Thursday, December 8, 2011

Musicology Nites

Musicology_Nites is an infusion of musical genres melted in 1 pot to bring the much needed flavour missing in your ears.

The first instalment will feature a Live band and 4 of Jo'burg's eclectic dj's covering a spectrum of musical genres from across the globe, ranging from soul, funk, hip-hop, afro-beat, dub to bossa nova, mash-ups and more.

Live band: A neo-jazz band that forms its sound from the urban space it was conceived in. “Sophisticatedly Easy” in its look and sound, “The Fridge” has few counter parts and many have failed to imitate them. These musicians are young in age yet already experienced as musicians. Their unconventional approach to the iconic genre of jazz is both risky and refreshing. Pushing the envelope and fusing together jazz, African folk and soul sounds.

disc jockeys:

JUST THEMBA
One fifth of the JHB based dj collective, Music Atlast. As Part of the crew he has been privileged to open for acts like K’Naan, DJ Babu, Pras (The Fugees) & John Robinson. Any given DJ Set of his consists of a variety of music such as Soul, R&B, Acid Jazz, Funk, Electro, Dubstep but he still remains deeply rooted in hip-hop

MsButtons
more than a decade behind the decks, Ms Buttons' career began at bassline when it was still in Melville, since then she's played residency for a number of venues including, Berlin bar, House of ntsako, Mind your head to name but a few. name any genre and Ms Buttons is a scholar of note, her sets range from electro, disco, swing, hip hop, soul to anything considered "good music" by music connoisseurs

DjBlaqT
Blaqt is one of the few dj's still spinning  12 inch vynils, a collector of note, he's the man behind Voslorus's Evo-loxion and the much urban, Soul fanatics and the B-sides brands, respectively. With influences from Gilles Peterson, Questlove and Mr scruff , Blaqt finds no restriction when he's behind decks easily cutting from Fela kuti, to Foreign Exchange, to dropping a james Brown's classic in the midst with relative ease.

DjMedicine
A bender of everything groovy in the music world. Also known as the music stylist, djmedicine's sets revolve around the 8 habits of highly effective dj's which are: funk, hip hop, dub, jazz, neo-soul, afro-beat, breaks and r&b.

Doors open at 9pm
R100 at the door & R80(pre-sale: contact 083 262 7629)
twitter: @MusicologyNites


Friday, December 2, 2011

VIRGIN INK NIGHTS with DA L.E.S


What a night – all heels, suits, caps and of course, tattoos; mixed up with a laid back attitude and swagger.The first VIRGIN INK NIGHTS with Da L.E.S at Jaded Ink in Fourways was packed with Joburg's hottest celebs, funkiest hip hop artists and trendiest bloggers. Cocktails were flowing and the cameras were rolling, capturing content for the first episode of the much anticipated V.I.N Reality TV show to be aired early 2012.   Guests enjoyed the lavish hospitality and awesome entertainment that define the VIRGIN INK NIGHTS, as Da L.E.S explained it simply, "we are all VIPs tonight."Wednesday night all eyes were on Da L.E.S being inked for a first ever Afrozumi, an African influenced full upper body tattoo. This is reality TV at its best - unscripted interviews, a live audience, live music, tattoos, fashion and lifestyle – all also streamed live on the internet on http://www.virgininknights.co.za/. At the party Da L.E.S also performed the official VIRGIN INK NIGHTS track as well as his brand new solo single, Matte Black. Within the next few days exclusive content from the night will be available from select bloggers and on the VIRGIN INK NIGHTS Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Virgin-Ink-Nights/289258471113538  or follow us on Twitter for all the latest content and info on the next party  @virgininknights and to tweet #virgininknightsFollow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook and you could stand a chance to win tickets to the hottest and music exclusive party in town, the White Party on Dec 10th. There, a sneak preview of the first episode of VIN reality TV show will be premiered.Much love to sponsors and partners: Jaded InkDC ShoesBullets4PeaceCreative Rides

