THE PERONI YACHT CRUISE

So what do you do on the last day of a long weekend? Well, if you're in Jozi you'll probably hang out with some buddies at The Zone or maybe grab some nice meat at Bra Joe's in Alex. If you're in Durban, you'd probably go chill on the beaches along the Marine Parade, but the hordes of people that swarm that area will probably deter you from actually having fun.

What if you're in Cape Town? Well, you'd do exactly what a bunch of us did on Monday, the 28th. You'd take off on a spacious yacht with a bunch of cool people and cruise along the Atlantic Ocean in the shadow of a glorious kodak-ready sunset. Our good people at Peroni invited Encore to tag along on such a mission and we couldn't help but to humbly oblige.

We met up with the crew late afternoon at the V&A Waterfront where we sipped on a couple of cold ones while admiring the vivacious curves of the 'pretty lady', otherwise known as the yacht. Our captain of the evening promptly urged us on board where we were met with chilled house beats, beautiful companions and of course, ice-cold Peroni.

The cruise took us to the outskirts of the V&A harbour and across the Atlantic seaboard. In the process, we witnessed one of the most captivating sunsets! In such an ambience, I could not blame certain peeps for getting all intimate; this is after all what la dolce vita is all about - the sweet life.

Props to Nkosana and Simphiwe for organising the awesome cruise.

AUTHORITIES BAN ZUBZ SONG

The Broadcasting Complaints Tribunal of South Africa has just ruled that Zubz’s song “Get Out” from his classic album “Headphone Music in a Parallel World” incites violence and should not be publicly broadcasted.

In its ruling, the Tribunal states: "The song threatens imminent violence and is accordingly prohibited by the Broadcasting Code for Broadcasting".

It added that while artists are usually afforded special leeway with regard to freedom of expression, the general effect of the song is one of a call to action with lyrics like "tell my people fight", backed by machine gun sounds in the background.

The tribunal was especially incensed by verses such as, "Tell the oppressor get out/And tell my people fight … I’m gonna get this panga to your neck/Take what is mine today and I’ll rob you tomorrow … grab the gun … It’s time we take it back".
This is quite a blow for Zubz as it means that the song can’t be played on radio or TV.

We will be getting hold of Zubz to get his view on the matter. We at Encore however are of the belief that “Get Out” is a powerful song that aims to wake people up from their socio-politcal slumber. I doubt that Zubz expects his fans to literally pick up pangas and guns and aim them at the “oppressor”. I think the figurative message is that we as Africans should aggressively pursue economic and political freedom that we were robbed of for so many years. The political battle has sort-of been won, but now we face an even bigger battle: the economy. Well.... that's my interpretation.

We’ll however have to hear from the horse’s mouth about the song’s intention and meaning.

EXCLUSIVE - NEW JAY-Z FREESTYLE

Listen:


I saw this one coming! Real Jigga fans wil know that every time he makes a major business move (the latest being the $150 million recording deal that he has just inked with Live Nation), he releases a freestyle. On this particular one, "Blow your whistle", he waxes about his big payday joking that it would take Will Smith 7 movies to amass that type of petty cash and comapres himself to John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix, amongst other things.

Well, like he says, "Women lie, men lie but numbers don't!".

Check it out, it's an Encore exclusive!

NEW VIDEO: NE-YO - CLOSER

Our boy Ne-yo is back already with new music. He has just released a new single in the States entitled "Closer". This is immediately after his chart-topping sophomore album that produced the mega-hit "Because of you". It's obvious that words like "rest" and "taking it easy" don't exist in homeboy's vocab. The vid also proves how big an inspiration Michael Jasckon has been to him.

Ne-yo's third album "Year of the Gentleman" is scheduled to be released June 24th.

It's definitely a good look!

SOLANGE KNOWLES READY TO WORK IT OUT

After many attempts, Solange Knowles looks like she’s finally ready to step out of her big sister Beyonce’s shadow. Her album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley Street Dreams has an official release date of August 26th. She has enlisted the services of Cee-Lo, The Neptunes, Marsha Ambrosius, Raphael Saadiq to give her new album the cutting-edge sound that her debut lacked.

Solange’s new single, "I Decided" is produced by The Neptunes and picks up the blue-soul sound that Solange's other leaked songs "Champagne Chronic Nightcap" and "White Picket Dreams" has. "I Decided" seems to target to the contemporary R&B audience which in a way is a departure from the pop friendly sound Solange established on her debut effort, "Solo Star".

“I Decided” just had a video shot for it; her publicists had this to say about it:

The video for “I Decided,” directed by the creative Melina, will offer the viewer a glimpse of who Solange, the visionary, really is: It is the ultimate pop art piece. Its psychedelic, it’s adventurous, it’s colourful and not so colourful, it’s intelligent, and it’s the inner makings of Solange. [Solange states,] “I love pop art; in fact I am a painter myself and have several pieces under my belt that I haven’t put on display but soon plan to.” The “I Decided” video deals with pop culture from the 60s to the future. It displays SoL-AngeL in settings from American Bandstand, to the Civil Rights Movement, to New Wave, and finally a “Cosmic Journey” future.

We’re duly impressed here at Encore with Solange’s bold new sound. Her fresh style of R&B cleverly distinguishes her from other poppy R&B chicks, her sister included.





We’ll put up her new video on Encore at the soonest!

NEW VIDEO: ALICIA KEYS - TEENAGE LOVE AFFAIR

This is Alicia Keys' new video for her latest single "Teenage Love Affair". If you watch closely, you will notice that the video pays homage to Spike Lee's classic flick "School Daze". Also, peeps such as Derek Luke and Jackie Long make cameo appearances.

Nice one!

