Represent Review: Keith Murray and friends
Get your dictionary’s out ‘cos the Matrix has been working out with his thesaurus again and this time round we let his words flow without cutbacks. Reuben went to check out US HipHop star Keith Murray aka another “I’m home in the motherland” visiting artist, on our behalf – He wasn’t impressed with the women-izing but had a bash all the same. Enjoy: “Ke mokone; Paki ya bo – Darkie ka di – Baki mpya!” , you’ll forgive me for dropping my 2 cents worth of lyrical rhyme here, but the short-lived excitement and free flow repertoires of last weekend’s mammoth rap concert at Emperor’s Palace has left me with an aura of unquantifiable satisfaction. If I’ve ever doubted Ghetto-Ruff’s ability to stage a world class event, I was wrong. My cynicism was shoved aside by Saturday’s hip gig: shame unto anyone who still believes that an “A” grade event under the African skies is the equivalent of a shebeen bosberaad! To this end – the Matrix bows to Ghetto-Ruff’s skillful and artistic management of a world class event in a world class African City – Jozi – our Jozi. Now, back to the lecture at hand, this Saturday evening/ Sunday morning yours truly was in the East Rand to Represent all you outgoing Jozi folk in what will go down in Mzansi’s event history as “a diamond in the rough” of Jozi Hip-Hop concerts. At first glance the venue (Former Caesar’s Gauteng), draws you into a comfortable world of plush and splendor only befitting the “have more’s”. The lobby is lit in such a way that your heart beat starts to pace as you digest the surreal magnificence that’s almost overkill. “Suprise, suprise” the artist line-up was a bit too biased in Ghetto-Ruff’s favour (but then again, this was their show!). The listings boasted the flamboyant and very “stout” (we shall get back to this…) Keith Murray and a host of Ghetto-Ruff artists and co-opting allies like: Drenco, Slice, Gum Shev, Maggz, Mr. NK, Jub-Jub, Jus Dat, Morale, Malic, Bricks, DJ Cleo, HPP, Morafe and Zola, although the latter 4 artists did not make their stage appearances (and with no public service announcement as to why not – I found this to be a bit disappointing!), however their absence was cheered up by Mandoza’s surprise appearance and the reinforced turn-table skills of DJ Speed-Cop. The Down-Low: ‘Jus’ Dat’ raised the curtains to a half-empty auditorium of fanatics who nevertheless received them with cheers and excitement. As the night advanced further Jub-Jub lashed us with his spiked whip as Emperor’s Palace got thumping to their famous single: Good time of your life! Mandoza and Bricks got us doing moves to their “Left, Right” song… Then Keith...
Representing in Phalaborwa!
So many of us are not from Jozi. In fact many of us are from everywhere but here: drawn to the gold rush, the vibe, the work opportunities… searching for success and a ‘piece of the good pie’ that our wonderful adopted city of Joburg generously offers us. But there’s nothing like going home to your town, kasi, village or street, nostalgia flooding your being at the emotions of remembering where you are from and how far you have come since you left for the big lights. Our writer Reuben “The Matrix” Malema paints exactly this scenario as he takes us through his visit to his hometown of Phalaborwa in Limpopo to attend the Cell C/Ghetto Ruff/Zola event on the weekend. Thanks for reminding us of how good it feels to make a triumphant return. Bring on the holidays. See our photos here. On Saturday 28/07/2007 the Palamine Club – Namakgale – Phalaborwa (My Origins and Home base!!!), had its wide-open grounds teeming with bodies all out in full force and well adorned – partly in support of a charitable good cause and partly in a quest for an exhilarating night out. For me and the ‘Jus Dat’ entourage, the night and fun started way before the official proceedings took centre stage as our convoy conglomerated at the Malepe residence in Namakgale (Di – 12 !!), a place all too familiar to me. In a very emotional way the setting evoked images of my childhood days in a juxtaposed collage of memorabilia against my now triumphant return to my Origins (The warm feeling really defies words and any attempt to express these emotions). At 18:00, hazards flashing, our convoy took to the streets in a presidential-like parade with all routes leading to Palamine Club. Our entry through the VIP access point was indeed a very momentous occasion which got even Big Vic (one part of Jus Dat`s management and Executive production duo) in a near tear-jerking moment as in his own words: “We left home in search of greater opportunities in Johannesburg and now Palamine Club is paying homage to our achievements!” – If I never cried right there and then, I knew i`ll never cry that night ever again, because his words were not just his own, but sentiments shared intimately by many of us from Limpopo who’ve undertaken the same search for success in the Highveld of gold down south! Hence the emotional gratitude and heartfelt tribute to Big Vic and Tumelo Mailula`s success (Re a Thekga Bakone!). The tight security venue was embellished with red and white, clearly symbolic of Cell-C`s corporate identity. At 19:00 Phalaborwa’s star Radio personality: DJ Eddie Crooks handed the stage over to one local star...
We will be back!
