JILL SCOTT STIRS THE SOUL WITH “THE REAL THING”

By Zandile Dlamini

Who else can infuse Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop and spoken word into one track and still manage to achieve lyrical symphony and a spellbinding sound? None other than the one and only poetic gem, Jill Scott.

Well known for her timeless sounds and hypnotic voice, she shot to stardom when she released her first album “Who is Jill Scott?”, which featured enchanting tracks such as “A Long Walk” and “Getting’ in the way”.

From then on Ms Scott only managed to go from strength to strength, walking away with a Grammy in 2005 for her melodious opus, “Cross My Mind”. In 2006, she released, “Collaborations”, an album summing up some of her previous works featuring highly talented artists such as Common, Mos Def, Kirk Franklin and many more.

Now she’s graced us with yet another comeback. With the release of “The real Thing. Words and sounds. Vol.3”, the bubbly songstress has blessed us once more with her eccentric sounds and awe-inspiring rhymes.

When listening to this album, I found myself melting in a string of euphonious sounds, something that I had never experienced before. These mind blowing tracks are unlike anything Jill Scott has ever done in the past. In this set, she serves us explosive tunes such as, “The real thing”, “Hate on me” and “Come see me” with straight-to-the-point lyrics and piercing tunes that take you to a place I can guarantee, you have yet to encounter.

However, if you are a true Jill Scott fan and have found yourself adapting stubbornly to her previous style, then this album could very well take some time before it grows on you. Nevertheless, once you fall in love with these songs, there is no way out.

“The Real Thing” is, without doubt, an Album that deserves to go into your music collection!

HYPE SESSIONS IN GUGS

Pics by Thando Toto















By Unathi July

One of the most common cliché sayings in hip-hop is ‘Don’t believe the hype’, but this time you had to believe it. A flood of hip-hop heads from around the Cape Town suburbs and hoods invaded the Gugulethu Sports Complex on a blazing hot Sunday for the highly-anticipated Hype Live Sessions.

Gauteng-based Hype magazine and Roach Inc. Entertainment initiated this event series which was sponsored by MTN-Loaded. The incorporation of the park-jam set-up held there which is usually hosted by the All NYs Collective had sparked-off an exciting and vibrant mood which complemented the activities such as your MCing, DJing, Graffiti and Breakdancing that enthralled people to no end. Many of Cape Town’s finest hip hop arts such as Driemanskap, Ill-Literate-Skill, Archetypes, Ben Sharpa, Jitsvinger, Rattex, Mak1 the graf-writer, Ubuntu the former b-boy world champions came out in full force.

A favourite highlight of this event was when Korianda the host terminated Driemanskap’s set before it had actually finished, after they blazed the arena with their fire-breathing rhymes. The felt more like spectators themselves when the crowd drew towards them while they performed and this led to a major chaos.
What a dope showcase, even Mzoli’s fire-extinguishers were present to prevent the blaze… best believe that hype.

WATCH TALIB KWELI'S HOT NEW VIDEO

Talib Kweli's new album, Ear Drum, is an instant masterpiece; it features him in his element spitting lyrical fire in all sorts of directions. The Brooklyn MC has just released the video for his new single "Hot Thang" produced by and featuring will.i.am. I definitely think this is one of the freshest videos I have seen this year alongside Kanye West's "The Good Life". Check it out:



The video is obviously inspired by the "The PC is Personal Again" commercials that HP did last year, which featured the likes of Jay-Z, Mark Cuban and Pharrell Williams. Dope shit!

PHARRELL, KANYE AND OTHERS COME OUT FOR MURAKAMI EXHIBTION

A couple of trendy celebrities attended an exhibition by Takashi Murakami, a world-renowned art pioneer from Japan, at the Geffen Contemporary in Los Angeles. The highly decorated artist is known for taking low culture and repackaging it and selling it in the high market. Some of his most popular works include the limited edition handbags that he designed for Louis Vuitton (see below) and the cover artwork for Kanye's Graduation album.

