36 replies to this topic

[Black Noise]

Just completed a solo album and ready to put these suggestions that i shared with you guys into effect again.

I read in the newspaper last week tat PROKID is selling his album outside the clibds in JHB. Thats the way you get the product out to the masses. ts the only way to get results. You have to take your future into into your own hands. Most MCs think that is the stock is in the store that they should sit back and wait for the money come flowing in in buckets ... mmmm I have bad news, unless you are the darling of the media and you get more marketing in South African media than international artists ... not much of that product moves off the shelves without you doing some work to move it.

I have heard from so many artists how the marketing of the labels are so pathetic. SO, the only way to make that money from your ceativity. Its also more interesting when the audience can buy the products and still get to speak to you as well as get that autograph. We do not have a national tour circuit and if we had, more artists would realise that they can make so much more money when they are in the communities and the people realy like them, but many times tey find it difficult to get the products from the usicas etc. This is a huge problem in our country. We need to look at the reality of how people go shopping for fod mostly and the younger ones go with a specific mission, but have to add the cost of travel to get to your CD in store that has so much more products that will compete with local when the prices are too close. So PROs idea of getting that product to the masses like a pusher, is exactlywhat more people need to do. Gumshev have performed at the cape festival and got them amazing kwaito performance across to the masses that were in the Gardens. They also have 15 schools exposed to them during the time they were in the ity. Truth is that this is lacking nationally. People want to see who tey see on TV in their towns, but when have the big rap groups in South Africa toured the whole country to market anything??? Thats what we need to do to expand the hip hop audience and belief in the artist by the peoples who support, but live in small towns throughout South Africa. remember that they are your livelyhood and its becase of them that you are in the lime-light, so give back by coming out to be with them and show that you apprecate their support and in the same way create new fans in places that are considered too small by South Africas corporates.

Until next time
peace

[Black Noise]

Just completed a solo album and ready to put these suggestions that I shared with you guys into effect again.

I read in the newspaper last week that PROKID is selling his album outside the clubs in JHB. Thats the way you get the product out to the masses. Its the only way to get results. You have to take your future into into your own hands. Most MCs think that if the stock is in the stores that they should sit back and wait for the money come flowing in, in buckets ... mmmm I have bad news, unless you are the darling of the media and you get more marketing in South African media than international artists do ... not much of that product moves off the shelves without you doing some work to move it.

I have heard from so many artists how the marketing of the labels are so pathetic. SO, the only way to make that money from your ceativity is to be in the public eye 24/7. Its also more interesting when the audience can buy the products and still get to speak to you as well as get that autograph. We do not have a national tour circuit and if we had, more artists would realise that they can make so much more money when they are in the communities and the people really like them, but many times they find it difficult to get the products from the Musicas etc. This is a huge problem in our country. We need to look at the reality of how people go shopping for food first and foremostly and how the younger ones go with a specific mission, but have to add the cost of travel to get to your CD in store that has so much more products that will compete with local, when the prices are too close. So PROs idea of getting that product to the masses like a pusher, is exactly what more people need to do. Gumshev have performed at the Cape Festival and have an amazing kwaito performance that they put across to the masses that were in the Gardens. They also had 45 schools exposed to them during the time they were in the City. Truth is that this is lacking nationally. People want to see who they see on TV in their towns, but when have the big rap groups in South Africa toured the whole country to market anything??? Thats what we need to do to expand the hip hop audience and belief in the artist, by the peoples who support, but live in small towns throughout South Africa. Remember that they are your livelihood and its because of them that you are in the lime-light, so give back by coming out to be with them and show that you apprecate their support and in the same way create new fans in places that are considered too small by South Africas corporates.

Until next time
peace

[kaydee]

@ Blacknoise
God bless your fingers!

[Black Noise]

Free Videos teaching yBreakdance Basics, just send your postal address

Peace All

I see the need for those who know to teach those who want to know and have thus decided to expand the participants in B-Boying / B-Girling throughout Africa by offering these free Breakdance Basic videos. I will post to each area that applies for the free video tape. I will also cover the cost of posting it to you. Its my way of putting back into the culture in the hope that it grows even more. I host Batle of the year South Africa and ave noticing that many dancers are not teaching the next generation, so we have to pass on the information in this way. It is my hope that African Hip Hop Indaba will include crews from the rest of Africa as well in the near future.

