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Ziyalala

Everyone wants Success, but it takes effort to succeed. Well we spoke to a group called Suxxeed, who cares how its spelt right?

1. The name Suxxeed,how did it come about

Well the name Suxxeed derives from people with ambition and vision straight up. It's basically two words (suck-seed) but wrapped into one (Suxxeed). We essentially saw success from something that was made out of nothing.

2. Your sound, describe it

The sound that we project out to the masses is way to intimate in a way that we speak the authentic language of South Africa. Never mind if one doesn't understand our mother tongue but the way we utilize our vocabulary, we make sure by all possible means we accommodate South Africans.

So one way or the other one understands where we come from.

3. Is there a distinct difference from your sound to other hip hop

Duos in cape town,

Yes there's so much difference, in a way that we don't follow the norm... Period!

4. How did the two of you meet

We've known each other since forever... We grew up together, traveling to junior school together, we actually know close to everything about each other.

So to cut the long story short we never met, we happened.

5. Why should we listen to suxxeed

Suxxeed is a self-critic duo, we never sugarcoat reality we tell it how it is. We find it so imperative to be transparent to the masses.

6. Which producers did you work with

We worked with Kenny Dolo and Crtl + S( Khosh and Planet Earth).

7. Kenny Dolo seems to be quite popular,would you agree that he knows the cape town hip hop sound and its audience

No we definitely don't agree to that... Kenny is just that unusual crazy-smart-producer.

You'll tell him to press the red button and he will surely press the green one. The funny thing is that he will always find ways to show the one reason why he disobeys to the norm and backs it up in a conversation face to face.

There’s so much I could say about him, he has this thing called "behind closed doors" that he conforms to when we working in studio. Shit gets crazy and the stuff he comes up with is insane... I hope to see the reaction of people when they hear and see the things he's up to. He doesn't really put the word "local" in a sentence... he always aims higher than local.

8. What are the plans for suxxeed this year

Well there are so much we looking forward to this year... We have an Ep dropping sometime in March; we just dropped a music video [this morning] directed and produced by Kenny Dolo.

One of the things that our fans don't know about is that we are planning on going to Johannesburg sometime soon.

9. Tell us about the single and the video

The name of the song is called Z'yalala which simply portrays the party life style in Gugulethu a township in Capetown.

Themusic video was shot, directed and produced by Kenny Dolo. On this song we indirectly showcase our lyrical skills and where we really come from. We had cameos of people that are very well known locally e.g Kristi Ye Spaza, Gugs Gang, Alpaccino and so much more.

10. Any colaborations this year.

Yeah for sure there are so many talented nikkas in Cape Town. So definitely we gotta put some nikkas on. I mean we got T.O.P on our list, we Got Youngsta who just featured us on a music video, we got Uno July who's a sick ass rapper from gugs who was also groomed by Planet Earth, Kwest Maguire as well... so yeah we looking forward on working with other

local kats who also on the same steeze you know...

This dope ass duo from the streets of the Native Yards, definitely have something to offer. Take some time to check out the talent and New Vid on our FB page

AVELILE NONTANDA: The Man Behind Black Friday

Black Friday one of the events that is quite popular amongst the young creatives of Cape Town that is organised and hosted by Mayhem Design & Entertainment. We caught up with Avelile, a young man born in Mthatha, aspires to be a business mogul like DJ Sbu and Patrice Motsepe. Founder of the start-up by Mayhem Design & Entertainment for a young Q&A and here is what this young gentleman had to say about his uprising career.

On an unsurprisingly wet day in the Mother City, ZuZaNation sat down with the “Founder of Mayhem Design and Entertainment & a student of Interior Design” according to his twitter page.

Although afterwards we got to know him as a founder of a NPO, worked for Cput, creator of Music Box, completed an Internship at Rennie Scurr Adendorff Architects, a volunteer & winner of Ikasi Experience for Mayhem.

A very interesting talk with the self taught entrepreneur who's biggest frustration is the lack of support and collaboration amongst creatives, especially in BLACK communities.

But, We were there to scout what #BlackFridays was all about and more…

Having been to two BlackFriday events already, We’ve been left inspired. Not only by AVee, but by the sheer force of ‘young, gifted and BLACK’ creatives that the CITY can host. We have seen that hard work, dedication and a clear objective/goal can take a simple idea from a small get-together at AVees’ home to a sophisticated, invite only event on Long Street.

To give a brief explanation of #BlackFriday, is that one event that “celebrates emerging young, creative and sophisticated individuals” by dedicating a space and time to those individuals. In recent times, there have been a number of event organised by and aimed at young black creatives, with fancy dress codes. #BlackFriday tries to be different by dedicating each event to a specific theme.

The first was for ‘entrepreneurs’ with speakers from Dillion Phiri (Creative Nestlings), Mpumelelo Mvunelwa (FRICREATIVES) and Luvuyo Ndiki (Red CupVillage). This was an interesting take as most times entrepreneurs usually have to create the stages, but this time they got to be front and centre. This actually fall in line with what we talked about with Avee. “I want to start a company that is really influential...and gives creatives a platform to express themselves”.

