Young soldiers of the SA HIP-HOP movement!
We got up close with Siya from one of our favourite Hip Hop crews; Skwatta Kamp! They got chatting she discovered that he is really on point. We love independent thinkers. We love talent that knows how to look after itself; we love young visionaries who are not afraid to dream and who take action to make those dreams come true. Siya is that type of brother. REAL NAME AND SURNAME:TRONG> Siyabonga Themba Metane AGE: 25 SIBLINGS: Last Born, 1 older brother and sister HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED: Dawnview High WORST SUBJECT AT SCHOOL: Afrikaans ANY SPORTING TALENTS: I am a great athlete GREATEST ACHIVEMENTS: Being me everyday BEST POSSESSION: On a good day my personality and determination FAV WEBSITE: www.ventilation.co.zaR – Three things we didn’t know about Siya SIYA – 1.I was depressed and unemployed, got employed was still depressed at the moment trying hard to keep myself impressed 2.A long time ago, I was a Jam Alley contestant and I used the word ‘freestyle’ and ever since then, every rapper with his own song is a ‘freestlyer’. They styling but aren’t paying me eish! 3.I am the station voice for a radio station in Durban called Gagasi 99.5 R – Who is the most underrated local Kwaito star SIYA – Geez dude, how does a Kwaito star – if he is already a star, get underrated? hmmm I can tell you of Kwaito guys that are overrated though. R – Name 3 Afrikaans musicians you know, off the top of your head SIYA – Moer, Steve Hofmeyer, Leon Schuster (although he’ll sing shosholoza he still Afrikaans) and Bles Bridges (I think his a dead Afrikaans singer) R – We found out (if we told you our sources, we might just have to kill you) that you do many other things on the ‘side’ other than rap, care to disclose? SIYA – Yeah, I do a few things. I’m a dude that doesn’t have much of an educational background so it only makes sense for me to use myself and the little income I have as collateral to make more money. My passion is really in the marketing of our arts and what’s exciting me at the moment is the new website we just started called www.ventialtion.co.za . It’s a magazine/record store site. I’m trying to create a clientele on the site where people can buy our music and merchandise through the site. At the moment, we have all the projects we worked on and you can also pre-order the new Skwatta Kamp album. Ultimately, I want to open up a local hip-hop shop where people can get anything...
MIND YOUR HEAD, TRANSCEND POP CULTURE!
We have finally figured out who blakbox is! Check out the scoop below! From now on, Jozi is not dead! Friday and Saturday nights have no option but to come alive since mind your head, a brand new spot at No. 2 Delvers Street, Jozi Central launched on Friday the 1st of September 2006. In a city immersed in pop culture, mind your head brings fresh air in the experience of art and entertainment t…o the prevailing status quo in Johannesburg. Resident DJs HypeJones, Miss Buttons, Brimstone and GrandMaster Cap C will set the decks on fire! This inner city Johannesburg joint offers an alternative to mind-numbing TV and radio noise. Forget posturing, mind your head is a place where independent-thinking artists and patrons exist freely, interact and connect beyond pop-driven trends and identities. Established by hip-hop mavericks blakbox imprint, mind your head aims to transcend pop culture. blakbox imprint comment on their creation: “More than just a music lounge and cocktail bar mind your head is a venue, a space that provides a highly refined experience of cutting-edge cultural innovations in art and entertainment.” On Fridays and Saturdays, resident and guest DJ’s play a variety of sounds ranging from Blues (Sachmo to Nina Simone), Bubblegum (remember Patricia Majalisa and the Hardworkers?), Funk (James Brown to Parliament), Soul (Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes to Diana Ross and The Supremes), Jazz (from Count Basie to Duke Ellington), Hip-hop (from KRS One to Digable Planets and Ben Sharpa), and much more. Sundays to Thursdays are of a somewhat lower key: hosting film screenings, art exhibitions, live music performances and open for special events bookings like birthday parties, etc. Get some nourishment for your brain and mind your head. Opening night was Friday the 1st of September, but you can go and experience it yourself. I don’t know about you but I have been waiting for this kind of joint my entire life! LOCATION: No.2, Delvers Street [Crn. Cornelius], Johannesburg CBD E-mail Mind your head/Blakbox Imprint at: boximprint@inbox.com ******************************************* We keep getting these beautifully designed flyers from a mysterious source…. We just love their aesthetics and are dying to know what it’s all about. Our guess is that it’s a new venue that will be opening soon… the musical hints make us think of that…. Does anyone have any idea of what these graphics are about? Can the real Blakbox Imprint please stand up and take the props for your beautiful work? This time round they give us a few more clues with the following copy: “We are lost in music” “Mind your Head” (so there’s music and you have to walk...
