This one via the crew at Ghetto Bassquake: UK/SA producer Moroka — who previously gave us the absolute chune “Bad Fun” — remixes rising princess of New York rap Azealia Bank‘s Machinedrum-produced “NEEDSUMLUV.” Moroka chops Azelia’s vocals, keeps the thick synths, and adds a hit of kwaito percussion for his recut. Stream and grab it below.
Big thanks to the blog Africa is a Country for tuning us into these two side eye stories of folks rehashing colonial fantasies. The first is a temporary hotel in London modeled after Joseph Conrad‘s boat in his novel “Heart of Darkness.” You know, the novel that has eternally coined The Congo as the ‘dark heart of Africa’ in the popular imagination – “Dr. Livingstone, I presume,” and all that. The story on Blackbookmag.com says the design was one of 500 submitted for a contest by Living Architecture… which raises the question: really? There wasn’t one other design in 500 with a more progressive politics than effing 1903?
The second story is about a dude, DeWet Du Toit, in the Western Cape in South Africa who lives out his fantasy in a loin cloth, claiming to be the real life Tarzan. He cares for wild animals, and judging from the picture, has a few black servants, we mean ‘employees.’ These romanticizations of a colonial past are so whack! They definitely speak to a gross desire still present in the world for ‘adventure’ in the ‘exotic’ lands of Africa.Read the full story here.
Spoek Mathambo takes a bit of a left-turn with “Let Them Talk.” Unlike previous joints off Father Creeper, the track explores janky-guitar riffs and post-punk tendencies with vocal aid from Yolanda. Stick through to the end where Spoek revisits his verse off — track of the year — “Ask For (Africa Remix).” Father Creeper is out March 13 via Sub Pop.
Come Back, Africa (1959) is the eye-opening film shot secretly in the streets of Sophiatown, South Africa. The film is not only legendary for its brave portrait of black township life under the racist apartheid regime, but it also put Miriam Makeba, AKA Mama Africa on the map. Milestone films will present a screening of Come Back Jan 27 – Feb 2 at Film Forum in New York City. Watch the trailer above and purchase tickets here.
Heart-gorging, demonic elf video trailer for Die Antwoord‘s upcoming TEN$ION LP (out Feb 7 on Zef Recordz). It’s backed by the recently released album cut “I Fink Ur Freeky” (below). DA’s polarizing “Fok Julle Naaiers” clip made our top videos of last year.
Die Antwoord “I Fink U Freeky”
DJ Underdog takes the helm for our latest Africa In Your Earbuds installment. The Washington, D.C. based spinner — and designer behind some stellar Earbuds’ cover art — braids the continent together playing through SA House, Soukous, Coupé-Décalé, and Hipflife jams.
Stream and snatch Underdog’s 57-minute AIYE #10 mixtape below — with cuts from Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, and a track of the year choice DJ Sbu x Zahara collabo. Plus, exclusive drops from our own ?uestlove, Rich Medina and Les Nubians.
AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS #10: DJ UNDERDOG by okayafrica
TRACKLIST
1,Okayintro
2. DJ Sbu ft. Zahara – Lengoma
3. Malavi- Sugella
4. Cleo – Facebook
5. Outlaw – Bush Stomp
6. Wbeeza – Candel Groove
7. Yusako – La Da Di (Re-Edit)
8. Black Coffee ft. Zakes Bantwini- Juju (Bekzin Tekzin Remix)
9. Cndo- 6pack
10. Arafat – Move
11. Black Motion – We Have Love
12. Champion – War Dance
13. Blak & Silva — Major
14. V.I.P. — Away
15. Amilo – Karolina
16. Lassan – Echantillon Ya Pamba Ambiance
17. Emmerson- Tutu Party
18. Nico- Nakota Te Kobondela
19,. Exclusif – Sierra Leone No 1
20. Lita Bembo- JUDA
21. Oskido- Bennae Movako (Juju Eedit)
22. Culoe De Song – Bright Forest
Previously on Africa In Your Earbuds: DJ OBAH, SABINE, BROTHA ONACI, DJ AQBT, JUST A BAND, STIMULUS, QOOL DJ MARV, SINKANE, CHIEF BOIMA.
We got stressed out just reading the headline on this latest bit of news. The cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta will visit South Africa. We don’t watch The Real Housewives (or at least wouldn’t admit to it) but the Atlanta INTown paper reports that in last night’s episode: ”Phaedra called the Vice-President of Ghana to talk about her visit. Problem is: Ghana is nowhere near South Africa, so we’re not sure what the point was. Also unfortunate for Phaedra, her mobile phone was nowhere near a cell tower, introducing His Excellency to the American tradition of dropping your call in mid-sentence and ending your chat.”
Here’s a belated new year’s treat courtesy of our favorite South African/Aussie producer Jonti and the folk at Stones Throw. Sine & Moon is a collection of early 4-track recordings, some of which were featured on a ST podcast of the same name early last year. Download Sine & Moon LP (it’s free!) and stream album cut “Lost Machines” below.
Located on the outskirts of Johannesburg, the South Western Township AKA Soweto is known to outsiders as the location of the Soweto Uprising of the 70s. Nowadays however, Soweto’s musical scene is beginning to surpass the area’s previous political reputation through the birth of musical styles such as Kwaito in the 90s, and more recently, Shangaan electro.
Cell phone repair shop owner turned musician and record label guru, Richard “Nozinja” Mthethwa, pioneered Shangaan electro in 2005 by re-working and speeding up the tempo of traditional Shangaan music. Unlike the original sound of Shangaan that ran at around 110 BPM, with the help of synthesizers, MIDI keyboards and marimba rhythms, Shangaan electro beats hit the 180 BPM mark and create an infectious new wave sound that’s intensely quick, but surprisingly easy on the ears. These hyperactive pulsating rhythms are paired with some hip action and pantsula-inspired moves called the Xibelani dance (check the videos above and below). We can’t wait to hear more from Nozinja’s label, Honest Jon’s Records.
Video: Die Antwoord ‘I Fink U Freeky’
The visuals in Roger Ballen‘s black-and-white clip for Die Antwoord‘s second official TEN$ION single, “I Fink U Freeky,” follow in the polarizing nature of the SA rap crew. Mice-littered beds, decapitated heads, cockroach fried eggs, and even smashed Beats by Dre headphones adorn the cinematography while Yo-Landi and Ninja rap over a speedy synths. TEN$ION is due Feb. 7 via ZEF Recordz. Also, read a recent NYT Mag article on the group.