The second edition of #BlackFriday was for fashion designers and models. Avee had assembled a troupe of brand ambassadors dress by labels like Ridgecode and Bookha Creations. This time the show was hosted by the multi cultural Civil Engineering student, Ashely Headger. The event even introducing DJ Sbu's very own Energy Drink ‘Mofaya’ to the Cape Town market.

We wait in anticipation for the announcement of the next #BlackFriday and what it will bring.

Humble and silently confident man with big and a large range of ideas and self-taught skills like law and web design. Having a clear idea of where you want to go and to get there is what really sets this guy apart. Driven to be part of the solution, we rarely spoke of what is wrong/bad about CPT music, entertainment or creativity (especially amongst Black communities), but rather we discussed how to get people together and uplift all.

We know you as being in the profession of Interior Design, why did you choose that field?

“Most of us black people never really take into account the importance of an aesthetically pleasing interior when it comes to business. We tend to think that if we have a space to sell our products and a clientele, everything is good, however that is not the case, because with that kind of mentality, our markets or clientele in business does not grow or evolve into something better.

We complain about unemployment and slow business growth, but never really look into how we can go about improving what we already have. Why Interior Design, my answer to that is, I believe that if we improve the quality of the spaces we live and do business in, we will attract more clients and this is a fundamental aspect of business. There is still quite a small fraction of black people within the Interior Design business, and one of my aims is to help grow this fraction so that we can contribute towards the improvement of the South African Infrastructure in different sectors and industries.

I have had a passion for design from a young age and to know that my skill helps improve the lifestyle and business of a South Africans makes me happy. It means that the skills that I have acquired do not go to waste but rather improve the lifestyle of another human being.”

Black families do not know the career opportunities that are available to us in our generation. The older folks know about engineers, accountants, doctors, lawyers, teachers…not Interior Designers. How did you family feel about your career choice?

“My mother is my biggest supporter, she has supported my passion for design from day, she believes in me more than I believe in myself. I feel very lucky to have a mother like her, on the other side, my father is also supportive even though sometimes he mistakes my career choice with architecture (chuckles). But I understand because back in the day, Interior Design was not so popular with the black market, and every time my brothers see my designs, they always try to get me to design a couple of projects for them. I like the fact that they can envision the potential business that my skills can bring to the family.”

We all have those awkward moments, what is your funniest moment whilst performing/exhibiting

“I have not exhibited my work (Interior Design Projects) outside CPUT, I am currently busy building an online portfolio of my work and also working on an exhibition where I will invite the masses to come and see my work whilst nibbling on some treats.”

Where to from here

“2016 is a time where as a business I will be introducing some new cool products that we have been working on for the past 2 years, I will also be expending my business to other provinces, namely Eastern Cape and Gauteng, hosting more events and producing a lot of designs.”

When it comes to Black Friday, we know you do themes for each event, what's next? And what is your favourite colour?

“For Black Fridays, we are looking at between Photography and Graphic Design, but we are looking at also introducing more exciting conceptual events in the pipeline. So 2016 is going to be an exciting year for us. My favourite colour is Black and White”

Do you think there is enough support from peers and other young creatives in Africa?

“That’s a tricky question to answer, but personally, I feel like there is not enough support for SME’s in Africa, we go to school to learn how to work for another person and are hardly taught how to run our own businesses, that is why our economy is growing so slow, people do not know how to find investors, business funding and sometimes your greatest idea can end up being your worst nightmare. We take risks and blindly fall into unsatisfactory traps that can potentially close the doors of one’s business. A lot of potential businesses find it hard to rise from the bottom once having faced such challenges and do not have that drive to push them forward. But, one must just always find a way to push forward and not stop till they succeed in whatever they are pursuing. Black people also need to start supporting each other’s businesses.”

If given a budget for a feature film, what kind of screenplay would you make (something random)

“My fellow classmates always say that my life is an inspirational true story, that screenplay would tell my life story. I am not selling myself as the most successful man in the entire world but believe that I have the brains to take me to that point, I have made a couple of mistakes in my ventures, upset a couple of people but at the same time, I have made a lot of people happy and inspired a lot of people, I have had a good balance of a life experience, but I always push forward with that being said. At the end of the day, no matter how smart you are, you are nothing without people.”

Tell us about some of the projects you’ve made, what was your favourite one to work on

“With regards to Interior Design, it has to be my current project, designing an office space for Mayhem Design and Entertainment, which was by far my favourite project I’ve worked on. With regards to Mayhem, it has to be the cool new mobile stand for the Music Box Project which is scheduled to be built next year.”

