031
The New Year sees Durban set to 2000-and-Shine. Last year ended on various strong notes and the continued success of the Stone City scene seems evident with a number of new initiatives and the sustained strength of established events. Heads continue to be motivated by the summertime recharge and the transition from the holiday happenings to the business of another year has been smooth and excited.
The city club circuit welcomed the addition of two new nights of regular dance-floor action with a return to BURN Hip Hop Wednesday nights hosted by PAULO DA BRUZA and crew upstairs at the popular Stamfordhill venue. Joining the Morningside movement is the increasingly popular MIXED BAG Thursday evenings at new Florida Rd venue ZENZI bar. Hosted by longtime 031 MC/Beat-writer/head KING B (Illuminating Shadows, The Physiologists, Big Idea, The Hypermen) the nights promise a quality swing from underground classics to instrumental favourites to Drum and Bass, a complete mixed bag, as promised. On the down low though the streets are saying watch out for the highly anticipated instrumental album from this 031 veteran, pushing beyond the boombap into the realm of pure quality listening. People are excited, no lie.
On the subject of veterans, WK? Crew and associates continue to decorate the cityscape with some professional masterpiecing, guaranteeing world-class aerosol artwork in a city that continues to associate spraypaint with criminals and Graffiti with the ghetto. On the other hand, the attitude WHYNOT? still prevails and the Durban Graf Writing scene remains as balanced as ever.
Coming from the days of little to no activity it is a pleasure to note the growth of two regular events on the local calendar. The December launch of www.lifecheckydi.com takes LIFE CHECK beyond the boundaries of The Bat Centre once again and allows heads around the country to stay down with the East Coast shine. Check the site for a short perspective on new 7-piece live act T.H.O.T.S. fronted by another respected name in the eThekwini game RAHEEM (remember the Childosylenz? If you don’ know start acting quick). This was the group responsible for bringing some beautiful noise to the final Life Check of 2008, proving that live hip hop should be more than just beats and lyrics, it should be about music in its entirety. Listen out for this truly inspirational collective.
REWIND SOCIETY and founder DJ KARABO deserve special mention for bringing a touch of class to the culture while still keeping it as real as ever at VESTIGE (cnr Musgrave and St Thomas). This event continues to match the swagger and style of the SA new school.
After the street success of THE BRAINSTORM hardworking hustlers WREKKED ENTERTAINMENT promise some fresh releases early on in 2000-and-Grind.
Final individual mention goes to B-Boy BIZZO for bringing the Break back to the Durban dance scene with his one on one battle mission. There won’t be any stoppin’ the Poison City bodyrockin’ with heads like these. 031 still ain’t nuthin’ ta ufck with. Happy New Year.