Welfare State Of Mind

#KnowledgeIsPower part 4.

2012-05-23T10:16:00.001+03:00

One of my definite favourite artists Akala is about to release his new mixtape Knowledge is Power vol. 1. next week. I have pre-ordered it and eagerly also wait for the bonus download that has been promised to accompany it. It’s all very exciting and now there’s the first video and full song available to be heard (snippets have been online already). This mellow track – quite emo actually – features Selah who was also featured on Akala’s classic first, and also MOBO award winning, album It’s Not a Rumour. I genuinely enjoy this song and its message is very important, but then again these are the two things I have come to expect from Akala.

*****

Bonus | Akala did another Fire in the Booth for BBC's Charlie Sloth recently and I didn’t post it here, partly because half of my posts seem to be about him already, but have a look and listen here. The first part was posted in this blog earlier.

Music of struggle and beyond

2012-05-22T11:36:00.001+03:00

Here’s a nice audio documentary on the music of South African struggle and beyond.

A few links

2012-05-08T14:04:00.000+03:00

Recently I have mainly been posting videos and music here, but I wanted to share a few links: one for a piece that I wrote for Africa is a Country blog and another one for which I was interviewed... well, I say interviewed, but perhaps it would more accurate to say that my opinion was asked and I gave it and so did many others. In the end though Ts'eliso Monaheng (aka Core Wreckah) did a nice article on using fake American accent in rap music. You know, for non-American rappers in general, but South African ones in specific.

The geo-branding war

Geo-branding is a serious thing. It is particularly serious when people from other geographic areas decide to brand your geographical area and the people in it, the way they see fit and the way that fits their purposes. No other country, region or continent, I’d argue, suffers from other peoples’ nonsense as much as the continent of Africa. Read more...

This piece was also reposted on the Migrant Tales blog, which is - I'd say - the most important progressive Finnish blog about immigration and many issues around it.

Fake American accents

“In defence of artists who ‘sound American’, when I first started rapping, I had a fake East Coast accent,” said Slug of the group Atmosphere at an Urban Music Workshop leading up to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Read more...

Music for a new week

2012-05-07T10:23:00.000+03:00

New video by Helsinki's finest Gracias from his forthcoming collaboration album with producer JTT. The track is called Bars and I am starting to think my home town has a new sound... for some reason I always felt that the signature sound should be a bit more rugged, but I accept this one with great joy as well

More Finnish Hip-Hop, and I can't recommend this enough: Megaphone State has a new album out. It's called VLA Kings and it's really great. I have made mention of it before when only some tracks were available to be heard, but this album is on point. Get it.

<p>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://freshtunesfinland.bandcamp.com/album/vla-kings"&amp;amp;gt;VLA Kings by The Megaphone State&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</p>

No words from me - many from Mic Righteous

2012-04-19T00:10:00.000+03:00

On music and the industries around it

2012-04-08T10:12:00.002+03:00

Here’s some history and context for the UK African Caribbean music scene by one of my most favaourite artists, thinkers and commenters Akala. No need to say much more about it – he does a lot of speaking.

4th Density Light Show

2012-04-05T13:52:00.000+03:00

For the past couple of days I have been lucky enough to listen to The Transition EP by South African superemcee Ben Sharpa. The EP isn’t officially out yet – so this is me bragging about my special privileges of being someone who plays this kind of music in radio – but boy, oh boy, this is a good one. Somehow from Ben Sharpa one expects electronic sounds and huge beats, which match his delivery - Robot Army Music (RAM) as he calls it - but what’s surprising, to me at least, is how nicely he sits on more organic sounds as well. This EP has a nice mix of influences and producers to keep things interesting; even unexpected at times.

Besides this EP which like said is still to be released and Damian from Pioneer Unit mentioned that they aren’t quite sure how they will make it available and when, Ben has got another release definitely on its way. 4DLS album will be out shortly and that project combines Ben’s lyrics with Dplanet’s (who incidentally is also the aforementioned Damian) beats and Spo0ky’s visuals. Dplanet and Spo0ky, by the way, are also a band even without Ben. They are called Pure Solid and their recent album is definitely worth your while if this style of music is something you enjoy. But like said, now the collaboration is titled 4DLS or 4th Density Light Show. Video for the song Heroes is out for us all to enjoy and some selected European residents get to witness all this live. Not me though, but make sure to check these guys out if only you can.

Planet Stockholm

2012-04-02T14:41:00.000+03:00

This is not a video with computer generated explosions and other apocalyptic visuals; meteorites and floods. It’s just one of those snowy days in Stockholm. I am a big fan of Stockholm of course – I used to stay there even if only for some months, but I, as so many other Finns, have visited this city quite a few times anyway.