FILM REVIEW – MAD MONEY

By Sivu Nobongoza

At first I wasn’t sure if this story was about “a lot of money” – as in Mad Loot, or whether it was a movie about money that makes you mad. Within the first minute of the movie I knew exactly what it was about, a lot of money that makes you mad. I’m talking about the type of Benjies Scrooge McDuck takes lunch time Olympic dives into. The type of cash that could save the rhino, stop genocides, humble Mugabe, find Osama or even bring back JFK from the dead. I don’t think there was anyone in that entire cinema, let alone the Cavendish building that’s ever seen the colossal amounts of cash I’m talking about.

Mad Money sets it off on the right note. It’s a movie about 3 female janitors who decide their tired of cleaning the toilets of the Federal Reserve Bank, one of the most highly secure banking facilities in the planet; and decide to take the future into their own hands, since their only other options is to die a slow poverty-stricken death.

Expired Diane Keaton, an upper-class grandma and housewife finds herself without any of her usual luxuries and is forced to take a job as a janitor to feed her family. Here she meets the comical ghetto Queen Latifah and the wonky Katie Holmes to complete her mastermind team of bank robbers. This film takes its seat right next to bank robbery classics like the Ocean’s series and Inside man - Clever, witty, gunless and provocative as hell. I guarantee you that you’ll do cartwheels after you’ve seen his one.

Thanks to Good Hope FM’s Suga’s Silver Session for sharing this gem in what was a memorable premier screening. Encore gives this baby a fat 4/5. Yessir!

EXCLUSIVE - NAS: BE A N****A TOO

God Almighty, Nasir Jones aka God's Son aka Street's Disciple is back with a banger that will surely propel the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson to organize an anti-hip hop rally for his unrepentful use of the word "nigga" in his new song "Be a nigga too".

When you bump this track, listen to it carefully; he's got powerful issues to get off his chest! Homeboy even raps about Lucky Dube getting shot in Johannesburg! No wonder he's called the "CNN of rap".

NEW VIDEO - LUPE FIASCO'S "PARIS, TOKYO"

This is the fresh new video from Chicago's finest, Lupe Fiasco. We were supposed to have shown you this clip last week but we couldn't as we were only repping for the sistas as you might recall.

Lupe gets his swagger on real nice in this vid, it's definitely a good look. For all of those that still don't have his lastest album "The Cool", you better go and get it; it's hip hop at it's most creative!

BIG ANT'S BIGGIE, JAY-Z OR NAS SHOW

Big Ant brings you a one of a kind concept, a virtual concert to decide who rules hip hop. We've debated for the past two weeks in one of the most thought provoking and engaging groups on Facebook (Biggie Jay Z or Nas) now it's time we celebrate these icons with a HOT "Biggie, Jay Z or Nas" show.

ORDER OF EVENTS:
9pm - 12pm playing nuthing but club bangas!

12 Midnight...THE DECIDER
Line-Up:
C-LIVE aka Nas Escobar
T-Lee aka Jay-Z Young Hov
Jason aka The Notorious BIG Biggie

Venue: Cappellos (Ghandi Square)

WE HAVE AN OPEN MIC SESSION DURING THE 6 ROUND BOUND WHERE YOU CAN WALK AWAY WITH R300 IN CASH. A BATTLE TO DECIDE WHO THE BEST CLUB MCEE IS.

CONTACT FOR PRESOLD TICKETS: 072 242 8918.

BE A PART OF HISTORY AS WE WILL BE CAPTURING EVERY MOMENT OF THIS CONCERT STRAIGHT TO DVD FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.

NEW VIDEO - PRO'S "UTHINI NGO PRO"

Mzansi's favourite hip hop son, PRO, has just released a fresh new video for "Uthini ngo Pro", a banger from his latest album "Dankie San". The cinematography of the video is on point, nice one PRO! Check it out.

REVIEW - ERYKAH BADU'S "NEW AMERYKAH"

By Zandile Dlamini

The mystical queen of hip-hop and neo- soul is back. And she has graced us once again with her vigorous presence. And might I add that her long awaited return is anything but short of fruitful and lucrative. The uncontested lady of soul who brought you Baduizm, Mama’s Gun and World Wide Underground has consulted her soul to bring us New Amerykah, a throng of lyrical masterpieces that skillfully bind together an eccentric array of 70’s soul, hip hop, neo-soul and poetry, thus creating that endearing and unforgettable Erykah Badu signature sound that we have all become almost too familiar with since the beginning of her time in the music industry.

Every song has its own, special flavour, which will undoubtedly leave you feeling content, provided however, that you have an acquired taste for pure perfection. But while this album might leave you snapping your fingers, swaying from side to side and bobbing your head to the fresh beats, be warned it is not all about dazing us like a bunch of pipe-dreaming fools who will easily surrender our will to any shoddy and meaningless pieces of music that we have been fed. No, New Amerykah has been designed to open our eyes to the realties of life, by the use of though- provoking lyrics in songs such as My People and The Cell, songs that tackle everyday issues in the most unconventional way.

Although Erykah Badu’s style might have changed just a teeny weenie bit, I can guarantee you that she is still the same lyrical genius, only this time with a slight “mad scientist” vibe about her. But as soon as you listen to sweet sounding tracks such as Honey, That Hump and Telephone, you’ll instantaneously fall head over heels with her and her music… over and over and over again.

Tracklisting

1. "Amerykahn Promise"
2. "The Healer / Hip-Hop"
3. "Me"
4. "My People"
5. "Soldier"
6. "The Cell"
7. "Twinkle"
8. "Master Teacher"
9. "That Hump"
10. "Telephone"
11. "Honey" (Bonus)

WOMEN OF THE SAMAs

By Sivu Nobongoza

This year’s SAMA awards will prove to be pretty testing for the ladies and
aspiring Divas especially in the Best Female Solo Artist category. As across the board and dynamic as these nominees are, the judges are going to have to be open-minded as hell to pick a winner that the mass market are fond off. After years of Zoidism, Karen Zoid is no longer a young girl anymore and the distinguished rocker she has become is still able to muster up courageous well-produced records that keep growing a relentless following.

