RIP: Leon Botha aka Solarize

African DJ and artist Leon Botha has died in South Africa. Botha was better known as Solarize, for his work with Die Antwoord. He appeared in “Enter the Ninja” and acted as Die Antwoord’s warm-up DJ in concert. What was less known is that Both was a qualified artist with several shows behind him. Sadly, he was also the oldest living sufferer of the rare progeria condition, which accelerates ageing in the body. He died in Cape Town just after his 26th birthday. Visit Botha’s amazing Flickr stream.

Manou Gallo to tour with Bernard Maseli

Ivory Coast sensation Manou Gallo will be on tour to celebrate the 10th year of Polish jazz vibraphone player Bernard Maseli throughout April 2011.

Gallo, a highly-rated bassist and percussionist, released “Dida” and “Lowlin” on the IglooMondo label. More details are available  on the IglooMondo site. Click through for the Polish tour dates.

Malian Hip Hop prodigy for the 1st time in the US

Amkoullel

Invited by various universities and students organisations committed to education and social change through Hip Hop, AMKOULLEL will be doing workshops, panels and performances with his multi-instrumentalist musician playing Ngoni and Talking Drums. He will also play in various NY and LA clubs… the buzz is growing fast!!

Die Antwoord to tour North America

Outrageous South African hip-hoppers Die Antwoord (The Answer) have announced the dates of their upcoming North American tour. Starting on October 12 2010 they will play at Vancouver, before touring the West Coast and then switching coasts until a last date in New Orleans on October 30. Expect mayhem and broken beats, no subtitles!

The concerts tie in with the release of their new album “$O$”. Click through for the full dates.

Ojos de Brujo

Serbian rapper Sin changes name

Canada-based Serbian rapper Sin is now using his real name Filip Filipi to coincide with the release of a new mixtape. “I feel the change is appropriate as I enter a more musically mature and genuine chapter of my career. I’m extremely satisfied and proud of the 10 mixtapes I’ve released as Sin over the last 4 years which include the Sizzerb and Rane trilogies as well as The Supreme Poet and Vijetnam,” he says. Click through to hear his new mixtape

Kafa Beanz release East African Hip Hop

Get the futuristic blend of hip-hop, soul, and Ethio jazz by hip hop legend Burntface, Grammny-nominated Wayna, female rap phenomenon B Sheba, AP, Gabriel Teodros and more! Andromeda: Chronicles of Blackopia Vol 1 is available!!!

King Sunny Ade inducted into Afropop Hall of Fame

Although he has slipped from the spotlight slightly of late, King Sunny Adé remains one of Africa’s most respected (and enjoyable) musicians. A master musician and bandmaster, Adé is the king of Juju music and follows Youssou N’Dour, Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo and Thomas Mapfumo in receiving the award (even though he preceded them all musically) and was recently inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame. Watching the video, I wish he was playing Europe this summer. Click through for the video.

Checkpoint 303 in Rome and Venice

Palestinian/Tunisian/French electro outfit Checkpoint 303 will be appearing (for free) in Rome on Sunday May 31 as part of the “Finding Palestine” event, featuring traditional and contemporary arts. They will also be appearing at the Venice Biennale. Click “read more” for further details.

Conneticut to host int’l Hip-Hop gathering

Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. will host the 4th annual Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival, the first and largest international hip-hop festival in the US, on April 3rd and 4th, 2009. This year, the event is headlined by K’naan, the rising star in international hip-hop. The Somali MC spent the last 2 years touring with Damian and Stephen Marley. His vividly spoken images of war-torn Somalia and fierce criticism of American gangster rap has garnered him appearances on BET, MTV and collaborations with Mos Def and M1 of dead prez. K’naan signed with A&M/Octone in 2008 and released Troubadour in February 2009.

Rokia Traore: Dounia

Rokia Traore provides another superb track in “Dounia”, with a clip that is as elegant, refined and intriguing as her music. She recently won a César award in France for the album “Tchamanche” and has a date in Paris in May. Click through for other dates and to see the clip of “Dounia”:

Checkpoint 303 in Paris and Angers

The Palestinian/French/Tunisian electro collective will be appearing at the Générale en Manufacture in Paris on February 2:

They will then appear at the Chabada in Angers the following day, February 3. Click through for details.

Electronic mayhem in 3 parts

Slam and Hip-Hop sessions in Brussels

Brussels is getting ready for three days of slam and hip-hop. The “Sessions Ubraines” will feature a presentation of the new book “Souterrain 95-08 Bxl”, the first of its kind about the Belgian scene. There’s an extensive panel of guests from noted journalists to rappers Defi J, Lady N and others. Date December 17 at the Mason du livre.

Over at the Botanique on December 18, a rap session will bring together AB7, Mari’M, Invaderdz, Sismik, Maky, Gandhi & D’Johnny Six, Stan et Yassin, Za and L’Huissier.

The last night, the 19th, will see urban lyricists and slam artists battling it out. The organisers have done this several times already, and it’s usually worth checking out. Guests include Be-Lion Vagabond, Maky, Veence Hanao, Dynamic & B-Flow, Mochelan, Posa (from RCS), Verbal, Leawsane, Rézie , BD Banx, Maïa Chauvier, Stan (Les Autres), Manza. The night will finish with the incredible award-winning Baloji (check the album “Hotel Impala”).

For the full details, visit: Lezarts Urbains.

Fanfare Ciocarlia announce January/February Australian and Euro tour dates

Romania’s impressive Fanfare Ciocarlia has announced a series of Australian and European dates in January and February. Zece Prajini is a village of just four hundred souls and home to the twelve Romany Gypsy musicians who make up the Fanfare Ciocarlia brass ensemble. The rugged, secluded hills have been echoing to the sounds of brass band music since the Turkish military bands marched in with the Ottoman occupation at the beginning of the 19th century. In addition to still being the most in-demand band for local weddings, funerals and other occasions, they have in the last years been touring around the world, a story well-documented in the must-see film by German director Ralf Marschalleck: “Iag Bari - Brass on Fire”.

Click through for the dates.