BLING BLING GONE CRAZY

Check this craziness, how the hell do you put a big-ass Kelloggs chain around your neck?

These country dudes have officially lost it.

THE BIZ – WHO’S HUSTLING RIGHT? VOL. 1

By Nick Kaoma

In the 14 or so years since attaining political freedom, young people have shown a penchant for mixing the pivotal sense of confidence with other equally important ingredients such as hard work, integrity, persistence and ambition.

Young Mzansians are, more than any other time in our history, poised to take charge of the socio-economic direction of this country. Young Leaders are in abundance, even if they themselves are not yet aware of this. I see them everywhere; at the train station waiting anxiously to get to work on time, at the universities and colleges studying tirelessly so that they can attain the expertise that will further this country’s cause, at the banks trying persistently to get loans to fund their grand business ideas and I see them everyday, at numerous office buildings slaving away just so that they can get enough money and experience to help turn their ultimate dreams into reality.

At Encore, we’re inspired by these young people. Thus, we bring you a new weekly feature called “Who’s Hustling Right”, through which we'll cast a spotlight on thousands of young entrepreneurs and hustlers who are ushering a new era of prosperity and excellence.

Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane is one of these people; instead of resting on his laurels and savouring the comfort of a perky corporate gig, he has decided to expand his horizons with a company which is set to become the Virgin of entertainment. In his own words, he tells us why he has no choice but to win in this game of life.

Sup pimp. Tell us a little about yourself (where you from, where you went to school etc).

What’s good man. Well I’m from the East Rand, Katlehong and Spruitview. I went to Sacred Heart College and did my thing at WITS (media studies and international relations). I’m a Jhb cat.

How did you get into the events promotion game? Where does the love for that particular field come from?

I got in the game by accident. I threw a crazy 21st and shut the city down. I then started throwing an annual B-day party and it was always crazy. I eventually joined an events management company, Blackberry Productions before branching out on my own with, SHOWLOVE.

I love the entertainment industry, I love putting in a show, but I can’t rap, sing or act… so this is the next best thing. My work requires me to be myself so I’m always going to love it.

What’s your vision for SHOWLOVE and what is it that separates you from your competitors?

SHOWLOVE is about to branch out into numerous spheres. We’re managing a lot of amazing talent, throwing larger events and showcasing our diversity. SHOWLOVE will eventually be similar to a brand like VIRGIN… we will touch everything.

What separates me is my hunger, aggression and the respect I have for this game. Too many new guys are getting in this game because they think it’s easy. Having a large phonebook and plenty of Facebook friends doesn’t guarantee you a thing.

You have to develop concepts, create the desire and be even more creative with your marketing. I’m always looking for something fresh… that’s what separates me.

You’ve done many gigs, which one sticks out as the baddest and flyest of them all?

The Swagger Boys B-day on the 50th Floor of The Carlton Center and The American Gangster Launch at The Palms.

I’ve have larger turnouts but those two are my favourites since all the elements( concept, venue, djs, music, people, etc) were in place.

Are you getting love from corporate brands out there? What can you offer them?

People only get to see the parties. We do a lot of below the line marketing for numerous brands, so the corporates are feeling us.

We offer them easy access to a unique segment of the urban market, which is SHOWLOVE’s niche. Since we focus on hip-hop, we are well aware of the fact that lovers of this genre are generally well-informed and trendy… hence we see rappers getting more endorsements and hip-hop slang/jingles being used in more marketing campaigns.

What personal ethos do you live by to ensure survival and success in this game called life?

You have to be on top of your game all the time. You have to come to the table with real deals! You have to find something that keeps you inspired constantly so you never lose your edge. You have to stay hungry and stay humble…

Which entrepreneurs (hustlers) do you look up to and why?

Sbu Leope (TS Records) represents intelligence, drive and passion.

Ruli Diseko (tiltt.co.za) is my idol… he is all –out hustle and I have so much respect for him.

Omen (producer) is a showcase of focus and dedication. The man has built an amazing studio and doesn’t stop working.

Few other cats are getting things done and they all get love.

Do you think young South Africans have what it takes to turn Mzansi into a developed nation through entrepreneurship?

Young dudes today confuse me… they all act like made-men when they haven’t even got started yet. We have plenty of talent, but there’s a lack of focus and we’re driven by the wrong things.
We need to chill with some of the egos out here… only way we’re going to build is if we do it together… there’s hope.

Tell us about Friday night’s “Old Skool vs, New Skool” party; why should people come in droves?

You need to be there because it means PARTY PEOPLE (Kenzhero) finesse meets SHOWLOVE (Milkshake) swagger. This is for the lovers of music from 206 and Trescalini days through to the new school.

