OK MALUME UYIKOOL KAT

Okmalumkoolkat's been around for a few years and I must confess I've kind of known about him for a while but never really took the time to really listen to the music because I'm actually not that cool, it never really crossed my path and for that I feel sorry for myself.  I first really took notice last year when he and LV released the song Sebenza which put a slice of Joburg's music scene on the map because it received a lot of attention from international media. The video, shot by Chris Saunders, was all over the internet simply because the song and the video are really really good. Smiso Zwane, Mr Koolkat himself, has a very unique beat meets Zulu, street and English lingo rap thing going on, plus the look - I'm 100% sold.  Naturally, this kind of music gets lot more support from outside South Africa than our local radio and media, which is pretty sad because a lot of the things he references in his music are very South African.  Anyway, been listening to his music via Soundcloud, the Dirty Paraffin (his posse) blog and on Youtube.  I'm going to download the Dirty Paraffin EP off iTunes for a mere R50 for 6 really good songs. Check out this new killah BhutYangChaza and tell me you don't want to start it again.  Dirty Paraffin's also just done a seriously mentally ill remix of Motel Mari's According to Who!!!!!!!!! I wonder what's next for them. 

EISH, THE WAY MY FRIENDS ROCK

When was the last time your friend was featured in Vogue? Lol, I'm such a bitch. Ok, all bitchy jokes aside, Thandiswa Mazwai, the purest voice this side of the hemisphere is in the latest L'uomo Vogue as well as Vogue Italia's website.  Because she's worth it.  Check it out here

Not to take the spotlight away from Kudzi, she is performing this Saturday at The Lyric Theatre with Bra Hugh Masekela and earlier in the evening with the Blk Jks and Joao Orrecia as part of artist Kudzanai Chiurai's latest exhibition Left Behind - the unofficial Jozi leg of Kudzi's exhibition, which actually launches in Kassel, Germany on the same night as part of the Documenta (13) Show.  

The exhibition will explore the issue of conflict and conflict resolution in contemporary Africa and will be in mixed media formats.  Let me see if I've got this right, one will be a video instillation of last year's performance by this quartet and a new video instillation of art accompanied by music designed for the video by Thandiswa, Joao and the Blk Jks.  

This will happen at Juta Street, Braamfontein. ROOM (a gallery) will exhibit photographs of the installation at Documenta 13 (the ones that the people in Germany will see on the same night) and  Co-Op, yet another gallery at 70 Juta Street, will exhibit a new edition of the Conflict Resolution posters.  If I'm wrong, just show up on Juta Street and follow the funk. I'm happy to see the appearance of the word Poster because I mean like, most of the people that attend Kudzi's exhibitions can't afford the R99 999 that his works cost.  So we will be happy to buy some posters.  This sounds like a really fun way to spend a Saturday night in my beloved Jozi. Don't miss out if you're here.  

Event deets: Saturday 9 June 2012 

Time 17:30 for 18:00 

Performance starts at 18:30

AND THEN WE DID IT AGAIN FOR ZAKI

Gosh, last week really made me privileged to live in a city that is truly alive.  While I was busy making sale sales at Mememe Joburg last Thursday, Zaki Ibrahim was launching her very first album titled Every Opposite at Great Dane in Braamfontein.  I've been a bit of a cheat, her label people gave me the first draft of the CD and we've been playing it at the shop and in my car.  I missed the media part of the launch as well as her performance but went straight there after the Mememe Sale.

I was also lucky enough to catch her off-the-hinges live performance on Saturday night at Kitcheners. It's a mixture of house, alternative, a bit of pop and some soul.  A star is born people.  I will say it again, support local, bitchez. Here are some of the pics from Thursday night's album launch.  These were taken by Connor Varin Photography. Every Opposite is out in stores at of today the 4th day of June 2012.  The price is a surprise hehe. 

ATCQ

What we saw from the cheap seats.

Hives of excitement are about to break out from beneath my skin.  New album out 29 May.  

How cute is this album name? How cute is this girl njee? Sorry for the shit quality of the picture.  

Othelo Burning Mix Tape

We like. A lot.  Can't wait till I can download the mixtape on 2 April 

Video of the day: Gotye - Somebody That I used to Know.

I'm very much loving this video at the moment.  The song is also great.  And I love Kimbra.  

This video will NEVER get old

Whenever I'm excited, I feel the need to watch this video and dance dance dance.  General excitosis has suspended my appetite for the past couple of days, at least I'm losing weight! 

VIDEO OF THE DAY LANA DEL REY - VIDEO GAMES

When Doreen picked me up from the Puma event last night, she couldn't wait to get to the car so she could introduce me to her new obsession.  Before we turned the corner, I was fully convinced and we repeated and repeated and repeated this song all the way home.  She's got a bit of Fiona Apple, a bit of Florence Welch and a bit of Britney.  I like this music video too. 

Nina Simone is incredible

I came home last night and Nana was watching some really moving shit on You Tube.  It was various performances by Nina Simone.  We just sat there with tears in our eyes.  This is one of my favourite songs ever.  There wasn't much we could do with ourselves after.  It's 1976, she's in Montreux, Switzerland. She's drunk with anger.

