no one is gonna see it, no one is gonna hear it. Until I started saying let me hear what people had to say about the way that I write and they were like you can write well. There’s no process really, it’s like a mood thing for me, sometimes that delays ‘the process’ because you can’t process your moods like ‘hey I wanna be  happy, hey I wanna be sad, I’m going through this or I’m going through that’, but I think every day there’s something happening that you can always write about. I try to write everyday but it doesn’t happen like that, but usually the good songs always come randomly.

 

Angela Nimah: Do you ever feel the need to perform at a peak to try to impress your crowd, to impress your fans, to impress people who love your music?

 

Ms Isis: Hmm. I think definitely you want to impress, you wanna have a good word out there, you wanna impress people, and you want them to be happy with what you do. You try not to make it about yourself too much, you try to make it about the people; will the people enjoy this, will they relate to this, will they understand?

 

Most of the time I used to…well, even now, I’m gonna see today what happens, but usually  when I sing I get frustrated and I’m like this is a jamming song, ‘why aren’t you guys moving?’ and it’s ‘cause they’re listening. I get bumbed out…I don’t know how to explain it but…uhm, but you definitely always want to impress the people, you want them to leave the place saying ‘wow, that was a great show’, you always want your sound to be 100% so it’s good to have a good image, to leave the stage clean, to leave people happy. You can’t give them bad sound, you can’t be late! At least be punctual as an artist. We’re trying our best to do all of that and one day it’s gonna be perfect.

 

The crowd today is great I can’t wait and it’s about to start – I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen. Are people gonna stare at me are they gonna move – it’s definitely for them.  Even now, the place might be small, you perform at your peak, the place might be big, you perform at your peak – you give it your best all the time.

 


 

Angela Nimah: Tell us about your influences and how they have contributed to you being at the level that you are currently at with your craft and what is about them that inspire you?

 

Ms Isis: I have one major artist [blushes] – Erykah, I like her, and I’ve always liked her since I was young. I think she was the one artist that I connected to immediately because I was like I like this hip hop but I can’t rap and I like this soulful type of thing but I don’t wanna do RnB you know… so she was one of those people I was like YES! That is it, that’s what I wanna do and I’ve always followed her, Amel Lerrieux, uhm, I skip around; I can go to Common, I can go to Mos’ Def, Fat Freddys Drop, I can go to Kulture, Reggae. I love every aspect of music; if it’s good music I will love it. There’s a lot of music that sometimes it’s not good but it’s popular. But I have this thing of, it’s good music I’ll love it.

 

I don’t know, your Ella Fitzgeralled, from rap to soul to Merriam Makeba, Thandiswa Mazwai but I had to find where I fit in and where I’m comfortable. I can’t be Thandiswa Mazwai because I can’t speak Xhosa that well, I’m not that rooted, so this is where I fit in. all those people make sense to me and this is the product that I come up with because of all of that.

 

Angela Nimah: How long have you been part of this music journey and where do you see yourself most satisfied and content in your career?

 

Ms Isis: I’m still not content. I think I’m very far from where I am going, but I’m definitely gonna get there. Between 1 and 10 I can say I’m at 7 – I feel like I’m at 7. I don’t know what 10 is, whether 10 means being successful, whether it means you have money or whatever, but my goal is for everybody to enjoy the music, listen to the music, love the music, and that’s it really; if everybody can hear it and if you say ‘hey, there’s that girl called Ms Isis out there’. That’s just basically what I wanna do, I wanna help other artists to get on stage and hopefully today I see a lot of people on the open mike and just do it yeah.

 

Angela Nimah: What do you feel you represent in your music within the South African landscape?

 

Ms Isis: Wow! That one I can’t really… I’ve always found it hard to relate to South African music. My music is very internationally influenced, so I don’t know a lot of South African artists, but I guess that’s what I’m trynna do, is to make South Africa be like ‘hey there’s this kind of music, hey listen to me you know?’, uhm so I guess I’m trying to make hip hop fun, make people think that hip hop is not just about being grimy and wearing long pants. There are kids who can sing and do different things. I’m just trynna introduce something new and hopefully South Africa will love it and like it and I’m excited about it.

 

Angela Nimah: What would you like your current and future fans, supporters, and lovers of your music to have insight of on the person behind the mike?