The Jhb Swagger Boy, Maggz will be hosting… the swagger begins. SHOWLOVE



If you know of any young, enterprising people that we can feature on Encore, drop us an email at nickk@encoremag.co.za.

EMI ARTISTS: WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES???

By Sivu Nobongoza

EMI has been going through serious challenges in the past 4 to 6 years, with several restructuring phases due to ever-falling CD sales and tighter profit margins in the music industry. Worldwide industry sales fell some 30% in 2006.

As an independent, big as it is, the company has been the hardest hit of the majors that include SonyBMG, Warner Brothers and Universal Music Group. At some point there was even talk of the company merging with one of these other giants, in the same way that Sony merged with BMG.

With as many as 2000 valuable employees set to be let go during EMI’s universal reconstruction, it got me thinking, what if the big mogul music company had to shake off some of its uninspiring musical deadweight. I mean which S.A artists aren’t quite pulling their socks up and might need to join the EMI concentration camp. As well as, which visionaries are set to take the international arena with their ever-progressive nature?


A-Z

Stay - Bayete: The founding revolutionaries of African pop music get a ‘Yay’ in the Encore book. They get to hang around for a few years and school some of these junior mafias on how to convert a good product into an internationally recognized multi-award winning classic.

Go - Black Noise: with Hip-Hop’s forever changing vision and after many years in the game, these guys have acquired the status of ‘better-to-be-seen and not heard’. They’re doing awesome things for their community and should carry on fighting the good fight, so long as it’s not in a verse.

Stay - Bongo Maffin: as they would say on Jam Alley – Ovi-yaaas (slang. Obvious) Still one of South Africa’s top talents, BM still have ‘a best of compilation’ to do, followed by another blinder, and maybe one more record for the good measure before they pass the torch on. For now whilst there aren’t any worthy recipients. The Bongo ain’t going nowhere!

Go - Brasse Vannie Kaap: (Hick!) excuse me, BVK gang now officially fall in the category “old school”. Even if they did come back, I don’t think they’d be able to handle the flamboyance of today’s Youngblood’s. 40’s still 40 here in Mzansi, and today, gangsters have got LLB’s from Wits. Rather be stay-at-home dads.

Stay - Jonathan Butler: It seems like it was yesterday when I was listening to JB thinking how sweet this boy is. Then he left the country and came back an International Jazz Superstar. JB is most certainly one of our music pallbearers. He legacy will prevail for many years to come.

Stay - Yvonne Chaka Chaka: An inspiration to all South Africans, Ms Chaka-Chaka has proven to be god-sent. Having made a late come back in her career, she still brings flavour to the African pot. My Mom still likes her. Anything to keep the old folks at bay!

Stay - Moreira Chonguica: Easily one of the freshest Jazz players to come out of South Africa, Moreira commands the spotlight from jazz and neo-urban youths out there. I’d mos-definitely put my money in his wallet.

Stay - Simphiwe Dana: just cracks the nod. A talented individual indeed – only the little youngsters coming up behind her could threaten her well-being if she doesn’t lift her Afrykhan ass into fifth gear.

Stay - DJ Ready D: can’t be stopped. Everything else will change and this man will just stay hot like fire.

Stay - Jimmy Dludlu: he is one of Mzansi's favourite sons. A living legend indeed, he is still to grace us with years and years of his musical bliss. Hats off to one of SA’s grandchildren.

Stay - Freshlyground: their name speaks for itself. Forever fresh, baby! Less is more.

Go - Godessa: I’m torn between my love for these young women and my love for a revolution. The thing is they’ve played the cards, and seemingly all their aces. Unless they’re going to pull an MC Lyte on us, this group’s lights are out. It was a grand old ride though girls.

Stay - Goldfish: recognized to those that know them well as Africa’s Best Dance Duo, Goldfish are set to lead the revolution. Armed with decks and a bag of Muizenberg fairy dust, they’re going to take over the world. Investors, mark my words.

To be continued….

NEW VIDEO - SNOOP'S SENSUAL SEDUCTION

Many of you have probably seen Uncle Snoop's video for his new single 'Sensual Seduction', but we just had to post it for y'all so that it can be clear that we approve of our favourite uncle's singing abilities. To say that the concept of this song and its accompanying video is retro would be an understatement. Snoop puts all his brains into this (one can imagine that there's not much left after decades of heavy blunt-smoking; the result is an audacious joint that keeps you in stitches all around.

Check it out, let us know what you think of it.

SHOWLOVE PRESENTS DJ MILKSHAKE

DJ Milkshake, as reported earlier, will be going head to head with old skool maestro Kenzhero at the "Old Skool vs. New Skool" concept party at 88 Lounge this Friday. We sat down with the man himself to see if he's ready for the ultimate battle.

There are so many DJs out there today, what separates you from the rest?
My swagger separates me, it’s important and I feel I understand that more than most Dj’s… I put on a show.