She’s a good songwriter and singer and the SAMA’s have recognized that before, so this time might not be any different unless Super sassy KB is up for the No.1 spot, which I no doubt think she is. KB’s “My Rhythm” hasn’t aroused a lot of talk, but the ears that it has touched only have inspiring things to say about it. On the day, we’ve grown to know that the SAMA committee could pop up a suspect decision which isn’t always a matter of bad judgment, more than favouritism for something they’re obviously use to and safe.

But don’t make the error of assuming that Louise Carver, Tasha Baxter and Zonke are going to roll over for these veteran’s high notes. Although Zonke is a
newcomer and less googleable than the rest of the girls, her passion and hunger
for music has catapulted her to meet with the best of the Best Female Solo
Artists in the country. Tasha Baxter’s progressive sound and creative flow could
prove to charm something why aren’t completely familiar with here in S.A, but something that s definitely necessary in music.

But who knows, this is a tidy ship of graceful and strikingly glamorous girls competing for the top spot. Will it be he people or the judges decision which matters in this category? No telling who it will be, but the essence of the femme touch is at a bay here. Tell us who you think will WIN the Best Female Solo Artist and why and we might just hook with a fly Encore T-shirt.

Best Female Artist
Karen Zoid – Postmodern World
Kb – My Rhythm
Louise Carver – Saved by the Moonlight
Tasha Baxter – Colour of Me
Zonke – Life, love N Music

Best Group
Freshlyground – Macheri
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ilembe
Malaika – Sekunjalo
Seether – Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces
Soul Brothers – Amacala

YOUNG SISTAS IN MUSIC

Qhama Dayile, our intrepid soul music aficionado, explores a new breed of artists that are pushing boundaries in their worlds. This is the hook-up of the young sistas that consistently deliver quality, soul-stirring music. The mainstream media might not give them the attention they deserve, but we at Encore would like to urge you guys to seek and find these sistas' music. They are the truth! Real Talk.

Zonke - Soul R& B


This soul music phenomenon has been singing hooks for kwaito star Thebe, the late TK, Loyiso Bala, Skizo and Mafikizolo. She has worked with the internationally acclaimed Frank Roger and still continues to mesmerize. After journeying from Bloemfontein, Zonke arrived in Johannesburg with one goal in mind - to bring her musical career to life. Zonke has been a backing vocalist for Joe Nina and the late Wendy Mseleku. She has built a relationship with Jazzkantine from Germany and took part in creating the song “Africa, my mother land” and after that the band Culture Clan, a trio of musical talent that toured the world, was established. After the band received a Metro Fm award in 2004 and a Channel O-best video award in 2005, Zonke found wings and flew to Kalawa Jazmee Records with Oscar ‘Oskido’ Mdlongwa and has now released her solo album which tells all about her ‘Life, Love ‘n Music.’ Her album has been nominated at the 2008 MTN SAMA Awards.

Siya Makuzeni- Jazz artist


Siya began playing trombone at the school’s Jazz Band and Big Band until her completion in 2000. Siya did her BMus degree at Rhodes University, where she also took up Drama and Physical Theatre. A year later, she decided to transfer to a more specialized study field and enrolled at the Pretoria Technikon Music School, studying a BMus Jazz degree. During this time she entered many Jazz competitions, her most accomplished being the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters, where she secured the Regional Finalist in Johannesburg for Jazz Vocals in 2002. Siya has also managed a hand-full of international acts.

Ntsiki Mazwai- Rhythmic poetry performer


Ntsiki comes from a musical, creative and political family. Ntsiki has managed to create her own identity. She was involved with a group of poets, beat boxers and performers from Johannesburg named Feela Sister, she has her bead making label ‘House of Mobu. After her popular “Sana u-Wrongo” radio hit she released her album and went straight to Amsterdam for the Rotterdam Film Festival. Upon her return, she has appeared on many TV magazine shows and now recently featured nude in a local female magazine promoting the appreciation of women and the disregard some men have for women.

Claire Phillips- R&B fused with jazz and hip-hop


The Cape Town born artist learnt to write music, perform and play guitar at a young age. Claire has worked with Kalawa Jazmee’s Oskido, has been an opening act for Freshlyground amongst many other achievements, she has been listed as one of Cape Town’s hottest acts by a local radio station. Claire won he MTN SAMA award for Best R&B/Soul Album in 2007. This phenomenal voice has won the 13th Annual SAMA Award for her album ‘Say my Name’.

Pebbles Soul

Pebbles is a talented singer and songwriter who was born in Port Elizabeth yet bread and buttered in the UK. This soulful sister has collaborated with hip hop musicians Tumi of Tumi and the Volume, Zubz, 34oml, Kheti, H2o and many other fellow Outrageous Records artists. In 2003 Pebbles sung the title track on the hip hop/poetry and R&B Expressions CD. Pebble’s latest album is out in stores now.

LEE KASUMBA INTERVIEW - PART 2

Which Mzansi hip hop acts are you feeling at the moment?
I have to take the 5th amendment on this because firstly I do have some emcees that I am feeling on a whole other level not cause they are from here but because I can flip from them to an overseas cat and its still dope. I never answer this because I have my own type of taste and people forget before radio I was a head and I still am you know; YFM never said lets find a hip hop chick, nah I said hey lets do this hip-hop thing, and now because of where I am some people make their choice on what’s dope because I said and that’s not entirely cool with me. For that reason, I just keep my taste to myself in the bedroom, in my car and in my iPod.

As a prominent woman in the hip hop game, why are women struggling to find similar prominence in the various capacities in the industry? And how can these stumbling blocks be removed?
This is another one of those questions, but yea I guess it’s important. Let me ask you this, how many female presidents are there? How many CEO’s of major companies are women? Do you notice how every time a woman in a so called prominent position always gets her womanhood called out before her work comes into discussion? I think that’s shady.

