This past weekend we learned of a few developments in our local hip-hop fraternity. Street Amu is putting in mad hours into their project and Slang G, he's making some exemplary moves. So we decided to link to their videos just so you're in the know as well, about the monsoon that looms in Mpumalanga.
A performance by Slang G - whose name I didn't know at the time, caught my attention at the Luv Ur Hood Session in Shatale - in March. Here at the basement our main objective is too push our own, and this young man is worthy of being showcased, this is us ovating his moves! Our Fives fly in the air at him! Check out his video below.
On to The Street Amu Promo Tape... This is what Pedro Kan-ill one of the members had to say, "The Street Amu Promo Tape is a promotional mix tape that we plan to release with the attempt to keep fans entertained while we cook the anticipated “013 TAPE”. The promo tape comprises of tracks we’ve recorded on international beats to showcase our musical diversity as well as following the traditional HipHop street remix trend, it also features a variety of our original tracks which will be included on the 013 tape as a marketing tool.
The promo tape will basically have an amount of 10 tracks (five of the international remixes & five of our own tracks). The rhyming scheme and flow is relevant, uniquely pioneered and displays a high level of lyrical skill. The digitally released tracks have been exceptionally received by most HipHop followers and have reached thousands of plays as well as download on distribution sites. The tape is a contribution from us in raising the standard of HipHop in Mpumalanga since we are one of the most overlooked provinces in the HipHop game nationally."
Meet Macdonald Hlompho Lekhuleni commonly known as “Masta H” to local hip-hop enthusiasts. With only the first volume of Mapulaneng Mixtape under his belt, his music already features in the SABC 1 commissioned documentary “O Mang” – Directed by Bjorn Rudner. The future looks very promising for this dedicated Sepulana rap pioneer, especially when we look at how he only had a movement – Luv Ur Hood, and a dream when he started this journey.
The high demand for Mapulaneng Mixtape Volume 1 has seen a reloaded mixtape with a few new tracks being released. Household names that contributed to the project include KFB; Shogun Cwell; Young K-Cee; JOP; Mr Doo; Junior Mkhari; Play; Adorn the Poet; Android and Luv Ur Hood co-founder, Katsuko. Work on Mapulaneng Volume 2 is already underway and no release date has been set as yet.
We finally received an invitation to one of the Luv Ur Hood Sessions in Shatale, Bushbuckridge (This was long overdue if you ask me) and we caught up with the masta himself. This is what he had to say…
Faceook: Macdonald Masta H Lekhuleni
Twitter: @Masta8h
More Images HERE!
Keep watch for these NelCity natives, they've been around for quite sometime. Shame on you if you turned a blind eye on them. We attended their launch at the Emnotweni Arena in Nelspruit, they owned the night! We'll be giving you the 411 on them pretty soon, start the fire so long...
Now that the fire has been started... let's keep it burning... As promised, here's the 411 on the band...
Based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, the band formed in 2001 while the members were still in their teens. The initial formation of the band was made up of Dylan Bolton (Vocals & Guitar), Robby Johns (Drums) and Lee Nicholls (Bass Guitar) with Phinda 'Goophy' Magagula (Slide Trombone) soon to follow. During 2006 the band made two additions to their sound by including Bongani Mavundla (Trumpet) and Mimi Mthethwa (Backing Vocals).
Their debut album “A Shot In The Dark” was released in 2006 which generated great opportunities and media coverage, taking them to a new level of publicity. After winning the RP Studios Emerging Sounds regional finals, the band gained success outside the boundaries of their hometown which led to many performances in the Gauteng area. The band started appearing on line-ups at Cool Runnings, Roxy’s, Café Barcelona, Tempo’s and Schiva’s Rock on a regular basis.
No One’s Arc has exceeded all expectations in 2010! Towards the end of January the band set off on a nationwide tour known as the “Tour of ARC”, performing at 11 venues in 3 provinces in less than 3 weeks. During the tour the band had the opportunity to appear on the line-ups at the “Up The Creek” and “RAKA” festivals near Swellendam. In the Cape area the band shared stages with the Black Cat Bones in Durbanville and also with Tidal Waves at “Die Jukeboks @ BOHEMIA” presented by Robertson Winery. The band’s debut music video for the song “Fire” was also launched on the tour and has generated enormous exposure with regular airplay on mK.
After the “Tour of ARC” the band featured on the “Jo’burg Burning” line-up with the likes of Ashtray Electric, Wrestlerish and Taxi Violence.The 21st edition of the “Splash Fen Music Festival” was a great highlight of No One’s Arc’s career. The band appeared on the festivals compilation album amongst some of the country’s leading artists like Albert Frost, Hot Water and Dan Patlansky and many others. On the 13th of May the band showed off their acoustic abilities performing live on national television on mK’s “Studio1” with their song entitled “The Days Of Make Believe”.
The final weekend in May saw the band performing outside South African borders at the “STRAB” Festival in Mozambique with bands like Boo!, Zinkplaat and Die Tuindwergies.
By the end of August, No One’s Arc was on the road yet again! The “Cape ARCus” tour was a huge success, which included an acoustic set live on MFM Radio and sharing the stage with New Holland at the “geROOSter” Rock Festival. Returning back home from the “Cape ARCus”, it was time for the “By Die Maan” Festival at Blue Moon. This year’s line-up included Arno Carstens, Zebra & Giraffe, Prime Circle and Die Heuwels Fantasties, just to name a few.