Litho

So when one thinks Opera it is easy to think corsets’, lots of makeup and old people listening attentively to something that makes no sense to you as a Team B groupie. Well get out of your stereotypical view and picture a beautiful young black lady with a warm personality and a smile that just warms your heart and you get one of Mdantsanse’s great voices in young Litho Nqai.

From humble beginnings and an Alumni of Stirling High School. As a go getter at a young age she entered herself at the East London Eisteddfod as her school did not offer music (Port Rex Technical High School). Following popular reaction from East London she entered the Queenstown Eisteddfod where she got a mark that had never been recorded in history an ‘A+++++’ symbol. This young gem was then spotted by Ms Leoni Amour who helped her with singing lessons and got Litho into finishing her schooling at Stirling High School where she received honourary colours for singing.

Litho then came to the Cape where her career has blossomed into what it is today, she completed a music diploma at the UCT South African School of Music. She has performed in a number of productions during her studies. The ZuzaNation team recently sat down with the young songstress to get to know her a bit better and understand why opera instead of popular music. “Since I started singing classical voice in grade 7 I never had a doubt about what I wanted to do... it was not one of my options it was the only one.” It’s amazing that she knew at such a young age that this was the path that she wanted to take, while the rest of her peers would have wanted to follow a more popular route. It is said that nothing ever happens by chance but it was a mistake that steered Litho in the direction of Opera, “I recorded a show called Imizwilili by mistake on our VCR when I was young and after listening to the people singing there I started singing along and realized that I could do this and then I told my teacher Mrs Ross and she helped me along my way in my grade 7 year. Then I got more training in high school from my voice teacher Leoni Amour.”

No longer the little girl from the Eastern Cape with a sweet voice and big dreams, now we talking Litho the young woman in the Mother city, Litho the performer who travels the world, “I was selected to join the Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival in Germany in 2012 and 2013. Then in 2014 I went to Barcelona to perform Porgy and Bess with Cape Town Opera” Barcelona nogal wow, surely a lot happens on the road? “Whoa I feel like whenever people leave their normal spaces they really literally have an adventure or even a fantasy life which is impossible to maintain when we come home. But I'm not snitching (laughs).” Surely Litho has stories from her travels that one day she will reveal in a biography.

When we caught up with this beautiful voice she had just finished a production ‘ Le nozze di Figaro’, where she plays the part of the countess, “Mozart is not an easy sing but doing the countess has helped me find ways of using my voice more economically and the whole experience was just a great learning curve for me. I enjoyed it so much in the end though even though it was a hard and rocky road to get there. All thanks to Professor Khan and Professor Gobato not forgetting my awesome cast members I had a great show”

Having celebrated Women’s month in September, It was rather interesting to get her view on the role and plight of women in the creative arts. “Women will always be in some sort of struggle but I feel like we are in an era where things are changing and we are getting to some level of equality but the struggle is not over at all.”

Litho is full of life and is destined for great things, our country is not ready for her. Within the black community yes there is support for choral music but is there enough of that same support for our black opera singers, “Opera is lacking support in this country in general, the black community is very rich with talent and a strong choral culture but the lack of knowledge about the opportunities is a great problem. Which leaves the country with rough diamonds that don't know how to further their talents and make them a business.” It is quite saddening that these ‘black diamond’s as Litho refers to them have no support to help them hone their craft. Let’s hope that her success will be an inspiration to many more.

Phresh Clique

Zimkhitha and Khuselisa, both Cape Town born and bred, both make up the dynamic duo PhreshClique. They young, they funky, they absolutely know how to hit them bars. Who are they? They are Phresh Clique, name gets to you don’t it?

“The name PhreshClique speaks for itself, we wanted a name that we can live up to Phresh sound, Phresh image, Phresh lifestyle… PhreshClique!”

This female duo is what’s been hot in Cape Town’s hip hop scene this season. As we always do the ZuzaNation team sat down with the two girls just to get to know them a bit better. When we first met them the Zuza team was convinced they were related somehow, kind of overwhelming seeing two short people on stage being so in sync, we were convinced they were sisters or something, but that’s not the case with these two, they say they met at some party and the rest is not history but that what we getting right now.

“We met at a friend’s house party that ended up being a chill session so we started sharing our stories and realized that we both share the same dream. We exchanged BBM pins and the rest was PhreshClique”. Thank goodness for that party, imagine the Cape Town hip hop scene without these two gems.

It’s no secret that the Cape Town hip hop scene is growing on the street of the mother with the exports from the city being Driemanskaap (for now that is). Exposure is and has always been a huge obstacle. The Cape Town hip hop scene is on the rise! We love how the whole hip hop scene is escalating, when it is the right time we will definitely blow up like the Jozi and Durban fam. There are so many talented rappers out here. We believe that with support from our Cape Town people and unity amongst us as artists we could break walls. We also feel that as soon as promoters start recognizing more hip hop acts out here in Cape Town things will change.