I don’t do things cause I am a woman and I don’t want it to seem that way, I understand its important so that we can get young girls to see themselves in that space but yeah I don’t ascribe to it from any other level than motivating women, I never want guys to respect me cause –she is a girl doing her thing or she knows her hip hop for a girl, when truth is I’d take a lot of these cats out and that’s a fact.

I think also that yes to a degree women are pushed aside and what I have found is that if you know your story and know as much if not more than your male counterpart you’ll be good.

Which album is currently on heavy rotation in your ride? And what are you feeling about it?
At the moment I am listening to a lot of Kenyan hip hop; MC Kah to be specific. He is one of my favourites. I have no clue what is being said but I am feeling it; the beats and the delivery are nice and it makes me feel like I'm in Kenya…I’m also loving to new Lupe Fiasco [The Cool], which as you know took me a while to get into. He’s a storyteller who likes exploring ‘the other side’ and I also like the fact that he doesn’t go the usual hip hop beat route; his stuff is mad musical.

Then the EMC too; that’s like that hip hop hip hop sound we been missing, even the interludes are ill, I love it and just got the old ‘Handsome Boys Modeling School like a story’, what can I say Prince Paul is a genius. But yea that’s sort of my vibe along with two other local cats but I won’t say for obvious reasons…

March/April usually signifies the time in the radio industry when a lot of stations undergo various line-up changes. Tell us about your new shoe "The Bridge". How do you feel about the brand at the moment? They are views in certain quarters that suggest that YFM has lost touch with its youthful base…
I don’t know if YFM has lost base with the youth; I guess I would have to ask people out there you know? The brand… well, I am still there and I think people need to realize that in terms of young black South African market, YFM is vital and its survival is important because if it goes down it will be another black thing that never worked you know?

I am excited to be part of “The Bridge” I brought Ace of Spades in, as well as D.J Kenzhero and TTP. Its Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10-12pm - you just need to hear it because the vision we have for it, man it’s too ill...I don’t want to say much but it’s the hip-hop show you’ve been waiting for. We’re just starting out but best believe that “The Bridge” is the next movement because it exists beyond the studio.

What other projects are you busy with? What can the masses expect from you in the near future?
I’m into so many things, I won’t go into details but the long and the short is that I am working on projects that will bridge the gap that exists between South Africa, Africa and the world too. It’s exciting but that’s all that I will say at the moment…But I promise to give you guys the first heads up on everything and that’s real.

EXPERIENCING NOSISI NGAKANE

Words: Qhama Dayile

Pictures: Sello

Nosisi Ngakane was locally and internationally appreciated for her robust voice and conscious scripts in the band Kwani Experience. Kwani has traveled to Holland, France, Germany, most of Europe sharing their music, they are 2007’s winners of the “totally jazzed” overseas competition and If you’re still dancing out of tune when it comes to the South African music Industry updates then eh ‘let me learn yah’. Nosisi Ngakane is no longer part of the band Kwani Experience and is now creating her own life through her past and present experiences. Amongst other chit chats we’ve had in the past we decided to have a proper sit down over some tea on a freezing Cape Town afternoon and talk about her new life, her music, her plans and try to pinch out some of the reasons why she decided to leave such a promising group for a dreaded 9-5 job.


You seem to be quite a traveler, where did you grow up?
My family and I moved around a lot, you can call me ‘the exile baby’. My family is originally from South Africa, they left for England when my mom and her sisters were in primary school, they then moved to Lesotho where my mother met my dad and they had me. My family and I, excluding my dad, moved to Zimbabwe when I was two. We lived in Zimbabwe until 1989; I was six. My mother came back to SA with the rest of my family. I reunited with my dad in Canada; I stayed there for two years then came back to SA. While I was here, I lived between DBN and JHB but I guess most of my conscious life was spent in JHB and I consider that my home, and the music has been with me ever since I can remember my journeys. Now, I’m living in the Mother city, Cape Town.


Two albums in the bag, you’ve left and there’s a new lead vocalist at Kwani. How is life after Kwani Experience?
‘Nothing new under the sun’, I am discovering myself everyday and it’s a challenge at times but it’s beautiful. I have new friends, new people to explore music with, and a new home… its change, major change and adjustment. I am now working an 8-6 job in Green Point at Instant Grass, a youth trend forecasting and word-of -mouth marketing company. Different, yes! But the beauty of marketing is that it fits everywhere; there is not one industry that doesn’t need marketing, the world we live in is 90% marketing.

I am building and honing my skills and at I.G. we get to work with big clients such as SABMiller, Unilever, First National Bank, Distell, MTN, Vodacom, MTV, Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Adidas, Red Bull, Coca Cola and Kellogg's. Versatility is the name of my game!

What are some of the great memories and lessons that you learnt while you're with Kwani?
I’ve learnt tolerance, patience and knowing how to eat some serious humble pie. Working with so many different characters and having to spend most of my time with the boys would get trying at times, but we loved one another so there weren’t any major grudges or fights like some journalists have tried to exaggerate. We went through some major financial and personal dives but we still had to maintain and remember our passion, our salvation - the music.

With Kwani you worked with greats such as Pops Mohammed, Madala Kunene, a group from France called the “Trouble Makers”. In your personal capacity, who have you worked with?

On my own, I worked with Bianca Le Grange, an artist from the Netherlands called Hind, a hand full of rap artists from Joburg and Cape Town, I did a song for the IEC election campaign and a number of musical voiceovers. I don’t know if I can call those highlights, but they paid the bills at times so they definitely contributed. I also worked with this dude called Shimane… yeah I think that’s about it.