You play with cd’s, but also have a heavy vinyl collection. How do you feel when people question your DJing skills because of that?
Let me ask an obvious question, do people listen to cd’s, vinyls… or music?

As a new school DJ, do you feel as though today’s partygoers know their music?
To an extent, ‘cause you can’t rob people of good shit so you gotta keep them guessing.

So would you say Showlove’s ‘Old school vs. New school” concept is relevant?
If executed well, it could really showcase what appeals to people.

You going toe to toe with Kenzhero… you got your gameface on?
I was born ready

Cool, what’s the current banger on the dancefloors?
Roc-boys by Jigga

SHOWLOVE PRESENTS DJ KENZHERO

Joburg's preeminent party movement, Showlove, is hosting another banger of a show on Friday, 01 February 2008. Dubbed "Old Skool vs. New Skool", it will feature the hottest hip hop DJs this side of the equator. The old skool-leaning Kenzhero will be battling up against Milskhake, a DJ with a new swagger and flavour. This mouthwatering concept will be coming to life @ The Crazy 88 Lounge in Norwood. As part of the build-up, we'll bring you cool interviews with the main players in this gig. First up, DJ Kenzhero. Dig in!

What made you start djing?
When Dj’s started playing of the radio playlist...

Not too many DJs use vinyls these days, would you say that it has become a lost art form because of that?
I don’t think so, that’s like saying I prefer desktops over laptops, I mean if u give Jazzy Jeff Final Scratch or Serato to play on, you’ll still get the same effect if not better.

Do you respect DJs who use cd’s?
I don’t mind what they use, as long as the DJ sound unique and knows their music

We all love the ‘Party People’ concept, what inspired it?
My trials and tribulations…the gab in the market.

So what do you think of Showlove’s ‘Old school vs New school’ concept?
It’s a good concept. The industry has separated hip hop a lot, or should I say promoters…I don’t see why me playing with Milkshake doesn’t happen every time cause you could maintain two different audiences at one event…

All time favourite track?
That’s an unfair question…Louis Armstrong's "What a wonderful world” comes to mind.

NEW VIDEO - ERYKAH BADU: HONEY

Check out one of the freshest videos to come out this year, Erykah Badu’s “Honey.” The single is taken of her upcoming album, New Amerykah, which is due out February 26th. Fresh to death, Welcome back Ms. Badu!

CRS - US PLACERS (VIDEO)

Last year, Encore broke the news that Pharrell, Kanye and Lupe Fiasco were teaming up to form a hip hop supergroup called CRS (Child Rebel Soldiers). This video is of a track that appeared on Kanye's "Can't Tell Me Nothing" mixtape.

CSR is scheduled to go into studio later this year.

DONALD TRUMP IS A BALLER FOR REAL

I know this has nothing to do with music, but if there is one thing that champagne-popping music moguls can give Donald Trump props for, is for being the ultimate BALLER.

The image above is a scanned receipt that belongs to The Donald who tipped a waitor $10, 000 (yes, R70 000!) on an $82 bill. The poor waitor probably fainted upon seeing this. Who do you know that can ball like that?

NAS “THE REVOLUTIONARY” IS BACK ON THE STREETS

2008 marks 17 years since Nasir Jones made his recorded debut on Main Source’s Breaking Atoms. At 34, the Queensbridge-bred MC is now wiser, older and a respected industry veteran. So why, you might ask, would he name his upcoming album Nigger– a highly charged term that is powerful enough to get even Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton marching in Washington if it is ever mentioned?

People have called Nas many things – a poet, a contradiction, a legend, a traitor – but if there’s one thing that fully epitomizes his character, it is his penchant for telling the truth. That quality right there makes millions of hip hop fans across the world sit up whenever he opens his mouth.

Below is an extract of an interview from the upcoming cover story of XXL magazine. Nas talks politics, the music business and whether he’ll be negatively affected by Jay-Z’s departure from Def Jam.

Are you satisfied with the relationship you have with your record label right now?
Yeah, it’s my last record with them.

Have you thought about what your next move is gonna be?
I have. But it’s too early to talk about.

Does the fact that people never seemed to be able to get over your old beef with Jay affect your thinking?
[Long pause] I think that the history was made with that move, and now I’m just exploring different things, just thinking about what I wanna do next. It’s the illest part of my life, again. I’ve always run into great times. This shit gotta be fun for you. Whatever Nas situation will be great for Nas, and that’s what I’m trying to figure out. It’s not about nothing that happened in the past. It’s about moving ahead, finding new ground and going to the next phase.