Some of the celebs that graced his exhibition included Pharrell Williams, Nigo (founder of Bape), Serena Williams, Kanye West and others.

Pharrell Williams and Nigo of Bape
Kerry Washington showing a leg
Kanye and his fiance Alexis
Serena Willimas took some time off the court to check out some art
Looks who's back from the trenches? Joy Bryant
Murakami designed this popular Louis Vuitton bag
Another one of his creations - Kanye's album cover

GUESS WHO'S MAKING A COMEBACK?

Ja Rule, the diminutive Murder Inc soldier who got slapped around by 50 Cent on a number of diss tracks is preparing a comeback. His first single, "Body", features Ashley Joi and is classic Ja Rule. He is singing on the song coupled with occasional barking raps. The video is steamy and sensual, check it out below.



So what do y'all think? Is your boy Rule back? I know our intrepid writer Kopano Marumo would agree cos' she's feeling him at the moment. Let us know.

Ja Rule's new album "The Mirror" is dropping mid-November.

KANYE'S GRADUATION GOES DOUBLE PLATINUM BABY!

It's official, your boy Kanyeezy has done it again! Graduation, which was released barely a month ago has achieved double platinum status in the States alone i.e. 2 million copies sold.

This shouldn't be coming as a surprise as he pushed more than 970 000 copies of the album in its first week of release, outselling even the juggernaut that is 50 Cent. Graduation features the hit singles "Stronger" featuring Daft Punk, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "The Good Life" featuring T-Pain. The standout track for me is "Big Brother", an emotional song on which he waxes lyrical about his complex relationship with his mentor and friend, Jay-Z. His rhymes sound extremely refined and he discusses the subject matter with admirable honesty.

If you don't have Graduation yet, do yourself a favour and get it as it is undoubtedly one of the best albums of the year.

DON’T MISS FRESHLYGROUND ON TOUR

As previously reported, Mzansi’s biggest selling band, Freshlyground, will be going on a nationwide tour in support of their newly released album. Their latest album, splendidly titled Ma’Cheri was released a month ago to much fanfare; the lead single “Pot Belly”, in which Zolani tackles the issue of being comfortable in one’s own skin, has been receiving massive airplay across many radio stations. Their equally delightful and peachy video has also been enjoying good rotation on video outlets.

The charm of Freshlyground is that they make fun, easy-on-the-ear music that captures one's spirit and ignites it with illuminating splendor. Their sound, which is a fusion of various African and Euro rhythms, has led the band to receive worldwide acclaim.

You can catch Freshlyground at the following stops:

2nd November - Grand West Casino, Cape Town
6th November - UPE Arena, Port Elizabeth
8th November – ICC Centre, Durban
10 and 11 November - Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

Tickets are available at Computicket.

REVIEW – TALIB KWELI AND MADLIB’S LIBERATION

By Larissa Focke

Madlib is one of my favourite DJ / producer’s and ever since hearing the socio-political rawness of 'Sharp Shooters' on Lyricist Lounge back in the day, I will always respect Talib Kweli. So, when a friend first told me about this album, my expectations were high. Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats (Madlib) and a “true student” of the mic (Talib in Arabic means student, Kweli in Swahili means true) – sounds like a good combination.

Sadly, my expectations plummeted to the ground on hearing the final chords of the last track on the album. For the most part, in my opinion, the album lacked creativity and funk. The beats had potential but with Talib sticking to the same recipe as far as his delivery’s concerned, Madlib’s production skills went to waste. Those of us on top of their shit would have known that the album was released for free in the first week of January 2007 on the internet. Either way, I wouldn’t have paid for this album.

Years later, I can still jam Kweli’s tracks like Get By, Move Something, Definitions, and The Blast. Madlib’s React, Come on Feet, Questions, The Awaited, When I’m on da Mic, Good Morning Sunshine and Bad Character are regular features on my playlists. But the songs on Liberation seemed stagnant, repetitive and are neither artist’s best work. They will flitter out of memory when the music fades away and surely be forgotten, which is a damn shame.

