Digital Crates: FKA twigs
If there’s one thing the Internet shows you, it’s that there is a multitude of artists out in the world building solid careers, creating great music. And there is no greater feeling than coming across an artist who resonates with a part of you in ways indescribable. Without fail, when I come across such an artist, there’s usually a couple of people out there who have been down but didn’t put me on. Randomly browsing, I came across a piece on Slate on the English singer-songwriter, producer, dancer and video director, FKA twigs, who started out in the industry as a backup dancer for musicians...
Win Internet Security Solution From Kaspersky Labs
We use different devices daily. We do banking and buy products and services, sharing credit card and bank details on multiple sites and apps. Security has improved and many sites have relatively secure login processes, but, there are those who spend as much time looking for ways to circumvent our device security. It is also, often, a mission to ensure that each device we have is secure – perhaps your PC or Mac is covered but your tablet is at risk. Or, your tablet is sorted but your smartphone isn’t. It may not be the most scientific approach but I have always tried to ensure that my spaces...
On CliffCentral With Gareth Cliff
I had the opportunity to chat to Gareth Cliff on his show on CliffCentral on January 8th, 2015. I don't always agree with his opinions but always enjoy interacting with him and this interview was no different. I'm grateful for the chance to share my thoughts on life, relationships, work, poetry, authors, Malcolm X, tattoos, writing, the new companies I'm involved in Project Fable and iMar Entertainment, etc.
First Race Of The Year – L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate
As I delve further into the world of horseracing with the people at Racing. It’s A Rush, my year ended with a flurry of activity, from the Emerald Cup and International Jockeys' Challenge to the Sansui Summer Cup. A year of horse racing firsts beckon this year, since I’ve never even attended the Vodacom Durban July, but that will change starting with the 154th L’Ormarins Queen's Plate happening this weekend, January 10th, 2015, at Kenilworth Racecourse (which is South Africa's oldest racecourse) in Cape Town. It is South Africa’s oldest race having first been run in 1861 in honour of Queen...
Africa As One
Africa is a vast continent made up of a multitude of countries, cultures, languages, etc. There are said to be an estimated 2000 plus languages spoken on the continent and over 3000 ethnic groups. We have a history that stretches back centuries, beyond colonialism, etc, but we are still seen as the location for beautiful landscapes and safaris or war and disease. There often seems to be no middle ground for those looking from the outside in. We evolve and grow but the image that is projected and shared outside does not. Yes, the business and political worlds recognise the power of getting...
D’Angelo And The Vanguard: Black Messiah
So, after a 14 year hiatus that has been well-documented, speculated on, dissected, frowned upon, etc, D’Angelo, with his band, The Vanguard, drops a new album without much ceremony. The Wait And close to two years after Questlove said, in a Billboard interview…"Right now, we're just tightening up the loose ends. But I still stand by, 99% of it is done….I would not be far off by saying this is probably my generation's version of Sly (and the Family Stone's) 'There's a Riot Goin' On.' It's potent. It's funky. It's an extremely hard pill to swallow. He's one of those artists that have, of...
To Write Or Not To Write
Until 2010, I’d never worked in a position that overwhelmingly became how the world sees and defines me. Having worked in multiple industries and companies, (for myself and in family business), working as Destiny Man editor was the first real time that people introduced me by my job title first. For the first time, it wasn’t difficult to answer the question that Johannesburg seems to love so much: “so what do you do?” Before that, I was seen as a poet, businessperson, TV producer, writer, etc but that was never all that people saw me as. It is interesting, for me, how, in just over four...
Win A Windhoek Original Draught Hamper
Competition in the beer segment has always been tough but there seems to be an increased intensity to it, particularly over the last year or so. And, for those of you who interact with my posts regularly, although they often aren’t regular, you’ll know that what interests me more than is generally the story and ecosystem around a brand. To be honest, I wasn’t much of a beer consumer until I spent some time in Germany, in the early '90s. Windhoek Draught, which is made with the German Reinheitsgebot brewing tradition – also known as the German Beer Purity Law or Bavarian Purity Law (source:...