These girls were lucky enough to get a bit of airplay when they were on the popular TV show ‘SA’s Got Talent’, “Wow the SA’s Got Talent experience… it was a great experience, overwhelming and absolutely amazing. The response we received from the audience as well as the judges made the vision super clear”.

Since that experience these ladies have been living that vision as they are now the talk of the town. SA’s Got Talent was 2014, that has passed, move on to 2015 and these girls are living they vision and participating in more local talent contests. Earlier on in the year they won the IKasi Has Talent at the annual IKasi Experience in Khayelitsha, “Winning the iKasi Has Talent competition at the iKasi Experience was too phresh. We were up against really dope Cape Town artists so we had to bring our A-Game. We really happy we won that day as we have always wanted to showcase our talent in Khayelitsha and iKasi Experience gave us that opportunity.” (Later on in the year the same contest would be one by Hype Liyakuza).

When sitting with artist like Hype and Phresh one can’t help but notice the language, it’s a signature, its more than just about the artists sound but also the way they carry themselves out and speak. One has to be part of the “Clique” to flow with this crew. The way they speak and flow is inspired by the streets of the hood just like hip hop has always been,

“The PhreshClique sound is a phresh sound and is inspired by the streets and the lingo yase Kasi, many artists that inspire us namely the late Brenda Fassie, Boom Shaka, K.O, Cassper Nyovest, and AKA just to name a few.”

When listening to these two ladies, you can’t help but hear the excellent production, one can tell that they work with producers who understand their sound and can complement both these ladies very well. Word on the street is that the master who does such work is local producer Kenny Dolo, “We love people who are passionate and dedicated to their work we found that in Kenny Dolo, he understands our journey and vision and he is simply one of the greatest producers in the Cape Town”

Well it is no secret that this duo is going far. We hope to hear from them soon, according to them “[Lol] well we won’t name drop but we are currently working on exciting projects with some of our fellow Cape Town rappers and also our own music. We promise you nothing but HEAT”. Guess it’s gonna be a Phresh season, also with their hit ‘Umlilo’ also gaining momentum on the streets we can only expect nothing but flames this summer as they promise us “Gigs, Gigs and more gigs. Music lots of music! We are also planning on shooting a movie for our hit song UMLILO. We ask the PHamily to keep it locked on our social networks for all things PhreshClique.”

(Not a video but a movie, #highly anticipated).

#ZuZa CPTHipHop UMLILO

The Dynamite in a West Wing package.

We’ve all heard Aphe Kapa, now we onto the next. There’s a new kid on the block and his only 16. Zuza took some time to have a word with West Wing Academy’s newest kid on the block, TRP.

1) What does TRP mean?

The Rap Trilogy

2) Where you from, which hood do you represent?

I’m from Mandalay, but currently they call me the prince of Skomline (Langa township)

3) You about to release your first single, what’s going on in your mind with all the hype around the release?

A bit nervous but also keeping my composure. But I hope the listeners will enjoy it

4) How was it working with Hype Liyakuza and Amilca

Amazing! It was actually a dream come true. I remember last year when they released ‘Haisho Bhowzey’, I told one of my mates that I’d be on the remix, fast forward a year later I am in the same stable as Amilca

5) Define your sound, yes its hip hop but give us a definition of what we can expect from TRP, what’s different about you from the rest and please don’t say its cause you young and its fresh?

I would sound real wack if I was to respond like that. I would say it’s a sound of hope. I’m giving hope to the youngsters out there who are trying to make it and be like me.

6) Having mentioned that you young in the previous question, do you not feel that you may get a bit overwhelmed and might be a bit over your head

Nope. I’m just as big as these hommies. ( Laughs)

7) So when you first came out into the cape town hip hop scene there was a bit of drama, with you using Boolez beat and you doing the Aphe kapa remix, tell us more about that; how did it happen?

Long story. So last year I had seen that my cousin Thando ( Touch Narcotics) was making beats( I never knew this),so this one day he posted a free beat on the internet and I downloaded it, but after that I heard it belonged to Boolez.

I listened to the original and thought I could make it better and made a remix. But the thing was I was scared to release it last year, so Illrow (producer) and I put it away. I decided to release it on the 7th of June on my late hommies (sic) birthday. After the release Touch was shocked. West Wing Academy heard it and they took me in.

8) Is there any bad blood between you and Boolez?

Nah I don’t know. I don’t know how he feels about it

9) You were once part of a crew or are still part of a crew Unite The Mic ( UTM), tell us more about that?

Ah man, these are my boys. They been there for me. They actually supported to work to WWA. Also be on the lookout for them, they ILL (sic)

10) Who’s your inspiration, doesn’t necessarily have to be another rapper could be anyone that you draw inspiration from.

On most of my songs I mention my three year old niece. Ever since her birth I’ve been motivated. Her presence is a present

11) Family, do they support your music

Yea kinda

12) Wait, you 17 and you a rapper, you a hip hop Justin Bieber Im sure when them lil girls be screaming there's one lady out there getting jealous>

No comment

13) Diamonds & Pearls tell us more about the single?