Still, it’s good to hear Talib is continuing to rap about important issues, as opposed to hoes, clothes and bling. Case in point: “My rhymes is full of truth, and the business full of lies/ Try to look a Masai kid in his eyes for the flies and tell him how he fucked up our environment daily/The only thing we know about Africa is from Nas or Belly/ But go off like a Hutu or Tutsi, from Rwanda or Burundi/ Over drums like Babatunde Olatunji...”

Madlib is a prolific and multi-talented DJ / producer / MC, who specialises in digging. A digger is a DJ who searches through thousands of thrift shops let alone records to find musical gems. He then samples these tracks and implements them into his own musical creations, constructing something original and fresh, yet oddly familiar. The first time I ever heard Madlib was on a song called 'Rhyme Constructa', with Peanut Butter Wolf (founder of Stone’s Throw Records). “Yo, it’s the loop digga!” Madlib called out and half way through the track, when his alter-ego Quasimoto stepped up to the mic, I was smitten – hook, line and sinker.

All in all, I think Talib is a great MC and Madlib is amazingly talented, but there’s no magic in this collaboration. Talib should be more experimental in his craft, as opposed to experimenting with other artists. All too often, his flow and style is the same. Yet, a reunion with Mos Def, I think, is long overdue. Madlib has more creative freedom when he collaborates like-minded with artist such as MF Doom and Peanut Butter Wolf, and when he does, there are always mind altering beats on offer.

DENZEL WASHINGTON'S AMERICAN GANGSTER TO HIT A CINEMA NEAR YOU

American Gangster, the gangster flick written by Steve Zaillian and directed by Ridley Scott is set to be released November 2 Stateside, meaning that we'll probably be able to catch it here in Mzansi just before the end of November. The film, as previously reported, stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

Washington portrays Frank Lucas, a real-life heroin kingpin from Harlem who smuggled the drug into the country in the coffins of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War. Crowe portrays Richie Roberts, a detective who brings down Lucas' drug empire. The filming for the entire flick was done in New York. Lucas, who's currently in witness protection, accumulated a staggering wealth of more than $250 million (R1.8 Billion) in the years that he was on top of the New York drug game, a feat that no other black drug dealer has ever achieved.

If you dug "Scarface", "Goodfellas" or "King of New York", then you should definitely check this out when it comes out. Also bear in mind that this is the flick that inspired Jay-Z's upcoming album of the same name. Here's the trailer:

MZANSI LOSES AN ICON

By now, most of you have probably heard about the merciless and thoughtless killing of South Africa’s legendary reggae icon, Lucky Dube. As Encore, we’d like to formally show our respect to the man that brought us groundbreaking hits such as “Prisoner”, “Taxman” and “Respect”. As a kid growing up in Soweto in the late eighties, I was undeniably captivated by this revolutionary who waved his massive dreadlocks in the air constantly while chanting freedom songs that the architects of the Apartheid regime were afraid would incite the millions who had been impeached for far too long.

I vividly remember seeing Lucky Dube opening for Sting at Ellis Park Stadium; the brother had so much energy and fire in him that he didn’t bother using a stage as is customary, instead he converted the entire field into his own playground. He ran energetically and covered the entire breadth of the field chanting his revolutionary choruses to the delight of the mesmerised 80 000 strong crowd.

“Is it the bodyguards around you/ Is it the high walls where you live/ Or is it the men with the guns around you/ Twenty-four hours a day/ That make you ignore the crying of the people/ Farmers get killed every day/ And you say it is not that bad/ Policemen get killed every day/ And you say it is not that bad/ Maybe if you see it through the eyes/ Of the victims/ You will join us and fight this/ Crime and corruption/

Do you ever worry/ About your house being broken into/ Do you ever worry/ About your car being taken away from you/ In broad daylight/ Down Highway 54/ Do you ever worry/ About your wife becoming/ The woman in black/ Do you ever worry/ About leaving home and/ Coming back in a coffin/ With a bullet through your head/ So join us and fight this/ Crime and corruption”
From the song Crime and Corruption, 2001

Lucky was slain in an attempted hijacking in Rosettenville in Johannesburg Thursday night, at approximately 8pm, whilst dropping off his children at a family member’s house.