But more than the video – which I watched only once – I can’t turn the song off. A beautiful song by Ken Ring who does this kind of thing really well. He does the occasional aggie track really well also, but with these mellow, melancholic even, tracks he’s just brilliant.

And it’s good that he is because he’s about to release an album called AkustiKen which we can only assume to be fully acoustic record. Another taster from the album is this short video of a song dedicated to his Kenyan grandmother… or Mormor as they would say in Swedish.

Download the song Jag Skriver För Er here.

Hugh Masekela on restoring the African heritage

2012-03-25T10:49:00.000+03:00

Just the other day I was watching the TEDxObserver lecture by UK actor, rapper, singer and now also a director Plan B, and I thought it was both interesting and important even if a bit self-congratulatory; arguably he's more than deserved a right for that.

Somehow, however, in this process I missed that legendary South African jazz super star Hugh Masekela had also given a speech and a performance in the same event. Have a look at Bra Hugh talking about restoring the African heritage.

On the same note, I must recommend Masekela's autobiography Still Grazing which he co-authored with D. Michael Cheers. In this book Masekela who has lived polically active life and for a large part having been an exile in the United States talks about the past without the diplomacy of actual politicians, offering the reader a great insight into the feelings and events of the apartheid era even if from outside of South Africa. If you don't mind a few x-rated anecdotes of Jazz version of the Rock'n Roll lifestyle, then definitily this book is worth your time.

Children of VLA

2012-03-14T15:02:00.000+02:00

The Megaphone State is a Finnish Hip-Hop duo where Ekow (remember him from that Gracias song) raps and Simonsound produces. They have thus far released one album Home of the Knockout Artist which I have enjoyed a lot and then there was a song called Lights and now this – Children of VLA.

The lyrics are available in Soundcloud and I must admit that I can relate to them although I personally would never make the mistake of trying to fraternise on my old corners. That’s lived life and in the past, but nonetheless the song sounds good to me. Have a listen and if you’re one of the Finnish speaking readers (hei vaan) have a look at this video where Ekow explains who he is and where he is from. I believe that the video provides an answer to the question of what on earth is VLA. I assume it is Viljakkala* which is a small place where Ekow relocated to from his original home country Liberia after also having spent some time in Ghana in his early childhood. It must have been tad shocking culturally speaking, but life isn’t always straight forward. That much, I believe, we can safely state. This is music to explain some of it.

*Edit (25.3.2012): In radio interview earlier this week it was clarified that VLA is not just Viljakkala, but also Viiala, which is eqaully small place in Finland and the home town of the other half of group Simonsound.

Linkage

2012-03-12T12:24:00.000+02:00

Today I wanted to post a few download links that I can recommend. The spring is in the air and I feel like sharing is caring, so let’s have it.

Genesis Elijah has been busy uploading all sorts of quality material online in the past and now there’s a new free EP (where he raps on the Alchemist beats) called An Emcees Worst Enemy. Download it here and have a look at the mini video for Chemistry Wars that accompany it.

From Cape Town, South Africa we have a new song by Ma-B from Driemanskap. I am impatiently waiting for the new album, Hlala Nam, by the crew, but here’s something to tide us over: Don’t Doubt Me.

Lastly, and this is also from the southern region of the African continent (SA and Lesotho), free download of the song Lifelines by KONFAB Ft. aNon and Matlhodi Matsei. You can also get the whole KONFAB album The Lost Tapes where this track is from. It’s pretty great.

La Bala

2012-03-12T11:38:00.001+02:00

By now you should know that Ana Tijoux is cool. Ana became known as a member of the seminal Chilean Hip-Hop crew Makiza and her first solo album 1977 was great. Then there was also the Elefant Mixtape which was one of the most played on my headphones in 2011 and now, La Bala. Check out the powerful video above and check out the album (the title track is my favourite) and be sure to support quality music.

Art arrives

2012-03-08T18:35:00.000+02:00

Recently I had bought a bit of art, which is not something I do terribly often. It’s not so much that I wouldn’t like to, it’s just that there are other places where the funds go as a part of average month’s survival. But this is nice – I’m very proud. The video tells the story and images say the rest.

Shoko! Hip-Hop Festival in Zimbabwe

2012-02-29T22:59:00.001+02:00

Not a brand new video, but an interesting short documentary from Shoko! Hip-Hop Festival from Harare. Artists featured were Akala and Tumi amongst many other. Many many others. More videos with full speeches, lectures and performances from here.