All you have to do is send me your contact details. Name and Address will be needed to post this to you. Those interested in South Africa I will send afew more OK, but send me your postal address ASAP. You can also mail me direct at emiley@mweb.co.za or place it on his site and I will send it to you. We have 20, so send your info immediately.

Peace
Emile YX?

[Black Noise]

Hello All

If you ave read many of what I have said on this topic, you will find that I have attended many meetings with people that know abou this topic, whereas I have also read a great deal of information from books. Right their is the huge problem... Most of the hip hop community does not read enough, so it makes sense that this information is held away from the masses of people so that they can continue to oppress the ignorant MCs or singers.

I see that many MCs are up on the internet spreading their details, songs and other information to market themselves. It will help to find links the sites that give information about self-management, marketing of your product, etc... I have decided to do that type of search too and read more from what the net has to offer

Check out this book at amazon.com This Business of Artist management
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:d- ... d=11&gl=za

Management Agencies in South Africa
http://www.1212.com/...south/home.html

Peak Performance - South Africa
http://www.peakperformances.co.za/

I got these from just typing in Artist Management in South Africa. You can also try and get a copy of th book THE SCORE, which has all the record labels number, media numbers for self marketing, venues that host live performances, where to gt your CD pressed, who does distribution, managements, event cooridnations, festivals etc ... You can call Alex at 021 4220312. You see you have to read as much as you can to get the nformation you need. It is out their it is also about making the first call and then all the others come easy.Their is no harm in asking for help and you can only learn from asking for hel from ohers who have the information you are seeking. In the same way that we see most MCs just getting their work out to the masses on the net ... which is cool ... but how serious are you really about geting your work out to all the people. If this is just a hobby for most people then that is cool, but if youwant to make a living from your art, YOU MUST READ as much as you can to get all the information you. You must also realise that you areneer too old to learn and that you always have to be open to new information and opportunities that you might do for free at first and then one you have done the first few things for free and people see that you are really as good as you said you are, they might take on management of you crew or you as an individual ... it is however important to not sit back and have them do everything for you, because no one knows what you want more than what you do, so you have to be active in directing them to what your goals are and also keep them on their feet as to your real agenda. This also makes them feel that you are eager and worth helping because you are so active and ineterested in your future and that helps them focus on you more than others in their management stable because you are around all the time with ideas and I dont mean just be around and pester people cause that I cause them to drop you or get tired of your insistant pestering them with "Do you have anythig for me yet?" Rather come with ... I have calld these people and they are interested in a gig or deal or intervor show that you made an effort and if they dont push you will do things on your own ... so they feel they have to prov themselves to you and not you o the any longer. It also puts them on their toes. Never make them feel that you are dependent on them. They must feel that you are independent and they have to proof themselves to you.

Good luck and keep reading
Emile

[Black Noise]

Hello All

If you ave read many of what I have said on this topic, you will find that I have attended many meetings with people that know abou this topic, whereas I have also read a great deal of information from books. Right their is the huge problem... Most of the hip hop community does not read enough, so it makes sense that this information is held away from the masses of people so that they can continue to oppress the ignorant MCs or singers.

I see that many MCs are up on the internet spreading their details, songs and other information to market themselves. It will help to find links the sites that give information about self-management, marketing of your product, etc... I have decided to do that type of search too and read more from what the net has to offer

Check out this book at amazon.com This Business of Artist management
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:d- ... d=11&gl=za

