STR.CRD Uncovered: Close Up With Philip Botha

What was the influence behind you becoming a writer?

I started out in the Hip-Hop scene as a breakdancer but as a kid, I was always artistic and a bit of a trouble maker. I later discovered graffiti in the pages of The Source magazine and gravitated towards it very quickly. Mega - who was the first writer in my city I was exposed to - was my veryfirst inspiration and the guy who taught me handstyles.

How long have you been in the game for and do you see yourself ever putting down the can?

It has been almost 15 years, although the first two or so probably don't count, and after everything I've put in and been through I highly doubt I will ever stop permanently.

You're from Durban, but your name has managed to permeate Joburg streets, how have other writers taken to you and have you been well received?

I'm not 100% sure as I don't mix with the graffiti scene all that much, I think I've outgrown a lot of the antics associated with it. Although the people I was down with before relocating here are happy to see me up, as for the rest, I'm not all that bothered.

What do you think of the graff scene here in Joburg and the difference in writers compared to that of Durban’s?

I think right now Joburg has the best scene and within that scene there are almost sub scenes, which I like. In general there's not much difference between the writers from here and there but numbers. As I have briefly touched on I don't really fit in with the average writer.

What's your take on writers’ beef and also the dislike between graff writers and street artists? We're all one big family, shouldn't it all be love?

Haha I don't think we are one family. It’s like the age old beef between skateboarders and rollerbladers which skateboarders won, so hopefully one day there won't be any street art and by street art I don't mean massive murals by former graffiti artists, I mean bad banksy copies. As for graffiti beef lots of the reasons behind it aren't always honest but it is a necessary part of the scene, it weeds out the weak.

Tell us about your experience at Str.Crd 2012 and getting to meet some legendary artists?

It was a great moment that I am highly honored to have experienced.

As the wall I painted was one I have had in the pipeline for quite some time. As for all the international artists, I have been in contact with Steve ESPO Powers for a while now so it was good to finally meet in person, as well as OG Philly, legends, Shameak and Meez. Then obviously Claw, I have been a fan of her since forever and it was great to take her around the city and get some work done.

What are you currently busy with and what do your future plans look like?

There are lots of small projects in the pipeline that I hope will turn into big projects next year. The first is a small group show towards the end of October, so look out for that.

Local favorites?

Graffiti wise: Optone, Erons, Gasr, Scape, Lazir, Aple/Ight, Smet, Gmok, Dmin, Vesa, Jerk, Boas, Myza, Empty are my favourites at the moment. As for others wow there’s too many people from tattooing to design etc.

Can you open our eyes a little bit into where and how deep your love of the can goes? In short, describe what makes you eat, sleep, breathe this medium?

Luckily, I think I was taught the right way to come up and I have a deep respect for those who came before me. Secondly, I have paid my dues and haven't let anything or anyone stop me, I treat my crews like my family and family comes first. It has shaped me into the person I am today and has shown me parts of the country only a few will ever get to see.

Do you think 'going corporate' and doing murals etc is selling out or just another needed way to put food on the table?

Those people who complain obviously have never been approached to do anything corporate so they're just jealous. I think there is a right and a wrong way to " go commercial" I'm still trying to find a good balance.

For more about Philip Botha please check out the following links please www.diehonest.wordpress.com and www.community-service.posterous.com 

Written by: Karabo Mokoena

Edited by: Vuyi Qubeka

This right here is called Dance!

To be honest when I first caught wind of the South African dance music awards I literally misread the title, my temporary dyslexia lead me to believing that it was South Africa’s first Dance awards show, so all the flash backs of So You Think You Can Dance and the torturous evenings where sharing the remote lead to agonizing episodes of Glee, I was ready to “Rant” until alas an email dropped in my inbox to further break down my misconception.

In all actuality The South African Dance Music Awards are a celebration of dance music that has kept us swinging our hips and burning the dance floors with our Chuck Taylors for over 20 years in counting, influencing local music to date. This event is brought to you by the dance music heavy weights DJU that comprises of Oskido, Greg Maloka, Christos, DJ Fresh and Vini along with the Department of Sports Art Culture and Recreation…. mouthful? I know right? That mouthful means beeeg business and opportunities for the dudes that laid the foundation for dance, as we know it, to cash in and remind the country of their existence and the vital contribution to our late nights out.  