Supernova “Takashi Murakami” in Cape Town!
Cape Townians, you have been blessed! One of the hottest contemporary Japanese artists, Takashi Murakami will be bringing his phenomenal work to Cape Town. Curators, seen as he’s coming so far, how about a gig in Jozi????? In 2003, Time Magazine named Takashi Murakami Japan’s hottest contemporary artist, an international phenomenon, …the art-world’s favourite son and fashion’s IT boy. His work had gone supernova, a result of his commissioned designs for Louis Vuitton handbags. Now he will be exhibiting in South Africa, at 34 LONG in Cape Town from 14 November to 9 December 2006. In Japan, there is virtually no distinction between high art and commercial production, and no censure for blending the two. But in the so-called West, some negative notions about commercialism in the art market remains, despite Warhol and Koons. Takashi has been quoted that he finds this funny; a market is commercial, isn’t it? Oppositions between East and West amuse Takashi and present him with rich material to explore and exploit in his work. He has set up factory-like studios in Tokyo and New York, where he happily mass-produces soft toys, giant inflatable balloons, t-shirts, comics, sculptures, art prints, watches and other products bearing his superflat images of childlike smiles, winking eyes, cute cartoon characters and adorable flowers. His business is called KaiKai KiKi, after his popular pair of wickedly cute soft toys; his signature character Mr DOB has big-ears and a wide smile. He employs young designers in his factories, claiming that he is not a solitary person, that he likes to draw inspiration from a collaborative environment and that he gains from their ideas as much as they gain from his. Takashi’s fame continues to grow as he makes people smile when they look at his work, wondering whether there is ironic sensibility or philosophical commentary, or nothing but sheer business savvy in his beautifully coloured images. Perhaps his works may be understood as commentaries on western modernism, contemporary consumerism, cartoon animation and Japanese history, combined. Joining an impressive list of galleries – Marianne Boesky, New York (2003); Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris (2002); Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (2001); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2001); Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris (2001) – where Takashi has recently had solo shows, 34 LONG is the first gallery in Africa to dedicate a show to this seminal artist-entrepreneur of our time. The show, selected and curated by 34LONG in consultation with Takashi will consist of a selection of editioned prints and a selection of mass-produced merchandise: fun, beautiful objects from Kaikai Kiki. PICTURE borrowed from SA’s best art website: Artthrob. Visit Artthrob for all...