Management Agencies in South Africa
http://www.1212.com/...south/home.html

Peak Performance - South Africa
http://www.peakperformances.co.za/

I got these from just typing in Artist Management in South Africa. You can also try and get a copy of th book THE SCORE, which has all the record labels number, media numbers for self marketing, venues that host live performances, where to gt your CD pressed, who does distribution, managements, event cooridnations, festivals etc ... You can call Alex at 021 4220312. You see you have to read as much as you can to get the nformation you need. It is out their it is also about making the first call and then all the others come easy.Their is no harm in asking for help and you can only learn from asking for hel from ohers who have the information you are seeking. In the same way that we see most MCs just getting their work out to the masses on the net ... which is cool ... but how serious are you really about geting your work out to all the people. If this is just a hobby for most people then that is cool, but if youwant to make a living from your art, YOU MUST READ as much as you can to get all the information you. You must also realise that you areneer too old to learn and that you always have to be open to new information and opportunities that you might do for free at first and then one you have done the first few things for free and people see that you are really as good as you said you are, they might take on management of you crew or you as an individual ... it is however important to not sit back and have them do everything for you, because no one knows what you want more than what you do, so you have to be active in directing them to what your goals are and also keep them on their feet as to your real agenda. This also makes them feel that you are eager and worth helping because you are so active and ineterested in your future and that helps them focus on you more than others in their management stable because you are around all the time with ideas and I dont mean just be around and pester people cause that I cause them to drop you or get tired of your insistant pestering them with "Do you have anythig for me yet?" Rather come with ... I have calld these people and they are interested in a gig or deal or intervor show that you made an effort and if they dont push you will do things on your own ... so they feel they have to prov themselves to you and not you o the any longer. It also puts them on their toes. Never make them feel that you are dependent on them. They must feel that you are independent and they have to proof themselves to you.

Good luck and keep reading
Emile

[Black Noise]

Peace My Brothers and Sisters

Its been a while since I wrote on this forum. You often hear that Hip Hop is a game and if you are interested in geting a deal from the status quo ... then yes, hip hop is a game. many people that are the most revolutionary have chosen to play the game offered to them in the form of a deal. Hip Hop so-called revolutionary artists that release CDs through their structures are doing just that. To get your words out in all their shops, their network that they own and encourage to sell their version of this world, THEY ARE PLAYING A GAME ON OUR MINDS. That right there enriches the very enemy that these revolutionary rappers are talking about. How is that liberating the masses, who mostly are white kids with access to money to purchase these products. Another world exists that extends beyond the universities and colleges that have students buying "conscious rap" and do studies in the content of these revolutionary MCs. the world that is supposed to be the one that these artist are talking to about rising up. What a contradiction. I find that in South African revolutionary underground deep hip hop too ... you find MCs talking about how deep their rhymes are and yet tey on;y perform in front of tourists in the city centre and then they are the frst to say how their words impact on the mids of the masses. Which masses are they talking about? You see, I find it contradictory to hear a revolutionary MC rap within the structure about being a liberator of minds... whose minds and how is that benefiting the masses of people when these words do not extend beyond just being words.

I often here people talk about how Cape Town Hip Hop is so real and so deep and that it impacts on the political situation ... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING ... We have never impacted on the political scene in Cape Town, if we did , do you think that "tik" would be so big here? We speak revolution, but our actions as a collective are yet to get a bit of a reaction from parliament, because as far as they are concerned, we are just confused youth that are rebelling before we settle down and get a real job. We are yet to make real our words in South Africa as a hip hop community. When we et to put our words into action and stop trying to ge the next deal or the next fancy car or just impress our handful of friends that we think is the whole world. Then will we open our eyes to the reality of what is out here controlling this matrix that we skim the surface of. You see my brothers and sisters, until we make the smallest of inroads to change the "WAY THINGS ARE", we are nothing more than a marginalised subculture to them that has no impact on them. Unless we demand change through marches and pickets and rebellion, we will not be a threat. We need to be the voice that we claim we truly are here in the little USA of Africa. South Africa has become the way in for all these multinational companies to re-enslave the African majority. Selling us their version of success and making it look cool to have what we deserved all along. You see rappers in all these soft drink, clothing, car, food commercials and sounding American etc and then you say shit like, we are just paying the bills ... when in truth we are endorsing their revolution against our freedom. I am guilty of this too and wonder how we will change this from the inside out ... OR is it just to go cold turkey and say F%&k them and create our own. Truth be told that the more we invite them in, the more they push us out and stop Africa from really being liberated. We are so hungry that we will kill our most revolutionary of leaders for the smallest fee here in Africa and the masses will never know who paid for the hit. That is revolution ... knowing that they are willing to kill you and still saying what needs to be said. Most of our so-called hardcore rappers are lying about being revolutionary because they are changing nothing ... thems just bluffing ...

Whats your thoughts???? How do we create our own free distribution and get the word out that will change Africa and leave Africans in control ...

We are a WAR!!!!! Dont believe their hype?
Emile YX?