I guess I didn’t want to work with too many people and be a “band slut” as the music would puts it at times, I was in a band, I wasn’t a freelance artist so It wouldn’t be good for me to do too much with too many different people. I’m still making music in Cape Town and will keep Encore updated when the time is right. I make good music, for a niche market. There is very little good music being promoted and supported in South Africa and I’m for the goodness.

What are your favorite Cape Town bands and Kaap hangout spots?
I don’t have a favorite Cape Town band yet, I like Freshlyground but I love the beach more, (giggle). Trust a Jozi head to say that, but I really do, and I love Zula Sound bar, it reminds me of the old Horror café in JHB and Lola’s, I know people say they have terrible food, but yho dude, I love their food and their whole vibe and it’s vegetarian dishes.

Which artists and music are you feeling at the moment?
Zubz- Head phone music in a parallel world; Fifi - upcoming album, I know it’s going to be dope; Soweto Kinch, Dudly Perkins and Gorgia Anne Muldrow.

Seeing that you’re an attractive woman, do have a man or are you one of those intimidating conscious, voodoo sisters with a lot of shit to say about the world but your love life?
I guess I could say I have a “man”. My boyfriend and I deal with each other via the internet and phone; if it wasn’t for technology, we would be screwed (pun intended). On the real though, I talk about my love, my life freely and my concerns.


What are your concerns Nosisi?
Sho, I’m concerned that no one is concerned about anything; people have stopped thinking about how they can better themselves. The world we live in, it’s all so fake and we are all so cool. If you are a thinker, then you are “DEEP” or “RASTA”. There are terms out there for people who think about the world or who are interested in politics, its weird. And black women, jeez don’t get me started on my sisters; to cut a long story short, we have lost ourselves to some external forces, aliens or something, or maybe we are aliens, I don’t know, but it is going to take a long time to get out of this rut and that is also what my music echoes.

You’re young and for the average South African youth you’ve achieved a bit for a musician your age. What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for living, everyday, everything about my life is a blessing, the people I know, the places I’ve been, my mother, my sisters, my aunts, my gran, everything, my work and the people that inspire me daily. I still have along way to go. It’s all gravy.


Quickies
What are you reading?
I’ve been reading ‘The Wrenched Earth’ by Franz Fanon for years now

Chop sticks or fork?
Fork or fingers

Jeans or leggings?
Jeans, any day

Kelis or Macy Gray?
Erykah Badu

HHP or Pro kid?
HHP

Weave or dreads?
Dreads

Car or scooter?
Car, Cape Town wind, yho!

ALICIA KEYS SAYS US GOVERNMENT CREATED "GANGSTER RAP"

Our favourite soul lady Ms. Keys is currently showing a side of her that nobody has ever seen, including her mother. The songbird covers the May-June issue of Blender, an American music magazine; some of her quotes in the cover article have bloggers blogging incessantly due to their apparent ‘controversy’. She has been labeled a “conspiracy theorist’ for her views on ‘gangster rap’.

Here’s a snippet from the article:
‘Gangsta rap’ was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. ‘Gangsta rap’ didn’t exist.”

Keys, 27, said she’s read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck “to symbolize strength, power and killing ‘em dead,” according to an interview in the magazine’s May issue, on newsstands Tuesday.
Another of her theories: The bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled “by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing.”

Keys’ AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: “She wears what? That doesn’t sound like Alicia.” Keys’ publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

Though she’s known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton “had the outlets our musicians have today, it’d be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself,” she said.

We at Encore support Alicia’s stance on these issues; every Tom, Dick and Thabo knows that the American government despises rap and the so-called thugs that make it.


When Tupac Shakur was living, he lambasted the government on the same grounds. His outspoken nature compelled him to rap about various social and political issues in songs; he used any available minute on national media to publicize his thoughts.

In fact, in the early 90’s, he started the “Thug Life” movement through which he aimed to empower convicted criminals and gang members. His theories and practices must have obviously irritated some high-ranking people, since we now speak of him in the past tense.

So what do you guys think of Alicia’s comments? Is she speaking the truth or is she just desperate for attention?

ESTELLE ORDERED TO FIX HER TEETH BY HER LABEL !?

Atlantic Records US have reportedly ordered Estelle to have cosmetic surgery on her teeth to help her break into the American charts.

According to The Sun newspaper, the record label bosses also want her to ditch the boyish haircut and want to give her a complete image overhaul.

A source told the newspaper: "The American executives are adamant she makes a lot of significant changes. They want rid of her tomboy hair and want her to get her teeth fixed. Estelle is not happy. She feels her teeth and the rest of her look are a big part of her character."

The R&B star has been riding high with her hit new single “American Boy”, which features Kanye West. Estelle was signed last year by John Legend to his imprint. The Kanye West protégé then quickly linked Estelle with his mentor; the result is “American Boy”, a sweet, operatic chart-topping tune.

So how do you guys feel about this, should artists such as Estelle be forced to change their image and natural look by record labels? Lets chat about this in our little forum box.

WHO IS CHRISETTE MICHELE?

Listen: Be Ok (feat. will.i.am)


Surrounded by music since she was a small child, twenty-three year old singer, songwriter and composer Chrisette Michele has been blessed with an old soul and this Long Island bred songwriter and vocalist has a deep appreciation for the harmonic foundations that includes gospel and jazz. "I did my first solo when I was four years old," Chrisette remembers.

Chrisette’s soulful debut album “I Am”, which was released last year is an artistic exploration that fuses Chrisette's diverse musical interest into one cohesive and seamless theme.

Even before signing on the dotted line of her Def Jam contract last year, the multitalented soul sister had toured with more established artists like Kem and India Arie. "India saw me singing at the Village Underground in New York City. She came backstage that first night and graciously offered me a gig as her opening act."