New Music | Genesis Elijah

2012-01-30T18:16:00.000+02:00

One of my favourite releases last year was I Ain’t Even Charging, Bruv by UK emcee Genesis Elijah. He’s got a new one out now and it’s called Painkillers and Pilkington. Yes, Pilkington as in Karl Pilkington who isn’t featured in any way although his friend Ricky Gervais is. He’s sampled in the mix, but according to Genesis Elijah he is the only rapper Ricky Gervais follows in Twitter. Who knows, I take his word for it. Have a look at the video and do download this because a few rappers show as much passion as this one.

#KnowledgeIsPower part III

2012-01-15T11:37:00.000+02:00

Akala is back with another online freestyle, although we've barely recovered from the last one. This one is for SBTV's F64 series which he has done already once before, but this time he has a different approach as he does a little bit of storytelling. The basic rule here is that when Akala opens his mouth, we learn. Have a look.

The end of the last and the beginning of this year in links

2012-01-12T12:23:00.000+02:00

It’s a new year again and I am back from the holiday. My holiday was great by the way – thanks for asking – but now I am back starting the new year properly. Before I do that there’s been a lot of linkworthy stuff online while I’ve been away, so let me put it up here.

First off, Mystro’s annual UK Rap Up never disappoints me. In all honesty, in the end of the year besides the one Charlie Brooker does, I only look forward to Mystro’s end of the year review.

If I am being honest I am not too excited about this next video – not a huge fan of guns and such – but I do like the song. A lot. It’s from that Logic and Last Resort album I’ve been going on about recently.

Nice free download by Agent of Change aka DJ Mutiny Get Your Hands off Africa. The song samples some Fela Kuti and features Marcel Cartier, Akala and Nana D on the vocals.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Marcel Cartier ft Akala and Nana D - Get Your Hands Off Africa (prod Agent of Change) by agentofchange

Cape Town’s Driemanskap is gearing up for their next album Hlala Nam and today I read from the Twitter that there will be even one more video before the release of that from the previous one. I am looking forward to all of that, but here’s a free download by the crew member Ma-B.

Make A Move - Ma-B by PioneerUnit

Lastly, if you don’t know The Quaranteam, you better familiarise yourself with this free EP.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thequaranteam.bandcamp.com/album/thequaranteamep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;#TheQuaranteamEP by The Quaranteam&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Holiday Greetings

2011-12-31T14:40:00.002+02:00

It's good to have a bit of holiday and be on the road again. I won't write much now, but have a happy new year and in the meantime there are a handful of photos - mainly of Robert Sobukwe museum - available in my Flicr site.

This is what it sounded like

2011-12-22T22:00:00.000+02:00

I like the end of the year lists on blogs. Or rather, I like the end of the year lists on blogs I like. In the end of some of the earlier years I have also made some of them for music and even for films and such, but this year I have decided against it. Alternatively I have prepared a small mix where I have collected some of the sonic highlights of my 2011. It has been a great year for music and I am certain I have forgotten tons of great songs that had their rightful place here, but such is life. One year I might start making notes since the January so I will know exactly what to include, but that year the mix might be several hours long. This one is just over 40 minutes. Have a listen.

Soundtrack for 2o11 by Mikmikko on Mixcloud

1. Intro – Ma-B featuring Redondo from the mixtape Beats & Rhymes (South Africa)
2.    Roma Meticcia – Assalti Frontali from the album Profondo Rosso (Italy)
3.    Ts’epe – Kommanda Obbs from the album Ts’epe (Lesotho)
4.    Straight Outta London – Wiley from the mixtape Creating a Buzz (United Kingdom)
5.    Force et Honneur – Nessbeal from the album Sélection Naturelle (France)
6.    Passop – Manqoba featuring Driemanskap from the EP The Winner (South Africa)
7.    Folkmordsmiljonär – Promoe (Sweden)
8.    Testimony – Logic and Last Resort featuring Shadia Mansour and Elz from the album True Talk (United Kingdom)
9.    Ese Soy Yo – Sociedad FB7 from the album Momentos (Colombia)
10. Reign of Fire – Genesis Elijah from the EP I Ain’t Even Charging Bruv (United Kingdom)
11. Terrorist part II – Lowkey featuring Crazy Haze from the album Soundtrack to the Struggle (United Kingdom)
12. Ingoma – Kanyi from album Intombizifikile (South Africa)
13. Out of HKI (Lotsaless & Nada Blend) - Lunace vs. Gracias (Finland)

Click links for videos and downloads, enjoy the rest of the old year and have a great new one.