[kast1]

man, i never tire reading your posts... they are filled with so much knowledge, and i am saddened because i dont think many people take the time to actually read your ideas and opinions, which address the most vital topics regarding hiphop, as well as human nature... although, there are some aspects i dont quite feel are correct esspecially in my case... i sometimes get the feeling/vibe call it what you want, that you have slight racist views, im not here to argue, im only voicing my opinion based on what i read and esspecially what i hear,( i have bought every blacknoise album). yes i am white. but i a genuine love for african hiphop, more specifically south african hiphop, and before you say i was able to buy your albums cause i had the money to, for the fact i am white, because that is not the case. i have had to work EXTREMELY hard for my funds where 90% goes into buying music, because i strongly disagree with downloading music off the net for free... it goes against the cause of the artist, and is basically stealing the food when they have hardly enough to eat, which is usually the case with african hiphop artists... but you see, i was born in africa, though i am white of colour, i consider myself african... many people believe you are what your ancestors are, and i know you do, through listening to your music... but mindset is that i am me, i might have come into existence through my ancestors, but that is as far as it goes, i strongly disagree with some of my ancestors did(the apartheid era) but "I" am not ashamed, for i had nothing to do with it, and to pass on the flaws of my ancestors onto me because we share the same blood is not only irrational, but hypocrictal if you are a true hiphop head, because hiphop as a culture inspires and supports originality, and thats what i am, i am myslef, not anything else, i have my own views and thoughts on the world... i have strongly supported south african hiphop, and i will continue to...

its all love

peace

[Black Noise]

Peace My Brother

It is ironic that you mail me this mail today as I have just returned from the Project Breaking Launch that is set up to confront the racism in Cape Town. We invited a great deal of people from the hip hop community to attend and we had many young people from the Cape Flats and only one white guy. Many of the youth asked why white South Africans don't seem to be interested in reconciliation or dealing with the issue of racial priviledge thanks to the history of this country and the world. I would have loved to have more brothers and sisters from the so-called white community attend the event to answer this question and even suggest ways to get more interaction happening.

You see, my brother, because of our past we have racist perspectives of each other and without even realising it, we have benefitted from the history of colonialism. I know that you love Africa and want to see change come about, but you have to understand that it demands participation from all of us and an inderstanding of our benefit from history. Being white implies that in history your family benefited from the exploitation of the local. Even being so-called coloured brought a bit less oppression because of being half whie and we have to accept that and find ways to address our benefit form the exploitation of the locals. Even the Xhosa exploited the San in this region. This land belonged to them, but if you listen to the names today, you will guess that they were never here. You see we all are living as a result of what as gone before and thus we can not make statements like its not me , it was my ancestors. We have to take the responsibility of our benefiting from what has gone before, the mental turmoil that that past has caused to others in South Africa and our role in reversing that by participating in changing it. Recently on Mnet they had the story of Brett Goldberg being kiled here by the hands of kids from the Cape Flats. hey again painted us all with one brush and their - a jewish white story was told ... from their perspective and that was not seen as racist. You see , eve today we have to look at images of us being white versions of who we are. The SOn , the Voice, The Argus paint a picture of us and we are faced with that racist view of who we are and THATS OK, But when someone says something wrong about Jews or the European community, they have the means to retaliate with the media that they own and control. You see that is not seen as racist. when they show so-called coloureds as gangsters and klpose on every damn show on SABC ... thats OK, because they control that perspective and its not racist. But when you speak of the racist ways of white people as a collective ... thats immediately retaliated against because its too general. BUT, when I walk in a shop and they follow me because they see all who look like me as a gangster or thief, then thats OK and we should just take it as it is. When they play only Booty Shaking Rap on their TV and on their radio or show us as the bad guys ... thats OK ... because we cant change that ... they own the media. Irrespective of the FACT that most of the murders on the planet through colonialization, the conquestadors, crusades, World War 1 & WW2, Iraq, Afganistan, etc were the acts of the white minority on the locals, as well as the mental deterioration of African peoples to hate self , so they kill who look like them and thus the destruction of African countries by tyrants who were educated by the same European forces to do as they did and oppress their own once the oppressors gave them so-called liberation. With all of this you would think that the world would be more affraid of white people than blacks, who continue to be painted in a negative light in the media globaly.

