South African Hip Hop Series: Producer Brian Soko

Brian Soko is not a happy man! Not only is he having to deal with the trauma of a daylight break-in at a cottage he’s renting while on a three-week…..

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1 min read

July 3, 2014

This Studio Of A Life–Portraits Of Rappers And Producers

I can’t recall when I first fell in love with hip-hop, but I do know that the first song I transcribed was Coolio’s ‘Gangster’s paradise.’ Transcribing lyrics in ‘songbooks’ was…..

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4 mins read

July 1, 2014

A Few Thoughts About The Rapper AKA

“What do you like about the guy?” asked a friend after I told them about an album listening session the rapper AKA had hosted a day earlier. “I don’t know,…..

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6 mins read

June 10, 2014

The State Of African Hip Hop In 2014

In 2014, African hip-hop has graduated from the bedroom and walked into the boardroom. It’s left its cape (baggy jeans) at the door and picked up a pair of tight-fitting…..

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4 mins read

March 17, 2014

Lesotho’s Politics Go Pop

Lesotho’s Prime Minister and leader of the coalition government Tom Thabane has found love: ‘It is one of the best decisions that I ever made in my entire life,’ the statesman said in a recent newspaper interview (in Sotho). The circumstances in which the news was revealed, was less rosy: a bomb explosion and unidentified gunmen shooting at his lover’s house.

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1 min read

July 20, 2013

Weekend Music Break 46

Electrique DJs, Fena Gitu and Jaaz Odongo have the perfect Summer tune for you. Technically, we’ll have to call it “Kenyan” house music: Another great video by director Nicky Campos,…..

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1 min read

May 11, 2013

Weekend Music Break, N°42

Many collaborations and surprise comebacks popped up in our feeds this week. First, this one by Kenyans DNA and Tanzania’s Mr. Nice, who tried his luck in South Africa for…..

Cassper Nyovest