Working hard in the studio writing songs and recording demos, Chrisette finished an album worth of material before even trying to get signed. "I've been creating songs since I was twelve, so I knew I needed the right musical blend in order to stand-out from the many other performers trying to get a deal."

Days after giving LA "goose bumps" during the audition, the young singer found herself in a California studio called Brandon's Way having a creative conversation with Babyface.

Over the course of a few days, the duo recorded seven tracks, four of which made their way on “I Am”. "Babyface and I got into a conversation about the love he has for his children," she says. "So, the first song I penned was called 'My Joy.' It's a song about a child speaking to his or her father, and I think it's quite special. Observing the artistry that Babyface possesses has hopefully made me a better performer as well."


A self-described "girly girl" Chrisette says, "I have definite older child syndrome. I helped my mom raise my brothers like they were my own children, but I also had the pleasure of being daddy's little princess."

In addition to her own relatives, Chrisette was blessed with an extended family that included the many folks that her mother allowed to room in their house. "If my mother saw a homeless pregnant woman on the street, chances are they would soon be staying with us," Chrisette laughs. "I learned so much about the world listening to these folk's stories, and to this day their experiences can be heard in my material."

Though already a fan of gospel and classical, it wasn't until Chrisette Michele was seventeen that she also developed a passion for jazz. "When I was still in high school a teacher introduced me to jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, and afterwards my life was all about jazz," she remembers.

Majoring in music at 5 Towns College in Long Island, Chrisette cites the nurturing sway of her teachers for where she is today. "Although I did have talent, often that is not enough," she says. "My professors taught me how to a professional and to be serious about my music. They taught me how to put the music that I dream about at night on paper in the morning."

WHO’S HUSTLING RIGHT - LEE KASUMBA

By Nick Kaoma

Lee Kasumba is one phantom lady. She’s one of those people that put numbers on the scoreboard without much fanfare. In her time at YFM, colleagues such as Bad Boy T, Sbu, Khabzela and Fresh always hogged the spotlight while she kept doing her thang far from the gleaming cameras.

In the past couple of years, she has quietly positioned herself as the First Lady of Mzansi Hip Hop; she’s the one that punted new songs from then little known acts such as Skwatta Kamp, Proverb and Amu. She’s the proverbial mother of the game; MCees are quick to run to Lee when the industry has shown its ugly side. She's one of the few celebrities who is always willing to lend a helping hand to up-and-comers without first asking, "How much am I getting for this?".

From being Editor of YMag, host of various YFM shows, MC at various hip hop gigs and now host and presenter of Emcee Africa on Channel O, you’d think that the lady would be ready to retire off to a pad on the beach on the West Coast where she can enjoy the fruits of her hard labour. But NO, she’s still rearing straight ahead!

After much struggle, we managed to track down this busy lady. As the first woman to feature in Encore’s Sistas in Music Week, we speak to her about her fulfilling gig as host of Emcee Africa, her new slot on YFM and what the future holds for her or rather what she holds for the future, ya dig?

Hey Ms. Lee, what’s good? Thanks for taking time to chat to us. First things first: is 2008 proving to be as great a year as people were saying it would be?
I can’t really speak for everyone but from where I sit at the moment my life is really good; the year has started out like a dream getting to travel the continent on “official” hip hop business so to speak and getting to meet people I had interviewed from the “Harambe” days in person and actually experiencing hip hop beyond just the music on this continent.

To add to that, awesome doors in hip hop on all levels that I never dreamt of have opened up for me. God is good! I feel I am living someone else’s life and I’m not giving it back, I am so thankful…The year is only a quarter in and I feel like I’ve had a great year already, I am excited about the rest of the year going into next year too..

We’ve been seeing you on TV a lot these days; tell us about the Sprite Emcee Africa tour, how did it come about and what is the rationale behind it?
The show was an idea that was created after Channel O sent out a brief wanting a hip hop show and the genius director Josh came up with a concept that would combine mortal combat with emcee battles complete with character selects etc. So I was brought in to host it and also to bring in some of my content and knowledge cause if you recall I did a lot with African hip hop “Harambe” days and I’m also part of African hip hop radio, so I guess I was asked on those basis.

The show is an hour long and features emcee battles. In addition to that it also features a mini-type documentary on each country so that we can all get our eyes into the flavor of hip hop in that particular country. The show goes a huge way towards bringing African hip hop together.



How has the experience of travelling through a myriad of African cities in search of dope MCees been?
It’s been a dream come true and an eye opener. I mean while travelling we got to check out all elements of hip hop and we tracked where it started in certain countries; we went to slave forts, had hip hop round tables, got a whole lot of music, saw some hip hop fashion and so forth. It was great kind of like taking my paintbrush and a canvas and in each country dipping it into their paint box and watching all these beautiful shades come out. The continent itself is beautiful and the hip hop reflects that too. The diversity in the different scenes has been interesting too.
I realized also that hip hop is the CNN of the streets. In Africa, we may not all understand one another but hip hop is understood by all and you can get the history of a country by listening to a track. Hip hop can get the whole African renaissance thing really started on a street level.

How would you compare SA’s hip hop scene to that of our brethren in other African countries? Any tips that SA cats can pick up and vice versa?

Hahaha, comparing is hard because well SA had an advantage in terms of the language factor and we have regular sessions you know; some countries don’t host as many battle sessions as we do. But each country loves and expresses their hip hop in a different way so I cant really compare, I mean Kenya is the hip hop colony you know, and SA well, all elements are alive and there is mad studio access, facilities and infrastructure etc; Tanzania has a rich history and they are kings at Swahili raps without a doubt.

The scenes are different; you can’t really compare and I’m not even being politically correct, just honest.

You’re considered by many as the First Lady of SA hip hop (including here at Encore); what is it about hip hop that makes you a fiend and a slave to it?

