[hieroglyphics]

AFRICANHIPHOP.COM MAILINGLIST - NEWSLETTER OF FEBRUARY 2003
by Juma4 for Africanhiphop.com - all rights reserved

The world has turned a couple hundred times since we last sent any news
to the Africanhiphop.com mailinglist members. Fortunately there's
always our website which these days runs on a database driven system which
can be updated from anywhere. So the last 12 months you could catch us
from Tanzania, Holland and Senegal.

Updates from our contributors came in from many other spots and we
added a handful of new countries to our crews list. We realize that often
our focus has been on a handful of countries, so send in your info to
unveil what's happening in other places.

The growing list of African emcees and crews, plus nearly 200 links to
African hiphop websites. It seems to prove that hip hop is now a truly
global phenomenon with even those places that might sound remote to
your ears being affected (if you were wondering, Timbouctou has an
internet cafe these days). And hip hop artists move across borders. Check out
Yalad from Tchad who are now based in Dakar. Angolan crew Tribo Sul are
situated in Cape Town. Then there's diaspora emcees focusing on Africa
- take the African Consciences album which brings together people like
Ty (UK) with Pee Froiss (Senegal), Sizzla and Anthony B (Jamaica), Dead
Prez (USA) and others together on a single beat - and later this year
on a single stage in Goree, Senegal.
Also, 2003 seems to be a good year for concert tours abroad. All the
big Senegalese names have European tours planned and there are plans for
pan-African hip hop events.

* This edition:
-Africanhiphop.com's Giant Spring of 2003 releases list
-Africanfunk.com special mention
-International tours
-Happenings around Africa
-Senegalese graffiti t-shirts
-What have we been up to?
-Request
-Upcoming at the website


** AFRICANHIPHOP.COM'S GIANT SPRING OF 2003 RELEASES LIST
If you happen to have a little money to spend on music, try digging up
some African hip hop. It is now easier than ever before, with more than
a handful of international releases being available for orders. Though
at Africanhiphop.com we do not sell anything, you can find a large
number of links in our Store section. Then as you subscribed to our
mailinglist, we do have the following exclusive releases list that you may
want to browse for. These albums came out during the past 3 months, or are
still to come out within the next few weeks. The list is not
exhaustive... unfortunately we cannot keep up with all the releases, especially
on local markets.

(Please don't mail us asking where to get the music! Post all your
requests in the Africanhiphop forums, thats where we and other readers can
respond).

A. International releases
These are cd's (with the occasional vinyl cut) which are generally
avaiable from international record stores or on order through the web. Try
one of the following stores for internet orders: www.fnac.com or
www.alapage.fr (France), www.gemm.com (america/international),
www.amazon.co.uk , www.amazon.com or www.amazon.de (UK/USA/Germany) or
http://www.bambamstore.ontheweb.nu (Belgium).

1) Positive Black Soul (Senegal) - New york Paris Dakar: the album from
1999 which never came out though Island records, now released by Africa
Fete [24/2/2003 Africa Fete/Night & Day cd, France]

2) Domou Joloff (Senegal) - Mea Culpa: one of a handful Senegalese
crews known to do dancehall, and on this album from which we heard samples,
they seem to do it well. [Mi corason cd, France]

3) Daara J - Boomrang: we have the tape and it does ask for rewind
after rewind. More commercial than the previous album Xalima. Daara J flirt
with Latin American music and even use a Timbaland kind of beat on the
shure-shot hit 'Bopp sa bopp' which is supported by an Arabic sounding
sample. The trio have sharpened their flow and this is a long haul from
their self-titled debut album. Apparently the Boomrang cassette version
was pirated heavily in Dakar, so support the group and buy the cd!
[Subdivision/BMG cd, France]

4) Pee Froiss - Konkerants: one of the most awaited Senegalese cd
debutes, and one of the most deserved, as this trio (two emcees and a dj)
has been around for almost as long as PBS, who produced their 1st tape
back in the mid-nineties. On a visit to Paris in July 2001 we heard some
of the tracks, and these suggest that Pee Froiss also have airplay on
their mind, but their usual dedication to true hip hop won't be lost
this time either. [24/2/2003 Africa Fete/Night & Day cd, France]