Although Lucky attempted to escape the scene, he had been fatally wounded from the hijacker’s attempt to steal his motor vehicle, and he died almost instantly. Senseless and random, the death of Lucky Dube leaves a great void in the music industry, as 25 years of music suddenly ends in tragedy.

Lucky Dube was survived by his new wife Zanele and his 7 children Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and his brand new three-month old baby Melokuhle.

May our beloved ICON rest in peace.

WATCH JAY-Z'S NEW VIDEO, BLUE MAGIC, FEATURING PHARRELL

The video is directed by the legendary Hype Williams who did Jigga's "Big Pimpin" video back in the day and most recently Kanye West's "Stronger".

So what do y'all think of the video?

TOUCH THE SKY SLIDESHOW

NHLANHLA READY TO CEMENT HER POSITION AS THE QUEEN OF AFRO-POP

Nhlanhla Nciza of Mafikizolo fame has just launched a solo career and a clothing range. After enjoying huge success with the award winning group, Nhlanhla joined TS Records which is owned by her husband TK Nciza and Sbu Leope, as a solo artist. Her first single “Ungowami” off the album Inguquko (Change) is on heavy rotation on radio stations nationwide. She's also venturing into business. Isaac Mahlangu caught up with the stylish diva...

How was it working on your solo album, this time without the presence of Theo, the other half of Mafikizolo?
It was scary I have to say but at the same time I told myself it was a good thing. It shows that I am growing because I worked really close to the producers; I wrote more on this album that I ever did when working with Mafikizolo. Even it terms of people I wanted to feature on the album I was the one who had the say. I could also decide on who I want to feature on songs. It was challenging but it showed growth at the same time.

You've recorded your solo album with TS Records, which is half-owned by your husband TK, does that mean you got preferential treatment?
Not at all. I think I might be working twice as hard more than other people because my husband is that kind of a person who would make you follow the schedules. If you have six interviews lined up, he will make sure that you will do all of them. If I am sleeping he will make sure that I wake up and do that interview and maybe other artists can get away with that not me. I am not really having it my way.

Mafikizolo has achieved a lot, do you feel the pressure now as a solo artist?
Most definitely there's a lot of pressure. Because of the success of Mafikizolo automatically people expect you to be as successful. Now people also expect me to a big seller, just like Mafikizolo. They don't understand that I am now a new artist and I am starting from scratch. I am like someone who just got a record deal.

You've been on many hit songs, which ones are your favourite and why?
It is always nice featuring other artists, one of my favourites is Mafikizolo featuring Busi Mhlongo, “Ziphi Inkomo”. It was such a blessing being with her in studio. The other song is “Ndihamba Nawe”, that's a song that said Mafikizolo is here whether you liked it or not. The song on my album which features Nana Coyote is also one of my favourites. It's always a pleasure having people like Bra Nana, they are legends and you never thing they would agree to our generation’s music.

You've been in the industry for a while, what can you say is one lesson you learnt?
There are so many lessons that I've learnt. Number one I have learnt to be grounded no matter what and that alone will take you very far. That's the teaching I got from home that I need to respect myself and respect other people. When you get to the music industry you face many pressures. The first pressure is to sell many albums so that you could live that better life. When that doesn't happen you feel the pressure and turn to drugs because of the frustration. If you are lucky, your first album will sell and you don't know how to handle all the fame and money...you also turn into drugs.

What are your current projects?
When I launched my solo album I also launched my clothing range, NN Vintage. I have also started a management company which at the moment only manages myself. I aim to also manage up and coming artists as well.

