#COMPOSURE. . .COMPOSURE. . .COMPOSUREEEE!!!

Sipho Ramaru

Hold it Now. . .Hold it Now. . .Hold it Now. . .This is that Takeover and Either typ’a ish. . .One week you posting about #Fill_Up_The_Dome & #MIMI, and the next you’re posting about #Composure.

This is that typ’a ish that make you feel some type of way because AKA owned this moment!

The beef between the two predominant hip hop acts in SA is far from over, we just knew that after the slapping allegations. . .But as if the slapping wasn’t enough, AKA had to come rhymes blazing on the new heat #Composure; “See when it rains it pours, understand with me when it’s war, it’s war…” which set Twitter on fire shortly after it was released!!!

Now three things on my list that make a battle record a blow: FACTS – RHYMES AND FLOW. AKA pulled all these three aspects quite well on the joint. I mean you listen to this tune and all you hear is FACTS – FACTS. . .Nice flow and slayer rhymes aaand FACTS!

“I know you hate me with a passion, I ain’t mad at ya/ I know you f*ck with every classic in my catalogue”. . .I don’t know if you remember this but, just over 2 years ago, Cassper Nyovest posted a video of himself dancing to “Congratulate Me” and complimenting the joint on how it’s a hit and all that, and this was broadcasted on VEntertainment. . .and I also like the fact he admitted to being a Cassper fan at some point. Cassper is everyone’s favorite rapper including me!

“I know you play like you’re humble but we just one and the same”. . .Could this be true? I mean we can all admit that Cassper Nyovest is always tryna be the righteous one all the time with this whole beef. Even when he released that BEEF joint, no one spoke otherwise about him, instead, he got props and he even name dropped AKA on Phumakim! It was all good because it’s Cassper Nyovest.

“I ain’t gonna treat your pony-tail like the holy grail/ That’s the problem with you new school cats/ Took your old style from OKMalumKoolKat”. . .I don’t know if you remember this but, some months back, Cassper Nyovest posted a video on facebook of his “new” dance move which later on, OkMalumKoolKat took to his page to express his disappointment in niggaz who steal moves from them and make minor changes and make it seem as if they are the ones who invented the whole shandis!

Another thing, you gotta hit where it hurts when you beefing with someone, especially in the mainstream where there’s a lot of criticism. You don't wanna be the dude with the wack diss track! That SAGA line touched some nerves though! Moderately a chilled and catchy beat with no too many snares and complicated keys and notes to it. . .I guess that’s what you looking for as a rapper in order to make sure your statement is clearly caught. Kinda like what Drake did on #ChargedUp, but like The SuperMega says “it’s beyond Drake and Meek Mill ish”. . .

“KO did it and didn't even floss with it”. . .The gold plaque, yeah we were all happy for the homey Cassper but at some point it was as if he’s the first rapper in SA to sell gold, KO is one laid back rapper who’s as dope and successful! Ain’t no need to floss with it, the homey is super chilled. And if the Debut is the issue here, KO also achieved that with his debut solo album.

Composure. . .Composure. . .Composure!! Apparently the joint is about "composure"! But I doubt that because the tripwire on this track tells a totally different story! This joint deserves that Funkmaster Flex bomb effect!

AKA AND DJ ZINHLE CALL IT QUITS

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Sipho Ramaru

In other news, the power couple, AKA and DJ Zinhle have called it quits just a month after the birth of their bundle of joy, Kairo Owethu Forbes.

The break-up comes as a surprise and sudden to fans of both the rapper and the DJ.

This derives after AKA posted on Sunday, on his Instagram account a picture of a cow being slaughtered, signaling that he has followed the Zulu customs and paid ‘Inhlawulo’, damages.

DJ Zinhle posted on her website to announce the break up and stated that baby Kairo remains their top priority. According to DJ Zinhle, this is an amicable separation and they will always be in good terms with each other for the sake of good co-parenting to their little girl

Official Statement:

After a great deal of thought, reflection and discussion we have decided to end our relationship of three years. We entered our relationship with love and it’s with love and kindness we leave it.