5) Myk 7 (Nigeria/France) - Facing Reality: as unusual as it may sound,
this is a Nigerian emcee based in Aix-en-Provence (France). On this
second album, MYK and a number of invited French emcees drop their rhymes
and singing (in French and English) over pleasant-but-never-jiggy
beats. Self-released but the overall sound is nowhere amateuristic. [Myk7
Entertainment cd, www.sixiemesens.fr ]

6) Da Fugitivz (Gambia) - Escaped: this album is not out yet, so not
much we can say except that the first tape released in Senegal and Gambia
was an excellent West-African dancehall hip hop album and we hope to
hear more of that [Swing-a-ling Records, Sweden]

7) Tony Allen (Nigeria, feat. TY) - Homecooking: the pioneer drummer of
Afrobeat is still touring and made some sort of a come-back in the past
years. He deserved the success cos his show is real tight, reminding of
the Headhunters (1970's Herbie Hancock) sometimes. The new album
features mc TY (UK, Nigerian roots) and popsinger Amon Tobin. [Comet Records,
France]

8) Various - Red Hot & Riot - a tribute to Fela Kuti: one of the most
interesting hiphop crossovers of the last years, this non-profit effort
raising money for Aids brings together some big names in American black
music with African musicians and European dance producers to do covers
of classic Fela tracks. PBS (Senegal) do a little appearance, other
familiar names are Common, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Cheikh Lo, Les Nubians,
Manu Dibango, Tony Allen, Kelis, Baaba Maal etc.
In our eyes still not enough African hiphop representation, but then
again the album is meant to raise money in the west for projects in
Africa, so the fame factor does play a role here - the featured American
artists are big names and will get people to buy the album. [Red Hot cd]

9) Zimbabwe Legit (Zimbabwe/USA) - Doing damage in my native language:
reprint of a very rare promo 12 inch that was wanted by fans of dj
Shadow, whose first-ever performance features here in an instrumental remix
that has little to do with the other tracks. We like this cos it's
probably the first African hiphop release abroad, with nice beats by Mr
Lawnge (Black Sheep) and afrocentric lyrics by 'real African emcees' as
the label sticker proudly exclaims. [Hollywood Basic Promo - 12" vinyl
reprint]

10) Godessa (South Africa) - Social Ills: an excellent first single
which has the three female emcees spitting over a slightly corny jazz
loop. Their dope music video is featured here as a bonus track to watch on
your pc. It's also one the first African hiphop release on vinyl in
ages. [cd-single/12 inch, African Dope records, South Africa, European
distribution: Lowlands]

11) Das Primeiro (Angola) - Liberdade: two tracks produced by well
respected dj Precise, with chart potential in a reggae vibe and apparently
doing well on the Portuguese market where this came out. Mc Das
Primeiro and his group are based in Amsterdam, Holland but targeting the
Portuguese speaking countries. [Kianny/Reino da Musica - cd single]

12) Cashino - Subterranean: Nigerian origin emcee in the UK has been
doing his thing for years on the web - we have been in touch since back
in the days when websites didn't have images! Now Cashino has an album
and it's hardcore, no compromises beat- and lyricwise. Parrish Smith
(PMD from EPMD fame) blessed the album with an intro rapped over the
phone, so you should have an idea what Cashino's inspirations are. Tracks
like 'Underground nino' really got us in an 'OK this is fresh hip hop'
mood which doesn't happen too often these days. [Rugged Style Records cd,
UK]

13) African consciences (Various): we received a 5-track promo of this
upcoming release, a collection of lyrics kicked over (all the same?)
dancehall riddim. The project aims at discussing and building on a
pan-African conscience which according to initiator Mbegane N'dour (from the
Senegalese rap group Djoloff based in Paris) should stretch to black
people in the diaspora. Therefor he included some big names from Jamaica,
USA, UK and France alongside Senegalese emcees [Universal France cd]

14) Kaysha (Congo/France) - It's all love: We haven't listened yet, but
traditionally Kaysha is bringing a fusion of zouk and r&b which does
well with the pop audience between the Antilles and West Africa. If you
should find difficulty ordering his album, try the website
www.kaysha.com - homeboy is a pioneer of the web and even sells his own gear online.

