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.

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!!!

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.

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.

Africa Fete celebrates 30 years as festival and promoter

Africa fete festival

For 30 years already, Africa Fete has been one of the motors of African music, through their annual festival in Dakar and different events in France. The founder, Mamadou Konte, died some time ago but had built a up a highly professional team that is pursuing his work. If you look a the festivals and releases of the past two years, it is clear that African music is having a particularly hard time. So the role of Africa Fete is all the more important in continuing to allow new African music to survive.

The 30th anniversary will feaure a combination of new and established acts, that include: les Amazones de Guinée, Fallyssa, Imhotep (IAM) appearing Didier Awadi, Duggy T and others as well as Omar Pene, Thione Seck, Alioune Mbaye Nder, Saintrick and other surprise guests, playing with the Africa Fête big band.

The festival is to be held on December 6 in Dakar. For details, visit Africa Fete.

Kenge Kenge sing for Obama

No matter who gets elected, the world will feel the impact of the next American president. So although politicians around the world are remaining very diplomatic, artists are coming out in support of Obama - particularly in Africa. Kenya’s Kenge Kenge have recorded one of the sweetest tracks a gentle tribute, which opens with a very laidback groove and then picks up. Neat. This track was featured on their European tour.

To buy the track, visit World Music Network.

MTV Africa announces award nominees

MTV Base has announced the nominees for their upcoming MAMA African music awards to be held in Abuja, Nigeria on November 22. The ten categories cover best male, female, live performer, alternative, Hip-Hop, artist of the year, new act and video. I strongly recmmend a visit to their site to get an overview of the current music scene across Africa. Although South African and Nigerian artists get the most nominations, tiny Gabon is in with a good chance through one of our favourites: Movaiz’Haleine. They are nominated in the best video category for the track “Nous” (Us) directed by John Gibbs. Check it out and then visit the other tracks at MTV Base.

Shantel Balkan grooves on tour in Europe

Shantel, the pioneer of Balkan dancefloor grooves, is touring Europe between October and January. The former DJ combines Balkan and Turkish music with dance grooves, creating a sound which is pretty much irresistible. His music offers a bold, colourful challenge to the wall-to-wall House/Lounge sounds of most clubs, provoking hysteria in more than one venue. He will be touring with an 8-piece band. Check out the album “Disko Partizani” and click through for the full tour dates.

Palestinian Hip-Hop screens at Ghent film fest

The Ghent Film festival is screening “Sling Shot Hip Hop”, a film that follows Palestinian rappers as they try to travel through Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. The film screens on October 8, 10 and 11.  The groups are DAM from the West Bank and PR from Gaza, who try to get to meet their counterparts. The film offers yet another view of Hip-Hop as a vehicle for political thought and aspirations, offering a voice to people that are very rarely heard. Click through for details.

Global Hip-Hop to be featured at CMJ

The College Music Journal Marathon (CMJ) is New York’s largest music, film and media conference and will host hundreds of live performances, films, lectures and networking events. This year’s CMJ INTERNATIONAL HIP-HOP THROW-DOWN will unite the talents of a creative and diverse group of lyricists and DJs from Africa, Korea, Canada, and Europe at club DROM, located at 85 Ave A in New York’s East Village on Thursday October 23rd 2008. The event will begin at 8 PM and will last until 3 AM and will feature live international hip-hop music and DJs spinning music.

The show feature a handful of rising stars including Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Drunken Tiger (Korea), King Reign (Canada), Empire Isis (Canada), Chachi (Cape Verde) and Too Many Fish (France). DJs Boo and Soulscape from Korea will be on the turntables. V.J Kwon from Korea will set the tone and visuals for the night. There will also be an all French Hip Hop showcase at Hiro Ballroom on Friday, October 24th featuring La Caution, Mangu and Wax Tailor.

Check out Blitz on MySpace.

“Many Lessons” looks at Islam and Hip-Hop in West Africa

The German label Piranha takes a look at Hip-Hop and Islam on the compilation “Many Lessons”, recently released in Europe. Islam is a strong influence across West Africa, despite the fact that most countries are secular by nature. This selection of tracks looks at how Islam is incorporated into the buoyant Hip-Hop scene, which is one of young Africa’s ways of getting itself heard. The artists include General Snipe, Keur Gui, Dread Skeezo and Sister Fa. Click through for the full track list.