A PLANETARY ASSAULT AT ROOSEVELT

T.O.P. flipping the script Ladies were in the building! Damn!
"Yeah, we're ill like that"
Butan Wear's Julian and Eesham
Ma-B on the mic, with El-Nino & Macho looking on
The crazy crowd
Qhama and Janine getting their vibe on
Ladies shaking their tailfeathers
Dj Nastie Ed on the decks
D-Planet & Konfab
DJ Nastie Ed and DJ Hamma about to drop the next joint


By Qhama Dayile
Pics by Thando Toto

To say that the long awaited gig, which featured a packed line-up of over 14 of Cape Town’s tightest MCees, was a memorable show would be an understatement of note.

The results of D-Planet’s hard work shone through last night; all those mad hours of tin banging and beat making enabled him to put together jaw-dropping production for all the bangers on the Nando’s-hot Planetary Assault album. These joints were of course performed last night in the most emphatic fashion by the typically overzealous MCees on stage.

The Roosevelt night club on Bree Street in Cape Town had midgets standing on speaker tops, groupies leaching onto the front row and wannabes shaking the hands of the performers while on stage. In a nutshell, it was a pretty good night for Cape Town hip hop.

However, listening to the performers needed concentration and much
attentiveness though as the sound wasn’t top notch by any measure, but for the hardcore fans, it was a no-brainer, singing along was no mission, only lip reading was required!

The Butan giveaways also made up for the commercial dancehall which followed after the live acts had wrapped up their stuff. Apparently the dancehall was motivation enough for peeps to head home; after all, it was a weekday and even hip hop cats have to work!

While enthralled by the spectacular performances from Ratex, Rhamncwa,Driemaanskaap, Konfab, Oracle, Terror Mc, Archetypes and many more, a question sprung to mind: where is the Coloured hip hop community of Cape Town?

We must admit, even hip hop has racial issues. After attending a similar set-up last week at 'Cape Town's Battle of the year' I left with a similar question: Where is the black hip hop community of Cape Town? (Divisions anyone?)

Hey, don't mind me. This was D's night and it's about time Cape Town MCees received proper recognition; the flashing cameras and groupie love must have left the MCees feeling like real stars!

Shame, they've earned their stripes. Show some love! And oh like Celo says 'Ben Sharpa's back, I seen em.'