Nike Lights Up Joburg City
Adidas is the official FIFA partner at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the other sports brands, namely Nike and Puma, get mileage on the field through the sponsoring of the different national teams. The battle for our attention by these brands is always ferocious and has inspired some of the most innovative and daring guerilla marketing the world has seen over the last few years. While Adidas dominates anything FIFA-related for this World Cup™, Nike has been pushing aggressively and this is most evident with their massive advertising installations in Johannesburg city. They have created a massive...
Nokia Ringaz Blog
Nokia just announced the launch of Nokia Ringaz Blog in South Africa and are looking for a blogger to join their team of bloggers. The selected blogger needs to be comfortable with scribbling thoughts, be open to initiating conversation and engaging with people. Nokia Ringaz is to become the heart of the community, its people, trends, products, etc and, therefore, the selected blogger needs to be passionate about technology - especially the mobile phone - but also be tuned into and interested in what is happening around them. If you feel you are that person: "There is no onerous list of...
Alicia Keys Keeps A Child Alive
In this day and age, artists can no longer exist in isolation from society, looking down upon the rest of the world from their luxurious surroundings. Many come from the very world we reside in and, for us to collectively progress, it is necessary that they play their part. Alicia Keys, known more as an award-winning singer, songwriter and producer, understands that her accomplishment can never be meaningful unless it is coupled with a commitment to assist and effect positive change in this sometime harsh world. At the core of this understanding and commitment is Keep A Child Alive (KCA)...
The more you give (7 in City Press)
I was always taught that we are because of the wider community that surrounds us. We pay much lip service to the concept of "motho ke motho ka batho", but that is a reality of life. To contribute to that community does not require much. For those who do not have money, there is time, work, or anything else non-financial at their disposal. For those with the financial means, it does not have to end there. This is what I explored in my column in City Press' 7 this last weekend... [more ... 7]
World Cup Predictions @ GIBS
On June 9th, I attended a Forum at the Gordon Institute of Business Science featuring Martin Tyler, Pedro Pinto and Duane Dell’Occa chatting about most things football. Martin Tyler is a legendary football commentator from the UK who has been commentating football since early 1980s. He also taught me football through high school (when I used to listen games on radio) and beyond, through his commentary. He is in South Africa working for ESPN. Pedro Pinto, also an extremely knowledgeable and experienced commentator is from Portugal but based in London, working for CNN. SABC’s football...
World Cup Music – 7 (City Press)
I write my column in 7 (City Press) in advance so I wrote this before kick-off of the World Cup. The concert has happened, the music is being played everywhere, especially in the stadiums. I was at the Ghana vs Serbia game and they had cheerleader / dancers getting down to Waka Waka. I wrote a post on the R.Kelly World Cup songs a couple of weeks ago and expanded on my views on this the World Cup Music in my column this last Sunday, titled It Is Here, But I'm Not Feeling It
7 in City Press
Some may be aware of fact that I have had, for just under a year, a weekly column in the Entertainment Supplement of the City Press, now called 7 (previously City Pulse), where I share my thoughts on primarily 'Popular Culture', as well as general social things. Every week, my column is also posted up on the City Press website and I have been trying to figure out a way to share it within this space. I have decided that the best route is to, from now on, put up a link here to the column page for those who would like to read it. Please do engage and share your thoughts. That is what provides...
TY on Music Addiction
A few months back, I did a short profile on TY in anticipation of his new album A Special Kind of Fool. The album is out on iTunes and TY has been doing shows around the UK and Europe to promote it. He recently sat down with SoulCultureTV to chat about music and the album. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ce11NG9FNI
In Retrospect
Africa, The Next Throne of ‘Hip-Hop’: I’ve mentioned this story before because it was one of those experiences that always stays with you. In December 2009, I wrote the following in a column at AllHipHop.com: “In 1996, while serving as GM of Wu-Tang Management, I participated in a private meeting with executives from RCA Records. At a certain point they brought out our sales figures from around the world. It only included totals from the Americas, Europe and Asia... [more] The Funniest Lines From Scathing SATC2 Reviews: You could grow out your bangs, or met your future husband, conceive and...
Nike Football vs Puma Football vs Adidas Football
It is football tournament season and one of the added joys of such periods, including Euro Cup, Africa Cup of Nations and, of course, the World Cup, is watching the sporting brands battle it out for our attention with elaborate, entertaining and inspiring adverts. Nike: Write The Future Nike just released its Write The Future ad with football stars including Drogba, Rooney, Ribery, Ronaldo and, ironically, Ronaldhino (who won't be making the World Cup). An edited version is being played on SA television but you have to see the full version for it to make sense....
Another Official Song For The Football
It is getting confusing keeping track of all the official songs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and now FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment have announced a new one written and produced by R. Kelly. The song Sign Of A Victory (<-- click on link to listen) will be performed by R. Kelly and the Soweto Spiritual Singers choir at the opening ceremony of the World Cup at Soccer City on June 11th. The Soweto Spiritual Singers is a 27-member ensemble which performs gospel and traditional music. The proceeds from the song are said to be going towards assisting ‘African charities’...
Nokia CK-200 Car Kit & Other Accessories
Nokia recently announced the impending arrival in South Africa of its CK-200 car kit. It should be available in SA from June and estimated retail price is R1,500 uninstalled. Car kits have tended to be financially inaccessible and / or complicated to install and the CK-200 looks like it is going to have a significant impact on the market. It is said to be easy to install, with three possible installations possible, via direct input, ISO cable or external speaker. The device itself is a ‘screen’ that can be mounted on the dashboard which contains everything you need, including an embedded 9mm...
Recognise Your Blessings
As a society, there tends to be a greater influence placed on mothers. In fact, there seems to be this underlying implication that the more important parent is the mother - perhaps because of the seemingly high incidence of single-parent households headed by mothers which means the hype around Mothers Day is always a bit more intense than it is on Father’s Day. Or maybe that’s just me, and my 101 issues with just about everything. For the record, I believe that every child needs two parents who love and support them, whether this happens while living in the same house or not. Anyway,...
In Retrospect
Lists Of The Most Important Internet Personalities Internet Evolution has come up with their first-ever list of the top 100 most innovative and influential people in the Web 2.0 world. In the social networking category, Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder of Facebook, beat out Kevin Rose, the Founder of Digg. In the search category, the heads of … [WebProNews] Malcolm X’s Killer Released After 44 Years? Sorry But The Real Killers Never Went To Jail Sure today a bunch of people are gonna be up in arms and have been up in arms when it was announced that Thomas Hagan the only man who admitted his role...
Win An Usher Hamper
The people at Sony Music have been nice enough to hook me up with an Usher hamper to giveaway on Evolutionary as we celebrate and enjoy his latest album Raymond v Raymond. It is his sixth album, his third album to debut at No. 1 on the Top 200 Albums chart in US and his fourth No. 1 debut on the R&B Albums chart. It was also No.1 on the Top Digital Albums chart. It took me a while to get into this album but I am enjoying it. It has songs that fit into the repertoire he has created over the last 15 or so years and this is an opportunity to get the full Usher collection. The hamper...
Usher – Raymond v Raymond
I’ve been working on this post for about two weeks now. I have listened to the new Usher album Raymond v Raymond, countless times, letting it run till the end and then starting it all over again. I’ve gone back and listened to the Usher of old, submerging myself in what I consider classic Usher, songs like Nice & Slow, You Make Me Wanna, U Remind Me, Confessions Pt II and U Got It Bad. I still remember being fascinated by how a teenager could sing wonderful songs with feeling and emotion, yet still retain his youthfulness. This is an artist who was able to carve a space in the world of...