This always makes me shy because I appreciate the props but I just get strange about titles cause I feel if I don’t live up to them then cats will dethrone me! The way I see my role is similar to anyone else, the only difference is that okay I grew up on hip hop and coming from another country in Africa (Uganda) you know how hectic Xenophobia was and to an extent is in SA.

For a long time I never felt I belonged and the SA Hip hop community made me feel like I belonged you know, and so I decided actually I prayed that if I ever got the chance I would use what I had to get African youth to understand each other and help create as much of a platform as I could and so yea I am just a fan a head who has a mic and so I see my role as someone who just tries to bridge the gap and hopefully play a role in opening doors for other people in the game across Africa onto a global scale and across all aspects of the hip hop culture.

So it’s a labour of love, I enjoy it! Most of what I do is for free, unless there is a corporate involved; the slave part comes in when I have to deal with media (the station I work for included). Or when I have to explain “what is hip hop” although still I realize that is necessary.

The slave part also comes in when some cats blame me for something wack that goes down or their music not getting on radio - I don’t have that much power at YFM at all and each day the hip hop fight is a huge one.

Stay logged on Encore for Part 2 of this dope interview.

AKON WANTS TO MAKE YOU A SUPERSTAR

R&B superstar singer/producer Akon is looking to Europe and Africa in a bid to find the next "mega superstar".

The prolific hitmaker who has brought us bangers such as "Smack That", "Locked Up" and "I Wanna Love You" has expanded his record label Konvict Muzik Company with the launch of a new London office - where he hopes to add more international artists to the firm’s roster.

Melvin Brown, co-owner and fellow CEO of Konvict Muzik, says, "We will be scanning Europe and Africa for the next mega superstars. When Akon and I partnered and created Konvict Muzik, we agreed that we would have the hottest artists on our roster. I have concentrated on diversifying the artist roster and creating an international presence. I personally look for unique artists."

Akon and his people are in SA for the Urban Music Festival taking place this weekend. Word is that they are seriously going to look at SA's music landscape for potential stars. Word of advice from the Editor to SA singers: hunt Akon and his management down and get 5 minutes to audition for them. Kick ass in the audition! This just might be the moment that you've been waiting for!

P.S. Today is the last day to stand the chance to win tickets to the Akon and Fat Joe concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg. All you have to do is tell us the name of Fat Joe's latest album; email the correct answer to sivun@encoremag.co.za.

IF I WERE KING - AN MTV SEAN JOHN SPECIAL

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Last night I watched one of the most inspiring things ever. It was a documentary on MTV titled "If I were King", which celebrated the 10th anniversary of Diddy's popular Sean John fashion line. It offers you a private look at one of the most public figures in entertainment. It's like you've never seen Diddy before! He is animated, passionate, emotional, anxious and motivated as he tries to inspire his fashion team to put together a great collection for the New York Fashion Week.

This highly-stimulating show offered viewers insights on one of the world's preeminent fashion companies and you get to watch what goes down as he prepares for his line's first runway show in five years. Along the way, you'll learn just how many obstacles he's had to overcome to achieve the success he has today.

In 2004, Diddy took the fashion world by storm by winning the coveted CFDA Award for menswear designer of the year -- which is like taking home an Oscar. But now the question that has been on everybody's lips is: Can Diddy do it again?

"If I Were King" takes you inside the high-stakes world of high fashion, where Diddy's Sean John label competes against fashion icons like Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren for the couture crown.

I, as a young professional and entrepreneur was inspired to see how passionate and hands-on Diddy is in running his $500 million empire; the guy even pins dresses on the workroom floor! No wonder this brother is such a success!

If you've got DSTV at your crib make sure to peep this show on MTV, as it will probably be on rotation for a while. Otherwise check out this 12 minute clip that we've included in the article.

G.I. TO SHOW AMERICANS SOME MZANSI FLAVOUR

Gang of Instrumentals, the popular Joburg-based band that fuses rock, kwaito and hip hop in its music, is headed for Nashville, US, to perform at the Jack Daniel’s Global Music Concert - The Legendary Mash.

According to a Sunday World report, the trio which is made up of Lady Naturelle, Mandla N and Bongo Riot will represent the country in the three-day event alongside both top and up-and-coming acts from around the world.

“We’re very excited about being chosen. It’s more than just a pat on the back. It’s like a dream come true. This will be the first time we perform outside the continent,” Lady Naturelle told the paper.

G.I first hit the Mzansi music scene with “Cry for Me” from their debut album “Kassi Flava”. But it is with the release of their follow-up album “Salute” in late 2006 that their stature in the music bizz grew.

“Whether we perform at a place like Hammanskraal or in a venue full of whiteys, they all go wild. Which shows we don’t cater for black or white, but for South Africans,” added Mandla.

The crossover album’s spurning hit single “My Number One” has been nominated for song of the year in this year’s SAMAs.

The group plans to release their third album this year.

Source: Sunday World

WIN TICKETS TO AKON AND FAT JOE CONCERT

I was in the GHETTO and a LONELY SNITCH told me you like to SMACK THAT. Then I'm sure you'll be BLOWN AWAY that I CROSSed THAT LINE and hooked up a POT OF GOLD with 5 mazzenine Tickets so you can holla "AY PAPI do you wanna CRUSH on some TEQUILA SUNRISE coz my ish is more JOHN BLAZE that that. BET YA MAN CAN'T LEAN BACK and flip espaniol like NADA SE COMPARA CONTIGO" (heaven only knows what that's about, but if the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM says its so. Its So!)

See AKON and FAT JOE perform LIVE @ the Good Hope Centre this Saturday, 12th April 2008. BE ONE of FIVE LUCKY WINNERS to WIN a ticket to the Urban Music Festival featuring MTV Award-winning artists Akon and Fat Joe. Why? Because Encore Mag and XTRALARGE Entertainment wanna treat you right. Simply email the name of Fat Joe's latest ALBUM and your contact details to sivun@encoremag.co.za and you could be in the ish!