So you see, understanding that is important to young white brothers and sisters to see the world through our eyes and why you have to engage in these discussion in our beloved South Africa to bring a new perspective and to really create SOUTH AFRICANS that look beyond colour. I really do try to speak without reffering to race, but if the truth is that white people were the cause of the sufferng, I am not going to speak abstractly. We all have to face up to our contributions to racism and fighting racism in order to heal. I hope that you realise that many of us speak in these terms because it is what we know right now and who feels offended still see them as that race ... many of us have moved beyond that classification to see ourselves as HUMAN - INDIVIDUAL - SOUTH AFRICAN - and not only that race or a race and I hope that you are able to take the actions to let your deeds exclude you from being a race or a part of that history and to a new status of HUMAN & SOUTH AFRICAN by your actions and contributionsto bring about change. We all need to work together in order to really change the legacy of Apartheid. I hope that you could look beyond the label and assist in the change that is needed. Hip Hop is just an extention of what society is all about. We can lie to ourselves that it is not racist, but it is. White record companies pimp artists and take 90% of their cash, that racist, radio stations only play commercial shit that sells products and make our sisters look like hos, thats raicts, they show idiots from our communities selling our communities short as gangster rappers, thats racists ... so hip hop is a reflection of what is happening in the real world. Its a racist world that only plays USA white minority movies in a country where the people are all mostly black ... thats racist, but you see were taught to not see that. If you close your eyes and picture the world, picture each continent and ask what color people are and you will find that whites are the minority on the planet, but if you wach TV and Movies and Newspaper and CNN and BBC, you will never say that whites are a minority. That is done with racist intention to control perception in the same way that white is seen a s good and black is seen as bad.

So you see my brother, the long walk to freedom is much longer than was painted by Tata Madiba. We all have to take that long walk of discovery and examine the truth that are hidden behind the lies of capitalist intention that unfortunately for you my brother is giving white people and really bad name. You have to be standing up against those who misrepresent you and other who look like you and tell them to stop their shit and not speak on your behalf. Its a racist world that uses race to divide and conquer the masses of people, so we MUST address issues of race and interact and talk and find solutions collectively. PARTICIPATE, THATS REALLY WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT ... GET INVOLVED AND MAKE REAL THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE..

Anyway, enough for now. I hope you will join us in our quest to address the issue of race ... Ironically after we left the venue 6 white cops arrested the co-ordinator of the venue Mandy, for "interfering" in a booking of a taxi driver who was double parking outside District 6 Homecoming Centre. I was so pissed off at this white woman who seemed to be convinced that she was right just because of the uniform, but you see its also about the hstory of race and of power and respect and being a woman and being an asshole and personality and just taking herself too serious as a female cop in a male world and a million other bullshit that went with what happened when Mandy asked her why she was writing the taxi driver a fine ... Im sure that if Mandy was white, her reaction would not be the same???? Damn! we have long way to go

Peace
Emile YX?

[kast1]

i hear what you saying, and alot of it i can relate to, you most likely wont remember, but about 4 or 5 years ago i ordered a breakdance tape and blacknoise top from you... haha, you can not imagine how much work i had to do to get the money, but, i didnt see it like that, you know when you have a passion for something, whatever you spend on that "passion" seems like money well spent... i remember watching that bboy tape till it bugged out, and broke... i lived in a town, where hiphop was near non existent, i started off my bboy interest from there, i was already graffing, and i just started writing lyrics... me and a few friends,( we were all of different race black, coloured, indian, white, ect) started a bboy session/class... we started off with just 8 of us, but eventually we got about 50 people coming twice a week, the main reason was for bboying, but eventually we started having mc sessions, man, what im saying is, regardless of colour, we all came together for the love of hiphop, and thats saying alot for a south african town... we started doing shows, at local schools, churchs, shops... we came together for benches(graff sessions) painted every bridge in town!!! we all put in like R3 every session, to pay for the hall we used to practice in... we even used the money to get a cd player... i remember, through some coincidental occurances, we met up with "mak1one" the well know CT graff artist, as well as faith, we were shocked they had come to a small town like ours, i remember a bunch of us went painting with them, we learnt so much, when they left we were all so inspired... we put in all the money we had, and bought cans... only a few of us chilled with maks, but when we showed his pieces he drew in our sketch books to our friends, it was crazy that just a sketch could inspire almost everyone who saw it... what im trying to say is, i know what you mean when you say we must try and make a difference, i like to think we did, for as small a 50 people is, it was incredible for such a small town... and i dont even want to touch on the race side of it, but to get together with all this people made me love hiphop for what it is, not the music, not the bboying or mcing, but for the culture, all those elements combined as one!!! though i have moved due to certain circumstances, i know that every sat everyone still meets up at the library, and when ever i go to visit, i have the best of times... we started it off, so long ago, and its amazing to see its till going... i remember reading on one of your black noise posters, "start your own heal the hood community"... well we did... and im glad i was apart of it.. i know this sounds so insignificant and to be honest it is, i wish i could be a part of the things you guys have down, like the indaba, but im proud of what we achieved!!

eh, im babbling, i must go, im already late for work...

peace fam...

