Sway Dcyphas Life

Apr 26, 2010 |

UK / Ghanaian rapper and producer Derek Safo - Sway - is an artist who has lingered on the edge of immense success for too long. Starting out as a teenager, he eventually created Dcypha Productions when others wouldn't give him the opportunity or didn't recognise the potential that he has. He launched his company with a couple of independent mixtapes before releasing his first album This Is My Demo in 2006. He followed this up with an EP One For The Journey and two more mixtapes. Sway also signed, in 2007, with Akon's Konvict Muzik. I had heard a couple of his songs because of family in the...

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Red Bull Music Academy Radio’s Afro Picks Live

Apr 7, 2010 | ,

This last Sunday (April 4th, 2010) I took a drive to OST in Newtown to experience Red Bull’s Afro Picks, a live show that is recorded and made available on Red Bull Music Academy Radio. Initially recorded at the Red Bull Music Studios in Cape Town with telephonic interviews and music, this was the second instalment of the live experience and the second show in Joburg. Hosted by the legendary DJ Kenzhero and Lee Kasumba, each Afro Picks show focuses on artists from a different country on the African continent and last weekend’s show featured Kenyan artist Liz Ogumbo. The five Cape Town shows,...

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TKzee’s New Video – Dikakapa

Mar 1, 2010 |

TKZee are legendary. When they came on the music / kwaito scene over 10 years ago, they truly changed how kwaito was perceived and created. Their past EPs and albums, from Phalafala and Shibobo to Halloween and Trinity, amongst others, hold a very special place in the hearts of many South Africans (and Africans). The three friends, and artists, Zwai Bala, Kabelo “Bouga Luv” Mabalane and Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala, finally reconnected after an eight year hiatus to release Coming Home. The first single for the album is Sdudla and the video is alright but they have definitely raised the bar...

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Win a Sade Hamper

Feb 27, 2010 | ,

In honour of the release of Sade's first album - Soldier of Love - since the year 2000, I am giving away one Sade hamper. I posted my Layman Thoughts on the new album a couple of weeks ago and have been able to get my hands on some of the groups past CDs and DVDs. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post answering a very simple question: what was the name of Sade's last album? Only one entry allowed. Please note: Unfortunately, this competition is only open to residents of South Africa. Only if you have a South Africa address that the hamper can be delivered to. The...

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Mpho Skeef Update

Feb 26, 2010 |

A couple of months back, I did a mini-profile on Mpho Skeef, a UK artist with roots in South Africa, who has been plugging away in the music industry for many years now, as a singer and songwriter. At the time, it seemed like she was finally receiving the recognition and backing she deserves, after signing with Parlophone Records in the UK. After hearing her first single Box n Locks, I was looking forward to hearing the full album as well as, hopefully, seeing her in South Africa at some stage. I recently had a chat with her and there are new, less than positive, developments. It seems the...

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Special Kind Of Fool, An Album From TY

Feb 15, 2010 |

For too long, hip hop that originates from outside the US has existed in the shadows, despite the opinion (mine) that a lot of the music that is true to the spirit of hip hop is from everywhere else.  A couple of years ago, my brother-in-law started schooling me on UK hip hop and it resonated in a way that is different from what I continue to enjoy from the US. The first artist I got into was Roots Manuva and he continues to be one of my favourite, but I was also fortunate to randomly come across the work of Ben Chijioke, known to UK hip hop fans as Ty. In addition to the beauty of his...

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