We both wish nothing but a great future for each other and remain dear and trusted friends as well as co-parents to our wonderful baby Kairo, whose happiness and well-being remains our number one priority.

We both deeply care for each other and remain close friends.

There will be no further statements or interviews regarding our relationship as we choose to move on with our lives. Though we choose to live our lives in the public eye we thank you for your understanding and ask for privacy during this time.

Thank you to everyone for your loyalty and support.

Kiernan Forbes (AKA) and Ntombezinhle Jiyane (DJ Zinhle)

http://momentsbydjzinhle.com/index.php/2015/08/26/amicable-separation/

HIPHOP FACTS101. . .

DID YOU KNOW FACTS ???

Did you know that the OG Mr. Warren G aka The G Funk leader, is Dr. Dre’s brother ?

#PASOP. . .THE LOCAL GAME HAS FINALLY REACHED THE HEIGHTS!!!

Pasop Artwork

Sipho Ramaru

South African hip hop continues to break barriers in the local scene. . .gradually becoming the most influential culture within the borders of our country, more especially on the youth.

I can safely say in the past decade, there has been so much growth in the culture and I can proudly state that we have procreated our own native identity.

We have now reached a point where, when a local act announce their single that’s yet to drop or hit the net, we wait in anticipation to hear what fire they spitting on the joint.

There has been so much hype around the #PASOP joint by CashTime Life’s Dee-Jay, DJ-Vigilante featuring his camp. When the project premiered on Metro-FM and the very same night, aired on GP’s hottest frequency, known to be Y-FM. . .Social networks went crazy over the track, even zanier over the Skhanda Queen’s verse.

I have to admit, at first when I heard Moozlie’s verse, I was kind of skeptical, but gave myself some time to listen to the track a few more times. That lady is killin’ the homies on that joint it’s not even funny! I like how she’s handling the pressure, growing and matching up to the standard of some of the best rappers in the game.

Kinda disappointed in my favorite rapper though….Maggz didn’t really bring his A-Game on the joint, he wasn’t that mean. He came through with a nice flow though, as always! I guess he was just being remissive towards them. . .K.O in his very nature, is a chilled out rapper and knows how to come across as laidback but still kill ish and be out! Need I say more…? Skhanda rap is his and he owns it on every joint! Ma-Eezy-Does-It! He’s always the problem child. . .You can tell by his lyrics, “Bavala ngapha, vele s’vule ngapha/ S’khuzwe ngapha, siy’suse ngale”, the homey went in well with his lyrical dexterity. He can never disappoint when it comes to spittin in vernac. The Kid with the X- factor! Like I said in my past articles, Kid-X is a problem especially when it comes to features…His verse always gets set apart from the others. He can’t be on a feature, and not be talked about!

The overall of the project is just too niceeee. . .Exactly how local flavor should be! I am now a proud fan of SA hip hop!!!

D’BANJ’S B-DAY WISH SPARK SIDE-CHICK RUMOURS…

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Sipho Ramaru


JOHANNESBURG - Social networks have been swamping with rumours that Mzansi’s ‘IT’ girl, Queen B whom we thought was now a Nigerian princess could be a ‘Side Chick’.

The South African TV and radio diva, Bonang Matheba started trending on twitter with the hashtag #Bonang, shortly after her Nigarian superstar boyfriend, D’banj took to Instagram to wish his “ex-girlfrined”, Adama Idimi a sensational happy birthday.

This left Matheba’s fans making speculations and creating what could be a worst scenario when D’banj took it up a notch and declared his love for Idimi.

Nigerian media reports that the singer, whose real name is Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo and Adama Idimi have been in an on and off love affair since the year 2011. The astounding move by D’banj comes few weeks after he made his first appearance with Bonang at the MTV Africa Music Awards, which they also kissed on live television.

D’banj also referred to Idimi as “the queen of his heart”, “his princess” and expressed how much he really loves her, stating that she is one in a life time. That’s a bit too much for what is supposed to be an ex-girlfriend wouldn’t you say?