This one is what Lil Wayne and I call “Hustler Muzik”. It’s about the grind, not giving up and just being true to yourself. Amilca was nice on with the hook and shout out Sharlie Beanaro, he killed that beat.

DOWNLOAD HERE

#ZuZa CPTHipHop WWA

Kasi Comedy Night

Who would have ever thought that comedy would be hosted eKasi. Yes that’s right you heard right, comedy eKasi, not a stand up comedy act at Armchair in Obz or at the Comedy Club, nope right in the township. Wednesday evenings have changed in the ever so retro Gugulethu, no it’s not a weekday fish braai bhari, its comedy.

Lundi Tsotso and Kholekile Sompaza directors of Siqhamo Media got it right. Comedy is something we all enjoy, it takes us away from our day to day struggles for a few hours and makes us have a moment of joy.

Arriving at the venue, the trendy Sky Lounge in NY 6 Gugulethu, you are met with an atmosphere that makes you feel like you are at those smoky New York Jazz clubs but you’re not, you’re in Gugs still. It was quite a pleasant surprise to see that the band performing for the crowd was actually made up of a group of older gentlemen from the township. Some of these Timers we would see them in and around the township and never imagined them in a band.

With some good music playing in the background patrons slowly started to walk in the venue ready to be entertained. After a while you almost forget that the venue was empty as it filled up, the venue buzzing with conversations, bear hugs and polite kisses on the cheek (yeah we’ve evolved Ma Afrika, we kiss on cheeks now). As evolved as we are as a people there is something that we will never shake off, ‘African time’. We could not help notice that the acts were late and no one seemed to be bothered.

The venue was packed and people were ready to be entertained, but it did not matter that most of the acts were late, conversations were flowing, music was pumping and people did not seem to notice the time flying by.

Finally the show started and the host of the show, Siya, kept the crowd in stitches in between acts. Siya was rather impressive as he was very composed almost as if what he was doing was like second nature to him. Siya was very engaged with the crowd to the point that he even picked on a guy in the audience and made jokes about him and the girls sitting around him. He kept himself connected to the audience as though he was casually chatting to his friends which was refreshing to witness.

The most captivating act of the night was Mumz whom is a South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards(SATMA) nominee. This guy was loved by the crowd, people were rolling on the floor with laughter (not literally but close enough to) and they just could not get enough of him. Clynton Dunn was one of the acts that came on stage. This comedian definitely has potential to go far in his career and hopefully it won’t be the last time we see him.

Wednesday nights in Gugulethu will never be the same, and it is always impressive to be part of something positive that comes out of our hoods. As ZuzaNation we salute Siqhamo Media for their efforts to bring a different kind of entertainment to eKasi and we wish them all the best and much success.

#zuzanation

dynamicafrica

AFRICANS OF NOTE: Bob Gosani

Much is not known about South African photographer Bob Gosani’s early life and sadly, details on how he passed away in 1972, in his late 30s, are difficult to find. But what is certain is that Gosani’s work made a profound and pivotal contribution to the anti-Apartheid regime in South Africa - most especially through his documentation of the ’Tauza dance’, a humiliating and degrading act that black prisoners were forced to perform at The Fort prison in Hillbrow, to ensure that they concealed no contraband in any of their bodily orifices.

The iconic photographer, who dared to defy the Apartheid government by concealing his camera as he documented the lives of black people in the country in the 1950s, was born in Johannesburg in 1934. In the early 1950s he began his career in photojournalism at Drum magazine as an apprentice to Jürgen Schadeberg. In 1957, Gosani was involved in a serious car accident and lost a lung, a factor that may have contributed to his death at a young age in 1972.

More African Photographers.

#ZuzaWomen

This is a new single by Hyperion, where he spits crazy vernac flows while name dropping some of the most infamous Cape Tonians on the Scene. The Hook is done by Amilca Mezarati where he sings an addic

Download My Father ft Nasiphi %26 Fiks - (Produced by Sharlie Beanero).mp3 free. File hosted free by DataFileHost.

Hyperion

Langa a township synonymous with so much. Buzzing with culture and back in the day political activity. The home of the Pan Africanist movement in the Western Cape, the home of Cape Town and arguably South Africa’s biggest Pop diva sis Brenda Fassie. And more recently the home of Cape Town Hip Hop. ZuzaNation took some time to sit down with Langa’s more recent star Hype Liyakuza.

Hype real name Monde Nicholas Komsana was named by his mother. His name when directly translated means Patience, “It also means ‘world’ in French, ‘Le Monde’ in Italian”. I guess his mother is a wise woman as this brother is going to the top and with ‘patience’ he will conquer the world.

