stateofartistry

" where art meets ambition "

[daily--celebs]

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Drake and Rihanna have been spotted a lot lately, seems like love is in the air for  these two. We at stateofartistry are definitely rooting for this couple!

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[lusttorment]

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sushi galore

[rosannastylist-deactivated20200]

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one of my favorite stores for contemporary pieces 

[rihannanavyhn]

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Rihanna is always looking fierce

[voguehomie]

Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2014

[champagne-paradise]

xo

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Beyoncé has been all over our screens and playlists lately. She's been praised for her style and gorgeous looks. Now you can get to look like her , thanks to leading make-up artist Jennie "beautybyjj" Jenkins, who gives us a tutorial and shows off her mad skills. The tutorial is inspired by Beyoncé's video titled "mine". Enjoy -K.B-

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The South African songtress Sphum, is back with a bang , her new song "Ride" is definitely on the rise , listen to her beautiful voice on the heavy beat produced by VAM, not to forget DA L.E.S who adds in some flair with his creative rhymes.

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One of Chocolate City’s biggest artists, Ice Prince , has released his latest music video “Jambo”, from his sophomore album “Fire Of Zamani” which was released last year. The video was directed by one of the best,SESAN, it was shot in South Africa and features cameos by celebrities such as label mate Victoria Kimani, Chopstix (who also produced the song), Wizkid, Da L.E.S and Lola Rae. We definitely love this song and video here at stateofartistry! -K.B-

[californialuxe]

[xeverythingoals]

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Own it !

" Confidence is being able to say ‘Fvck you, I’m the sh*t’ without opening your mouth, say it with your walk, with your smile, say it with your entire being "

[makeuploversunite]

[xeverythingoals]

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Afrobeats latest star Nizzy features fast rising african princess Lola Rae in his new smashing hit “egwu”, this track will definitely get you on the dancefloor! Watch the creative video and be mesmerized! - K.B -

[jhamiltonphotographytt]

✗♡✗♡

[praduhhh]

http://praduhhh.tumblr.com/

[dopegyaaal]

dopegyaaal.tumblr.com

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1.Welcome and please tell stateofartistry101 who Sphum is Hey, thanks for having me :) Sphum is a young, child-like, girly, tomboyish dreamer originally from Pietermaritzburg. I’ve lived in Johannesburg for 12 years but lived in cape town for 3 years getting my advertising degree! I’m free spirited but still blossoming. I’m not as free as I will be! I’m a musician of many genre’s and have been since I was young! I’m incredibly driven. I know what I want and make sure to make it known only when I finally get it! 2.Tell us about how you get started when you work on a song and what do you think is the most important trait a musician should have I’m quite a lover of liquid processes everything must be natural and inspired. I even get those ‘why am I nervous’ feelings just before I record, that’s my adrenaline rush I think. Like not knowing what I’m gonna walk out with but knowing it’ll be just right. Freestyling and conceptualising, using my voice as an instrument is important, alotta the gems come from there. I’m also a writer of course. But I’m quite verbose so it’s the real essence of my message that I take as concept where I then ‘go simple’ if you know what I mean. My writing is quite emotional. You can see the thread if you listen carefully. I’m also quite explorative. I want my music to take a different angle and to evoke that “what the…?” reaction, whether sensual or happy. A musician is already an individual with unique qualities. Like a painter, a musician takes a canvas and creates what once didn’t exist and so all musicians must search for their little personality trait to splash onto their canvas. Another trait; conviction. Without it. Musicians become manufactured and doctored. Then the point is lost. Do anything to keep your point visible to you. 3.What would you tell anyone who wanted to break into the music industry? Hmmmm, so many non-factor issues exist in every industry. They ONLY cloud up your determination and drive. Hard work and love for authenticity keeps your head strong and clear. There are too many things people expect an artist to be that have nothing to do with music and music making. The proof is in the pudding. So make the music then do what you can to access local support. Growth is achieved through spreading your music to as many corners as is possible, but start small. Also, never give up. every dream deserves to see the light. The irrelevant extras are only noise. 4.If you weren’t a musician, what would you have been? First of all…i think I’d cease to exist if I wasn’t an artist. A dancer and actress, oh and designer. I did ballet for 8 years and love it still. I did drama from 1st grade to matric. Clothes. The love for them is ridiculous. I plan on dabbling in that love when I have a chance, I was a mess in high school cutting and sowing up things to satisfy my addiction. 5.Your career has sky rocketed this year, how do u feel about this and how are you staying humble? Thank you :) I mean I have soooooo much more work to do so I’m extremely excited to surprise myself with more unexplored avenues, but also itching to work even harder. Music’s like that. It’s a different stroke of colour each time and all you feel the need to do is to use the next colour or even pallette. Im happy but I want more ;) The trick to this industry worldwide is that you are exposing your inner most being to be loved or hated and that makes me sit all the way down for lack of a better phrase, haha. Another one of my adrenaline rushes. Jokes aside though. Humility is achieved in everyday processes; common respect for your peers, fans, family, material things and God. That maturity should guide you. No blessing should change you for the worse. 6.Tell me about your latest projects and what we should look forward to Well at the moment my ALBUM is being recorded and im on cloud 99 doing it. The stress and work is all worth it because I was born to do this. I’ll keep everyone updated on my twitter page (@iamsphum) and facebook page www.facebook.com/mslile about all promotional goodies and performances. The release will be announced there too! 2013 is the year! For 2012 just make sure to catch me on Vuzu, MTV Base, Channel O and Trace TV, they’ve been giving me mad support and I love them for it. Exposing the different and fresh I would say. That’s what I represent! Also, Im the official Steve Madden SA ambassador!! 7.How do you feel fashion and music tie in together? Pop culture amalgamates what makes people tick! Fashion is about personality and proof of life and evolution I think. As music transforms, clothes follow and imprint many eras of clothing in history books and magazines! Music, performance and clothing are the face of inner emotions and that is why so many people relate and love fashion and music! If you see how a guy is dressed you can tell what he might be listening too and that’s not a stereotyping thing, that’s a sense of relativity we all feel. 8.List three key items every woman should have in their closet Hmmmm….hard question this. Something heavily sequined, a tight fitting pencil shirt and the illest shoe alive 9.How are you going to use your celebrity status as a vehicle for social change? The voice of a child is only heard when someone lifts them up so I want to help babies and kids in some way. Whether orphans or cancer or AIDS affected. Secondly, my brother is Autistic. An amazing soul, incredibly sharp and beyond intelligent so I need more of that in my life. I want to be involved in developing these brilliant minds hands on and also later if I am able be involved in the research of autism. So many Black families are blessed with these amazing children and fall short of developing their minds beyond normal ability. My brother Sizwe, 30 now, fascinates and comforts me more everyday. 10.Can you name one fun memory from production? Was anybody great to work with? Recording with Bongani Fassie doesn’t just give you one fun memory. Dudes a trip