Fans on twitter weighed in on the side chick saga and Bonang Matheba’s ex-boyfriend, DJ Euphonik didn’t waste time to get a bucket of popcorn and watch the social network drama as it unfolds:

REFILOE_#MAMAIMADEIT.31.08.15

REFILOE Artwork

Sipho Ramaru

A video for a newly dropped single is just as important as the artwork of an album cover is to the project (even a single). 
Hence artists have introduced a tradition of dropping an artwork for a single that's yet to be released, few weeks back before the track drop.

Drawing the audience and interest them to a yet to be released project, is a marketing strategy

As they would say: "A picture says a thousand words". Most of the album covers' artwork, tells a story that portrays either the whole project or the artist's life in a picture. . .same applies to a single, an artwork goes hand in hand with the single and draws an image of what the track is about.

Refiloe Phoolo, known by his stage name, Cassper Nyovest, took to twitter to announce the title of his new album and a release date for the now, much anticipated project and the album artwork (cover). REFILOE is the name of the album. I have to admit, it's a simple piece of artwork yet profound and dope. The cover on its own tells a story about Cassper Nyovest. The Phumakim hit maker also announced that the first single to come out of the album will drop on the 31^st of August 2015.

THE KID WITH THE X – FACTOR!!!

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Sipho Ramaru

If you still doubting this homey’s lyrical skills and flow…Then you need to re-evaluate your life and checkidy check yourself! One of the most talented rappers to come out of South Africa….The Kid with the X that marks the spot!

Kid X is undoubtedly that killer emcee who’s murked every feature he’s been on or jumps on. I would put him on my list of top 5 of the hottest and doppest rappers in the game right now and should get the respect!

Skhanda-Rap is some original flavor originated in our local segment. It’s dope what K.O did with that, that’s exactly what we need, artists who will create their own identity and craft their own style and path instead of following everybody else’s. But….I just think it’s not exactly Kid X’s flavor. Don’t get it twisted, this is not a diss, I’m just expressing my views as a hip hop lover and follower.

Listen to all the features Kid X is on…Starting with Amantombazane Remix, his verse caused mayhem last year and was argued over, as being the hottest verse on the song, just that some of the artists on the joint didn’t share the same sentiments.

Then he was on that Sorry Makhe joint…Another hit that came out of, probably the best year for local hip hop, 2014. He came out blazing and killed the joint!! My boy Tshego and I had a heated debate about who killed the track between Kid X and Maggz. . .Personally, I think Maggz did! But couldn’t hold back from giving the homey X credit for his sick verse, I mean respect should paid where it’s due.

Sean Pages, produced the Blind joint. . .which was genius of him to sample and incorporate old skool Kwaito sound with hip hop, something our hip hop acts are starting to do and that’s how it should, we give more credit to international artists sampling their own legends’ music than we do our own. It’s about time things changed and embrace our own culture of music. Again, the Kid murked that joint son! Now let’s go back to his own tracks. Cooler Bag, I wasn’t really impressed with the jam. Nice joint to those that love it yeah, but nah. #Seven is also another nice joint, but I feel like I’m not getting that mean murking Kid X I know!

My point here is….Kid X is one of the doppest acts in the game right now. . .It’s just Skhanda-Rap, is not really his craft, I feel like it’s not really allowing him to be himself and it confines him to a certain flavor, if you know what I mean. Yeah K.O kills it though….

MOS DEF CALLING FOR A RAP BATTLE

Lupe Fiasco has accepted a challenge from Mos Def to a rap battle that will be of benefit to the culture and the needy.

Sipho Ramaru

“No back and forth corny records, we can put it on this feed for the world to see”

Once again it’s ON in the hip hop fraternity and this time…..It’s some real classic hip hop battle.

Two of the best lyricists of all time (arguably), have agreed to a rap battle challenge and no, it ain’t beef! It’s just a battle challenge and it’s for a good course.

