MA-E UYA HLASELA

By Sipho Ramaru

Ma-E has always been one of the best story tellers in the game since his Teargas days. Punchlines? Nothing he was shot of. . .

Maeze-Does-It was never the kind of rapper to “fit in” in terms of style and flow…

He’s one of the few rappers who don’t compromise when it comes to spitting in vernac and tells stories most of us from the hood can relate to.

The homey just released a new single and the video to the joint called Hlasela. Basically the song is about hustling and just keep on keeping on till you make it. Dope joint, nice video!

Check out the video below:

DRAKE BRINGS OUT EMINEM AT HIS #SUMMERSIXTEEN SHOW AND BOW DOWN TO THE GHAAD EMCEE!

By Sipho Ramaru

So     the     rumour...or the reports rather, that Drake has called out Eminem for a rap battle has been making headlines all over social media and hip hop publications, both online and print.

My     first     reaction to this was, "how is it that my favorite rapper wants to commit a career suicide by battling the illest rapper to ever touch the mic?? Please don’t it…"


Now just in, a post by Montreal facebook page has updated that Drake brought out Eminem at his #SummerSixteen show in Detroit, and bowed down to the legend, calling him “the greatest to ever touch a microphone”. . .You got that one right suhn!

Well, if the reports about Champagne Papi challenging Slim Shady aren’t true, then I’m really happy about that! Nobody wants to see their favorite rapper being killed in a rap battle. . .When you are being killed in a feature, we can debate about it, have different views and it’s normal for every feature to have that one artist ripping it off. But a rap battle is a different ballgame.

In a feature, you get murked, you accept defeat and step it up on your next track, but in a rap battle it's not like that! For someone with Drake’s status, you gonna be trending for quite some time and you better brace yourself for those million memes.

Shouts to the 6-God and B-Rabbit…Real game changers and that “Forever” joint was just a certification stamp that Drake has officially made his mark in hip hop. We would really like to see more performances and features of Drizzy and Slim…Not a rap battle!

ANOTHER SOUTH AFRICAN START ON SWAY’S SWAY IN THE MORNING. . . .ON SHADE45

Just as the excitement and disappointment about Cassper Nyovest’s interview with Sway a few weeks ago was dying down, “The same chair Kanye sat on”. . .The SUPA MEGA himself was there to re-represent the country once more.

Check the pictures out. . .Courtesy AKA’S Facebook page

BLACK COFFEE MAKES HISTORY. . .AKA CONGRATULATE. . .?

Sipho Ramaru

Seems like AKA can’t stay away from of controversy, twar or whatever you wanna call it. . .even with artists outside the hip hop genre. This is not the first time AKA throws shade at the house Dee-Jay, Black Coffee even after the house mogul made history.

Black Coffee whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo made history by becoming the first South African artist to win a BET award held in Los Angeles on Saturday for Best International Act: Africa.

Kiernan Forbes first tweeted: “As long as a South African artist wins this award. That’s fine by me”

Then after Nathi got the award, AKA came back to add “Look Black Coffee and me don't dig each other but I respect him and his art. I acknowledge him for the pioneer he is.” And that was when fans went bug on him. . .You know black twitter don’t let things slide.

Shots were fired. . .even Barry Roux (parody) had something something to day:

But I’m guessing this is not something new for the homey, he’s used to being the center of attention even when the spotlight is not on him or not supposed to be on him.

Black Coffee walked in a green suit with some black sneakers, looking as stylish and unique as always. . .on his right, accompanied by his lovely wife Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa.

twitter pic

In an interview with the SABC Black Coffee expressed that although it seems a bit weird to be nominated for a BET award outside the country, he is holding that SA up flag high. His achievement was acknowledged and praised by the minister of the people, Fikile Mbalula who tweeted “Congratulations for the win and thank you for hoisting our high”

AKA just congratulate and step back dawg. . .that’s all you have to do. Congratulate and fall back.

REFILOE PHOOLO ON SWAY IN THE MORNING. . .SHADE45

Refiloe Phoolo aka Cassper Nyovest is the first South African rapper to touch down on Sway In The Morning (In The Morning) on Shade 45. . .There’s no denying the fact that homeboy Cassper just keeps breaking these barriers. Made the act of speaking reality into your dreams a tradition to young dreamers.

Sway took it to twitter to express his excitement to do the interview with Sway, and that this is a milestone. . .

Flying the SA flag up high in one of the biggest hip hop morning shows in the world with the greatest hip hop journalist of all time, Sway Calloway. Yesss, he sat on the same chair Kanye sat on, the same chair my favorite rapper of all time, Common sat on, damn the same chair even the legendary Scarface sat on.

Contrats to the brother. . .Keep the dream alive. 'Talk your sh** Sway'!!!

IT’S A BANG OUT

Sipho Ramaru


The     homey     DJ     Vigilante     has     officially graduated from the South African hip hop school of hits!!!

The     homey     has     now reached a point where, every collabo he puts under his name becomes a hit. Going a few years back when he released the joint, God’s Will featuring the Skhanda godfather, KO and Supa Mega, AKA, aka Kienaan Forbes.

Then     going     to     Sgelekeqe     with Ma-E, M-A-Double, and the kingpin himself, PRO which claimed the streets. I still remember how my uncle used to play that joint the whole day (on repeat). Another banger was released in the year, 2014, Sorry Makhe. This was a point DJ Vigi proved to us that he does not disappoint!