[Black Noise]

Thats what we need to remember ultimately. We need to remember that we are family and family have each others best interest at heart.

Power to you for reaching out and making this conversation a reality. I hope that you keep in touch and that we can continue to make things happen for our community in the future.

Thanks
Emile

[Black Noise]

Im off on tour again. I have read that a great deal of MCs are releasing their product internationally. Thats great! You need to get people hearing and listening to what you have to say. I gave one of my tracks to Afro-lution and that release opened so many doors for others who were interested in what I had to say and it has been included in studies and documentaries and many more ways of getting the word out to the world.

You see, my brothers and sisters. You have to remember that it is a new dawn and that you have to sacrifice control at first, so that you can create awareness of who you are and what you are doing. You also have to remember that people do not know who you are and if you are independent, they have even less of a clue that you exist in a world where these signed artists release products each year and have all the media backing that you will never have if you are speaking the truth. Once you know that, you should get your words out to the masses and even look at creating an ongoing relationship with the person releasing you song and ask if you could tour the country where the release is happening and find ways to raise the money yourself to go and promote that Cd they released and draw attention specifically to your track. Now most MCs have a plus in that they are good MCs and that is the main thing that they do, so they will have advantage with this. In my case I go and take full show ... which needs more than the skills of a modern day current MC. I bring a show that will kick the ass of any other performance that is on the bill and inevitably they will invite you back again and again.

Now just imagine you do the very same thing in South Africa. get to promote your song in each town through people you kow who can play it on radio stations and have others listen to what you have to say and how you say it. Now think that its cheaper than travelling to the other side of the world. Save your money and do launches in other provinces and get people to listen to what you have to say. If radio will not play it ... Put it out their and give it away if you have to get peoples attention. thats what they do in the States to get people to listen to their shit. Thats how many artist break into the scen nd thats what we need more of here. Shows where people will come from around the country and dont tell me about it being expensive to travel and all that excuses ... the time for excuses are over Stop buying beer at others gigs that you get in for free at and stop buying airtime and stop wasting your cash on stupid shit or buying the latest mag to see who got on the CD ... to hell with that ... take your money and make t work for you.

If you believe in yourself and what you have to say and what you putting out for the people to learn from or just listen to and enjoy, then others will believe in you too. Too many MCs do not really believe in their abilityto invest in it themselves, so who the hell will invest in it if you do not???? Think about that ... you must firstly show confidence in your own shit before others will and you must believe enough to convince others to invest in it ... People talk crap about all these signed artists in SA at the moment and I find it ironic that they do not see that these guys work hard and they also made the first steps to get heard and do the work to market what they have to say. It does not matter what their level of rhyming or content is. The trut be that they are willing to make that sacrifice and they believe in themselves more than most of these so-called hardcore underground MCs. That is true revolution ... I am not talking about signing a deal witht he devil , no, I am talking about you living that knowledge of self you keep talking about. Im talking about you making those sacrifices and facing your insecurities and taking the step that will seperate you from the millions of MCs that wih they did ... To hell with fitting in and singing along with the many ... be YOUR OWN MAN OR WOMAN and live your words ... Make your words REAL. Success will only come to those willing to do the work.

Peace Until next time ...
Leave your rhymes at home and bring your deeds to the battle ...
Emile YX?
http://www.emileyx.co.za

[Black Noise]

Emile here trying to get some MCs interested in contributing a track dealing with racism or race related rhymes to Project Breaking
PROJECT BREAKING
Introduction of the Project and its intention:-
- to become the equal and opposite force that slows and stops this racist legacy of Apartheid & colonialism
- to break the divide by physically moving people to each others communities
- to address the issue of racial tension in the western cape
- to record a theme song and music video to unite our youth/ future
- to pre-empt the racial war that is brewing in our township, already obvious by the Somalian killings
- to address Xenophobia and economic inequalities
- to encourage interaction, discussion and taking action between all peoples
- to release RAPSS Volume 2
- to have a newsletter/ newspaper
- to develop new artistic skills in the communities