 

Ms Isis: She’s really nobody... dramatic… [giggles] she’s very cool, she’s very humble, you can come to her and talk to her and say ‘hey Ms Isis, I really like your stuff or Ms Isis I don’t like your stuff’, uhm, she’s a very fun, loving person, she loves to sing and people mustn’t be shy of her. She’s quite down to earth, easy-going, and she’s willing to work. She’s got all the time in the world, and if god blesses her with a lot more time than definitely, I wanna work with anyone and everyone.

 

Angela Nimah: What are your greatest aspirations in this field?

 

Ms Isis: Hmmmm, well. Can I say everything?  LOL There’s so much I wanna do, there’s so much I… I don’t wanna be stuck in one place; I wanna go everywhere and do everything. Some days are better than others but I’m pushing.

 

Angela Nimah: In your understanding of this diverse medium of expression, what do you consider essential or what makes a great artist?

 

Ms Isis: A great artist has to have good sound, must be on time, must look good, feel good, and respect the people. This whole thing that we’re doing is for the person; that’s why we’re here, that’s why we’re doing shows and hopefully they’ll enjoy it. But just be real and I guess it also depends on who you are and what you do and where you wanna go and where you find yourself. Always be humble as an artist, you never know where you’ll find.

 


Angela Nimah: Should we expect an album soon, any projects or anything you are currency promoting?

 

Ms Isis: Yes! There’s a lot, it’s just that I’m giving myself time and hopefully people will also give me time. But there’s a lot. There’s an album coming out so hopefully the song will come out, I don’t know, maybe we’ll squeeze it in somehow, between now and December. Take the music abroad and yah…

 

Angela Nimah: Any last words to those reading this interview and have gravitated to your energy?

 

Ms Isis: I say thank you for giving me the time of day to interview me and I didn’t even know I was gonna get interviewed so that’s  a blessing. It means something and hopefully the people who are listening  are going out there and supporting local artists, supporting hip hop music, supporting sistas, supporting sistas in hip hop and to those sistas, don’t be scared. There’s a lot of brothas out here putting yall down, saying you can’t do it. I’m doing it so I’m waiting for yall, let’s work!

 

Angela Nimah: Where can people find you?

 

Ms Isis: They can find me on www.reverbnation.com/missisis that’s the first one. Second one is www.soundcloud.com/msisis and our email is Charlene@tsanemedia.co.za and we also have a website, www.tsanemedia.co.za people can check it out, find it there and yah, we’ll see.

 

Thank you to Ms Isis for allowing us to do this interview for our blog. Supporting and covering local artists is our priority!

 

From me Angela Nimah, signing out! #code NAR Shifting paradigms in South African crafts and culture in the new generation.
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The Yugen Blakrok digital conection - with Thembi Molaba


 
T - As far as your journey in hip hop, where does the emcee in you originate? What’s your story...as tho unraveling the resistance myth of Dionysus, we are about to unravel the myth of Yugen…how goes with it? What would you like your current and future fans, general supporters and lovers of your music to have as insight understanding of the person behind the mic?

Y- I am Blakrok…custodian of the Yugen Clan of Crow’s Nest, emcee and scholar.

 

T - How did you find yourself under the creative umbrella of hip hop? With the options of being a graffiti head, b-boxer, instrumentalist and beat maker, Dj-ing, emceeing (battle emcee, freestyle emcee, writer

emcee)and simply becoming a crafts preserving backpack kat, the options are endless in this beautiful web of expression… how did you find yourself as a member of this community of thought?

Y -I never really considered the options much, as far as being an artist was concerned. I had two left feet and a crummy voice so that was that. In school, The Bard (with his sonnets and rhyming couplets) helped me figure out hip-hop and I used to rap other people’s tracks to my friends before eventually writing my own shit and mustering up the courage to perform in front of a crowd. I met some creative folks during my stay in Grahamstown and was part of the Hiphocalypse Movement while I was there; I learn what I can from everyone I encounter.

 






T - Once in this community of thought you gravitated to writing the most and then decided to take up emceeing as a medium of creative expression, from this knowledge….. How would u describe your relationship with rap?

Y - I deeply love rap, in and outside of hip-hop. I love language and rhythm and words. Writing rhymes is fun…we paint verbal kaleidoscopes of Sound…and Silence has been the greatest teacher so far.


 
T - In all forms of emceeing we know that practice is what makes you really good at what u do but with that comes technique. With writing technique in mind…what goes into the creative process of actually writing a good track for Yugen?