Now the homey just released another smash called Bang Out, featuring the Skhanda god, Supa Mega and the new kid on the block, who’s not that new on the block if you know what I mean…Nasty C.

“You can lose a lot of paper chasing women just know/ but all that p*** as soon as you get your money is a given/ see a bad b*** get sticky, young Uber ex-trips/ I’m Mango air-ticks and that’s it”. . .The CashTime president got game and you cannot for one minute, doubt that!! Shout to the new age Papa Action. . .

Nasty C is a young versatile rapper you can never know what to expect from him in terms of content lyrically, but can definitely expect him to kill whatever feature or track he jumps on! “Love and money I place ‘em apart/ I started, hating stages I broke a leg and a heart/ y’all need a real muh***r and I’m great for the part/ Coz I bumped into hip hop when she had her legs apart” daaamn son!! Let’s get in to his lyrics some more “If you’re expecting me to fall hold your breath, cross fingers/  biiiii your favorite rapper is either dead or a witness/ If I said it I meant it (ou, ou)”. . .That Nasty C boi is nasty with them lyrics, boy!!

Starting from production to execution, the song is just a BANG OUT!!! Lyrical content is just on another level that is out of this world. Credit goes to the man behind this hot jam…DJ Vigilante, you never disappoint when it comes to producing classic joints. . .Big ups to you brother! Vi...Vi...Vi...Vigi!

RAPPERS IN POLITICS. . .

Image by: AKA Instagram

Sipho Ramaru

I believe we are now well aware of what political party AKA is promoting, or “supports” as he puts it on twitter. Kiernan Forbes has never been the one to bite his tongue when it comes to sharing his views and that’s one of the reasons he is the most loved and most hated.

The Congratulate Me hit maker went public to express his aversion for the Economic Freedom Fighters and Democratic Alliance on twitter, which newspapers make it seem as if he went “head to head” with Mbuyiseni Ndlozi aka the people’s bae on a public platform.

I believe this is just another matter of difference in opinion, and being as dramatic as we are, journalists made it seem as if it’s way more than just two public figures supporting different movements for their own personal reasons.

One has to admit though that AKA is too confrontational whenever he express his views. The rapper went on to say that the ANC is the only party he believes has the capability to lead South Africa into a new day. Further stating that he will not be performing at the DA and EFF’s events because he does not support the parties and doesn’t “need the money that bad”. AKA says his views are influenced by the fact that he has a child now has to think about her future and the South Africa she’s going to live in.

It is AKA’s constitutional right to support the political party he wants and believes in. One other thing is, we need to be aware of the fact that there is a thin line between publicly supporting a political party and promoting it especially by public figures.

We are now going through a season of political rallies, and political parties are booking artists to perform at their events. A gig is a gig and this is how artists put bread on the table. . .but my problem comes in when artists promote political parties because as people we go through different struggles and believe in different systems even though we support the same artist, not all parties acknowledge and attend to our needs the way we want and need them to.

Just like AKA, fans should be given a chance to voice out their concerns and support a party they believe it best address issues they are faced with on a daily. The EFF might not be a party for me based on whatever reasons only I know, but the DA might be the party for me, or maybe the IFP might be the party for me, or the even ANC. What I’m saying is, public figures have a strong influence on the youth but in most cases do not always relate to their struggles, so not every party my favorite artist promotes or publicly “supports” is the one that has been attending to the needs of my people in my region.

J-COLE IS NOW OFFICIALLY A MARRIED MAN

Sipho Ramaru
Reports have recently come out, saying that J-Cole is secretly married, and these have been making headlines since the week began.

Well, congratulations to the homey for tying the knot. That’s a stage we all gotta go through unless you don’t see yourself spending the rest of your life with that special somebody.

The reports claiming that J-Cole is “SECRETLY” married. . .I think that’s just a dramatisation of facts.

The homey is not secretly married, he just chose not to put it out there that he is now a married man, which is allowed, even as a public figure, you deserve some privacy and just do your own thing without media attention.

He first came out some time a while back that he is engaged, and shortly after that he was accused of hiding the fact that he is engaged and was busy acting single flirting with groupies.

When interviewed on Monday’s special #MLKNow event, he confirmed that he is indeed married and jokingly hinted that his business should not be put out there…but now that the fans know, “it’s all good”.

WORD TO THE 2015 MATRICULANTS...

Pic courtesy: eNCA

Sipho Ramaru

First and foremost I just want to congratulate all the matriculants of 2015, whether pass or fail, the fact that you made it thus far says a lot about your character and your goals as an individual. 

Most of our peers would have loved to reach this point but due to unforeseen circumstances, some couldn’t, some tried taking short-cuts to life and some just gave up on the way.


A big congratulations to those that made it, I hope you don’t focus too much on “I passed my matric” to a point where you forget to focus on more important and bigger things like enrolling at an institution of your dreams and pursuing that career you've always wanted. . .And those that didn’t make it, it’s not the end of the world, pick yourself up and just keep going at it till you get it right! Sometimes there’s more lessons and experience in failure than anything else.

Failing matric doesn’t make you stupid or a failure. . .You still own your future! And you can make whatever you want of your situation. Get back to it, and go harder this time! The future belongs to us!