Represent Review: Soweto Gospel Choir DvD Launch
Our indefatigable team of Represent reporters Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema and Nkateko “Agent Katz” Siweya headed off to the glittering Maponya Mall in the heart of wonderful Soweto for the launch of the Soweto Gospel Choir’s new DVD… See our photostory here. Thursday 25 September 2008. Maponya Mall – Soweto. A fair weathered evening at this once termed “ambitious White Elephant” (excuse the pun) of township real estate. Today, not only is this elegant mall proudly standing in the heart of black economy, but Maponya Mall is home to the most famous retail, franchise, boutique and chain store outlets of Mzansi’s cherished brands like: Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay, News Café, Primi Piatti and many more. The Ster Kinekor is of top notch quality, complete with a nice and spaciously designed food court for Africa! Tonight, our entertainment hunting noses have lead us to the Grammy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir’s launch of their signature DVD: African Spirit. I like the Soweto Gospel Choir, as a matter of fact I prefer their melodic inspirational tunes over that of Joyous Celebration. In sharp contrast to the former, Soweto’s humming choristers beautifully blend a selected collection of staunch church choruses with a number of smooth and equally uplifting melodies. This, I believe is the very reason why they gained international appeal, superstardom stature and all round affection which will surely stand them in good stead for many days to come. The legion of Mzansi’s “want to know it all” daily columnists aka paparazzi, were treated exceptionally well (obviously!) and accorded the kind of decorum fit for royalty. However, a bit of over estimation on the part of the organizers meant that the nice to gobble stuff far outlasted the number of attendees, but sadly on my part, the green bottle from Amstel Brouwerijen of Amsterdam was strictly kept at bay…sad, very sad!!! A makeshift stage was erected in front of Tuscan BBQ adjacent the Ster Kinekor movie theater. We were treated to famous Sunday choruses like “Ke Na Le Modisa, Woza Meli Wami, Bayete” and many more, however the song that most inspired the audience to a point of uncontrollable, compulsive sing along hums was the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Theme song: World in Union. I was at a loss for words… After the live performances, we were escorted into the movie theater (Popcorn and ice-cold Coca Cola in hand) for a sneak preview of the magic as recorded in front of a live audience at the Nelson Mandela Theater – Civic Theater – Braamfontein and now beautifully packaged in a collectors DVD which is available at all good music stores nationwide....
Reckon you can remix Radiohead?
Imagine it… Radiohead meets Kwaito… Radiohead meets kwasa, Radiohead meets boeremusiek, Radiohead meets Maskandi… Come on, remix their tunes, blow their minds and get rich at the same time. It’s your second chance. Here....
Young Guns Remixed final days!
Producers, DJ’s, muso’s remixers, we hope you got amongst the Young Guns Remixed competition and sent your remix in. It’s the last few days of the competition, move fast if you missed it, R10k could fund a lot of spring fun: Levi’s® is once again offering aspiring young producers the opportunity to remix the bands for the second annual competition. Last year, producers from across the country were invited to take part in the first-of-its-kind campaign. Entries were of such a high standard and have raised the platform for the competition this year. To all aspiring producers out there: ‘If you think you’ve got the rhythmic ability to twist Howard Roark’s music into a house style, or you’re convinced that you’ve got just the right beats to lay under Siyamatic’s hypnotic guitar riffs and rhyme style, then you need to enter this competition and prove to the music world that you’ve got what it takes to take the Levi’s® Young Guns sound to the next level’. The choices are endless. The producer will decide which tracks they want to remix from any of the Levi’s® Young Guns artists, then get in touch with Matchboxology at music@matchboxology.com and request seperates of the band and the song that you want to remix by end September 2008. The producer will then be sent the actual separate tracks requested on a disc, to do their remix and bring on the magic. Once this is complete, the producer is to upload the final remix back onto the www.myspace.com/levisyoungguns for people to listen to. Then the judging begins, with all remixes competing for the sought-after first prize of R10 000.00. The judging panel includes musical maestro, supreme funk selector DJ Kenzhero and Miss H (from Shadoworks), Young Guns representative. So, if you’re all about reworking sounds, and you want to be involved with the most progressive groups on the local music scene, then show your skills and remix the Levi’s® Young Guns. It’s your chance to make your mark. For more information, go to...
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...
Represent Review: Joy of Jazz 08
This years line up was so juicy, we just had to get amongst one of Joburg’s (and soon to be the world’s…) premier jazz music festivals, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema does the honours below, Nkateko Siweya tells our photostory here… 31 August 2008. The Foothills of Moretele Park – Mamelodi – Pretoria (City of Tshwane), the setting of this year’s SA Music Heroes Concert. For us (true jazz followers) it was an assortment of choice on a silver platter. As the impressive line-up of stars was flaunted, I found myself in a very bitter-sweet predicament. Looking up at the aging league of our household favourites, I gazed upwards (in peasant style) as the old guard performed, with my glazed cheeks and my broad smile; but I was saddened, as I wondered to myself what the future of South African jazz holds. Our legends are aging very quickly, from Bro Hugh Masekela to Mama Letta Mbuli, the torch is surely changing hands… but to whom? And yet, I cling on… The Event Mr. Wilson Mankuku Nkosi mashed us up with his mature trumpet sounds, following suite was Mrs. Nothembeni Mkwebana who immediately sent us on a systematic repertoire of jump action moves as we unanimously responded to her rock ‘n roll aligned musical chords. Her guitar skills drove me insane! Jimmy Dludlu with his maestro guitarist skills quelled us under his charming spell as we hummed the tunes to his famous tunes. I am such a down-beat fan! At 18:00, my favourite jazz artist, Mr. Jonas Gwangwa ascended the platform. His well known originals: Batsomi and Kgomo, had the multitudes passionately singing along: “Nna di sa fele Nka di busa, di sa fele Nka di busetsa morago…” I love this song!!! August being the end of Women’s month, it was fitting that Mzansi’s famous jazz couple (who were coincidentally celebrating their 40th Anniversary) be crowned the flagship performers of the evening. Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. Caiphus Semenya and Ms Letta Mbuli. They are such an inspiration to me and many of their avid fans. The evening was sealed off with a colourful display of majestic fireworks. What a smoky way to enter a new season! I so wished the blossom season can be ushered in by a renewed affirmation to the nurturing, growth and sustainability of the genre by young and talented Jazz artists with a fresh new sound and long term commitment. We need to revive and preserve our country’s jazz heritage. Before it is too late. Reuben-The Matrix-...
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