DISCUSSION: IS AFRICAN HIP HOP A SOCIAL MOVEMENT??

African Hip Hop or Hip Hop in general can be viewed in many ways. Many people have used it as voice of the poor, some have used it as a tool to riches  others have used it as channel of expression. Do you see Hip Hop as a Social Movement?

Join Me as I host this Discussion in Atlanta, Georgia. Is African Hip Hop a Social Movement?

Thursday 21st 7pm;  The University Amphitheatre - Kennessaw State University - Northern Atlanta, Georgia.

Performers will include Humanist from Burkina Faso, Waterflow from Senegal, Ambassador for Ghana, Sol Messiah from Atlanta just to name a few.

DONT MISS OUT:  

WHY DON'T KENYAN ARTISTS GET POLITICALLY INVOLVED?

The Kenyan General election has just ended and what an interesting time it was. I took time to do an article for Okay Africa about some of the hip hip artists that had brought us some great music that had political messages.

There were artists who got paid to do songs for political parties and that's their right. But then there were artists who refused to take money and did songs about how they felt. The artists included Muki Garang, Jemedari and Octopizzo.

Read the article: Kenyan Political Tongues

Jemedari wrote a Letter to the President

Bro Muki is tired of living on 'A Dollar  a Day'

Octoppizo reveals what happened on Toboa

DJ CORTEGA & ELECTRIQUE DJS AT TREE HOUSE

If You Love Afro & Soul House Music This Saturday Night at Tree House Nairobi, Museum Hill this is the place to be. DJ Cortega and Electrique DJs Present ELECTRAFRIQUE

Saturday 12th January 2013. Starts 9pm - 5am. Entry: Ksh 500/- 

BLACK SUPREMACY DJs IN SOUTH AFRICA

Kenyan Reggae DJ Crew Black Supremacy is heading to South Africa next week for two shows in Johannesburg and Capetown. This magnificent DJ crew known for amazing DJs mixed and high energy at their shows. Unlike many local reggae DJ crews, Black Supremacy is one crew that has a major following at home and internationally. They have been performing in USA a lot but this year their African takeover started when they linked up with Spark Africa and Red Fox to perform in Zimbabwe twice and are now about to take it to South Africa.

Supremacy South Africa Tour Facebook Page

On 30th November Supremacy Crew will be at Jobuzz in Newtown, Johannesburg and then head off to Club Purple Turtle along Long and Short Market in Capetown. The tour is supported by Spark Africa and Black Exodus Sound Southern Africa's Dancehall ruler.

Be there with your Lion Palm sky high.  

 Listen To Supremacy Sounds

AKON LIVE IN KENYA

After many years of planning, Akon is finally coming to Kenya. Akon is brought to you by Spartan Group and concert will take place on the evening of Saturday 27th and afternoon of 28th of October, both concerts at Carnivore Grounds. The Saturday night concert will be for grown-ups while the Sunday afternoon the Family concert will be for all ages.

AKON LIVE IN KENYA
Opening acts will be Juliani, Bamboo and Stella Mwangi

The evening of 

SATURDAY 27th October 2012

Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi

Ksh: 2,500/- Main Arena
VIP: 5000/-
Family Concert on 28th: 2,500/- 

ALL ADVANCE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT CARNIVORE & TAMARIND IN TOWN

 AKON PROMO

Akon In Kenya Event Page

WIN! A TICKET

By Simply answering this question.

Before Akon blew up, he first appeared on a song with a famous group.

What was the song, group and album?

RULES: To win this ticket, You must register yourself on this blog and then successfully answer the question.

The winners shall be announced be announced on this blog 12 hours before the concert.

THE KING OF BOLD TOUR

WHEN CORPORATES FINALLY EMBRACE HIP HOP

Images by Visual Edge, story by Buddha Blaze & L'Afrohemien

The King of Bold hip hop tour kicked off on September 20th in Nairobi Kenya at a lavish party that was held at Prestige Plaza on Ngong Road in Kilimani. Scores of hip hop heads and enthusiasts flocked the venue to see their favorite hip hop acts. Special invited guests included hip hop industry playas, movers and shakers of the business world, graffiti writers and even journos. Joining the star-studded lineup was recently returned home MC, Bamboo a former member of the 90s rap group K-South. After making major hits such as ‘Tabia Mbaya’ ‘Compe’, ‘Kabinti’ Bamboo left Kenya to pursue music interests in the US, where he has been able to work with artists such as Akon. This tour is a welcome home gift to him, and is a way for him to reconnect with his fan base. Also on the bill was the ever flamboyant entertainer Prezzo who earlier this year made headlines as a house guest on  Big Brother’s Africa edition. ‘Tokelezea’ hit maker Abbass a.k.a. Doobeez also joined the line up, with yours truly as the host MC. DJ Joe Mfalme was the man on the decks.