“Hype yena (sic) comes from the word Hyperion which means God of the Sun” this man truly and rightfully believes he is destined for greatness; you don’t have to listen to his raps to get that. “So I was Hyperion the Don, but Showbiz influenced the change to Hype Liyakuza (I always listen to that man)”. Showbiz is the manager and part owner of West Wing Academy the home of Hype and other artists. “The change was to appeal more to the kasi steeze (sic)”

We spoke of the state of the music industry in Cape Town. “Artist are afraid of competition and not the battling or beefing kinda competition, but the kind where people are willing to come together and collaborate”. Hype has collaborated with a few artists from the West Wing family, this shows that there is no competition amongst them but more of a sense of brotherhood that is missing in today’s hip-hop. “They afraid of being shown up/ up staged on a on a track or event”. Hype emphasised the need for this fear to end,

“The sooner we understand that, no matter how great you considered yourself to be, There will always be someone greater than you, ukum wen’yaYaku? (You get me brother?)” Hip Hop is all about competition, Hype emphasizes that a lot of rappers need to understand and feel comfortable with competition.

“So ezi(sic) Mickey are scared to embrace that someone out there is betta. It was Thomas Hobbes if not John Locke who said, a man put their own power and wit above that of the next person... Because artists' fear competition, they will play dirty to be on top. Hiko loko wena yaku uthol' ukuthi ez Mickey zigqobhela ama Yaku/inja zempilo iminyango.( that’s why you see that these Mickeys are playing dirty and closing the doors for others)”.

BCP Studio

This is what led us to why we were chilling at the Broken Chain Productions (BCP) studios in the backyards of Kwa Langa. ZuZaNation had the pleasure spending the day with Hype Liyakuza while he was recording his new single, “Never give up”. One could see that the fear of competition was not a part of Hypes’ repertoire. Not only did he collaborate with Vusi Kamba (vocalist signed to West Wing Academy and Ta DOC (BCP producer) Hype also invited a full media crew for a chill session.

Monde Komsana, better known as Hype Yonk’nto ithru, Phola lapho Liyakuza describes himself as a rapper/poet/artist and member of West Wing Academy. Get to know a small part of him and you’ll understand him as forward thinking, extremely confident and educated star. Yet, despite this, he has the ability to relate with the ‘izinjazempilo (street hustler’s) to your cheese boys on Long Street, yanthola lapho (you get me)”.

Hype clearly has a style and look to him, a look you could associate with the golden age of hiphop mixed with Kwa Langa’s injazempilo. When asked what he based his style, he responded, without hesitation, NAS!

“Nas Charlie yintangaka Yesu( Is something close to Jesus). Nas is the greatest lyricist & storyteller alive. Of all time in fact! He paints a picture in your mind while his words touch your heart. To be the best emulate the best.”

With only one figure to base his style on, Hype has created the rest of his persona through his upbringing kwa Langa and his relationship with the rest of the West Wing Academy. Hype and all of the West Wing crew consider themselves as trend setters in the mother city, not only for their dedication and rhyme style, but also due to their general way of life. An outsider would be lost in the conversation between them, even if you spoke all the official languages of this land, but somehow they still manage to get most to jam to their song at events.

Their general way of life is partly based on the sophisticated, patriotic, ruthless, but always gentlemanly Mafia. Thats why the word “DON” always pops up in their introduction. Thinking about it, the word “Mafia” is a great way of describing West Wing.

‘The Sicilian adjective mafiusu (in Italian: mafioso), roughly translated, means "swagger," but can also be translated as "boldness, bravado".’

There is certain ‘bravado’ to Hype. Before even sitting down with him to chat, he already knew the direction he wanted the conversation to go. He had answers to every question ask and had no stress being quoted saying shit that might stir up some haters.

And if he were to go too far with his ‘bravado’, he has good friends around him to guide and help him. Hype pays a lot of respect to West Wing and in particular Amilca Mezarati. He coins their relationship to that of Jay & Dane/ Al Pacino & De Niro, were they are alway lifting each other to do better, whether in the booth or on stage.

In fact, Hype has only been on stage four times this year and most times, it’s been Mezarati who has put him on to perform their banger, #‎Ungasabi. Which, if you don’t know by now, has reach more than 1000 download and got Hype 1st place at this year’s 10th edition of ikasi Experience talent search. Surprisingly, it is the lack of stage time, hype admits, is his weakness.

Notes to ‘Never Give Up”

The ‘family’ like attitude of West Wing goes so far that when hype describes ‘Showbizness’ Bruce, he places him as the type of guy that, if the minute Showbizness would win a million bucks, he will call all his boys and let them know about it. They certainly a family and is part of the reason they live the ‘Don’ life style.The other reason they admire the Don’s, he describes;

“Amataliani (Italians). Look around you, whateva (sic) you see, Italians had a part to play. Most powerful & influential people, especially Dons. The 5 Families, Especially way’ze (sic) entertainment, ukum wena Yaku (you get me). Fashion, prostitution, racketeering, money laundering, gambling, hotels & all. Who showed alla (sic) that, aren’t they still around? All em (sic) went from rags to riches to everlasting names. I just love how they conducted themselves, communicated! Nda cosha ukncane pha kubo, ndazbamba zaqina. Ukum skhala seskhala?” (I took what little influence I could from them and created myself)