Y - Patience, perseverance and acceptance. I don’t have a specific technique pinned down, yet; I’ve won many staring competitions with blank pages in my life. Often, I’ll hear a beat and get an idea of what I’d like to do with it. Sometimes, I get the flow first; other times, the concept and the other “other” times, I’m too focused on the technical aspect of writing that I don’t get shit at all so I doodle on the page. Once in a while, if I can channel the energy well enough, the song’ll write itself. I try to write every day, so usually I’ll let a track worm itself into my brain, a line at a time.



 
 
T- As an artist, have u ever felt the pressure to perform at peak and constantly prove yourself? If  have, what example can you share with the audience?

Y -I’m always trying to outdo the self- image inside the Looking Glass. Who else could be more aware of the fears, desires and dreams trapped inside my Matrix? When it comes to other folks though, I am not the Give-A-Fuck type; I just try not to disappoint myself. Folks can get mad sly, especially with that misogynistic vibe. Ask LikwidSkillz, she’ll tell you some hilarious shit. During my first few years in Joburg, we used to pull all kinds of impossible missions just to get on them stages to begin with. I got skin thicker than a rhino’s when it comes to bullshit & expectations. Besides, I’ve learnt that some people just don’t like dope shit.

 
T-  Having to perform at peak, compete or just constantly having to prove yourself. As an artist, does that not defeat the self-expressive purpose of your art form as an outlet where you can express your experiences and ideas?

Y - Not necessarily. Your intent counts for something. If it is your will to slay monsters to obtain the jewel you seek, best decapitate. It’s really all on you what you want to do…

 

T - Do you understand emceeing as an extension of who you are as a human being? And if you do, how?

Y - I really don’t have a definite answer for that yet. I’m always so new to it. If emceeing were an entity you could talk to, I’d wanna know if I was an extension of it.

 

T - What do you have to say to all the kats out there who measure the validity of an emcee on how conformist they have been to the traditional order of doing things? Which is going from the traditional cypha, into battle and freestyle and then into writing, doesn't this type of thinking defeat innovation, and what is your opinion on this matter?

Y - I don’t care much for dictation and stereotype. El-P comes to mind… “Fuck you, hip-hop just started/Funny how the most nostalgic cats are the ones who were never part of it/”. I’m not too crazy about people who would rather discuss things they should be doing instead. Iap-de-ap is the SQUAD!

 





T- Tell us about all of your influences and how they have contributed to you being at the level that you are currently at with your craft. And exactly what it is about them that inspire you into Yugen Blakrok?

Y- Mankind is an extraordinary race. We’re complex beings and in so much darkness regarding our true nature. I get a big kick trying to figure all that shit out, even just on a small, personal level. And our beautiful misery feeds me.

 





T -When did you decide that “this is what I want to be doing”, what led you to that conclusion? For how long have you been on this creative journey? Also, where do you see yourself most satisfied and content in this career?

Y - After high school, I sort of roamed around a bit…made some half-assed efforts to study for a little while then dropped out. My heart just wasn’t in anything; that was almost 9 years ago. At some point, I was in my hometown with no fuckin options, no dough and a couple of tracks written down in a book – my folks and I weren’t really on such good terms cause of the choices I wasn’t making, or my wack attitude…I dunno. I’d featured on the Hiphocalypse Mixtape two years before and I guess I felt comfortable enough to wanna make something of it. I later met MainVein & Anon from Recess Poetry (along with some more members of the crew) while I was doing the loser thing in Queenstown but when those two decided to leave town and explore J-Sec, I decided I would too. So I bounced. Every hardship I experienced alone and even as a member of a crew only strengthened my resolve to be there in the first place. I don’t know if I’ll ever be satisfied…contentment drifts in and out of my temple as it pleases – we’re cool.




 

14.) Should we expect a tape soon? Any upcoming events, gigs or projects where your peoples can heads u up at? Anything at all that you are promoting…

I know folks that have been waiting for years for this album, before Kanif & I even knew what it would sound like. Return of the Astro-Goth is due out at the end of October this year, physical and digital release. I’m gigging a whole lot more as well, so catch me with the fam around the usual hip-hop haunts. Hit us up if you want us to come and blow up your spot. Iapetus Records. Merch, sun? We got it.

 

15.) What is your twitter handle so all those who wish to follow and keep up with your movement can catch you on?

@YugenBlakrok on Twitter and Instagram.

 

16.) What are your last words to any of your new supporters who went through this interview and gravitated to you as an artist and have become new followers of your energy?

I am happy you’ve found me. Let’s get lost.

 



 
(Thank you to Yugen and to Ms Isis for gracing NAR with their presence, shout outs!)