What more do you still want to achieve?
That's a tough question. At the moment I wanna grow as an individual and I think I've taken the first step with the clothing range and the management company. I want people to trust my clothing as much as they trust my singing. These are the things I have to make sure that they are out there and people know about them as much as they know about my music.

What do you think makes South African artists struggle to sell half-a-million copies?
I think it has something to do with the high rate of unemployment. Most people can't afford to buy CDs, they would rather buy food or clothes. Secondly we also have to compete with international artists such as the likes of 50 Cent and Jay Z. Piracy also affects our record sales because people end up buying the fake CD for R30 rather than the real thing.

What inspires you to succeed?
The fact that I am alive and breathing to me it says God has given me a chance to take care of my child. He is saying go out there and look for challenges. Hence I like the saying: "Success is not a destination but a journey". I also look at people that are successful and they inspire me to work even harder.

Is there a misconception that you think people might have about you?
Some people think I am unapproachable and arrogant. It is because I am a very quiet person, not shy but I only speak when spoken to. If someone doesn't say anything to me, I just keep to myself. So people tend to confuse that with arrogance.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE……..

The boys from Jozi have nabbed 4 nominations
The awesome Lira has received 4 nominations
Mafikizolo has also been nominated

Metro FM, Mzansi's biggest urban radio station, will be hosting their 8th annual music awards in Port Elizabeth once again. Last year’s festivities which I had the pleasure of attending were mind-blowing; acts such as Teargas and Judith Sephuma were the biggest winners of the day and we were also mesmerized by awesome performances by the likes of Trompies, Bouga Luv and Teargas - heck, there was even a showdown between SWC’s (sisters without clothes) Chomee and Kelly Khumalo to the delight of the Eastern Cape crowd.

Last week Metro FM announced the official nominees for all the categories and acts such as Lira, Freshlyground, Jozi and Mafikizolo predictably walked away with the most nominations.

As always, the winners in every category will be voted in by the music buying public, so get your sms game on and make your voice heard!

Well, here’s the list of the nominees and since Encore is such a burgeoning music institution we’ve highlighted those artists whom we think should nab the awards. Don’t be shy to leave any comments if you’ve got your own favourites to shout out.

BEST MALE VOCALIST

Loyiso Bala - Blow your mind
Ringo - Ndim Lo
Danny K - This is my time
Lesego - My Music
Vusi Mahlasela Guiding Star

All the men nominated here are noteworthy vocalists, but the award would have to go to new R&B sensation Lesego who clearly has a serenading voice, as many ladies would agree.

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST

Siphokazi - Ubuntu bam
Lira - Feel good
Simphiwe Dana - One love movement
Nhlanhla - Inguquko
Gugu Shezi Gugu lam

This is a tough one; all the nominees are world-class singers but at the moment no one deserves it more than Lira, especially considering that the poor songstress didn’t receive anything at the SAMAs earlier this year.

BEST R&B ALBUM

Loyiso - Blow your mind
Danny K - This is my time
Claire Phillips - Say my name
Tumi - No guarantee
Malik - Bekezela

Loyiso has been in the R&B game for a minute and although I don’t particularly find his voice ultra stimulating I do feel that he recorded a decent R&B album in the form of Blow Your Mind.

BEST AFRICAN POP ALBUM

Malaika - Sekunjalo
Mafikizolo - Six Mabone
Freshlyground - Macheri
Nhlanhla - Inguquko
Ntando - Uhambo lwam

The fact that Nhlanhla is indirectly nominated twice through Mafikizolo and in a solo capacity serves as testament that the stylish diva is the Afro-pop Queen hands down. Her sing-a-long melodies do wonders for a party, a wedding or any other event where you want to get down to some ‘ol school ish. Besides now that she is a member of TS Records means that the awards will be flooding in (you know TS doesn’t play).