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Mixtape Wednesdays 050ctober2011


oin us on the first Wednesday of October at Braamfontein Kitchener's as we keep you cool with The Fridge.
A neo-jazz band that forms its sound from the urban space it was conceived in. “Sophisticatedly Easy” in its look and sound, “The Fridge” has few counter parts and many have failed to imitate them. These musicians are young in age yet already experienced as musicians. Their unconventional approach to the iconic genre of jazz is both risky and refreshing. Pushing the envelope and fusing together jazz, African folk and soul sounds.
Genre
Neo – Jazz with influences from soul, rock and African folk.
The Musicians:
Samkelo Ndolomba: The Unmistakably Silky Voice that was “Born to Sing”
Samthing Soweto (Samkelo) is the lead vocalist of the Fridge and hails from Soweto. “When I wake up, I sing and I think about the things I want to sing about.” he says.
 The name Samthing Soweto is inherently derived from his name Samkelo and “thing” happens to be the “thing” he does well, which is music. “Just as the birds chirp, I sing. Its second nature to me”
Adebayo: Drums and Percussion
Adebayo “Ade” Omatade, the drummer of the Fridge, started playing the drums fourteen years ago and has never looked back ever since. Born and bread in Nigeria, Ade’s interests lie further than just composing music and playing the drums. He also enjoys fashion and graphic designing, events management, practicing his culinary skills and photography.
Mothusi Thusi: Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar and Flute
“I learn fast and hear things that other people do not hear” says Mothusi Thusi, the distinct bass guitarist of the Fridge who describes his sound as “gargantuan, epic and colossal”. Mothusi gets his musical roots from both his parents who are artists in their own rights. Son of trombonist Mfaniseni Mthusi and Faith Kekane, music runs in his genes. He says that musical genes are not the only thing that requires one to become an excellent musician, “you gotta be good at it and also love it’ he articulates. Growing up, he listened to a lot of heavy metal bands and was rebellious but now his favourite bands include the likes of Bjork, Radio Heads and 340ml.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Mixtape Wednesdays

With much a legend told about the ‘breeding fort for rhyme’ that was Le Club, another fold to its historical denseness and fame is unraveled in story and shape of its sons, that being the verb stacker known as Vikinduku. His Genesis chartered way forward as part of Asylum Tribe, an outfit whose acclaim in Soweto and J-sec was largely owed to their steely and middle finger wagging tendencies in both bravado and rhyme.
Vikinduku’s endevours post his tenure in ‘the asylum’wake to take a much more organizational turn, in that he went as far as rallying alongside Urban Clutches whose onus was to promote gigs and run workshops in cohesion with MIDI. Viki’s rise to the echelons of community organization with hip hop as a noteworthy tool came into its own during 2003 when Black Sundays emerged. He describes the time frame as having been “during the decline of Le Club and much was needed”.
Black Sundays having been a turf where the likes of Sudan, Ngwenya and Prokid amongst many displayed skill that was to be remnant for many more years to come was according to Vikinduku “the kingmaker of many rhyme stalwarts”. Conventional wisdom doing the rounds then was firmly rooted in the thinking that the culture needed a well needed resurgence after Le Club.
Soul Warrior being the album Vikinduku released in 2006 had a heavy Jazz influence with Kenzhero’s involvement for added measure. Beyond the offering Viki’s influence at Black Sundays was forged forth in him assuming the role of a commentator cum radio host for in-house displays and interventions.
His current mixtape labled Eyez on the pryz comes under the housing of The Akademy, a relationship which he dates back to ties he’s had with dj Medicine from the days of Black Sunday. He regards the partnership with The Akademy one “fused with plenty opportunity” and that a local tour is in the works where a thorough marketing plight will be in conjunction with the release of his current offering. It all comes with ample dosages of a thorough thrash from the man…he’s been keeping them coming for a while worth legendary beatings.
Vikinduku is currently working on Eyes on the pryz vol 2 and Zone Two (The Head hunters) a collaboration with with Mc Scent

Saturday, June 11, 2011

FELA this bitch of a life


Nigerians in the new world order i.e globalisation have become 'popular' for various reasons;Everyone knows a Nigerian and I met one;in the flesh,sound,ideology,David character and  unique image of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.I found it hard to not engage with the read,my imaginations were set forth through humour and vulgar depicted by Fela.However,Moore's attentiveness was explicit,a job well done!None detail was left out.Now I can say I know Fela Kuti.
He was a soul who stood his fort & simply emphasized social reformation and fairness.Although he wasn't sure in the early days of his life,note that Fela always knew he was differnt to everyone in his household thus the reason he fell easily into depression later in his life.His love for woman wasnt a secret,his music was sound designed from reality-the song 'Lady' was the soundtrack to every chapter of Fela's life.