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ART OUT LOUD - Sicknatcha charity report. By Kananaleo Nthorane.


Guess who? Yeap! Your girl Eye_M. Hope you guys are still fresh and all. Last time I introduced you to the illest poetry movement in the Free State, yes nartjie head! Sicknatcha Poetry Movement. Also, I informed you about their charity session (100 thousand poets for change). I told you I got your back! If you missed this session *shakes head* I feel sorry for you. Brace yourself!! Here comes the review :D

So, before we go any further. I need to fill you in on this whole 100TPC thing. It is an event that takes place worldwide on the same day. Poets all over the world, who are for change, stand up for that change and do something about it. Sicknatcha Poetry believes in feeding the poor, helping the needy in any way possible. Instead of using their savings for personal needs, they used them to buy groceries for the needy.



 
 Sicknatcha in partnership with the local radio presenter Nthabiseng Mangojane managed to feed 15 families. Before the session, the Sicknatcha guys paid a visit to all the families that were going to receive groceries. I recall having a chat with Hlox da Rebel poet on that day and he said “shit is real”, reality hit hard when they saw the living conditions of those families and heard how they survive every day.
On Saturday it was ON!! Killer performances I tell you! We had a lot of poets who were reciting for the first time (virginities were broken), we had love life poets and then obviously “the in house ma’f*ckers” according to Fana… Sicknatcha Poets… in the picture below we have Eye_M and Hlox da Rebel poet.



And then Talk sick

The following day (Sunday), we delivered groceries to the families. I was touched by the story of this other little dude who stays with his elder brother. They do not have any kind of income and people around them do not really care.

Other families we visited:




I am sure you guys are wondering who organises all these sessions... a big thank you to the guys who made it possible. Meet the organising team:  Fana, Mydo, Talk Sick and Hlox da Rebel respectively.
A big thank you also to Hlox da rebel, Nteboheng (Swazi),Fana and Eye_M for doing the grocery shopping:

that is all I have for you today!! Goodbye!! Ooh! I have a surprise for you guys:D be on the lookout yea? Cheers





Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Introducing a new journalist on the team - Angela Nimah

HIP HOP IN A NEW GENERATION

By Angela Nimah - Eye W(right)





As an alternative for subscription, a NAR twitter and facebook account has been set up for the developing press. Keep up with everything happening, We'll put out urgent bulletins over twitter. A place where heads could reach us to get their jams reviewed by our team. (we prefer you email them) So before you dive into the lineup of articles make sure you got us on twitter @NutsAboutRap and facebook also under Nutsaboutrap.... Find us!!!

Love, Life, and Art: all three of these elements make the awesomely, wonderful concept of hip hop. Formed in the 70s, hip hop has been an on-going culture that started in the Bronx in New York City. Block parties were increasingly popular among the African American youth and consisted of DJs who played well-liked genres of music such as funk, soul, and R&B.

Like many other independently established movements and cultures, hip hop was the “voice” for the disenfranchised youth of low economic areas. It reflected the social, economic and political realities that affected their lives.

As hip hop grew so did its people and rapping become a way of expressing all these issues and changes that came with it. Fashion also played a big part in the development of hip hop; poetry, dance as well as language dominated the streets and soon enough there was a group of people who shared one mind, one heart, and one love.



This movement grew so rapidly that it reached countries like South Africa, hitting the corners of many streets in many different cities. Despite the comparison to USA hip hop, South African hip hop has grown so much that one can differentiate between the two, even though there is a lot of influence. As a youth we have grown intensely and have managed to create our own sound and we are still growing.


Hi! J My name is Nimah and I’ll be your tour guide for the next eternity. I’m an official code NAR member/reporter/journalist who will be bringing you the latest information on all things art related based in Johannesburg: culture, music, poetry, gigs, interviews, people, places and food.

Not only am I an official member but I am also an all round artist. I have my own clothing brand, I am a musician, a stylist, a jeweller, a biographer, a hippie, a poet, a blogger, a columnist, a rebel, a lover, I am so many things and this was just a snippet of what I will be bringing to the table so I do hope that you are all intrigued already LOL. Until we meet again in the next two weeks this is me signing off!

Code NAR:

 Shifting paradigms in South African crafts and culture in the new generation.

Where to find us:
FS Reporter - Kananelo Nthoarane (twitter)  @Kay_Kanny
JHB Reporter - Angela Nimah (twitter)         @AngelaNimah
KZN Reporter - Thembi Molaba (twitter)     @Nuhtkayz