- Discussion about:-
- what the youth and hip hop community would like to see happen
- the racial tension in the Western Cape and South Africa.
- governments usage of Apartheid language
- physical divide of apartheid remains
- apathy about each other perpetuates racism
- who really controls the finance and uses race to keep us divided
- race and religion used to spark genocide
- their media control thats used to keep the masses divided

We are asking MCs to contribute an ANTI -RACISM TRACK or related track. All text will be put into a booklet in the form of R.A.P.S.S Volume 2. We will be doing short recordings with MCs from Cape Town for the DVD and others from around the Country can send their footage along explaining their feelings about racism in South AFrica as well as info about the song they are contributing to the projects CD & DVD release. All CDs, DVDs and Books will be placed in the libraries and schools around the Western Cape that are interested in stocking them. I just launched my own CD RAPSS and Hip Hop How to DVD with stocking libraries and scholos for free. Interested MCs can send tracks to emiley@mweb.co.za or emileyx@hotmail.com Please mail the rhyme text to the same email addresses. Any language with translation into English of the text will be cool. If you are in Cape Town and cant record footage of yourself call me at 0217060481 and 0823958125. Post the Video footage of your interview and make sure to include images of the communitis that you live in to:-

PROJECT BREAKING
P.O.Box 31184
Grassy Park 7888
Cape Town 8000
South African

Peace
Emile YX?

[Black Noise]

Taking Responsibility for our own futures

I know its been a while. As many of you know that I have been doing B-Boy events for a long time and recently hosted an event that made me question my reason for spreading the dnace and making these possibilities available to youth. It also made me hear the true raw hate that we feel towards each other when one creates and others envy that ability. We had participants that wanted to win irrespective of the judges decision and that was strange, because the exact ruling placed them in the final the previous year. It was also a force of the crowd that they brought along that made everything seem so sad that we feel that to win is more important than doing our best.

It was alos ironic that these same people participate in other competitions where the judges are white and their silence and respect shown to these people are so contradictory to what they showed the elders from their own community. Apartheid did a real good job. I was amazed at what I felt that I had played a role in creating and the influence that these older guys will have on the next generations respect for their elders. That all said ... my point was th responsibility to know that I am not good enough or the best and that this is just this judges decision and does not reflect the worlds opinion of me. Secondly, if I am entering a competition where the prize is winning a trip to the world champs in Germany or Korea, then I should have passport in order to win the prize to participate in that competition. Again, I was amazed at how easily we make excuses on behalf of ourselves and do not take the responsibility for not making sure that w have everything sorted ahead of time.

I have given local artists work where all they had to do is be on time and then perform only for the allocated time. That is you responsibility to ensure that the organisers invite us back in the future. You overstay your time on stage is detroying our reputation with the organisers. That is not good for hip hop. We have to learn to take responsibilty as artists. We say a time for a meeting, w make that time or phone before-hand to say that we are going to be a bit late if we cannot help for being late (and that has to be a life or death reason). We say we are going to make a living from this, but are we responsibl enough to save the money we earn or create ways that we can keep earning cash and be responsible as artists. Are we responsible to not have children when we cant even feed ourselves as artists. Why would we briong a child into our responsibilityless world. Will we be responsible for that life all its life and do what we need to do to feed and take care of that life.

You career in South Africa is no one elses responsibility but your own, so if you do not make it ... you only have yourself to blam ... buy nah ... not us, we always have to blame others for our lack of drive or effortor straight forward laziness ... cause you see, w are not willing to be real men and admit that its our fault and we take that responsibility on our own shoulders. Thats when real success and change in the local hip hop seen will come.

Take Responsibility for your own career. e

[Aqbar]

Check the sounds out y'all. SOULJAZZ at


http://www.myspace.com/souljazzfam

[Black Noise]

Damn! its been a long time since I added something to this .... Anyway, its really interesting times with so many people getting their music out nationally independently and signed.

I have been hosting this platform for artists to perform at Zula Bar all of 2009. This year we want to up the game by getting some funders to get some real payment for local artists on that platform. If your crew or you as a solo artist is interested, let me know at 021 7060481. Our next session is on the 28th Jan 2010 @ Zula Bar. I am also planning a 10 leg tour of schools once Black Noise new CD is ready for release. I wanna get more artists on the bill for that as well. Send me your demo to :- Emile YX? P.O.Box 31184, Grassy Park 7888, Cape Town 8000 or email your link to emiley@mweb.co.za.