Yasiin Bey, better known by his former stage name Mos Def, uploaded a video on social networks, challenging any rapper who think he’s dope enough to run with the real G’s to a real rap battle and not some gimmick ish.

“Me, Black Thought and King Los versus anybody, errbody, battle anybody, I don’t care who you tell.”

Mos Def mentioned that a million dollars is on the table for charity and the winner will also get his. The Brooklyn lyricist emphasized that dudes need to stop thinking they’re dope and should sit down and relax. He further went on to say that; “just because you’re cool, don’t mean that you dope”.

This for me will be one of the biggest and classic rap battles we ever gonna witness in recent years of new skool hip hop. This definitely takes us back to the core values and objectives of hip hop as a culture. Spoken word, rap artists ripping the mic, showcasing their skills, murking each other lyrically and lyrical competence for entertainment, but most importantly, for the greater good of our people...Respect.

STRETCHER . . . ANOTHER BEEF Alert!!!

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Sipho Ramaru

Stretcher. . .whoa, nobody saw that one coming!! As much as Bongs might have contributed and produced hits for some of our most prominent hip hop figures in our local scene, was one of the hottest and intelligent producers the game has ever seen, but was that track necessary???

Bongs got social networks buzzing when he unexpectedly released a diss track to. . . .Almost everyone in hip hop. But my favorite line has to be “Slikour was better with Skwatta Kamp", uhm Bongs, maybe that’s coz Slikour is not behind the mic anymore and now into pushing his online hip hop publication.

Rappers dissing Da Les, I’m gonna say this again, that’s one rapper I believe beefing with another rappers is not even on his To-Do-List. That’s one hommie who’s more focused on pushing his career, making music and getting money like he does. . .oh and throwing the hottest All-White parties in Jozi! The issue of Cassper Nyovest, one of the hardest working rappers in the game, one of the biggest names in the game…First South African rapper to go platinum in the past decade…I don’t think rappers should still be beefing with him. Instead, they should focus on trying to achieve the success he has attained and go beyond that, because I believe a healthy competition is where one is inspired to go beyond their abilities and reach new levels that they never thought they would.

Bongs disappeared for a minute, I’m not gonna say anything based on assumptions but the hommie has been quiet for quite some time and his comeback is a diss track. That’s something else. Now, I don’t think that’s necessarily a good move. A publicity stunt maybe? Attention seeking stunt? Maybe this is just one of those wanting to be relevant again and keep up with the trend move, like most people do.

Personally, I think whoever is gonna want to entertain this would be having too much time on their hands ey. . .Like Drake said, “Cops are killing people with their arms up, and your main focus is trying to harm us”. There are real issues out there that need to be addressed, inspiration that will change someone’s life, and our rappers have so much influence on our youth, they possess the power of shaping our future! Because when they speak, the youth listen…

#CHARGED_UP

I'm not a hip hop expert but I know a thing or two about the game and I’m one of the realest followers of the genre, known to be a “hip hop head”.

The Drake and Meek Mill “beef” got the internet buzzing and fans going crazy over statements coming from both parties thrown at each other. . .

Drake was accused of having a ghost writer and as Meek Mill accused him of “not even writing his own ish”. . .Drake recorded a single to address Meek and the public about what he thinks about this whole thing. Within hours after Drake dropped the new single, #ChargedUp, again social networks went crazy about how lame or dope the joint is. Even Meek himself went to twitter, mentioning how lame the track is.

Being a fan of both the rappers and giving my honest opinion, I’d say to people saying Drake's ‪#‎ChargedUp is a crappy diss track, y'all need to sit down and sharrrap. Drake is not even dissing Meek, he's stating facts and addressing the dude.

“No woman ever had me starstruck or was able to tell me to get my bars up”. . .Is this statement fact or made-up gimmick? Well if you can remember few weeks back when Meek Mill was on Sway in the Morning, the crew showed him a tweet he posted about 5 years back, in 2010 to be exact, before most people knew who Meek Mill was, making it a goal to get Nicki Minaj and make her his woman, and also went on to say, when he was in jail, he and other inmates always watched the Anaconda video going crazy over he amount of a** shown on that video. . .