BEST KWAITO ALBUM

L’vovo - L’vovo
Bricks - Estokfeleni
Tzozo & Professor - Togetherness
Trompies - Can’t touch this
Howza - Cut to the chase

Many people at the SAMA’s jeered Bouga Luv when he was announced as the winner of the Best Kwaito album, as the obvious choice was the newcomer L’vovo. This time around, I doubt that a robbery of that nature will take place. Derango’s got this one in the bag.

BEST HIP HOP ALBUM

Jozi - Muthaland Crunk
Tuks - MC Prayer
Flabba - Nkuli vs. Flabba
Tumi - Music form my good eye
Proverb - Manuscript

I could easily go for hard-hitting lyricists Tumi and Proverb for this one, but we all know that the music-buying public doesn’t find their style all too appealing. However the hugely popular Jozi, who have applied Mzansi sounds to their hip-hop should nab this one easily.

BEST GOSPEL ALBUM

Soweto Gospel Choir - African Spirit
Rebecca Malope - Amakholwa
Lusanda Spiritual Group - Ndiphakathi
Ntokozo - Keep on believing
Vuyokazi - Thabatha

Eissh, gospel! Are there really people in Metro FM’s target market that listen to gospel. Haai, I don’t know but I would give it to the Soweto Gospel Choir just because they won us a Grammy Award not too long ago.

BEST JAZZ ALBUM

Jimmy Dludlu - Portrait
Lira - Feel good
Don Laka - The invitation
Marcus Wyatt - Language 12
Simphiwe Dana One love movement on Bantu Biko Street

As much as I love Lira’s Feel Good album I have no idea what it is doing here. It is by no means a jazz album; people are clearly getting things twisted. Jimmy Dludlu’s hypnotic guitar definitely gets my nod on this one as he has produced yet another compelling and moving piece of work.

BEST GROUP ALBUM

Jozi - Muthaland Crunk
Freshlyground - Macheri
Malaika - Sekunjalo
Mafikizolo - Six Mabone
Ntjapedi - Hae hlolwe ke sabata

I have to give this one to my boys Jozi, I must admit I was a skeptic in the beginning, but now I’m a believer. What they produce is what I call ‘organized chaos’. These colourful fellas are a welcome addition to the music biz.

BEST COMPILATION ALBUM

Oskido - 6th Commandment
C’ndo - The finest lady volume 1
DJ Sbu - Ylens volume 2
Revolution - 4 U
Dedee - UDedee usebenzile

Oskido has compiled a knockout in the form of 6th Commandment. The album which has already gone platinum features awesome tracks that will keep the masses grooving the entire summer. DJ Sbu however could steal this one from him.

BEST PRODUCED ALBUM

Freshlyground - Macheri
Lira - Feel good
Simphiwe Dana - One love movement…………
Don Laka - The invitation
Siphokazi - Ubuntu bam

Having a mogul like Sipho Sithole overseeing your album means that you’re going to get the best hands and brains in the business to craft your work. Siphokazi’s Ubuntu Bam should take this away.

BEST STYLED ARTIST OR GROUP

Danny K - This is my time
Kwela Tebza - King Kwela
Nhlanhla - Inguquko
Loyiso - Blow your mind
Iko Mash - Funda kimi

Do we even need to discuss this one? Nhlanhla is unquestionably one of the most stylish artists in the music business today. No wonder she has started her own clothing line.

BEST NEWCOMER

Zonke - Love life and music
Siphokazi - Ubuntu Bam
Ayanda - Music 2 me
Jozi - Motherland Crunk
Tumi - No Guarantee

Mmmh, this is a tough one, but my vote would go to Siphokazi. Ubuntu Bam is one the best produced albums in a while and is a wonderful piece of cohesive work. Jozi would be my second choice for this one.