15) JJC & 419 Squad (Nigeria/UK) - Atide: we haven't heard the whole
album yet, but the first single by the same name crosses borders of many
different international styles. Hip hop is an important element. JJC's
bi-weekly radio show on the new BBC channel 1Xtra which started last
year, works according to the same formula. In fact it's one of the very
few international radio shows that plays any African hiphop other than
the usual 3 albums worth of material that has been out on the
international market. [Big Ballaz/Sterns UK, www.sternsmusic.com]

16) Expressions (compilation): this will be the second release of the
label run by the Rage.co.za crew. Their first effort, simply called
'Rage' was almost entirely filled with kwaito so we are anxiously waiting
for this collection of hip hop cuts. The first Expressions promo single
'It's Wonderful' by duo H20 sounds very good, proper flows and warm
production - almost to make kwaito sound more like an artificial product -
but let's leave kwaito in its own right and get this album! [March
2003, Outrageous records, South Africa. www.rage.co.za]

17) Stan Knight (Kenya/USA) - Infinity: solo release by Kenyan emcee in
the USA. His style reminds a bit of the r&b rap Kaysha but without the
zouk - smooth rapping and lyrics talking about love, Crystal but also
some consciousness in 'Wanna be a star?' [Knightman Records, USA]

18) Metaphysics (Zimbabwe/Germany) - Elevated Perception [Swamp
records, Germany] and Migrant Souls (Zimbabwe/Germany) - the Foundation E.P.
[Pyramid Music, Germany]: Metaphysics is another old friend from before
our site became Africanhiphop.com. He pioneered Zimbabwean hiphop with
his group Peace of Ebony, and he is now making waves in the German hip
hop scene. Unlike many other immigrant emcees, he isn't forever
struggling to get his name out - in the past 2 years he's been all over the
place and even toured with popular singer Xavier Naidoo. If you listen to
his solo EP you will understand why - he's on some next level lyrically
and his flow is really elevated. He is also part of the Migrant Souls
together with Laygwan Sharkie, another rap pioneer from Zimbabwe. They
put out the impressive Foundation E.P.

19) Cape of good dope (various South Africa): known to hiphop heads as
the label that signed Godessa and Moodphase5ive. There's more to it -
this compilation presents a wide range of beats which in one way or
another are influenced by hip hop but as much by dance music - Cape Town
used to have a drum&bass scene which surfaces here. Other names include
Krushed 'n Sorted, Yang Weapon, a remix of a track by the classic
Kalahari Surfers and Sibot, 2002 DJ battle of the year champion.
[African Dope records, South Africa]

20) Africa Raps (various Senegal/Gambia): the vinyl version of this
popular sampler of West-African rap is now also available with a selection
of the best tracks, plus the bonus track Siensall remix by Pee Froiss
which features some twenty guest emcees! [Trikont, Germany - 1 x vinyl
LP, limited edition]


B. Local releases
These are some cd's or tapes that have been released on an African
market. They aren't always available for international orders, though you
could still try finding a webstore that sells em - and if you find one
that does, let us know!

