Represent Review: Hype Hip Hop Awards
Is Hip Hop yesterday, today or tomorrow? Rooted in the US, but scattered all over the world where young people feel urged to stand up and wax lyrically about their lives, we believe as long as there are lyrics, dope beats and issues to be expressed, hip hop’s global appeal will continue to reign proudly. We love hip hop, and have loved it since its earliest days. We believe Hip Hop is for today and tomorrow, but like every genre of music, it’s followers won’t put up with crap… they need to be inspired and uplifted. Hip Hop must continue to explore, evolve and innovate, finding new ways to surprise, engage and entice the fans.
When was the first time you fell in love with Hip-Hop? Many people remember this question from the movie Brown Sugar. I was confronted with the same question at the Coca Cola Dome this past Sunday. The hippie and at times down right bizarre clothing aside, I had to admit that Hip-Hop is all but a part of our daily existence. So real and strong are its effects on the lives of youngsters that the atmosphere at the MTN Hype Hip-Hop Awards could have been wrongly mistaken for a runaway Guy Fox day parade in the US. Kids as young as 12 years old were fully adorned in similar apparel and brands to those of their favorite MTV Cribs personas. Look! There goes 50 Cents, Eminem and the entire west coast brotherhood!
Sprite basketball hoop shooters were sweating it out to punt the decade old jingle: Obey your thirst! Whilst Skateboarders enticed my eyes in a tireless seesaw recurrence as I dearly wished I was 19 kg’s lighter, Darn McDonalds!!!
This being the first ever dedicated South African Hip-Hop awards event, the budget must have been very tight as the interior decor and Hip-Hop related activities left a whole lot to be desired. Do not quote me wrongly! This was an exciting event, but the lack of the usual “bling” that is associated with all things Hip-Hop was very scarce. Perhaps roping in the right sort of sponsors would do the trick for next year’s event. Do it some proper justice, I mean… My specific qualm was with the inclusion of KFC as one of the event’s anchor sponsors, no disrespect to good old Colonel Saunders and all, but KFC is all about loving family atmospheres, least of all Hip-Hop, let alone the sort of hyped up culture we see on a daily basis…A little reality please.
THE AWARDS
The opening of the awards ceremony was down to earth, but the Hip-Hop charged vinyl hypnosis on the audience hid this fact very well. Ms. Lee Kasumba of Y-Fm handled the MC role impressively well, trying very hard to be unbiased and absolutely impartial, lest she became a bull’s eye target for unwanted beef (this means a nasty vendetta which forces the complainant to religiously seek reparations from the transgressor in the form of venomously verbose revenge. So childish!!!) I was however disturbed by the appearance of DJ S’bu as one of the Ambassadors of SA Hip-Hop (S’bu plays Loud Jingle Bubble Gum Music called: House!!!) ???
And the Winners are…
Best Video – Pro: Dankie San (Uthini Ngo PRO?)
Best Independent Record Label – Buttabing Records (Slikour, Skwatta Camp and those guys)
At this point; Skwatta Camp got reincarnated to give us a memorable performance. The guys still have it. And word has it that they’ll be dropping a crazy album very soon. I can’t wait!
Best Graffiti – Faith 47
Best Hip-Hop Dance – Kinesics
Best Beat Boxer – Cyber
DJ of the Year – Kenzhero
Amu and Mr. Selwyn took us down memory lane by skillfully performing back to back covers of hits of past decades. It’s Brooklyn in the House!!!
That serial persona non grata (DJ S’bu) handed over the award (well, technically it was a gold plated medallion hanging on a shinny acrylic string – What a sham!!) for best Live Performances to South Africa’s favorite Hip-Hop artist: HHP (Lekoko ntate!!!)
Lyricist of the Year: PRO. This award started a nasty Beef between PRO, the violently booing audience and “The rightful deserver of the award” – Hymphatic Thabz. Expect stamina charged testosterone to fly in the next few months. This is long from over!
PRO and his silly protégé: Red Button (silly name too!!) gave one of those “Who Cares!” performances whilst the crowd was still EINA about the undeserved award the Kid had just scooped from the amazingly talented Hymphatic Thabz.
LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
South African Hip-Hop deacon: Ready D and the Prophets of the City (POC) were honoured for their selfless and tireless contribution to the ultimate survival of Hip-Hop in South Africa and for giving this special genre its unique identity whilst jealously guarding it from the poisonous influences of the surreal gimmicks of Hollywood Boulevard. WELL DONE INDEED!
Jozi scooped the best group award, whilst amidst much controversy PRO garnered the Artist of the Year Award and JR, showered by a unified cry of foul play – walked away with the Song of the Year Award for “Gata Lenna”
HHP closed off the action packed ceremony with his energetic lyrical tailspins to the flash of cameras and a walking away, seemingly disgruntled audience. Sorry Jabba!!
Wanna listen to real South African Hip-Hop excluding the marketing gimmick flack we get fed everyday? October 2009, go to your nearest good music outlet and demand “Not Dat Again!” by Jus Dat! and Ben Sharpa’s mix-tape: The Sharp Agenda. You’ll be excused for thinking you’re listening to a regular Buster Rhymes or KRS-One. Represent!
Reuben-The Matrix-Malema