 Prezzo doing it for his fans

 Hip Hop Fans Galore

Bamboo and Abbas reconnect after 10 years (KSouth)

Three Kingsafter show

Hip hop Fans in Nairobi

 The new bottle

Bold Boss Playas

 Buddha Blaze the MC photo by Magic Lens

If you have been following me for the last ten years, you know I have been venting about how corporate brands in Kenya have ignored hip hop music. I have seen them come to embrace the other genres of music but never do you see them talk about hip hop.  This tour came at a great time because I was just about to give up on Kenyan corporates ever having a genuine interest in hip hop.  There have been many talks about brands embracing this culture and finally someone is working. In September 2012 the East African Breweries Limited brewed beer Pilsner who’s logo is a proud lion finally reached out to the hip hop community and decided to sponsor a nationwide hip hop tour of artist from the community and those associated with it. Ten years later this is a first and kudos to the people at EABL Pilsner for taking such a bold commendable move. 

 Pilsner hotties

Pilsner has recently changed its beer bottle to one with a thinner neck, new bold look but same international taste, and winning attitude.  Pilsner is the beer of the sharp, bold street guy who loves hip hop and is too cool. He knows his style and does it without flair. Pilsner beer endears to the hip hop street king. Pilsner embarked on an action packed King of Bold Tour to connect with “Kings of Bold” around the country. The first stop was the green town of Meru in Eastern Province on the 29th of August. This is the food basket of Kenya and while most people are farmers, they love their hip hop! It was great to see the joy on the faces of Meru people just happy to finally see their beloved hip hop stars live in their town. For the Meru leg of the tour Bamboo and Abbas were joined by Wyre and Juacali who held their own. Prezzo had just left to New York to meet with Jay Z. The next weekend the King of Bold Tour joined by Juliani and Madtraxx proceeded to Nakuru town in the Great Rift Valley where the fans came out in numbers in this industrial town and fastest rising town in Kenya. Nakuru loves to party and its residents definitely know their hip hop. It has been the best party thus far.

Bamboo Afrikan Bantu in Meru

Juacali Babayao in Meru

Abbass 'Murume' in Meru

Wyre in Meru

 Meru loves hip hop

 DJ Joe Mflame rocks Meru

Fans in Meru

Abbass in Nakuru

 Madtraxx gets down in Nakuru

Juliani Rocks Nakuru

Nakuru loves hip hop

This King of Bold Tour is a great demonstration that artists need to be professionally consistent with their craft in order to be noticed by big brands. They need to build a major fan bases that corporate companies can attach their brand qualities to. Brands identify artists who have built careers that resemble their brands. The Kings of Bold; Abbas, Bamboo and Prezzo have all built strong careers confidently; they haven’t wavered even when times were rough. What they get in return is a tour across the country to their fans and media exposure that boosts their careers. It’s a win – win situation that shows hard work pays. The King of Bold Tour continues to other parts of the country; Kisumu, Mombasa and so forth, pending security concerns in those places. Keep it here for more information.

L NESS - GAL POWER

Here is the L Ness Gal Power album review I did for Nairobi Up

Hip Hop is a male dominated genre and it is very hard to find female MCs who can stand firm and own their space—especially in the underground circles. Female MCs the world over often feel lured to undress and do sappy songs, all in a bid to sell more records. L Ness is one of those tough Hip- Hop ladies in Nairobi who has stayed true to her roots.

She is very well known in the underground scene, and, unlike her female counterparts who have ventured into different genres, she has never been the one to move from her position. L Ness has been openly associated with underground Hip- Hop groups, such as Ukoo Flani Mau Mau, Judge and Mandugu Digital. This laidback, soft-spoken and shy MC is a fierce rhyme-spitter. On her debut album, “Gal Power”, L Ness makes sure she lets you know she can never be rated below her male counterparts. She teams up with female counterparts Nazizi and Xtatic on “Champion” to open way for a celebration of female MCs.

Her aspi- ration is to have the world listen to the women’s perspective about the Hip-Hop revolution. The production of the album is done by some of the best in the game— Mandugu Digital—so most of the jams have a hard “boom bap” sound with a major focus on lyrical context and depth. On the radio friendly “Imani Yako”, L Ness encourages young people to have faith in their work and to see them- selves rise up to unimaginable heights. And you will hear the signature Mandungu Digital “bounce” beat on “Mezesha” as she teams up with Abbas Kubaff. Get your copy of Gal Power at Nakumatt Lifestyle on Monrovia/ Moktar Daddah Street in Nairobi City.