VINTAGE BRENDA. THIS IS SO BLOODY CUTE

If you're a black child born before 1993 in South Africa, this is guaranteed to give you goosebumps of pure pleasure.  

Alexander Wang meets the Crazies.

                          I must say, I never saw this one coming. But it's here and it grows on you.  

Midnight Snack

I've been posting a lot of youtube videos lately. Sorry if it's chowing your bandwidth if you freelance, or if you can't watch videos at your corporate job.  I had a nice time with the Roots last night, taking it way back with this one. 

M.I.A IS SUCH A BAD GIRL

This is M.I.A's new video. The song is called Bad Girls and I would do anything to be in this music video. If there's anything to motivate world peace between the East and the West, it is this video. Very rarely are Middle Eastern people portrayed in a positive, fuck it we are having an awesome time, kind of way.  I guess it's the same way Africa is represented by international media - if we're not fighting or starving, we are riddled with disease. This video has opened me up to consider the Middle East in another way. If not, it's a damn cool song.

Madonna Touches Down

It's superbowl weekend in America tomorrow and Madonna will honour the most expensive slot in TV advertising with her presence in the form of her latest song ''Give me all your luvin''.  I'm not a fan of old Madge, but I do like her cheerleaders in this video, one Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. This is a great video.  Everybody looks fantastic, especially when they are in their white dresses and blonde wigs. I'm pretty sure M.I.A shits ice blocks. And the song kinda grew on me towards the end. Madonna's 952nd album comes out on 26 March. 

Easily the best song I've heard in 2012.

What an ear fuck. Seriously the best 6.25 minutes of this here 2012. My trusted sender of all things cool, Celiwe just sent me a link to this Zero 7 song. Firstly, I love every beat that band makes so this was a very welcome surprise. There is no secondly. It's the perfect marriage of Zulu choral or traditional music and Zero 7's cool loungy alternative sound (sorry I don't know what it's called). MaYaN it's cool! The song is aptly called ''Likufanele'' and the lyrics go ''Igama obizwa ngalo likufanele''. I mean really. This means ''The name that they call you by suits you'', which I believe is true for everybody.  

Live your life

                        

This video made me cry. Not sure how I came about it because I don't own any music by Beyonce although I admire her and love her dearly! This is the next level of music video. Man she's just made me want to get up and be great.

This girl is more exciting than Zahara.

                 
                                                            Noni Zondi - Come get it

I had to blog about this.  My assistant told me about this Noni Zondi character yesterday.  When I was finished wth my work last night, I looked her up just for fun. Dayam. Sister does not mince her x rated words! Noni Zondi is a UK based female rapper but she is South African, hence the name which does not sneak up on you in its Zuluness! She's apparently been on high rotation in the UK and US and is basically said to the product if ever there would be a menage a trois between Lil Kim, Nikki Minaj and Foxy Brown!

Her very catchy (I must, must admit against my better judgement) debut single Come Get It starts off with her walking down a dingy looking street in the UK. We see her face, donned in huge embellished sunglasses, then a shot of her walking in silver stripper heels and then her entire body - her size 32 top and probably 36 - 38 bottom or rather, booty, an asset that is probably the reason for her high rotation rather than her (silly but funny) lyrics of which here is a sample:

''And I swallow so let me taste your whip cream" and ''African cutey, African beauty, they just want a piece of this African booty" (said as she points to a very exposed boo-ty)

Look, I'm no music reviewer so I won't be a voice of authority on her musical talents but she excites me.  She's entertaining in her X-Rated confidence precisely because she is from South Africa and Zulu and we don't to date, have a pop artist brave enough to say the things she's saying. For me, it's a sign of her freedom rather than perversion, which is what some people might think.   While thousands of people are going gaga over Zaraha (my eyes are done rolling), who is talented in her own right but brings nothing new to the musical landscape of this country, besides that she is a black girl who plays the guitar - big fucking deal, take us to the next level.

I think Noni Zondi has single handedly given the local musical industry a big wet bitch slap all the way from England. What we will do as South Africans is wait for her to go big globally, she'll probably do a collab with Niki Minaj or a horny rapper and then she'll blow. Hehe pun intended.  Then only will we pay attention.  I don't think Live or Channel O (shame on them) will play her music video or whatever because truthfully, it is x-rated and naaawwty....but I love it! Celiwe, my very musically high nosed friend is rolling her eyes at this but she knows she's dancing when no-one's looking haha. I wish her the best of luck and want you to know that this video is on replay at our house.

Weekend Soundtrack

 

South Africa's been on holiday and so have my posts. I am happy to say I am well rested thanks to this song (Cat Power, The Greatest) that was on repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat this past weekend. I listened to it while our apartment was being painted, afterwards when our neighbour came to give us his opinion on the paint colour accompanied by vodka tonics and late into the night as I sat on the couch staring at just how beautiful the colour is and how we now will have eternal luck because of it, yesterday while drinking beers with Nana and talking about boys and this morning after I wrote 2 columns and my first piece of erotica between 4 and 7. It's been the perfect sound track to everything. 

 Of course, because of my silly habit of obsessing over one particular thing, I will probably be over it by next week but for now, I hope you enjoy. I would recommend listening through headphones because the base is just the greatest. Happy Wednesday folks.