Rap fans looked at your situation at Def Jam, and they saw your albums getting pushed back twice in a row and Jay coming right before you twice in a row, and they always assumed there was something more going on there.
People gotta give me more credit than that. That’s not fair, if I push my shit back, to blame it on somebody. This is me you’re talking about. This is not somebody that just signed yesterday. This is somebody that’s been in the game a long time, put out a lot of albums. I know what I’m doing. So when I push my shit back, deal with it. I think a lot of people get caught up in rumors. It’s not fair to Jay, either, the way it’s put on him. But he gotta handle that. You wanna be president of the record label—he gotta handle that. He gotta handle the pressure. He gotta handle the negative talk.

I never needed it. I could pocket my marketing money. I market myself. Sold records on my last album on the strength of my own movement. My record this time will move or not move on the strength of my own movement. I’m not doing a Budweiser commercial. No diss to Jay and them niggas. Whatever. Do what you do. I’m not doing a Budweiser commercial. I don’t want to. If rappers wanna do Budweiser commercials, if they wanna sell the records Jay selling, they need to put the time in that people like Jay put in. I put in Nas time, and I get Nas results. If I got any more, I would feel funny. Everything that happened for me was planned—by me. So people should just realize these are my ideas. This is what I’m doing.

You say you’re satisfied with the situation at your label. It’s no exaggeration to say that puts you in a minority among Def Jam artists.
I don’t know. I can’t find too many people that’s happy anywhere in the state of the business right now.

Yeah, but at Def Jam in particular—
At Sony in particular. Shit is fucked up over there.

But longtime Def Jam artists have been complaining about the way things are run there.
I see where Ghostface shit definitely supposed to have been bigger. It’s just…things are the way they are for whatever reason. I can’t sit here and tell you Ghost’s situation. I don’t personally know it. I just know I would love to see his shit everywhere. But at the same time, Ghost reaching who Ghost supposed to reach. Nas reaching who Nas supposed to reach. Jay reaching who Jay supposed to reach. It’s not gonna be easy for nobody out here.

Ghost came out and did 35,000 the first week. You’re not going to be happy with that.
The marketplace is bad right now. If you want to do big, real business, you’ll wait ’til the market gets better. That’s not my mission right now… Since I said “hip-hop is dead,” I think a lot of niggas is starting to take this shit serious. It ain’t about sales no more. When Kanye killed 50, it was to show you this shit is about something real now. No diss to no rappers I’m talking about right now, but it ain’t about just selling no more. I said hip-hop is dead, and if that helped, then I’m a bad muthafucka. You can’t take that from me. And I feel like this record is the next chapter, going into something bigger. It’s a recession… People are going back to being humble again. Because everybody is not gonna get a big multimillion-dollar advance.

So the downtimes for the record industry are gonna help hip-hop?
Yeah, thank God. People do what they do. I ain’t knocking nobody. But I know one thing: This recession that’s going on—everywhere, not just hip-hop—is gonna produce better artists.

Hip-hop was very much under the microscope last year, beginning with the Don Imus situation. What’s curious about that is that, here we are, nearly a year later, Imus has his job back, and somehow hip-hop continues to be examined because of what he said.
I think Imus was just trying to be cool, trying to be down. And it was a win-win situation for him, because it wasn’t handled properly. I believe in Don Imus’ freedom of speech. Because if we don’t know what people are thinking, how can we solve any problems? If you don’t know what Nas is thinking, how do you know what the people that listen to me are thinking? People tell their kids, “Don’t listen to that.” But you can find out who your kids really are if you listen to what they’re listening to and watch what they’re watching.

Do you think people like Cosby, Oprah, Sharpton or Bill O’Reilly have ever actually listened to a Nas album all the way through?
Hell no!

Can you imagine that?
I don’t wanna imagine that. My shit ain’t for them.

NERD BACK WITH A BANG

The Boys From NERD, Shay, Chad Hugo and Pharrell are finally back after a long hiatus. Everyone Nose is the first single from their upcoming album, N3RD; I should warn you though, the track is loud and brassy, but hey what do you expect from rockers?

Let us know what you think of it. Should we give it a thumbs up or thumbs down?

FOXY'S DEAFNESS A GODSEND!

Just when you thought you’d heard it all, The Miss thang of Hip Hop, her royal vixen Inga Marchand otherwise known as Foxy Brown who’s been serving a 1-year sentence in jail after a number of probation violations, begs for her freedom with yet another sob story. Although difficult to fathom, this time it seems her hearing has diminished to almost nothing – a problem she has kept a secret since May of 2006.

Foxy, who brought you chart bangers like: Get Me Home feat. Blackstreet and Candy feat. Kelis, has had a rather eventful career with a whole lot of drama and more than a few near prison experiences, which she happily avoided with good lawyers and sympathetic judges.