“We are excited to be part of this great project that will celebrate and honour our dance music greats, it is innovative concepts like these that will help us realise our vision of promoting artistic excellence in Gauteng and contribute to the growth of our creative economy ” says Gauteng Department of Sports Arts Culture and Recreation MEC Lebogang Maile.

In the bigger scope of things this event is an inspiration, aspiration and affirmation of the fact that our country has created some of the greatest dance music that still continues to reach global frontiers. Let us save the date:  30^th of September at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City on Sunday the 30^th of September and part ways with R250 – R500 at your nearest Computicket.

check the video here.

Kaffein Radio: Live with the talent

Yesterday we shook off the rust from being off air for almost 2weeks...or rather a decade in radio years. After a rough start that consisted of on air blunders, Led zeppelin constantly raiding our playlist and more dead air than the pearly gates we got our sh*t straight and continued to serve you the freshest cup of Kaffein Radio.

We had a guest appearance from one of South Africa's upcoming boom bap baboon rap motswako artist by the name Nasi who represents Hash One, a group of wordsmiths with insane flows. We had a chat about the lack of cyphers in our current hip-hop scene and also touched on his history and involvement in Hash One. Later on in the show he blessed us with an accapella verse that shows off his lyrical dexterity and flexible flow. Follow him on twitter @nasi_TauTona and Hash One on facebook.

As natural talent was the order of the day we had the opportunity to interview Motsatsing former vocalist of a South African band called UJU, the beautiful soul from Lesotho spoke of her history and heritage and also performed her song ma molahlehi, which is the first song that she has ever written on her own.

The enigmatic beauty had us mumbling over our words and losing control over our microphones to say the least. Keen on having a swig of this truly gifted sister? Why of cause you are! Follow her on twitter @ke_motsatsing and Motsatsing on Facebook.

If you wish to see her live then check her out at Mosadi hits PRIDE at Shikisha in Newtown on the 5th of October.

Follow Kaffein radio on twitter @kaffeinmagazine
And "I want to be on Kaffein Online Magazine" on facebook.

Be a part of something...be a part of Kaffein Online Magazine.

A little bit more

The evening started off on a brave mission to try and find a ticket for a friend of mine who decided on the 11th hour that he was keen to go catch Little Dragon live in Johannesburg. We made arrangements and weaved ourselves into a colourful crowd and as usual beautiful music has a way of bringing old faces to one place in the most humbling way. The opening act was a one man wonders Vampire 9000 who set the mood for what would be an electrogasm of a night. Felix Laband came on shortly after the fierce Vampire and had the crowd in a trance with what seemed to be a kwaito based fusion of abstract music with creepy samples from what I believe to be m'zeke zeke.

Enter Little Dragon, they walked on stage like it was another day at the office and it wasn’t long before they fed off the crowd's energy and had the crowd buzzing in delight and admiring in awe. When the first song ended I was deeply saddened and disappointed...maybe I had high expectations from such a world-renowned group. I was forced to endure the pain as I stood and listened, waiting for my moment of euphoria. I must say the engineers were to blame for the poor sound that had the vocals sounding like they were coming out of a mic from an underground hip-hop session, it was so terrible that I walked away from one of my favourite songs (ritual union) to buy a cold one and make small talk outside by the bar area.

Later the band signed out and left the stage, the crowd then proceeded in a proudly South African manner screaming,  "We want more". 

After about a minute or so the group trickled back onto the stage and delivered what I had been waiting for, Yukimi Nagano’s shades and hat was off and her soul started pouring out of her lips, the rest of the band followed in with even more passion than before, the music was like warm honey down my ears, the crowd had sparked a passion in the band and from that point in Little Dragon set the stage ablaze with an amazing performance. My heart dropped when they officially left and I found myself in two worlds not knowing whether I was content or sad, either way I had seen my favourite band and wonderd if I will ever enjoy their music again.

Pictures taken  by:  Nicholas Nabìl Tebogo Rawháni 

Street Fashion In Motion

Anthony Bila has upped it up a notch and proven that street fashion can indeed be captured in motion and still have the desired impact if not an even greater one, I'm talking the hustle and bustle of the city streets coupled with a  fashion forward female well rested on an acoustic rhythm...A moving expression indeed. Check out more of his South African Street Fashion Series right here.