User talk:Afrikaanshiphop

Afrikaans Hip Hop

At one time and another, the Afrikaans influence in hip-hop has been categorized as one of the aforementioned names in the South African music industry. But what exactly is Afrikaans Hip Hop and who are the artists listed below.

For one, it’s just hip-hop. Hip-hop is so huge and diverse that many “sub-divisions” have been made to try and fit every aspect of hip-hop into it’s own category. Whether the MC’s rap in Cape Flats Afrikaans, Northern Cape Afrikaans, the message itself is still hip-hop. Mr. Fat from Brasse Vannie Kaap put it best when he said that it’s good for afrikaans people in hip-hop to be respected enough to have it’s own category but the music is still hip-hop. Many Afrikaans mc’s today feels Afrikaans Hip Hop is being marginalized. They feel that they are being excluded from the rest of the world. They claim that there is no news coverage, radio or tv commercials that can help shape the music.

Nobody knows exactly when Afrikaans hip-hop was created. Elements of hip-hop have always been around. But when the media first noticed Afrikaans hip-hop, it came from the streets of Cape Town. It was widely and falsely publicized that Afrikaans hip-hop was a “new” coloured art form. What wasn’t mentioned was the majority of coloured people were MCs’, break dancers (Blacknoise), and Graffiti artists. Clebo of Cape Awake Records thinks the reason for the corporate media putting one type of face on hip-hop makes it easier for the Major Labels to market and distribute to the masses. Others also believe that the corporate media does this as a separatist move, dividing the people in the different race catagories. But what was falsely publicized to the masses didn’t make the cut in the streets. As the youth in the streets, coming from diverse cultures, shaped Afrikaans Hip-Hop to represent the voice of the people of the streets, and eventually helped hip-hop spread across South Africa.

Many of the old school legends like Prophets of Da City, Brasse Vannie Kaap, Isaac Mutant, Garlic Brown, and Delinquent, didn’t enjoy the success of many Rappers that followed, but they helped form and shape the music. Just a few years later, in Bellville, Cape Town a new group was born who then revolutionized the genre of Music. They also won a SABC 2 Grammy Award. They call themselves, “Kallitz”, (Dokte and Boere). DJ's like DJ Azhul, DJ Rozzano, DJ Ready-D, DJ Hammer and DJ Earl Scratch also made a huge impact on the Afrikaans Hip Hop scene. They promoted the music at gigs and parties throughout South Africa

Producers who made a huge difference was Shaheen (P.O.C), Grenville (Godessa), Hype (Ancient Men), Dokte (Kallitz), Clebo (Cape Awake Records) and Siep-Sokkie (Bushman Kamp). Corporate Media is still ingoring Afrikaans Hip Hop because of the Apartheid History of South Africa. The language was labeled as the language of the oppressor. That is the reason why Afrikaans Hip Hop is not getting the proper exposure it should. During the late 80’s and early 90’s, groups like Prophets of Da City and Blacknoise started putting out hip-hop albums, and many did it through independent distribution. Soon, success and countrywide recognition were to follow. Most of the music was banned those days. And of course, Cape Town based group, “Brasse Vannie Kaap”, Mr. Fat (rest-in-peace), Garlic Brown and DJ Azhul took Afrikaans Hip Hop to the top. Mr. Fat helped gain renewed interest to the Major Labels into the Afrikaans Rap Scene.

Now the Afrikaans hip-hop scene can be seen growing in South Africa, with artist and groups like Kallitz, Gamavrag, Ded Rong Crew, Unseen 1’s, Clebo, Cola, Phoenix, Jake Daddy, Maniak, Delinquent, Garlic Brown, Dokte, Jitsvinger, Jack Donovan, MC Squire, Linkris,  Isaac Mutant, Genie, True Couliz, Rhymestein, Christyle, Max Normal, MC Speed, Ell-O, Remy-E, Jaak, Terror MC, Bushman Kamp as well as the rest of South Africa, Parts of Namibia, and the rest of the world.

Since there are so many Artists and Groups that helped blow up the Afrikaans Hip-Hop scene, proves that Afrikaans people will be around to the very end. And taking it to the next level should be the goal of every MC out there today. There are still many stories to told and points to make, and therefore I would like to encourage the whole of South Africans and neighboring countries to support Afrikaans Hip Hop. I also want to take this opportunity to challenge music publishers and music distributors to help us in our task. You can contact Clebo on 0731735352 or send him a email on capeawake@yahoo.com.

While afrikaans people, as a whole begin spreading across South Africa and the world, afrikaans people in hip-hop will continue to grow. Today, the underground scene is as big as it has ever been. Major Labels are once again interested in Afrikaans Hip Hop Artists and Groups. As long as we support each other we will never fail”. - Written by Clebo (Cape Awake Records)

Listed Below are Bios and/or Links to Afrikaans Hip-Hop Artists.

Cape Awake Records will continue to update the list below in hopes of providing a complete and accurate list of Afrikaans Hip Hop Artists.

www.myspace.com/skrikwakke www.myspace.com/dokte www.kallitz.co.za www.myspace.com/isaacmutant www.myspace.com/jitsvinger www.bruin-ou.com