WATCH: Ridin’ Round with Blinky Bill
By now, you know how much I love Elliott Wilson. I mean, he’s only married to the GOAT, after all. I digress. It tickles me to call myself Helliott Wilson for these interviews where I’m riding in cars with musicians. While this is no Car Test, it was a braai test of sorts. Kenyan artist, […]
The Writers: Zingah
If you get a chance to, pay attention to the personal development Zingah has undertaken in the years since he was a kid in Cashtime Fam. For The Writers, though, Zingah and I spoke about his songwriting and stretching himself. Definitely one of my most unexpectedly illuminating conversations. What’s your favourite Zingah-penned song?
WATCH: Religion and Rap
I know, I know, it looks like this has turned into a YoungstaCPT fan site. I suppose the kid has been working the press. The last time he was in Jozi, he and I spoke about his song, 786, and the links it has to Islam and parts of Cape Town gang culture. What do […]
On: 3T
“Can you believe the internet was down,” he asks me rhetorically as he sits down. He shakes his head. “But things like that always happen to me,” he smirks and then says: “The internet only went down when I arrived, they’ve never had that happen to anyone else.” If I were YoungstaCPT, I’d probably be […]
The Writers: Msaki
On a whim, I decided to start a new series called The Writers. Here, I speak to some phenomenal songwriters about how they manage to be so, well, phenomenal. The best part of this series featuring some South African artists is that it means I am more than likely chatting to people who play in […]
LISTEN: Shane Eagle’s true colours
Shane Eagle has been charting his own unexpected (well, at least to me) path since he left The Hustle TV show. The rapper’s debut album, Yellow, won the 2018 Best Rap SAMA and his follow-up EP, Never Grow Up is one I play every week on the way to work. Ok, fine, it’s not like […]
hdX: On Theatre on the Square
What makes for a potentially electrifying performance? Helen Herimbi hits up AKA’s Orchestra on the Square rehearsal to find out The Jozi sky is grey when I arrive. AKA’s band is standing in a circle on the street and I join them. The seem on edge. Nhlanhla, who takes care of the lighting and visuals […]
hdX: On Mx Blouse
“I thought I was just hungover and ignored the fact that I felt sick for a while,” Mx Blouse is telling me over the phone. I’m gobsmacked. They are giggling. “I was so sick. I got rained on on New Year’s Eve, at Afropunk. Then it escalated and they couldn’t figure out if I had […]
Flowers for Melanie Ramjee
Melanie “Hypress” Ramjee is a hip hop PR pioneer. Back when it wasn’t the leading genre in the country – and, in fact, it wasn’t all that embraced – it was the company that Melanie co-founded that signed and pushed artists like Spex as well as Mizchif. The publicist/serial entrepreneur/blogger/influencer does not like to talk […]
On: My trip to Namibia
It appears from the distance and runs towards the watering hole. Then it stops. Then it’s off running again. Then it stops once more. This time, I see what passes for a mischievous grin on its face as it takes off with a measured run that is part gallop and part bounce. A group of […]