"I’m honored that you think this is staged, I’m flattered, man / In fact, I’m amazed … You boys are getting into your feelings on me / You should embrace it, this could be one of our realest moments.”. . .

"Done doing favors for people / ‘Cause it ain’t like I need the money I make off a feature”.

Let's not forget that Meek featured Drake on both his albums.....and both those joints with Drake on them were radio hits!!! AMEN:

Drake's verse was even credited as one of the best of 2012 by Complex Magazine. . .FACTS!!!!!

AKA KILLS IT ON TIM WESTWOOD……UK!

“Listening to my old ish that’s the only pressure”

In case you missed it, here’s AKA’s Tim Westwood freestyle…..AKA raising the SA flag up high! I have to say, that SAGA verse is another masterpiece by @AKAworldwide, “on my second album but they treat me like a legend”

#MEGA #LEVELSUNLOCK #UNLOCKTHEWORLD

@AKAWORLDWIDE ON TIM WEST WOOD. . .

Check that AKA twitter handle out. . .Let it sink in, and appreciate the work the homey is puttin’ in worldwide!!! Major Shout Out to 'AKA' MEGA for reppin' us on a global scale, making history out there. . . #LEVELS #SUPERUNLOCKED #UNLOCKTHEWORLD

CLASSIC MATERIAL. . .

SLUM VILLAGE – SELFISH FT. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGEND

Enjoy this classic joint…

TWELEBS VS CELEBS. . .SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!!!

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Sipho Ramaru
A partially anonymous, popular Twitter user who has nothing else going for them. This is a definition of a tweleb according to Urban Dictionary.

Twelebs live for RTs and ":''''D"s from their followers as they tweet ignorant, sometimes funny and mostly offensive content all in the name of retaining their Tweleb status. Every Tweleb's avatar change is welcomed with dozens of "Avi appreciations" from their followers, to which they're usual reply is something like: "Wow. Humbled."

They are easily recognisable by their amount of followers on Twitter (usually 5000 or more). Their Twitter names are usually their Instagram name or a name promoting the latest cool kid gathering e.g: #coolkidgathering15Oct!!

Basically a tweleb is an individual who is a twitter celebrity and in most cases. . .their vocations are just perfecting being a twitter pest to people who are doing something productive with their lives. Another “fun” thing they do is gun down for real life celebrities in the name of attention, trending and being cool. . .stupidly cool.

Celebrity is a public figure getting attention from the media. In most cases, celebrity status is habitually associated with wealth and fame, and celebrities can easily provide opportunities to make money. Successful careers in sports and entertainment are commonly associated with celebrity status.

Should celebrities pay attention to twelebs? NO! Well in most cases they know which buttons to push when it comes to provoking celebrities and they always succeed in their imprudent acts.

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Phumakim hit maker Cassper Nyovest is the latest celebrity victim of twelebs. On Monday evening, twitter was flooding with insults gunned at Nyovest that even other celebrities were feeling sorry for the homey! There are other celebrities who find themselves in the same situation in most cases. . .One that is a regular of these acts has to be Sizwe Dlhomo. I think it has reached a point where he doesn’t even care anymore and instead of getting anything personal, he just shot back!

Urban Dictionary continues to say:
Though many of them aren't bad people, they live pretty mediocre lives and for most being a Tweleb is probably as good as it'll ever get for them.

A grown-ass man who still lives with his Mom but still hasn't gotten that Diploma that's taking him at least 5 years (and counting) to complete because he is too busy chasing "ez'weyi".

Cassper Nyovest is arguably the biggest hip hop artist in the game right now, locally. . .He is out there almost every day making the kinda money that most of us haven’t even seen yet! Sizwe Dhlomo on the other hand, is a decent business-man making moves of his own.

Spot the difference between the two. . .choose wisely when choosing a career or what to do with your life!


Source: Urban Dictionary.