Following the success of the band’s 2010 career, No One’s Arc launched their highly anticipated self titled album at the Emnotweni Arena on the 20th of November. The band then pursued on a nationwide launch tour with performances at “Synergy Live”, “Park Acoustics”, and the “mK 5de
Avontoer” with 9 of South Africa’s leading acts including Isochronous, Jack Parow, Pretty Blue Guns and Glaskas!
Sorry ladies and gentlemen, we wished to keep things short but there was no way of doing such when so much of a profile had to be published... READ! REEEEAD!
On their latest single “U.F.O” we see Mr. Goophstar slinging a few rhymes, which remind us just how prolific an artist he is. Check it out...
More on http://www.noonesarc.co.za
Poet / vocalist Themba Banda and acclaimed local producer / engineer, Joe Phiri are the two secret ingredients that make up the power duo: Nu Error. Joe or Joe Cymphonic as he has come to be known to the industry is from eMganduzweni and Themba hails from Matsulu the ghetto. Since it’s inception in 2008 Nu Error has been going hard until this day.
We picked up their first ever single: “Hold On (The Grand Piano Edit)” and availed it for download on the blogspot, which did exceptionally well compared to the other MP3s we had availed. Today, their debut album is out, simply titled “Destiny”.
Just like the promo EP they put out, the album is a blend of Hip Hop with a dash of Rhythm &Blues (R&B). We’ve heard the radio friendly “Hold On” and the re-affirming “Uthando lukaBaba”, there is more where those songs came from. Get your ORIGINAL copy of the album and hit us back with your favourites. Let’s support our own sons and daughters...
For Bookings / Telesales:
c: Baxter @ +27 (0) 83 383 7701 | e: 8kyk@vodamail.co.za
So, where were you on the night of 2 September 2011? This was a very memorable night indeed, you really did miss out on a very good show. Supporting acts like Sizwe Gates, Chocolate, Babyman, Nativz Squad and Chillax took to the stage and the Smoke of Rhyme boys - Hebza Mabza & Perr, repped NelCity well. Kliff Oday (Kasi Empire), Madumane and Sweet Mike of Ligwalagwala FM played very good build-up sets to the main event of the night. TheBigZill from Ligwalagwala FM, was the host for the night, he carried the show well...
When Afro'traction crooner, Wandile Moya, hit the stage, we all sort of knew these guys were here to reclaim what was rightfully theirs - the night of course. The other main attraction, Teargas shook the whole of Ground Zero, Matsulu, a memorable night indeed, bowukuphi?
Afrotraction, birthname Wandile Moya, one of NelCity's rising son's is touring the country promoting his debut album, Soul Deep. Songs like Ngim'tholile and Ngawe are currently making the waves on every reputable radio station countrywide. Hit the play button below and be wowed by this Nelspruit native's musical genius...
Afrotraction and Teargas will be bracing Naspoti (or NelCity, as we have come to know it) in September this year. One of his biggest goals is to channel the spotlight back home, this event is one of many that he will be bringing home in future. Watch this space and start saving up, it will be a very memorable Naspoti night!
The Audio Version of the Advert...
The house version of Ngawe, with the Mechanix of House. There is another very soulful version of this song... keep your ears open, you might just bump into it on the next Afrotraction release.
Now that you've seen the videos and heard the music, it's time to go behind the scenes. Here's the making of "Ngimtholile", the Music Video.
3 Days to go before the event finally goes down. Have you saved up? Are your Original CD's ready for autographs? Good! The NelCity Basement team will also be at the Afro'traction event, so let's all meet there and support our own!
We finally got hold of the Mr. Hebza Mabza’s Women Salute Video... Yes! There was a major and unnecessary hold up with getting the video here but we eventually did get it here. Lessons were learned; patience was tested; true colours were shown; there were disagreements but the agreements outweighed them; love was shown; good actors discovered; we got chased away; had stubborn 1400 vehicles speeding to hit us; ego’s clashed and all the stuff that only the cast and crew knows...
The original storyline and direction of photography for this video was done by Rapper / Producer: Muzi “Ehm’sHe” Mbungela, sadly he couldn’t see the project through because of his sudden move to Gauteng. On Ehm’sHe’s absence, Martin Mabilane, who was also quite pivotal in this whole project as the producer and sole camera man, had to step in to do the final editing without any input from Ehm’sHe.
The Cast:
Hebza’s Mother Figure - Dimakatso Thabane
Hebza’s Little Brother – S’fiso “Yung Fess” Mabuza
The DJ West’s entourage – Pedro Kan-ill & Lungstar
Special Thanks to: Pamela; Yung Fess; Perr; Romeo; Hoodrat; J.O.B; Kliff Oday; Kwasi Akontoh; Lungstar; Pedro Kan-ill; Sanza; Dj West; Tebogo; Sga and all who braced us with their presence.
Without further ado... Hebza Mabza, with Women Salute, enjoy. Please send us your comments to subsnb@gmail.com or a facebook / twitter.
The first Nelcity basement members from Left: M-zee; Lwazi; Wax Lyrikal; Trixxx; I.N.I; Illkid; Ntando (Virtuoso); M.x.O; Lutho; Truth; K.G.; Mr. Cool & Zero