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BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST : RAPPER YOUNG SLUGZ

Young Slugz has been known for releasing scorching tracks for years. Young Slugz is Known in Gaborone, Botswana for reaching number one on the Mascom charts. Now Young Slugz aka YSL is in South Africa to take over the Johannesburg enetertainment industry.

Welcome and please tell stateofartistry101 who Young Slugz is

Thanks for having me. Young Slugz is the future of African Hip Hop.

Tell us about how you get started when you work on a song and what do you think is the most important trait a musician should have

Well, when working on a track, my producers (Ganja Beatz) and I always look for certain sounds depending on the type of track we are trying to work on. Once we have all the elements we wanna work with, we start constructing melodies which allows my producers to construct the beat and me to get my hooks and bars down.

I think a musician should have good imagination and creativity so that they are able to think differently and give the audience something diverse from all the music out there and the music they themselves have made before.

What would you tell anyone who wanted to break into the music industry?

Be persistent! If it’s something you really want, you have to be determined and keep working on it. You have to make sure you are good at it though, that also important.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you have been?

I would probably pursue a career in one of the two majors am about to graduate fromwhich are Environmental Science and International Relations.

Your career has sky rocketed in this past year, how do u feel about this and how are you staying humble?

I feel great! We have been working very hard to get to where we are right now and I’m blessed to have such a great team by my side. Shout out to FDD, we just getting started. Staying humble, well that’s just how I am, I was raised well. 

Tell me about your latest projects and what we should look forward to

My latest offering is my new single titled “Living my dream” which we will be shooting a video for sometime next month. As a team, FDD is working on a mixtape which will feature a number of artists and is a mixture of a couple of genres. Dopeness! Ya’ll should look out for that and my solo album which will be out next year.

How do you feel fashion and music tie in together?

Well I think fashion, just like music, is a way of expressing yourself. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress just like you can tell a lot about a person by the music they make or listen to.

List three key items a man should have in their closet

Cologne, a watch and clean kicks, 3 is too little.

How are you going to use your celebrity status as a vehicle for social change?

By creating music that everybody can relate to and by mixing different cultures in the visual art that we produce with the hope of encouraging unity.  

Can you name one fun memory from production? Was anybody great to work with?

I have experienced a lot especially when working with other artists such as Zeus, Reason, Bongani Fassie, Marked Men and Cassper Nyovest to mention a few, but I think the best have been when it’s only my team and I in the studio. That’s always fun but equally productive.

Right now, who do you look up to? Who do you think is a real game changer in the music industry?

I look up to artists like Rozay, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar because their careers keep growing constantly and I think there is a lot I can learn from them. However, I think we do have great artists locally such as HHP, AKA and Tumi, who are also changing the game.

And lastly any plans for the upcoming holiday season? Any vacation or will you be working?

 I would love to go away on vacation but I think this holiday will be spent putting in work.