Hype grew up kwa Langa, making his name there. It was eZone where he moved from [his] knees to [his] feet…”That’s where the slang game was born”. He now feels he has done all he can, collaborated with all he can and inspired all those willing to listen and now its time for him to reach the greater Cape Town and South Africa. With tracks like #Ungasabi featt Mezarati, the poetic ballad ‘My Father’ featuring Nasipi & Fiks and his new track dropping 31st July, featuring Vusi Kamba, we have already gotten a teaser of Hypes’ lyrical strength and he’s no were near giving up, hence ‘Never Give Up’ the name of the single

“Hype grew up kwa Langa, making his name there..”

It’s been a long road since Hypes’ mother would shout at him, saying “kudala wayiyenza lento” (you’ve been doing this for too long) for writing rhymes instead of going to the shop yotheng’ isonka (to buy bread). But surely his made her proud after realising the track feat Mezarati, #Our Love Song dedicated to all the mothers and also giving half the prize money from the iKasi Experience competition to her.

We saw you at Ikasi Experience taking some pictures in a Score branded BMW, what’s the deal with that? (Laughs)

“Cava iScore wena chali (watch the Score son (sic)”), big things to come my G, it’s all up to iMighty (the Lord). Ok so obviously there is something brewing between Hype and the energy drink giant Score but obviously he did not want to get into detail about it

A day with Hype is too long (but in a good way). Listening to him and trying to make notes for an interview is more of a deciphering session more than an interview. This brother is a handful and more and is destined to take the Mother City by storm. He is an educated rapper with a qualification. A young Xhosa man who respects and honours the code of the streets that raise him and always pays homage to his township Langa more popularly known as “Skomline” Watch this space, the storm is brewing Cape Town. Get ready for the Hype…

#zuzanation cpthiphop westwingacademy ungasabi pholalapho

#iLOKSHIN iROKIWE

@Lewswag , @AyLow_Powder , @gqamanethando1 & @ColeWilL4eVer

The weekend of the 27th June 2015 provided an interesting treat for CPT music and creative arts followers. I can’t remember the last time CPT was saturated by so many talented artist showcasing their skill and determination to breakthrough the creative iron curtain that divides mainstream and underground, all on the same day. From all corners of Cape Town, they have dug themselves out of that dirt to create a bust of wonders, colours and sounds.

On that particular day, ZuZaNation had the honour of being invited to #iROKSIN ELOKSHN which was held at Ny20 Guguletu.

Now, when you think of a tent closing off a street ekasi, one usually thinks of a funeral. Well this day was different and this tent was properly ‘pimped’ out with even a grass mat in the VIP area to keep your feet of the street.

Ny20, GUGULETU. CAPE TOWN

#iROKSIN ELOKSHN Street Bash was brought to you by Destination Cape Town (DCT), who describe themselves as “an independent record label from Cape Town formed in 2008”, but when speaking to them, they seem and say that they are a group of close friend who, through their time together, discovered that they each had significant sets of skills. It is these skills and their friendship which would help grow DCT.

The members include the label management; Cole-Will, Vince, LewSwag, Aikho, Aylo and artists who are; Boss, Shier, Mhamha, Cole-Will & LewSwag. They all act as brand ambassadors not only for DCT, but Cape Town as a whole. Although, some would say, they have an old fashion take on what it means to be a brand ambassador.

“Nobody really believes in marketing their brand and product, we believe in marketing our music and releasing quality production to take advantage of the best form of marketing ‘Word of mouth’.”

Taking advantage of the limited resources available and fighting the many obstacles in their way, DCT are striving to bring back the days of shared community experience and enjoyment, in their own words, ‘iPowerilaphailokshin (no Eskom jokes) and its up to us to show it’.

Another motivation behind them is he fact that CPT, and even their own neighbourhood, has so much talented individuals, but it seems like the only way to make it in the South African music industry is to move to JHB. This is a complaint that comes up from a number of artists around CPT… Well DCT want to change this and hope…wait, KNOW that one day MCs from around SA will flock to CPT, the final ‘Destination’.

“Everyone wants to be a star, but at DCT our aim is more than influence, we aim to leave a lasting impression by always being consistent and relevant in the industry”.

To get there and make that a possibility, DCT advice young MCs and entrepreneurs to simply “close your ears” to haters and “leave room for disappointment”.

The future is bright for this crew and you can expect “more business joint ventures, more gigs, joint venture events and summer event from DCT” even before the end of this year.

Tracks like #Bungaztholi by Cole-Will, Amilca_Mezarati & LewSwag which is a “single/promo joint to promote DCT as a Cape Town hiphop brand” will be available for digital download from the 10th July 2015.