BEST DANCE ALBUM

DJ Kentphonik - Kentphonik
Black Coffee - Have another one
DJ Cleo - Eskhaleni Phase 4
Soul Candy DJ’s - Electrocandi
Bongi Dube - Ngifuna wena

DJ Cleo is an outstandingly talented producer whose dance sensibilities make him peerless in the industry. His Eskhaleni volumes have been huge sellers over the years and his recent installment is no different in quality, plus he is the people’s favourite.

SONG OF THE YEAR

L’vovo - Bayang’ sukela
Lira - Feel good
Zonke - Ekhaya
Tzozo & Professor - Amantombazana
Jozi - What’s with the attitude

This is so obvious, it is not even funny. L’vovo is going to secure this one with ease. The chubby Durbanite produced one of the catchiest Kwaito songs in the past decade.

HOW TO VOTE:
SMS the category followed by the name of the artist to 34764 before 28 October. Sms costs R2.00

HELP HHP WIN AN MTV EUROPE AWARD

We posted a news item 2 weeks ago announcing that Mzansi’s favourite son, HHP, had been nominated in the category of Best African Act at the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards, which are taking place in Munich, Germany on 1 November 2007.

Since we all love the smooth-moving Motswako king, Encore would like to urge you to log onto www.mtvema.com under Best African Act and vote for HHP; you can actually vote as much as ten times for one artist.

Despite the fact that he is nominated alongside other notable African acts such as Nigeria’s D’Banj and Kenyan’s Jua Cali, we all know that no one deserves the award more than the hardworking MC from Mafikeng.

So come on mense, log onto the MTV website and let’s officially crown HHP as the continent’s Best Act.

DENNIS FERRER & OSKIDO ROCK BUT FAIL TO MAKE US TOUCH THE SKY

By Nick Kaoma

As the crowds gathered at the entrance of Roosevelt, Cape Town’s cosmopolitan but cutting-edge club, I sensed an ambience in the air that suggested that peeps although were amped to party till the morning sun rose, many were too anxious to know what to officially expect from the world-renowned songwriter-producer-DJ Dennis Ferrer. After all Dennis F is known for packing more aces up his sleeve than a small time Las Vegas magician.

As for myself, I was astutely aware of the tirade that Dennis’ bombastic sounds would cause on these house fanatics, my lengthy chat to him earlier in the day revealed a persona that is obsessed with two things: music and pleasing people. And as luck might have it, all that people want is for him to please them with his peerless music.

The evening’s festivities were instigated by the duo DJ crew of Leighton and Kassiem, two Cape Town boys who to my amazement had the crowd eating out of their palms unashamedly. They belted out monster after monster, and they drove the wild crowd into a frenzy that resembled the V&A Waterfront at Christmas time. By the time the main acts for the evening, Dennis Ferrer and Oskido, stepped onto the podium the discerning crowd was as hyped as Jabu Pule in a township tavern surrounded by a bevy of honeys.

The New York born house maestro wasted little time to take the notch to the next level; no slow jams, no warm-up tracks, he went straight into a buoyant track laced with a menacing bass line and hypnotic drums that hit the crowd right where it mattered - their bosoms.

He dug further into his vinyl bag (or should I say laptop), and unleashed joints whose spellbinding soulful, tribal, afro and techno sensibilities bordered on the insane. The mesmerized crowd danced approvingly like a bunch of Native Americans around a ritual fire in worship of their ancestors.

In the midst of all this euphoria, the unthinkable happened; just as Dennis F was reaching the apex of his set, the club manager instructed the sound guys to cut the music off – apparently someone had called the cops, what the f…???? Clearly that wouldn’t matter; we were at a nightclub where sinful reveling is allowed till whatever ungodly hour. Boy were we wrong, the typically racially bigoted cops insisted that the party be shut down as “neighbours were complaining about the noise”. And it was only 2am in the morning! Talk about bullshit at its most tertiary level!

So we all reluctantly left the premises and thought regrettably about the night that could have been. Call the cops when you see….. .. decent black people having harmless fun!

The Sky was apparently too ambitious a target for us to touch!