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Download his track called Funky featuring Zeus , Cassper Nyovest and Heemal Ganjaz >>>>>

http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/15219503

and follow @YoungSlugz

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This young , talented and handsome artist who is based in France embraced us with his presence when we caught up with him while vacationing in Johannesburg. His all rounded talents from singing, producing and now an entrepreneur in his own right with his label Sushi Raw have made him the success he is now. Join us for this up , close and personal with Kaysha - 1. You're known as one of the biggest French / Congolese zouk and r&b artists of our time. - "am I ? ,I didn't know this" what made you tap into the music industry , when did you basically know that music was your passion? - "when I was 8 , when i started I didn't particularly want to be famous , I did it for myself and for my love for music ... I started off as a model ; then one day 10 years later I was doing a show , I don't even know how it happened but the DJ just gave me the microphone and I started singing. From there I started singing everywhere , I went to places like Germany and now I'm all over the world , performing internationally " 2. What was the first song you ever performed and where was it? -"it was a song on a beat by naughty by nature, it was never released but everybody knew it in Paris, i would perform it everywhere, back then after my performance people started asking me where they could buy the single but I didn't even know how to do this, at that time I was studying economics , my parents were very strict and wanted me to do music on the side" " but now my father is very proud , showing me off , so I'm glad " 3. Who are your inspirations and who would you like to work with in the future? - "I don't think I have a special inspiration , it could be Michael Jackson like everybody but I look up to every artist, there's a whole lot of unknown artists that I've heard and I get inspired by be it here in South Africa or anywhere else, I'm really open minded and lyrically my inspiration comes from my everyday life and experiences" 4. We heard that you produce as well, is this true? - "I produce all my tracks and I've produced for other artists ; house tracks , for rappers, r&b singers , zouk of course and I have my record label. I collaborate with a lot of people" 5. What are your current projects , anything you're working on at the moment? - "I'm working on my album, my 8th album , it should've been out in February but I've been traveling so much , I've been doing shows all the time , so I haven't really found the time to make it happen but I think in December it will be ready. I want to touch other genres of music like house music. On the side I'm going to be doing a lot of shows next year and venturing out and working with other artists and expanding my career , I want a challenge" 6. Well here at Stateofartistry101 we are into fashion as well, and you're a very stylish man I must say -"wow thank you" What kind of pieces do you think every man should have in their closet? -"well I'm not going to talk about brands because that's not important but I think every man should have a few black blazers and a white one, a white shirt and a good pair of jeans ... It's actually funny because once you grow up and look back at what you used wear - mismatching , baggy jeans and you say " did I dress like this" but as you grow older you find your own style but I also think the most important thing is looking great naked! " [laughs] 7. And talking about that! , all the ladies out there want to know if you have a Mrs -"I used to but it's very hard to be fully committed because I'm always traveling its hard to balance the two , I've been there but sometimes it's hard to be alone but like I said I travel so much , I live in hotel rooms but I will hopefully get some time to chill soon" 8. Thank you for the interview and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Johannesburg -"I will make the most of it , thank you and you're welcome"

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Exclusive interview with sassy female rapper Nadia Nakai! 1. Welcome to Stateofartistry101, thank you for blessing us with your presence. To start off could please tell us a bit about yourself , your background and how you started off as musician Hey! Well I started rapping when I still stayed in Kenya! I was inspired when I met artists Prezzo and Nameless in high school. Never stopped since then! I was born and bred in South Africa but I have lived in Zimbabwe, Kenya , Zanzibar and Tanzania specifically. So I try to keep my sound hiphop with African elements! That's why Bongz is one of my favourite producers. 2. What’s on your playlist right now? Which artists are you feeling at the moment? On my playlist is feeling you by Solange, 100 and mercy by Big Sean, Clique by Jay-Z and Kanye and Jealousy by A.K.A , ok so Big Sean is my new addiction ! The artists I'm feeling at the moment are Aka, Reason, Big Sean and Kendrick Lemar (except his verse on 100 wit big Sean and Royce! Hai not feeling dat) And of course I Love Kanye! 3. What embarrassing songs might we find on your musical player? None! I don't listen to bull sh*t! If I had 2 Chainz on my playlist THAT would be embarrassing but I don't , so moving on. 4. Have you always enjoyed the art of music? For as long as I can Remember! 5. What was the first song you ever performed? It's called "Gotta Hav It!" performed at Morales All White Party *SaluteDeBoi* 6. What are your current projects and please also tell us about your past musical ventures My current project is my album! I'm signed to SidRecords so expect it soon, as well as the filming of Season 2 of the hiphop show "battle stations" that airs on SABC1 every Monday. My past music ventures: beginning with my mixtape that made me the first female rapper to ever win the Shiz Niz mixtape 101. DJ C-live then scooped up my track ft featuring LallaRayne which was put on his tastemaker mixtape sponsored by Levi's. Then I featured on dj waxxys' and Hype Magazibes mixtapes! 7. Who would you like to work with in the future? Defintely AKA, Sean Pages and Khuli Chana 8. Who has been the biggest influence in your life? In my life? My mom. What kind of question is that? Like who else? She gave it to me. 9. What advice would you give to someone trying to tap into the music industry Perfect your craft and network like a maddabeeach! 10. Here at Stateofartistry101 we love fashion as well and your style is so amazing and cool, any fashion tips for our readers? Awwww thanks! And don't wear freakum dresses on campus! Its tacky and not cute! Lol! *Giggles*