#RespecTheProducer

For beat-heads and music junkies

[respectheproducer]

“Best recognized for his original take on urban & street style photography, Hipebeast is a Cape Town born photographer, showcasing what’s raw and real about the Mother City. With his obsession for photography stemming from the love for his city and his love for instagram, Wayne Lee Robertson, better known as Hipebeast, has become an instagram sensation with an eye for beauty, while still having a unique grassroots approach. Wayne has very recently launched [his website] where people can now purchase these amazing works of art...”

Source

[respectheproducer]

Hipe

http://www.hiperdelic.co.za

-> Image via Hipe’s Instagram

[respectheproducer]

“I been putting in a lot of work for over a decade. Below the Industry radar changing and breaking trends. Building new and existing artists brands. Swaying sounds of yester-year to fresh new elements. Sound designing anything from synths, drums to bass. I agree that there were and are those before me. I agree that they have archieved their accolades doing greater of things... I also am a legend of/in my own right. I care less who is percieved the current best. Just because "They" follow trends means nothing to me. Tell me about doing the unthinkable/undoable. - Beatmochini Know the name | mission statement | PSA | Yo favorite producer's favorite producer! “

-> Follow Trompie on Instagram

[respectheproducer]

The Capacity of Capcity is one such document – a case study in the intricacies underpinning untold stories; a session for artists to vent, reminisce, or suggest a way forward; and ultimately a labour of love created for no other purpose but to interrogate what a long-standing fan found weird and odd about her newfound home.

Source: http://goo.gl/HWVl82

[respectheproducer]

“jennifer loopéz, some grooves the universe handed me, is slated for cassette release in the first quarter of 2016. the cassette release will include a b-side of remixes by argentine merseyside (mentor, collaborator and friend) as well as three new tracks to the a-side of jennifer loopéz by papi. The cassette will be a limited release. We'll probably make like 100 or something. Peace.”

-> Irrelevant Papi

[respectheproducer]

(via https://soundcloud.com/red-bull-studio-ct/camo-galaxy-ft-nonku-phiri-prod-hipe?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=tumblr)

[respectheproducer]

Maramza's a beast! Following a 2014 which saw collaborations with Jozi-based vocalist Moonchild Sanelly, the hard-to-pin producer, who also goes by the name Richard III, kick-started 2015 with a collection of Gqom and trap inspired niceties designed purely for the dancefloor. His Changez EP, available on bandcamp, is a trippy joyride which'll have you jockin' and jivin' towards the same corner electronic music goes to lose its inhibitions.

Partake fully as he flips the Kendrick Lamar refrain "I can feel the changez" (on 'Bitch Dant Kill My Vibe' off Good Kid M.A.A.D City) into an airy, droned-out wave of ultimate chill on the aptly titled "Feelz The Changez." Your hands'll swing uncontrollably. Slow motion will take effect immediately afterwards. Around the two-minute mark, Maramza shifts the pitch a few semitones up and blam! There you have it, the first signs of Gqom; the sound taking all of Durban's area codes by storm. It's the broken beat of sheer madness; a dusty, crusty sound for dingy dancehalls, sweaty dancefloors, manic youth; the vibration which time-travels through cranky speakers equipped with questionable bass bins.

The kids, they'll loose themselves in it.

Maramza's rendition is a worthy contribution to advancing a sound which should've long broken through to radio and TV, a definite proposition about the direction in which the Gqom sub-genre could head next.

Bump this at high volume, but make sure you invite your neighbours along for the party.

[respectheproducer]

Cape Town Beat Scene

“The year 2000 ushered in an era of producers influenced by the creations of Aphex Twin, DJ Shadow, Anti-Pop Consortium and the better part of Ninja Tune’s artist roster – from Blockhead to Mr Scruff to Kid Koala. Names such as Felix Laband,Markus Wormstorm, Sibot, and a handful of others crafted sonic textures which effectively altered how people approached music consumption. African Dope records synergised that entire formation – two dudes and a chick holed up in a nondescript room on Buitenkant, banging away at ideas daily to advance what, albeit rewarding, ultimately proved an unsustainable exercise. “African Dope [was] pressing up 2000-3000 CDs; it’s not a business model!” says Fletcher. He’s one third of the original trio that ran African Dope; the other two being Honey B and Roach.”

Source: http://goo.gl/Ctlaqp

[respectheproducer]

Tongogara “Battlekat” Ntlokoa was the most sought-after producer of his era. As in-house soundcrafter for Outrageous Records, he oversaw production duties on a handful of the indie label’s releases, many of which now occupy classic status in the hearts of many a South African rap fan.

Source: http://goo.gl/14pUlX

[respectheproducer]

#RespecTheProducer - WTF Is It?!

I was introduced to beatmaking in 1999 through beattapes which would be circulated among emcees in Maseru’s small rap scene. I admired how producers could manipulate sounds using a simple PC set-up and pirated software to make absolute musical bangers. I’ve since grown to discover a lot more producers from across the African continent. These modern purveryors of ubiquitous hits, underground favourites and obscure gems are rarely acknowledged, and less so by outlets which have a greater reach in the mainstream. I think their contributions are important and warrant close inspection and admiration.

#RespecTheProducer

Electronic-based music production on the African continent has its roots in the bedroom, and this is where #RespecTheProducer -- a series of profiles/features/interviews with music-makers, of African descent, based either on the continent or in the diaspora, who make music electronically (so, 'beatmakers') -- will emerge, taking in genres ranging hip hop to house music to any and everything else we vibe to over here.

Africasacountry shall be publishing articles from selected contributors throughout the month of July. There'll also be content curated on Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook/Twitter, and Soundcloud.

This is some head-engaging shit for beat-heads and music junkies to vibe to, so get widdit!!

- Tseliso Monaheng