After only 8 months of her 1-year sentence Foxy’s had enough. She humbled down and decided to act like a lady pleading to the judge that jail was no place for her. Although, she claims that the harsh and inhuman prison that she is in has done nothing for her rehabilitation, it is clear that it has had a huge effect on her behavior. The artist, who was due to launch an album in December, has had to hold it back after it became clear that her hearing problem had gravely effected her recording sessions. Jay-Z even commented, stating that the recorded material sounded ridiculously loud.

Through the turmoil Foxy remains very optimistic, saying: “I'm on a personal journey. I believe God wants to be the only voice I hear right now. I know I will be all right."

Soldier on Foxy! The masses are rooting for the Ghetto Queen to return.

CATCH HHP, JOZI & OTHERS IN POLOKWANE

METRO FM continues to heat up the stage as the Heatwave moves to the Polokwane Cricket Club on Saturday, January 19...
A stellar line-up of Mzansi’s dope talent is sure to steam up the place. Among those included are METRO FM Music Awards winners DJ Cleo, L’vovo Derango and the 2007 nominated crunk group Jozi.

Also in the line-up to pump-up the dope sounds are HHP, Bantu Soul, METRO FM’s DJ Nutty and many more.

Tickets to the musical feast can be purchased at ticketconnection.co.za and Mr Price stores for the value of R30.00, and also at the gate.

Full line-up of artists set to perform:
L'Vovo Derango
HHP
Bricks
Bantu Soul
DJ Cleo
Mina Nawe
DJ Nutty
Jaziel Brothers
Beezory
Jozi

Source: Metro FM

JANET JACKSON ON A KICK-ASS COMEBACK MISSION

I don’t care what you’ve heard, but the feedback from Janet’s latest single has been explosive to say the least. With over a million views in its first week on YouTube, the album looks certain to shake the shimmies of every dance club worldwide.

Critics have called it her big comeback and have been cheering for the over-forty music diva that clasps dance moves like a 16 year-old. Ms. Jackson’s has driven her fans to even dizzier heights with the internet release of the cover image from her upcoming album, Discipline; the highly sought after photo shows Janet looking ever so seductive in black leather and gloves with her name and the name of the album scrawled on the gloves in white.

Damn that boy Jermaine Durpri’s got it made; no wonder he keeps on shouting “You know what this is” on every damn song he’s featured on.

END OF THE ROAD FOR EDDIE MURPHY & TRACEY EDMONDS

Eddie Murphy’s matrimony to Tracey Edmonds is the latest in Hollywood celebrity publicity scams. The two who recently tied the knot on an exotic island near the island of Bora Bora on New Years Day were reported to have already have been at each others throats at the reception. The sham wedding lasted a record breaking 2 weeks, a first for a black couple, but definitely not the fastest break up in Hollywood history (With tabloid baby Britney and Jason leading the polls on 55 hours – shortly followed by Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman who lasted 9 days).

Sources say that Tracey didn’t want to change her last name to Murphy and this along with other issues had the couple at disagreement all the way to the alter. I thought these type of things got ironed out before you make the decision to call the pastor. Since Eddie’s role in Shrek, he seems content with just assing around. Why Eddie, Why????

ALBUM REVIEWS TO CHECK OUT

By Nick Kaoma

Sup guys. Sometime last year (probably around November), I waxed lyrical about how disappointed I was that the local hip hop industry was not unleashing releases in time for the lucrative summer season. Well, two months later I've had to eat my words with a side order of chicken soup, as cats such as Mo'lemi, HHP, Slikour, Bozza and Jub Jub all ushered in the new year with fresh albums that are ripe for our savouring.

As per usual, we are going to review these albums and many more, in our trademark Encore style wherein the entire record is broken down for the benefit of.... you, the music consumer. Some of the LP's that we'll focus our spotlight on in the next couple of days include :

1. Prokid - Dankie San
2. Mo'lemi - Amantsi
3. Slikour - Ventilation Mixtape Vol. 2
4. Bozza - After Tears

(we have already reviewed HHP's "Acceptance Speech", check December archive)

Stay logged on.

“THE 5 ALBUMS THAT INFLUENCED ME”

By Zubz The Last Letta

I grew up listening to Hip Hop before I even realized there was a movement behind the music. Those days, I didn’t even have a clue what the rappers looked like, or believed in; what they stood for or held dear. All I knew were their songs; beats, rhymes and themes. If I vibed with it, I bumped it. The albums I listened to pretty much shaped the artist I’ve become today in the way I write, the manner in which I rap and the philosophy I choose to live by in the context of the culture. If you know Zubz the artist, you’ll hardly be surprised at the 5 albums I’ve chosen out of a possible list of dozens…

In no particular order:

Eric B and Rakim – Follow The Leader
“Competition is none
I remain at the top like the sun
And I burn whoever come
In the Chambers of Torture/ I caught-ya
You should have brought-ya/ neighborhood to support-ya
You name the day, the grounds can be neutral
Speak your piece the feeling is mutual…..
…..3/4ths of water make seven seas
A 1/3rd of land 360 degrees
I elevate/ and am made to rotate
Seven Days a week at a quick or a slow rate!”