Idris Elba Tours With Oude Meester
Two weeks ago on November 14th, I had the opportunity to ‘live’ interview Oude Meester brand ambassador Idris Elba and Master in the Making Siyabonga Radebe at the Joburg leg of the Oude Meester #InspireMastery Tour that went to Durban and Cape Town first. The energy in the room was palpable, while Idris and Siyabonga, despite doing 3 events in about 4 days, were engaging. It was a short conversation made interesting by the incessant buzz of the attendees, especially the women, every time Idris spoke. One of the questions from the audience was how does he deal with the ‘sexual energy’ that...
Win at Movember with Africology
For centuries, Africans have used what is in their natural environment to treat their body and spirit. Africology is a South African spa and skincare company that creates natural, eco-friendly products and services that draw on that spirit. They have spas at the Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg, the Boardwalk Hotel in PE and products are available at the Zone in Rosebank (JHB), EXEC|Care in Dunkeld (JHB), in Parkhurst (JHB) as well as increasingly around the world. Started in Australia in the early 2000s, the Movember Foundation draws attention to men’s health, in particular prostate and...
Sneaker Freaker In South Africa
In his book Under The Influence: Tracing The Hip-Hop Generation’s Impact On Brands, Sports & Pop Culture, Erin O. Patton provides insights into the launch and building of the Michael Jordan sneaker brand with Nike as well as Stephon Marbury’s foray into the kicks space with the Starbury. Sneakers have been big business for some years but it is the sneakerheads who take it to a whole different level. Out of this culture, there have been a library of books, documentaries and online platforms birthed, all devoted to sneakers. While the US tends to dominate the space, the sneaker site and...
Guest Host On Cliff Central
Radio continues to be a primary media platform in South Africa, and across the continent, probably more so than the print media, whether magazine or newspaper. I have been tempted to dabble in the space over the years and had illusions of being a radio producer many moons ago. I have had ample opportunity to be on the mic as a guest in my various guises from poetry to working at Destiny Man. And then, a couple of months back, Thabo “T-Bose” Mokwele asked me to guest host his show on Kaya FM while he was away on holiday. Having worked in and around the media and entertainment spaces, I have...
Meshell Nedegeocello’s Comet, Come To Me Mini-Documentary
There is something sensual, guttural, and wonderfully calming about the bass. As a child, I was always fascinated by how the bassist in jazz bands always seemed to be the funkiest, even when playing the upright bass, which forces one to be relatively static on stage – not really something you can fling around. And then bands and musicians like George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic, Sly & The Family Stone, Con Funk Shun, Ohio Players and Bootsy Collins, that bass funk went a whole different level. This is what drew me to Meshell Ndegeocello who has been one of my favourite musicians...
A Day At The Races
I attended the launch of Sansui Summer Cup 2014 happening on November 29th at Turffontein Racecourse as part of my journey into the world of horse racing. The weekend before I also attended my first race day at the Emerald Cup at the Vaal Racecourse, spending time with the people from Racing…it’s a rush. I spent half the time trying to decipher and learn about the race ‘brochure’ breaking down each horse, its performance in the last couple of races, the odds, how to bet, etc. Eventually I was just going for names that I liked and, out of 5 races, I called winners in 4, including the main...
Buy A Piece Of 140 Years Of Lyle & Scott
Established in 1874 in Scotland as a knitwear company producing high quality underwear by William Lyle and Walter Scott, Lyle & Scott has evolved over the last 140 years to become a full fashion brand for men and women. In this time, it has collaborated with luxury fashion brands like Chanel, Michael Kors and Yves Saint Laurent as well as expanding into golf wear, which further elevated the brand. It was launched in South Africa by Skye Distribution in winter 2012 and is available in Stuttafords stores in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane and Durban. To celebrate 140 years, Lyle &...
Digital Crates: What The F#@k Is A Jay Electronica?
Jay Electronica is probably one of the most fascinating characters to enter the realm of hip hop. The trajectory of any artist is to put their music out there, build a sustainable career (although with some of these people out here, one does wonder), and go from there. But, the New Orleans native, who was born Timothy Elpadaro Thedford, has had hip hop fans anxiously waiting for an album for over half a decade now, especially after the tracks Exhibit A and Exhibit C, both produced by Just Blaze, were released in 2009. The closest we’ve come to an album is the compilation What The F#@k Is A...