Wildcast – a blog for wild lovers
Join Kim Wolhuter, award-winning wildlife film-maker and photographer on his brand new blog ‘Wildcast” which is an ” exciting interactive new channel” launched on the web earlier this month… Take ‘Reality viewing’ to new heights as you engage with his un-staged Wildlife Filmmakers Safari. Kim is currently documenting an incredible wildlife experience at Malilangwe in Zimbabwe …– an uncut, uncensored African experience… Catch his current interaction with WILD DOGS and find out about other breaking news in the wildlife world such as the tragic death of Steve Irwin – The Crocodile Hunter, who was killed today in a marine accident. “According to the Daily Telegraph, he was diving off Port Douglas on the Queensland Coast when he was hit by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest.” Wildcast.net. Represent sends their condolences to all the family, friends and fans of Steve Irwin. More about Kim Kim was fortunate to spend his early years growing up in the wilds of Africa: the Kruger National Park, South Africa, where his father was the Head Ranger. Harry Wolhuter, Kim’s grandfather, the first ranger of the Kruger National Park is a something of a national legend having had to kill an adult male lion single handedly with a knife after it had pulled him from his horse while on patrol. Having completed his basic education, Kim obtained a degree in Grassland Science and entered the wildlife arena managing a game farm in Botswana and later serving as Senior Warden of Mlawula Nature Reserve in Swaziland before taking up the camera. It came by pure chance that renowned veteran filmmaker Richard Goss approached Kim about getting involved in wildlife filmmaking, “I had never before thought of this as a career and couldn’t imagine myself getting involved in such a celebrated occupation”, Kim confesses. After working with Richard Goss for 6 years, Kim took up the camera as a fully-fledged Producer/Cameraman and created his own production company, going on to film and direct several highly-acclaimed pictures, including: Black-Jack, High Stakes Impala – Basic Instincts Stalking Leopards Tjololo – Tracking an African Leopard Let’s hear it from Kim: “I’ll keep you updated with my daily diary and numerous photos to compliment it. And soon you’ll receive daily video clips as I go about documenting Africa’s wildlife at Malilangwe Reserve in Zimbabwe. Log on every day to www.wildcast.net and enjoy the ride, which includes: > Daily blog posts with details on the day’s adventures > My best photos shared fresh everyday > Bush sounds > Video clips of the animals and their exploits > Question and Answer sessions > Live web-based chats > Interactive maps with...
SA rock artist IKE back in SA
WATCH THIS FACE – and it’s a gorgeous face at that – ladies you’ll love SA’s next big Rock boy, step aside Arno, IKE MORIZ is here. Welcome back to SA Ike, we’re glad you’re home, we wish you all the best in your musical dreams… COME ON FANS – give Ike lots of love. See IKE’s website here. Capetonian Ike Moriz comes from a very artistic family of designer…s & musicians. He was exposed to theatre, literature, music and art from an early age. Already during his secondary school years, he showed a great talent for writing, acting (Sybil Sands agency, CT) & performing. After a short flirt with modelling (Elite Models), psychology & business studies, the young artist started his career by studying music (Jazz performers) at UCT. His fascination with International Pop/Rock & Jazz drew him overseas, where he absolved part of his course at two colleges of music (Holland & Germany). Right after finishing his degree in 1999, the versatile singer / songwriter immigrated to London as the lead singer of the London Hard Rock band ‘Stunt Double’. During his plentiful stays in Europe, Ike also fronted bands in Hamburg, Rotterdam, & Dresden. Ike Moriz has gained wide international acclaim as a singer / songwriter / performer & producer since starting to work as a solo artist with George Michael’s & Marc Almond’s producer S. Kent in London from 2002. Among the many international reviews, Ike has also received positive appraisal for his debut album by rock legend David Bowie who himself voted Ike’s songs as top original song of the week on his web site. His first 3 singles FALL INTO THE SUN, YOU COULD and MIRRORS & SHADE have been aired on the radio & TV in 17 countries. Critics described him as “Bowie without the glam meets Oasis without the self-importance teamed with UK chart “alternative” without the boredom.” Early last year Ike finished the ‘Mirrors and Shade Tour’ promoting his debut album of the same title in the UK, Holland, Italy & Germany. All singles reached high radio chart positions in the UK, Holland & SA and earned him immense support from an international fan base reflected on the ever-growing www.ikemoriz.com. Moriz founded his very own record label MOSQUITO RECORDS LONDON 3 years ago in London, where he also nurtured his acting talents by starring as the male lead in the new American musical ‘Saving Anne’ & acting countless parts in various British and American feature films (Alfie, Bridget Jones, Love Actually, Shanghai Knights et al), commercials & TV series. Moriz has moved back home to the Cape last year for...
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