With double barrel rhyme patterns and perfect verse symmetry, Rakim redefined the technical aspect of writing rap verses. The simple “Rhyme at the end of the bar” structure became the stuff of amateurs as dude ingeniously placed two, sometimes three, rhymes per 4 beat bar; on the 1, the 2 and the 4. I marveled at that. Add to that, Rakim was cool in his tone while others would shout on the record, yet he got your attention better with the chilled approach. The fact that he married the DJ and the MC so well was an added bonus.

The Roots – Illadelph Halflife
“The Principles of True Hip Hop have been forsaken
It’s all contractual and about money making
Pretend-To-Be cats don’t seem to know they limitation
Exact replication and false representation
You wanna be a man? Then stand your own!
To MC requires skill, I demand some shown!”


Here was a group that, while everyone else was redefining the boom-bap, plugged their own “live instrument” sound and kept at it until you had to respect it! The Roots stood for something. I loved that. They had a view on music and on Hip Hop. Most importantly, they wouldn’t be swayed on it. Black Thought rhymes his ass off! Always! It’s incredible how consistent this man is with 16s. He always sounds sharp. His freestyles always sound sharp, too…even today. Musically, Quest hasn’t murdered like he did on Illadelph and this was before the Grammy! The Roots make commercial success look too easy proving that doing the opposite of that leads to longevity and satisfaction…just ask Scott Scorch!

2 Pac – Me Against the World
“Back in Elementary
I thrived on Misery
Left me alone, I grew up amongst a dying breed
Inside my heart I couldn’t find a place to rest
Until I got that “Thug Life” tattered on my chest…”


When you ask any true head what they love the most about Hip Hop Music they try to tell you “it’s beats” or “lyrics” or “the sound”…Truth is, it’s all emotion. When you get moved somewhere in your core, moved to dance, think, smile, whatever, then you “feel” the joint. No one understood that better than Pac. When cats speak of Pac today, they speak of him not by his verses, or lines, but by his person. 2 Pac managed to do what many of us rappers can only dream of doing; be more than a just a dope track. This album in particular is a sonic work of art for me because it is drenched in emotion. You literally feel this man’s love, hate, joy, envy, insanity and passion. This is my best Pac album of all time. Hands down!

Nas – It was Written
“Life’s a Bitch but God forbid that bitch divorce me…”

Granted. That quote is originally from his Illmatic album. Yes, the one most cats would throw on there as a True Classic. No argument there. Truthfully though, my favorite Nas record is actually It Was Written. I bought it solely for the joint with Lauryn, “If I Ruled The World” but got so much more in return. Heads were dissing this record but I found myself vibing with Nas so much more on this album. His concepts were more intense (“I gave You Power”) his features were more appropriate (“Affirmative Action”) and his beats had a broader appeal (Trackmasters). He had started to grow. Nas is for me the poster boy for the “How to Grow into Yourself as an Artist” campaign. He made all the right decisions and all the wrong mistakes. At 35 he continues to grow today. That’s beautiful. Add to all that, Nas’ ability to relay flashing scenes so vividly in your mind so that by the time he’s done rapping, you feel like you’ve just seen a movie, but can’t really say what the moral of the story was…still, the movie was John Blaze! In keeping with all my favorites, Nas is an accomplished lyricist. Words have double meanings, puns are intended, and verses are well layered; beautiful.

Notorious BIG – Ready To Die
“Live from Bedford Stuyvesant/ The livest one
Representing BK to the fullest/ Gatts I pull its!
….ain’t no amateurs here/ I damage and tear…”


Check that quote again; ”Livest”, “Fullest” “pull its”? These are some the most unexpected rhyme words you’ll ever find used in the manner in which they were used in that song, “Unbelievable”. In fact, this time around, those words actually exist in the English Language. Often times BIG’s rhyme words are non existent, made up interpolations of actual words that exist! That’s what I love about B.I. He bends vocab like the Predator bends light! Black Thought does it too, but not like Biggie did it. It was so exciting to hear. Where others would rhyme hat with cat and dog with frog (you would so see it coming) biggie would rhyme hat with skiddat (an interpolation of ‘skidaddle’ slang for ‘scram’ which is slang for ‘run away’!!) and he’d rhyme dog with malaprop (which is an actual English word which just doesn’t sound like one; and is it really correct to use it in a verse?!!!) I absolutely loved Biggie. This album in particular was great, because, despite how dark and horrific it was, it actually led to Biggie become a very light hearted quirky mainstreamer. The opposite to the projected ban most thought he’d get. More than a lyricist, Biggie was a wordsmith. He could have gone on to be the originator of Hip Hop Speak. That’s not easy to be.