B AND JAY TIE THE KNOT

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Carter for their nuptials. They reportedly tied the knot last week Friday at a small wedding filled with famous friends and family.

SLIKOUR LEAVING SKWATTA KAMP?

By Nick Kaoma

The rumour mill has been spinning extra hard in the music biz in the past couple of days. The issue that has gotten groupies and journalists excited is the apparent departure of Slikour [real name Siya Metane] from his long-time group Skwatta Kamp.

At first glance, such rumours might seem far-fetched considering that not only is Slik a co-founder and leader of the group, but he is extremely close to most of the fellas. It will almost be like RZA leaving Wu-Tang Clan, strange neh? But any savvy individual would also be cognisant of the fact that a highly ambitious person such as Slik can and should be able to make moves that elevate him in the game. The next level in this instance might be pushing his solo thing full-time with the aim of becoming a lucrative and easily marketable brand.

One of Slikour’s icons, Jay-Z, did the same thing. After enjoying a 10 year fruitful partnership with Dame Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke under the Rockefeller umbrella, Jigga went his separate way, which as we have consistently reported here on Encore has been quite lucrative for him (see “Jay-Z signs landmark $150 million music deal).

So in order to put all rumours to rest, I personally called Slikour up to seek clarity on the matter. In quite an interesting conversation, I posed various questions which were met with satisfactory but well-rehearsed answers. The first question I asked was obviously, “Have you left Skwatta Kamp?” The media-savvy artist/businessman answered with those dreadful words that a journalist never wants to hear, “Eh, I don’t have ever a comment at this stage”. I pressed nevertheless, “Encore readers are worried about this issue, when can they expect clarity on this matter?” He promptly replied, “A week from now”.

It doesn’t take a genius to surmise from the above that the brother is definitely about to make a move. Sources tell me that he’ll be appearing on SABC 1’s Live tonight where he’ll reveal everything.

Since I had him on the phone, I decided to make the most of the opportunity by asking him about his latest album, “Ventilation Mixtape Vol. 2”, and how it’s fared. “The album is doing very well”, he offered. “It’s definitely fared better than the previous one. What I’ve appreciated most about it is that various songs have been receiving strong airplay on an array of radio stations thus proving the versatility of the sound”.

In this not-so-pleasant climate of hip hop where talented veterans such as Mr. Selwyn have quit the industry to go work at a call centre selling insurance products, I had to ask this self-proclaimed hustler if he’s frustrated at the game. “Of course, there are times when I am frustrated at certain things, but at the same time it is not just the hip hop scene that is frustrating, the whole music industry can be quite depressing in a way. However nothing positive ever comes out of frustration, you just have keep doing your thang”, he said. Fair enough!

He further stated that he has no intention of quitting the music business and that he sees himself working with more corporate brands to help them reach their audience.

Whatever comes Siya’s way, I’m positive that he’ll not only make it but he’ll succeed beyond people’s expectations, because he’s just a HUSTLER like that!

JAY-Z SIGNS LANDMARK $150 M MUSIC DEAL

Jay-Z plans to depart his longtime record label, Def Jam, for a roughly $150 million package with the concert giant Live Nation that includes financing for his own entertainment venture, in addition to recordings and tours for the next decade. The pact, expected to be finalized this week, is the most expansive deal yet from Live Nation, which has angled to compete directly with the industry’s established music labels in a scrum over the rights to distribute recordings, sell concert tickets, market merchandise and control other aspects of artists’ careers.

Live Nation’s core business has revolved around major rock and country tours, and with Jay-Z it is making an unexpected foray into hip-hop. The company is also placing an enormous wager on a performer who, like many others, has experienced declining record sales. (Last year’s “American Gangster” sold one million copies in the United States; “The Black Album,” from 2003, sold well over three million.)

But the arrangement would also position Live Nation to participate in a range of new deals with Jay-Z, one of music’s most entrepreneurial stars, whose past ventures have included the Rocawear clothing line, which he sold last year for $204 million, and the chain of 40/40 nightclubs.

His first undertaking with Live Nation is his current 28-date tour with Mary J. Blige, his biggest live outing in more than three years. After that, Live Nation envisions integrating the marketing of all Jay-Z’s entertainment endeavors, including recordings, tours and endorsements.

“I’ve turned into the Rolling Stones of hip-hop,” Jay-Z said in a recent telephone interview.

As part of the arrangement, Live Nation would finance the start-up of a venture that would be an umbrella for his outside projects, which are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing. Live Nation is expected to contribute $5 million a year in overhead for five years, with another $25 million available to finance Jay-Z’s acquisitions or investments, according to people in the music industry briefed on the agreement. The venture, to be called Roc Nation, will split profits with Live Nation.

The overall package for Jay-Z also includes an upfront payment of $25 million, a general advance of $25 million that includes fees for his current tour, and advance payment of $10 million an album for a minimum of three albums during the deal’s 10-year term, these people said. A series of other payments adding up to about $20 million is included in exchange for certain publishing, licensing and other rights. Jay-Z said Live Nation’s consolidated approach was in sync with the emerging potential “to reach the consumer in so many different ways right now.”
He added: “Everyone’s trying to figure it out. I want to be on the front lines in that fight.”

Though sales for Jay-Z’s tour with Ms. Blige have been strong since it began on March 22, with almost all the early dates resulting in sold-out arenas, it is unclear when Live Nation could carry out other aspects of the deal. (Jay-Z said that he hoped to deliver his final album for Def Jam later this year.)

Critics of Live Nation, which lost nearly $12 million last year, predict that it would be difficult to turn a profit on the arrangement, given the continuing decline in record sales and the mixed track record of artist-run ventures. Shares in the company have suffered since October when Live Nation negotiated a reported $120 million deal with Madonna.

Source: The New York Times