1 Various artists - Rage! [cd, Outrageous, South Africa]
2 Various artists - Expressions 1 [cd, April 2003, Outrageous, South
Africa]
3 Aumar (Senegal) - Njangaan [cassette]
4 Daara J (Senegal) - Boomrang [cassette]
5 Daddy Bibson (Senegal) - Bobou ba legiu [cassette]
6 Lady Jaydee (Tanzania) [cassette]
7 Gangwe Mobb (Tanzania) - Nje ndani [cassette]
8 TID (Tanzania) - Sauti ya dhahabu [cassette]
9 Zig Zag Crew (Tanzania) - Sasa kazi [cassette]
10 Prince Dully Sykes (Tanzania) - Historia [cassette]
11 Dancehall Masters (Gambia) - Dancehall Masters [cassette]
12 Big D (Senegal) - Xaam xaam bouy law [cassette]
13 Aumar (Senegal) - Pulho Sow [cassette]
14 Nigger L's (Senegal) - Bena mic mounouma doye [cassette]
15 Yalad (Chad) - Lumiere [cassette]
16 Tundu Wundu (Senegal) - Xundu [cassette]
17 Keur-Gui (Senegal) - Keene Bougoul [cassette]
18 3ème Regiment (Burkina Faso) - Changement [cassette]
19 Black Marabouts (Burkina Faso) - Prophétie [cassette]
20 Menes (Mali) - Menes [cassette]
21 SNK (Mali) - Toujours Underground [cassette]

C. Upcoming cassette releases
Mali: Du Mali aux USA (Mali) [April 2003]
Tanzania: Poa records/Maasai entertainment compilation
Senegal: Doug-E Tee (PBS), Niks, Degg Dadj compilation, Pacotille,
Wageble, Baye Souley (PBS)


** AFRICANFUNK.COM SPECIAL MENTION

Ghana Soundz (compilation): one of the best African funk/jazz/afrobeat
collections available. This really outshines most other compilations
for being less compromising and really indepth. While many promise
African funk but come up with fusion or poppy soul that wasn't even recorded
in Africa, this compilation of rare tunes from 60's and 70's Ghana is
more funky than you could hope for and they went out of their way to
find the songs. Not all of it was released before. The special attraction
here is that most of the music doesn't sound like anything you know.
Reminiscent of afrobeat, the funky highlife is tapping into other
inspirations including even big band music on the track Bukom Mashie by
Oscar Sulley and the Uhuru Dance Band. Other names include Gyedu Blay
Ambolley, Sweet Talks, K. Frimpong (another track of his, which was sampled
by Ghanaian hiplife star Reggie Rockstone, is on the compilation Afro
Rock vol. 1), the African Brothers, Rob, Ebo Taylor and Marijata. Then
there's the well researched liner notes which are reprinted on the vinyl
edition as well. Just check this one out, if there's any African funk
compilation you need it's gotta be this. [Soundway,
www.soundwayrecords.com]


** INTERNATIONAL TOURS AND FESTIVALS

- Yeleen (Burkina Faso) - 10 March until 6 April, various spots in
Switzerland/Europe - info: actiondecareme@fastenopfer.ch or
ku.blum@bluewin.ch
- Alif (Senegal) 10 March until 29 March, various spots - see
www.senerap.org
- Daara J (Senegal) - 25 February, Le nouveau casino, Paris ; 01/03 -
L'Astrolabe - Orleans, France
- Pee Froiss & Positive Black Soul (Senegal) - 6 June with PBS at Le
Cabaret Sauvage - Parc Villette, Paris, France
- X Plastaz (Tanzania) - June/July: Holland/Belgium/UK (to be
confirmed, keep an eye on www.xplastaz.com)
- Pan African rap festival, Belgium, June - keep an eye on
www.lezartsurbains.be

** HAPPENINGS AROUND AFRICA
Obviously there's too much happening locally to keep track of. Here's a
mention of an interesting event. We'll try to start an agenda page at
Africanhiphop.com so that you can add your own local events, too.

- Finals African Hiphop Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa
29th August 2003 Sonic Boom MC and DJ Battle
30th August 2003 Battle of the Year Breakdance Event and 31st August
2003 Graffiti / Writing Battle


** SENEGALESE GRAFFITI T-SHIRTS

- When in Dakar in January we were impressed with the recent work of
Docta, Senegal's most active graf writer. He designed a couple of
t-shirts to send to American hip hop heads along with Owen Kohl, an American
documentary maker who was filming the Senegalese hiphop scene. By now,
dj Spinna and a few others must be sporting these one-of-a-kind shirts.
Docta offered us to make a few more so that we could sell 'em on the
web. The cotton and print quality are both very good. Check out his
gallery to get an idea of what his styles are like. Soon we will upload the
exact prints of the shirts.


** WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

The Africanhiphop.com editors are a busy lot, despite being in fulltime
jobs - remember the website is all done at night and in the weekends.
Still in 2002 and early 2003 there was time for:

- Talking to the press: Newsweek (the story on international hiphop in
their Special: Best of 2003), BBC (1Xtra's African Vibes show, and
'Around the World in Eight Relays', a special by dj Vadim), local tv in
Holland, etc.
- Filming of the upcoming video by Tanzanian crew X Plastaz. The last
two videos that we produced and edited for them, Aha and Ushanta, are
now number one and four in the video charts of Tanzanian music tv station
Channel 10!
- Co-organizing an event around hiphop and Aids in Amsterdam's Royal
Tropical Institute on World Aids Day 2002 (1st of December).
- Meeting up with emcees, studio technicians and graffiti artists in
Dakar, Senegal in January 2003. The first fruit of this trip apart from a
good rest is the Docta graffiti gallery at our site (see crews, Senegal
section).
- Collecting tapes. Currently there's a little competition between the
Tanzanian and Senegalese tapes in the Rumba-Kali studio: which box is
more heavy? To give you an impression, we have about 100 released album
tapes from each country - but we never took the time to unpack and
weigh 'em. Check out the new edition of Rumba-Kali Radio this spring.


** UPCOMING AT THE AFRICANHIPHOP.COM WEBSITE

-Interview with Ty. We met the English emcee-of-Nigerian-parents in
November and the interview was basically an hour-long monologue which we
still haven't finished transcribing. He talks about the way in which
African identity appears in his ongoing projects and explains about his
trip to Tanzania and the tour with afrobeat legend Tony Allen.

-Regular Senegal updates from our new correspondent Arona Mbengue,
starting with Pee Froiss and Alif interviews. Arona is a seasoned music
journalist and hiphop connoisseur who is based in Dakar and seems to know
everyone in the scene. So if you are gonna do a documentary, thesis or
compilation, contact arona for advice! arona@africanhiphop.com

-A new broadcast of Rumba-Kali Radio. Our webcast is still free but
unfortunately our music provider forces listeners to log in, which means
you will have to get a free membership with them (which is easy and
doesn't involve credit cards or anything). The concept of the new show is
'Tanzania versus Senegal' in which tracks from the two countries are
played back to back.

-A new section of the site dedicated to the memory of those that passed
away. The last months there has been a number of emcees and other key
people in the African hip hop scenes that left this earth and we want to
keep the memory alive. Peace to D-Rob (Kwanza Unit, Tanzania) and Cool
James (Tanzania), Las MC (Senegal) and Mark (P.O.C., South Africa).

-We may move to a new webserver as our current host is not very stable.

-The infamous South Africa photo history with unique photographs from
1984 to about 1994. This is something we wanted to publish for a while
now but since it's over a 100 photos we have taken our time. Plus
someone that knows a lot about this history will join us soon in Amsterdam
which allows for the bylines to be written properly.

-Equally notorious for being on the list for long is a section on hip
hop research. Since we get so many requests from peopel doing tv/radio
documentaries, writing stories etc. it does make sense to get these
people in touch with each other and provide them with resources to do their
work.


** REQUEST

We'd kindly request all journalists, researchers and album compilers
and researchers that use or have used our website as their source, to
SEND US A COPY or press release of your final product!
We've seen it happen many times that people request information, which
we are happy to provide, and then never contact us again. Think about
it - when you are taking something, it would be nice to give back, even
if only for the purpose of maintaining our online database which can
then be used by others again. And maybe you'd like to get feedback on
that thesis or article.

** THE NEXT NEWSLETTER

Thanks for reading... and honestly we don't know when the next
newsletter will drop.