Ironically,the lady(women)he adored so much became entwined with all his miseries and his manhood;I possed a question to why did he marry all 27 of them.Going back to globalisation,as a social scientist,I believe Fela was overwhelmed by it.His loyalty to bein an 'African' wasnt clearly justified by his surroundings,the Nigerian system didnt accomodate any Robin Hoods & Steve Biko's,thus they were shut away or killd 4eva.Fela disregarded all of this and his mother's death created more vulnerablity and loss-this further triggered his ignorance of his illness and the fact that he was distant from what was happening around him.Fela was a great image,I shed a tear in closure of Moore's work but I fear that his life continues unconsciouly in the lives of many of us,true Africans:we are 'shuffering and shmiling.
Review by Rothe Singo (Social Anthropology, MA, University of Western Cape.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Black on Both Decks


Celebrating Rhythm, originality and creativity by black musicians and the influences they've had in global music. As a dj, another task is to be a curator of culture, tracing the history of music is really tracing the history of a people, each vinyl         collected contains a history of its own. On the night in question we will travel from home into the diaspora, we will travel to Ethiopia, Mali, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, across the Mediterranean to Spain, Brazil, the Americas, the Caribbean, France, London, Berlin. and back home. all this in a melting pot that has become Braamfontein. Kitchener's, situated at the corner of Juta & De Beer.
This is the first annual event of its kind and the objective is to grow the brand every year as we discover more of our music spread across the unverse

BeJazzled


            
Every now and again i delve deep into my Jazz crates. checking original samples of records that
inspired some of my hip hop peers. Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gilepsie, the likes of Hebie hancock, Jack mcDuff and so forth. friday the 13th May was no different as we boogied down to Bebop, Hardbop, funkyjazz, even straight up avant garde with a twist of acid jazz in the mix.
Bejazzled is a mixtape i put together live @Bassline on a rainy afternoon after going through crates of my Jazz collection.
tracklisting:
1.Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders-Mura Sise
2.Charlie parker- tico tico
3.The Bamboos- the bamboos theme
4.The Lafayette afro rock band- Oglenon
5.Bobby Hughes experience- Sahara72
6.Tom Middleton &amp & Spanky Wilson-the sunshine
7.Manu Dibangu- Big blow
8. Brother Jack Mcduff- Obligetto
9.Milt Jackson- a sound for sore ears
10. James Brown- Fat Bag.
http://soundcloud.com/deejaymedicine/bejazzled-mixed-by-djmedicine

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

8 Habits of highly effective dj's[Habit #2]



Habit # 2: Increase your Record Collection, is on at Braamfontein Kitchener's,
tuesday,  26 April 2011 On this one we featured two of Jo'burg most notable
record collectors, Sellotapes and Nok. Mixtapes by djmedicine and Bubbles
will be available for free @ the door.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Dj Medicine presents: Phonography, the mixtape re-issue.

This mixtape was originally put out on the streets late 2009. 
It is out again by popular demand and this time it has an ad-
ded bonus track at the end of the mix, which is a 31minute 
interview of the late J Dilla.
tracklisting:
1.intro- djmedicine
2.History- MOs def feat. talib kweli
3.Put your records on & on -Erykah badu- (corrine bailey rae rmx)
4.Sex-god- brand new heavies- (dj spinna rmx)
5.Kiss of love- Sade- (dj anything rmx)
6.They don't really care about us- Michael Jackson
7. Don't fuss when you leave- Stephen Marley and Stevie Wonder
8.Melody- Blendcrafters feat. Mf Doom (instrumental)
9.They can't stop us now- Nas
10.Fall in love (rmx) -Slum Village
11.The revolution will not be televised- Gil Scott Heron
12. Solo drum- ?uestlove
13.Hey Mr dj- Zhane
14.Taste of funk- Mateo & Matos
15.Dance till dawn- Lenny kravits
16.Bus stop bitties- Rjd2
17.Rock Steady- Aretha Franklin
Bonus : J Dilla interview

Thursday, March 17, 2011

8 Habits of highly effective dj's

The 8 habits of highly effective Dj's is one with the thinking that Hip Hop, Funk, R&B, Neo-soul, Breaks, Dub, Afro-beat and Jazz form the core of any sound to be spun on the decks. This all-round ensemble offers a dj range and an understanding that music can be coherent with knowledge of tempo and style. The 1st offering of this 8 part series will kick off at Bassline on the 27th March 2011, where two notable dj's: Medicine & Bubbles will display the ethos behind a highly effective dj. The exhibition will also feature sounds of a Ska-gypsy-folk band, The Skabengas with Medicine & Bubbles playing a 1 on 1 set during the last 2hrs of the show.