[Ed’s note: Zubz of course, is an accomplished and almost peerless MCee whose lyrical ingenuity leaves one’s mind pregnant with poignant imagery. His recent album ‘Headphone Music in A Parallel World’ is, in my journalistic opinion, one of the best hip hop albums ever recorded in Mzansi. Only Tumi’s ‘Music From My Good Eye’ deserves to be spoken about in the same breath. And that’s Real Talk dear Encore reader]

ENCORE MUSIC AWARDS - CONTINUED

BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Nominees:
Lira
Beyonce
Nelly Furtado
Simphiwe Dana
Mary J. Blige

Winner:
Beyonce


Ms. B is hands down the hardest working woman in show business. Her energy and passion is translated into her chart-topping hits and her sold-out shows across the world.

BEST MALE ARTIST
Nominees:
Kanye West
DJ Cleo
Hip Hop Pantsula
Moreira
T.I.

Winner:
Kanye West


The Louis Vuitton don had a killer season, sans the loss of his beloved mother. His third album sold 960 000 copies in the first week, an anomaly in this piracy/download ridden music environment. As icing on the cake, British GQ named him the International Man of the Year. The Grammy panel put a bigger grin on Kanye's face with 8 nominations garnered for 'Graduation'.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (LOCAL)
Nominees:
Omen
DJ Cleo
Bongani Fassie
Nyambz
Thaso

Winner:
DJ Cleo

Cleo has paid his dues in the music business. Producing for big superstars such as Mandoza, Kabelo, Skwatta Kamp, Brickz, Brown Dash and Mzekezeke has cemented his place in the Kwaito Hall of Fame. Last year, he went a step further by producing more bangers for his multi-platinum selling Eskhaleni dance album.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (INTERNATIONAL)
Nominees:
Kanye West
Swizz Beatz
Just Blaze
Will.i.am

Winner:
Swizz Beatz



Need we say more. Swizzy The Monster had a crazy year; gigantic hits for the likes of Eve, Gwen Stefani, Cassidy, T.I. ensured that his name stayed on everybody’s lips. His biggest accomplishment though was through Beyonce’s B’Day album on which he produced half the hits.

HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
50 Cent
Sbu Leope
Jay-Z
Slikour
Zola

Winner:
Jay-Z


Selling an 8 year-old clothing label for $204 million in cash should easily ensure Jigga a victory in this category. But he also flexed his business muscles by opening a 24 000 square feet 40/40 club in Las Vegas, by buying a hotel in New York City for $50 million and by purchasing another clothing label, Artful Dodger, for an estimated $15 million. Don’t front, your boy has got a PHD in Hustlenomics!

HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Nominees:
Common
Zola
Sbu Leope

Winner:
Zola



Zola’s work with his community based TV show and for UNICEF makes him the most philanthropic local music star. The bad publicity aside, Zola did put his money where his mouth is in 2007. I wish other celebrities could follow suit instead of wasting all their loot on cocaine.

BEST HIP HOP ALBUM
Nominees:
Common – Finding Forever
Tumi – Music From My Good Eye
Kanye West – Graduation
Jay-Z – American Gangster
Talib Kweli – Eardrum
Jozi – Muthaland Crunk

Winner:
Kanye West - Graduation


Stronger. Can’t Tell Me Nothing. Flash Lights. I Wonder. Good Morning. Barry Bonds.
There’s nothing else to say about this category. Kanye thwarted his competition with creative ingenuity.

BEST KWAITO ALBUM
Nominees:
L’Vovo – Derango
Trompies – Can’t Touch This
Kabelo – Exodus

Winner:
L’Vovo – Derango

L’Vovo’s debut album ushered a new era in Kwaito music. His catchy lyrics mixed with infectious beats and entertaining dance moves left everybody nodding with approval.

BEST HOUSE ALBUM
Nominees:
DJ Fresh – Definition of House 3
Oskido – Church Grooves – the 6th Commandment
DJ Sbu – Y-Lens Vol. 2
DJ Cleo – Eskhaleni 4

Winner:
DJ Cleo – Eskhaleni 4

DJ Cleo’s Eskhaleni album produced big monster summer hits that captivated dance floors across the country. The fact that he produced his album in its entirety also meant that he had one more up on the other nominees.

1ST ANNUAL ENCORE MUSIC AWARDS - PART 1

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 1st Annual Encore Music Awards. Cue to the standing crowd, clapping excitedly. Cue to the VIP area, where Kanye, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige mingle with DJ Cleo, Kabelo and Freshlyground. Cue to the large podium designed in an overwhelmingly splendid fashion and the host for the evening, while Loyiso Gola, is ready to introduce the first performer for the evening. The viewers at home, 66 million in total and watching from 57 countries across the globe are excited at the spectacle that is about to unfold before their eyes.