The end of the year mix is on its way

2011-12-22T11:34:00.000+02:00

I am pretty sure that no one is as excited about this as I am, but tomorrow I will upload my end of the year mix where I have collected some of my favourite tunes from the last twelve months and mixed them together with my very rusty DJing skills. But it’s all good; I think it makes great listening nonetheless. Then again, I would think that wouldn’t I.

While you are impatiently waiting for this masterpiece – as I am sure you are – have a look at yet another brand new music video from that Logic and Last Resort album True Talk. This is the title track and one of the songs I mentioned for you to be on a lookout for in my previous blog post.

#TrueTalk

2011-12-19T11:43:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago I featured a song from the now brand new Logic and Last Resort album True Talk in our Planet Earth Planet Rap radio segment. It was for that reason that I received a press copy of this album and I have been listening to it for some time now and I can tell you that it is a one great album. True Talk has got several repeat-one-worthy tracks and practically no skip-worthy ones. There’s a new video for the song Essence and it’s a nice one – an ode to UK Hip-Hop – but really the ones you need to check from this album are the ones that feature Shadia Mansour, Lowkey and Klashnekoff (two of the latter make a cameo appearance on this new video). I admit, I was very surprised but in the last weeks of 2011 a new contester for the album of the year arrived. How great is that.

Soundtrack and visuals to the Struggle

2011-12-14T14:14:00.000+02:00

Here’s a brand new video for Lowkey’s Soundtrack to the Struggle, which is the title track from his recent album. All independent, Lowkey has taken an interesting direction in promotion; in collaboration with Global Faction he’s made music videos for most of the songs from his album, and these videos have been leading his campaign with millions of views and with his message I more than welcome that. Here’s the full track list of the album with links for the already existing videos (some are still on their way).

1. Soundtrack To The Struggle

2. Too Much ft Shadia Mansour

3. Voices Of The Voiceless ft Immortal Technique

4. Hand On Your Gun

5. Skit 1

6. Terrorist?

7. Something Wonderful

8. Dreamers ft Mai Khalil

9. Skit 2

10. Obama Nation

11. Skit 3

12. Cradle Of Civilisation ft Mai Khalil

13. Skit 4

14. Blood, Sweat and Tears ft Klashnekoff

15. Everything I Am

16. Skit 5

17. Long Live Palestine

18. We Will Rise ft Sanasino

19. My Soul

20. Skit 6

21. The Butterfly Effect

22. Obama Nation Part 2 ft M1 (DEAD PREZ), Black The Ripper

23. Dear England ft Mai Khalil

24. Haunted ft Mai Khalil

25. Terrorist? Part 2 ft Crazy Haze & Mai Khalil

26. Million Man March ft Mai Khalil

Prophets of Rage

2011-12-10T23:30:00.000+02:00

Public Enemy - Prophets of Rage - BBC Special -... by dreadinny

I highly recommend this Public Enemy documentary The Prophets of Rage. This programme was originally aired yesterday (Friday 9.12.2011) on BBC 4 so it’s fresh, and it has good insight and interesting interviews even for someone like me who as a big fan has read and watched whatever is available of them.

The link for this documentary is pretty buggy though. At least for me the video kept on ending at random places as if that was the end of the film, but I just refreshed the page and found where it was left and it worked okay in the end.

Enjoy.

#KnowledgeIsPower part 2 (at least)

2011-12-09T15:12:00.001+02:00

Some time ago UK lyricist and all-around intellectual Akala did a freestyle on BBC’s Radio 1Xtra and as I linked it here on this Welfare State of Mind blog, I made a mention in Twitter that it was like a lecture. This time I am linking an actual lecture (or 20 minute TEDx presentation at least) by him and I really recommend you to check it out. This is no ordinary rapper and when he says #KnowledgeIsPower he means it. Here Akala talks about not just his work with Hip-Hop Shakespeare company, but the philosophy behind it. Quite refreshing altogether.

The Girl has Come

2011-12-07T09:23:00.001+02:00

Here’s a brand new music video by Cape Town’s Kanyi. I have heard her being referred to as the first lady of Spaza Hip-Hop, which probably isn’t even arguable after she delivered one of the highlight verses of Driemanskap’s township anthem S’phum’eGugs. Her album Intombizifikile (which in English means the girls have come) should be out at some point and this is the first video and song from it. The track is called Ingoma and you can download the MP3 from her ReverbNation profile.

As a side note; I am also happy to see Anele Matoti doing a small acting role in this video. He’s an old school friend of my wife – part of that Eastern Cape massive – and he’s been featured in several South African TV productions as well.