Keep the ACTION coming.
Peace
Emile YX? www.emileyx.co.za
Black Noise www.blacknoise.co.za
Heal the Hood Project www.healthehood.org

[Black Noise]

Internalization of the Knowledge of Self we read in Hip Hop

I have read great deal of information during my years of Black Consciousness and Knowledge of Self. I know many others have done the same and that hip hop specifically has played a major role in peoples development.

I have seen people that I have taught take credit for their growth and never mention where they learnt the basic revolutionary knowledge from (Hip Hop) that is or just being exposed to that trend of thought thanks to hanging ou with Black Noise members or POC or Zulu Nation. I see that and have footage of some of the best b-boys whe they first attended workshops with us on the Cape Fats and when people interview them, they say well, I saw it on TV and never give credit to thosewho really took the time to teach them and share the information with them. instead they do what most hip hoppers do ... credit Wild Style or Beat Street. I think its abot that desire to not give respect to where it is due. It is the same reason that we do not have any local pionners that are respectedby the newer generation and why South Africa always give praise to Americans and seldom to their own. I remember naming the crew "Ubuntu", because I had hope that the state of mind would change ... I remember starting BOTY in the hope that we would represent South Africa and not our own egos, I see people that claim to have been friends spread vicious rumours about the events that we run, having never really worked and struggled on the events without getting paid or paying the etra to send the crew to Germany themselves, I see people make documentaries about dancers going to Germany, but never once in the documentary saying how they get to go or who sends them and not that we do it for that reason, but just to see the hatred from the very people you try to help ... it takes really knowing ones self and seeing the self hate that causes them to lash out at those who try and help. I remember working my ass off for Black Noise members to get paid from trips to Europe and America and all you get from members are requests for more and seldom thanks. I remember fetching members of BN and different crews to get basic practice together and all you get is their desire for more from you. I remember BOTY calling to say that the South African team stole from other people in Germany and how these same people return here and sound as if they are angels. Is this the nature of our hip hop community. A thankless and self glorifying and helper hating society?

I thought I would share these thoughts with whoever has interest in the real power that is needed to DO and how easy it is to TALK and claim all the fame that others have laid the foundation for. For the next generation to really overstand the importance of knowledge of self... It is about living the example of your saviour and be WILLING TO BE CRUCIFIED. Being a born again human is about seeing the reasons behind peoples actions and that true liberation is about internalization of the information that we read as knowledge of self and even that information is infinite, hence the Universal Zulu Nations Infinity Lessons. "I am me because of others" is about this knowledge that we are who we are because of othersthat have helped us to become better and if we deny our roots and these people, we deny all that we can be and thus are incomplete people.

Just some thoughts before the BN 20th Anniversary. I am me because of all that has happened and that will happen to me. I have been blessed to be influenced by great people in our coutnry and internationally. People like Ashley Kriel, King Jamo, Patrick Hickey, Marley D Marlon Miller, Deon Miller, Michael Jones, Edmund Jones, Timothy Bateman, .... Steve Biko, Afrika Bam, Chuck D, Robbie Jansen, hilton Schilder and many many many more ... I think that the internalisation of that information by a few, made them become better people beyond the skill they learnt, but ultimately those who learnt from it at least had the pleasure of being exposed to it. What I am trying to get across to the hip hop community is that this information has helped people to develop beyond just being kwaai breakers or rappers or whatever. I completely overstand that teachers teach without the expectation of credit, but what I am saying is that the learner is only able to really grow and benefit the society by acknowledging that who they are is because of others and that it is their silent duty to pass that information on to others. All said about Brian and whoever else, they at least gave people alternative information. They are human like everyone else and make mistakes, but they overstood the importance of passing on information to others. When I speak to internalisation of K.O.S., I speak of those who know to teach or supply information to those who don't. What they do wth that information is always up to them, but it would stupid of me to think that what we teach or pass on is of no importance and that everyone's intake is based on what they want. Information is power and thus they will feed off what they fed. This is why corporations own media, they over-stand that it is not knowledge that is power, but it is who controls the content of that information who actually has power of the minds of the masses. The jobs that teachers do is a thankless one, but to really counter what exists, one has to set he student on the right path and not just assume that they will find the best information. Who controls that creates the perspective of the day.