I hear you laughing… wow, dream on fellas you say. True, it’s a dream for now but here's the reality: the esteemed Encore panel sat down for a number of days and deliberated on the issue of which artists deserved a statuette for the inaugural Encore Music Awards in the various categories. As is always the case with bestowing recognition on individuals, many are about differ with the opinions offered. So if by any means you feel that you feel that we haven’t done justice to a particular category feel free to leave a comment and we shall publish it.

Alright, here goes. Part 1:

BEST CROSSOVER ARTIST
Nominees:
Hip Hop Pantsula
Freshlyground
Danny K
Kanye West
Gnarls Barkley

Winner:
Hip Hop Pantsula


Winning the Strictly Come Dancing competition is arguably the best thing that has ever happened to Jabba’s career. After waltzing his way through the different rounds and capturing the lucrative prize, HHP ensured that his brand would be as recognizable in the white markets as it would with abo’darkie. Translation: more market appeal equals more moola. HHP headlined the Cape Town Jazz Festival, the Oppikoppi and Klein Karoo Festivals in 2006 as a result.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Nominees:
Morafe – Lekwalo to Motswako
Freshlyground – Pot Belly
Fergie – Glamorous
Prokid - Bampa Bampa
Jozi - Muthaland

Winner:
Fergie - Glamorous


There was a notable improvement in the quality of SA videos. Jozi, Prokid and Freshlyground produced some of the best, but the budgets that international artists work with means their end-product will more likely than not be ten times better. Fergie’s Glamorous video confirms this.

WTF (WHAT THE FUCK MOMENT) OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Somizi Mhlongo - for groping a male passenger that he picked up on the road
50 Cent – for not retiring as promised after being beaten by Kanye in a sales race
Kelly Khumalo – for flashing her private parts to a stunned crowd
Channel O Awards – for being the worst organized awards in history

Winner:
Kelly Khumalo


Should I say more? Flashing private parts in public in a deliberate and conscious manner is really outrageous and hands down wins this prestigious category. What the Fuck?

BEST COLLABORATION
Nominees:
50 Cent, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland – Ayo Technology
Kanye West & T-Pain – The Good Life
HHP, F-Eezy & Amu – Ra di Busa
P-Diddy & Keyshia Cole – Last Night
Ne-Yo & Rihanna – Hate That I Love You

Winner:
Kanye West & T-Pain – The Good Life


Who ever thought T-Pain’s manipulated voice would sound dope alongside Kanye’s humorous and impassioned lyrics? I know I didn’t, but Kanye as a producer has the ability of making anyone sound dope on his songs; remember Syleena Johnson on ‘All Falls Down’? HHP, F-Eezy and Amu’s 'Ra di Busa' comes a close second though; this remix/update of Thebe’s classic joint leaves me with goose-bumps every time I listen it.

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST/GROUP OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Jozi
Corinne Bailey Rae
F-Eezy
Lungelo
J-Holiday

Winner:
Jozi


I must be honest, I wasn't too fond of these boys when they first came out. But after savoring their debut album, I’m a believer. These immensely talented dudes hit the industry like a snow storm last year; Bongani Fassie finally proved his worth as a producer.

MOST ANNOYING (OVERPLAYED) SONG OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls
Alicia Keys – No One
Chomee – Dlala nge figure
Will.i.am – You got it from your mama

Winner:
Chomee – Dlala nge figure


Arthur’s protégé is probably the most talentless singer out there. Chomee, who should have stuck to dancing, produced a song that is largely irritating and unmoving. If it wasn’t for her provocative dancing, her video wouldn’t be getting any airplay on video channels.

STEP YOUR GAME UP AWARD
Nominees:
Chomee
Kelly Khumalo
Arthur Mafokate (honorary mention)
Skwatta Kamp
Danny K

Winner:
Skwatta Kamp


I dig these cats, but their 'Bak to Kampus' album left me largely unimpressed. These guys need a new game plan and new lyrics while they’re at it; rapping about chicks’ asses and the sizes of their penises doesn’t cut it anymore.

THE “MY GAME HAS IMPROVED” AWARD
Nominees:
Lil Wayne
Loyiso Bala
Ishmael (of Jozi)
Kanye West


Winner:
Lil Wayne

The 24 year-old New Orleans rapper has been in the rap game since he was 14 years old. His time in the game started to show dividends about 2 years ago as he spat hot fire on every track that he featured on. He is officially known by many (including Jay-Z) as one of the best rappers living.

Check out Part 2 of these awards tomorrow.