Although the track dropped last year March 2014, “the hype wasn't really around datafilehost like it is now. The joint never got this opportunity to be downloaded and people have been askin’ how can they get the song but wonder no more coz 10th July is here!!”

This just showing the type of demand for DCT and CPT music and also the future of music distribution in general.

So stay tuned to @DCT_clan, for they still got a lot more to offer CPT and the rest of the world.

#zuzanation cpthiphop DCT_clan iROKSIN ELOKSHN

Download HYPE TEAM - ILL REGIME(2014).zip free. File hosted free by DataFileHost.

KYD Underground Series...

HYPE TEAM is a rap duo from Tambo Village in Manenberg and one of the youngest acts under the KYD Underground stable. They are Rashad Ongeziwe Ranisi known in hip hop circles as Reezo and Cebo Tshetu who goes by the moniker XPlosive, nineteen and eighteen year olds respectively, they are steadily on the rise in the local hip hop scene. When I first met them young niggaz I sensed a sort of calm reserved validity that normally comes with time and when I heard they shit the first time I knew that I was witnessing something special.

“We grew up together, I mean it’s like, we’ve always known each other since we were kids’, explained Xplosive when I asked them how they met. “We also went to school together, in fact, one of the reasons we ended up rapping started from a situation at school”, Reezo relates the story. “There was this other dude at school who was supposed to be this tight emcee or whatever. Of course we didn’t think he was all that, y’ know? But everybody else thought he was the shit, so he got mad love from e’ybody else”.

“pressure would demand that they put out a mixtape.”

That would spur them into doing something to prove to their friends at school that they can do better than the other cat and so started to record themselves with a cell phone and loved what they heard. After their song was shared amongst their friends it quickly caused a stir on social networks and playlists around and they knew that there was more to this, enough for them to consider taking a proper stance toward pursuing rap.

This would compel them to seek better beats and recording studio. It is during this search for improved resources and connects that word got out about a rapper in the hood by the name of Capitol A. X recounts, “We actually heard from Reezo’ sister about him [Capitol A] being a rapper and possibly someone who could help us with beats and recording and things and when we saw and meet up with him later but at first he just didn’t seem like a rapper to us, at all.’

At Cap’s invitation, they set up an impromptu audition because apparently, even though he had heard about their cell phone recording, he still wasn’t convinced. After a couple of 16’s Cap, he [Capitol A] was sold, so much so, that he introduced them to his KYD fam and recorded a track with them the same day. Rhyme Scheeming’ was their first proper record and would signify the birthing of one of the freshest and most promising rap acts on the streets right now.

The joint did better than they had anticipated and off its strength, following wise, pressure would demand that they put out a mixtape. Nine months later Ill Regime their first mixtape dropped and to their surprise it’s doing better than expected which only drove these youngins farther and farther into the pages of this culture folklore.

They describe themselves as cats that are into making good music regardless of what you might wanna categorise it. To them, it’s not a matter of being labelled conscious or commercial coz good music speaks to more than category or genre. Them boys seem to have their heads screwed on the right way, and judging by their unrelenting sense of focus and work ethic, it’s no wonder that headz around hoods have been believing the Hype.

Hype Team’s next offer promises a new dimension in their artistry with more intent and conviction in their chosen direction to set themselves apart from everybody else. Based on the songs they have laced so far they sure have moved to another plateaux altogether.

Peace!!!!

The Layman

#zuzanation #kydunderground #cpthiphop #rap

TODAY IN HISTORY - 16 JUNE 1976

This day commemorates the Soweto uprising on this day students were protesting against the implementation of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. The protest ending tragically with hundreds of young individuals bruised, hurt and many killed by the apartheid government.

This image is the iconic photograph of Hector Pieterson, a black scholar who was shot by the police during the protest.

We believe the aim for youth day is to celebrate the victory and oppression. It is a day to reflect on the young individuals who lost their lives in a protest to better our education and a voice.

We asked a couple of new wave creative minds on their take on Youth Day, check out our Twitter page @ZuzaNation to find out what they have to say.

Lastly one of the founders of ZuzaNation has an interesting take on Youth Day, he views it in this manner. “Throughout the years the commemoration of youth has changed from generation to generation. Next year will be the 40th anniversary since the tragic incident that has shaped our nations struggle.”

He continues to day that “One can only hope that after 40years that we have made significant strides but the youth in our country are now fighting a different war, a war in which the enemy is grave injustices and not just a language but an injustice in which only a few are privileged enough to feel and live this freedom that our people where promised. So what does youth day mean? Youth day is not Hector Pieterson, but let us look to him and be inspired by him and the rest who stood up for what was that they believed was owed to them a free, fair education system. They took to the streets and took their destiny. That is what we as the youth of today should do. This freedom is ours and we owe it to no one to not claim.” Kanya Njoli.

Tell us what you did on Youth Day and what it means to you?

Download U.N.A - Keys-808-Synths & Samples(2014).zip free. File hosted free by DataFileHost.

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