Category: South Africa
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Trusenz:music review
In 1998 after graduating High School, Tru went to college to study audio production. It was here that he hooked up with others who were as serious as him about taking their skills to the next level. Tru hooked up with fellow student Solo and they formed the Mic Check Foundation (aka The Dream Team).Read…
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Trusenz: biography
Trusenz, born Lungelo Nzama is a hip hop artist based in Claremont, Duran, South Africa. In 1990 Nzama was one of only 4 Black students to join the Drakensberg Boys Choir with whom he travelled extensively, even performing for Prince Edward at his private residence in London.In 1995 Trusenz moved to Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts when heRead…
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Ifani: biography
iFani is a South African Xhosa rapper who was born in Umthatha and raised in Port Elizabeth. ‘iFani’ is the end part of his middle name ‘Mzayifani’ and although he grew up being called ‘Mzi’, he chose to go with ‘iFani’ as the name that would stick on the lips of devoted fans.Ifani is oftenRead…
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Kwesta:biography
Kwesta is a Hip Hop artist and song writer from Katlehong, in the East Rand of Johannesburg. Kwesta was born as Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi on August 11th 1988. Kwesta’s musical talent began as an interest in poetry which brought him very postive feedback that encouraged him to move forward to preform at talent shows. HeRead…
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Morale:biography/review
Morale, born Thabo Malefane, is an award winning African hip hop artist from Soweto. Morale is the CEO of his record label Neo Shanty.enjoyed a Model C influenced upbringing. Morale began rapping over a decade and half ago in the early 90’s when sounds of Wu Tang, Mischief and the old Black Eye Peas was wasRead…
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African Women and Hip Hop
One positive trend is the groups of female emcees in various countries in Africa coming together to release collaborations or cyphers. It gives female emcees the spotlight and a chance to display their skills. It also promotes unity instead of beefs between femcees. Some of these emcees are underground. Some of these emcees perform popRead…
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Short biography of Tumi (Tumi & the Volume)
Boitumelo Molekane, which is also known as Tumi, is a South African rapper and poet. Molekane was born in exile in Tanzania in 1981, and returned to Soweto, South Africa in 1992. He is also formerly known as MC Fat boy and is the lead vocalist of Tumi and the Volume (Molokane, B). He hasRead…
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No Sleep
“No Sleep” is an all female hip hop track with a collective of young emcees from Southern Africa: DJ Naida of Zimbabwe, Gigi LaMayne and Devour of South Africa, Sasa Klaas of Botswana, and Ru the Rapper of Namibia.
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Journal of Pan African Studies: Hip Hop in Africa
I’ve recently edited a special edition of the Journal of Pan African Studies on hip hop in Africa. With articles by myself and a diversity of other scholars writing on Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. ● The Struggle for Hip Hop Authenticity and Against Commercialization in Tanzania by Msia Kibona Clark ● Urban Guerrilla Poetry:Read…
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African Hip Hop Film Series
This winter California State University, Los Angeles is holding an African Hip Hop Film Series. The films feature hip hop scenes from all over Africa, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. All films are free and open to the public. For more information contact Msia Clark @ mclark7@calstatela.edu.