Concrete Grind Review by Thandikhaya Mzozoyana

 

On 7 of July, 469 Bar Lounge was the place to be for PE hip hop heads. The Grassroots Arts Festival presenting the Concrete Grind show for the third time this year. The last two show brought us Projektah from east rand and Naked Eye from the Vaal. With this one i guess Yahkeem and his team figured they should go big or go home. The BeatOven and Yourlokalhead inclusion on the line-up promised to be a memorable show.
With Adon Geel stuck in Grahamstown, Yahav was left to make lyrical marathon for the Sons of Law set. He delivered and did not disapoint but Geel was missed. When is the album dropping? The BeatOven mixed a head banger set after Yahav's food for thought lyrics. The combination of the Two Headed Monster and X-LYRICIST was lethal. X-LYRICIST is a lyrical genius and cats must watch out 'cause "it's the rise of the LYRICIST". Storm got on stage and pleased the crowd and what is a Storm set without the 'THUNDER STORM PLATFORM'. During the i...nterval Dj Sebs of KQ fm dropped a soulful mix on the decks. Highlight of the day was when Kubl5senses gave his students, Nyikima and Pythagorhymes, the mic. Nyikima and Pythagorhymes ripped the mic to shreds and suprised the shit out of me and everybody else. Kubla felt the heat of being outdone by his own proteges, so he took the last leg and killed. The Grand Finale remix put a lid on an epic perfomance. Can Yourlokalhead and The BeatOven top that? That was the question.

The BeatOven is not any ordinary deejay, he's a live perfoming deejay. Yourlokalhead's command and manipulation of the crowd was amazing. Yahkeem was under pressure but delivered as always.
"The success of a show is not the quantity of the audience but the quality of the sound" those are the words of the Mastabilda. The sound was crisp, the mics were perfect. The bouncer minus the three piece suite was Ohayv a.k.a the love writer himself. The only disapointment was when we was told, 'IPHELILE'. ‪#‎PEACE

Malcolm X Autobiography as told to Alex Haley

Alex Haley is the most amazing African writer to have ever lived. There would have never been a better qualified individual to capture and reflect accurately the life and time of the giant Malik El Shabazz.

The book oozes with inspirations, intense emotions and motivation for black people in particular. It is so graphic you won’t help yourself but feel you knew Malcolm X personally.

 

The Lesson I extracted from it was that History Controls Destiny. How?

 

Malcolm growing up has no special life or extraordinary upbringing. He was a typical black child faced with adverse conditions brought forth by the illusion of white supremacy. The assassination of his father worsened matters driving his mother into insanity. One thing that had a negative impact on the Little’s, as a family they had to be separated due to his mother being institutionalised.

 

From that point on the road was strictly downhill, deteriorating by the second. Malcolm was moved to one of their elderly sisters in the city; just imagine a rural boy fascinated by city trinkets. Blinded by the city lights he got heavily involved in drugs, prostitution, and crime in general. He was the man in the streets, man of many names that sought to describe his street smartness.

The turn-around, his awakening was strangely brought by his incarceration. With the inspiration he got from his blood brothers who were now fervent followers of the man that was introduced to him as a lamb and a messenger of Allah, Elijah Muhammad.  He begun to study and read himself into sanity. He explored The History of Black People, Extensive European history and mythology, plight of black people, black traces in the scriptures, ancient black civilizations, etc. 

 

The Connection of Black people to grandeur, greatness and splendour changed his perception of himself, his environment, the world and his role as a black man. He rose from the ashes, the lowest pits, the depths of wickedness and sin to be amongst the most influential Black figure in the History of life.  He did that with no formal education, he became one of the first so called ex-con’s to rehabilitate them through study and hold public lectures in the finest institutions of higher learning. His life and transformation redefined Educatedness and questioned the need for formal education as it stands currently.

 

Malcolm X epitomizes evolution. He was born Malcolm Little, transitioned and conquered the world as Malcolm X, and was Malik El Shabazz at his exit. Each of these figures has their own individuality and tone of Voice.

Grassroots arts Festival 2012

 

Grassroots arts festival is something from nothing. you can get in contact with them by emailing grassrootsartsfestival@gmail.com

Indaba Kwamkhozi Video Remake 12 May 2013

Wehad an amazing time today shooting a music video for the viral Indaba kwamkhozi song featuring Phira and Adon Geel on the beat. Peace to Reel Creative Media and The Hebrew Kollective.

For More information you may contact us at grassrootsartsfestival@gmail.com

Pictures courtesy Makhi Concepts

The Sprite Uncontainable Talent Search_ Port Elizabeth Leg

Mind That

I am not the one that was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I am part of those that had to scramble and fight to get anything going for them. This trained me very early in my life. It taught me to be a soldier and it taught me to endure. I learnt to use whatever small thing I had effectively.

 

This was critical teaching in my upbringing. “Creating something out of nothing” is a motto I adopted, or it rather adopted me I don’t really know. All I know is I had nothing, I have nothing but I am determined I am going to create something that is going to outlast most things most people have and they parade every day.

Don’t get this twisted I am not aiming to write and inform you about material acquisitions. NO! Life is beyond that. I was blessed with an infinite creative mind-set; it has limitless abilities it can create a new universe for all its other powers are yet to be revealed as I journey along. I will guard that mind with every molecule I have in my body. It is a greatest treasure any human being can ever have.

 

Your mind is a control station. If you are not in control of your conditions and thoughts then my friend your mind is a controlled station. You can’t allow that. You being great successful, your being you and your being everything that you are at peace with depend on it. Then the question is would you waste thought trying to entertain what people might be thinking and saying about you? Or would you rather spend your time discovering your true potential?

 

You need to make that distinction. Fight for who you want to become. Don’t let your condition hold you back. Ayililo ilizwe lenkenke eli. If you have brains you have everything and more remember that. Life is about soldiering after all.

It is never about the Hype

It is easy to get caught up in the hype of things. it is easy to recite meaningless words when the true spirit of what got you picking up the pen is gone. it is easy to do the right thing with the wrong spirit. it is easy to point fingers. it is easy to be plastic.

the world is transient, organics are expensive because there is always a cheaper imitation just around the corner. this has forced a lot of trusted brands to water down, and weaken their material to keep up with times and survive the times.

you really get cornered empty shows and hungry children. Demanding parents, and rising prices. What do you do? Quit and focus on an unfulfilling job. Do you give in and like Torea release an album explaining why you had to give in. do all these people like when we post status updates calling ourselves Real heads really purchase our albums.

Must we really sound stupid to sell? are people dumb? could the record executives be right that people are dumb, stupid and lazy they dont want to think? if they not everything the labels say they are, why is there no intelligent music on the main stream?

Personally i refuse to give in. i am a writer before i am a rapper. i beleive in the greater cause. i will keep on speaking even though my voice drowns in the mainstream noise. i will not do what i do not like because i need cash.

Deutoronomy 23 vs 23

23

That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. Shalom Family beleive in your abilities you maybe the one you are waiting for. stop looking next door and making excuses. It is not about the hype remember that.