Ro James’ Eldorado, Random Thoughts

Jul 6, 2016 |

Our influences often subtly guide our decisions in and perspectives of the world. With musicians, being able to tap into influences without becoming imitations that fall short is a real challenge. Many an artist has floundered because they are unable to find their voice beyond the musicians that influence them. Ronnie James Tucker, known as Ro James, has been able to establish his space amidst the multiple and diverse people and sounds that have inspired him, from David Bowie, Prince, and Sly and the Family Stone to D’Angelo, Notorious BIG and Otis Redding. Born in Stuttgart, Germany to a...

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Digital Crates: Summertime Mixtape 6

Jul 11, 2015 |

In 2010, DJ Jazzy Jeff and MICK (then Mick Boogie) collaborated to release the Summertime Mixtape Vol 1, which fittingly opened with the track Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. It includes: Kool & The Gang – Summer Madness, Quincy Jones – Summer In The City, Ahmad – Back In The day, Ice Cube – It Was A Good Day, Roy Ayers – Everybody Loves The Sunshine, Bush Babees – The Love Song, Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It, Carl Thomas – Summer Rain, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go and En Vogue – My Lovin’. Since then, they have released a new mixtape in the...

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The Artist Known As Saul Williams

Jun 17, 2015 | ,

Saul Williams. His influence as a poet permeated the Joburg scene following the release of the film Slam. Many a young poet found voice out of his unwavering desire to share his voice. The power of his words force you to listen and his willingness to draw influence without boundary, speaking truth to power with a confidence that many of us wish we had. I listened to his first album Amethyst Rock Star repeatedly for a year and always found something new in the spaces between the words. And when I listen to it today, it still, at times violently, grabs at my beliefs and forces me to reflect on...

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Diary Of A Madman

Jun 15, 2015 |

Hip hop has been a part of my life since I was about 11 years old in 1983. I tried my hand at breakdancing when I was in high school, under the monikor Dr Kool MC (have no idea where that came from). I gave rapping a shot during my early days, doing “to the hip hop, the hippity hop and you don’t stop the rock’ with the best of them. I was never much of a visual artist and you couldn’t find spray paint cans in Maseru, Lesotho any way. We used to get our music from friends who were based in the US and, as a result, got to hear everything from The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & The...

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Digital Crates: Brika

Jun 13, 2015 |

In an entertainment world where every detail of everyone’s life is put on display and everything is often over-marketed (seemingly at the expense of the actual music created) it was a bit alarming when I struggled to find background on Brika, and Art House Records, the record label that released her debut album, Voice Memos. What I could find is that Art House Records is a Miami-based independent label that spent three years on developing Briana Alexa Martinez, who was born and raised in Miami, and that 2014 was their first year of operation. There’s the standard Wikipedia page, which...

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Digital Crates: FKA twigs

Jan 28, 2015 |

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...

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