Cape Town Students Killer At Hip-Hop Theme Song

The city of Cape Town, one of South Africa's biggest music scenes, with a growing number of popular Hip-Hop acts, a continual flow of EDM and a vibrant night-life, has seen some of the nation's top acts start from the bottom and work their way, stage by stage to the top.



As remarkable as this is, a recent fresh sound was discovered on the 10th of May 2014 at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Open Day, an exhibition event introducing prospective students to the various courses on offer for their academic future.



Held at Bellville campus, one of these courses on display had a distinctive vibe around it, a sort of ambiance which seemed to excite those who passed by it. Known as Public Relations Management, a catchy brand name "InstaPR" was displayed instead in respect to their sleek theme and this accompanied a Hip-Hop song by three of the Cape's youngest artists. 

The track entitled as '#InstaPR2014 (Insta PR Song)' was downloaded more than 150 times on the very same day of premier. Louie B from Question Mark Movement, a rap group which made it's first big debut on the South Africa reality TV-show 'SA's Got Talent', collaborated with Tha Real U, a South-African-West-Coast based underground rapper from Shaloma Muzik. Additional vocals were provided by the Nambian-raised songstress Taffy Mwaza.

Their efforts in creating a song which could attract more-and-more future university students to study the course, proved to be useful. Their understanding of the course, the Public Relations field and university life, has made this record not only a popular hit with the students but is even said to be enjoyed by the dean of the course. 

So far the track has received mixed feedback, mainly positive, and is available on The SA Mark Hip-Hop music site, SwagCity and WapTrick.

Additional Links: 

• View Lyrics (RapGenius)
• Download 
• Facebook
• Twitter: @InstaPR2014
• Instagram

5 Killer Remakes In West Coast Hip-Hop

With various Hip-Hop & RnB favorites, comes the ability to rap to them. While artists are influenced to do such, some get it right and even better the release, while the rest might just be wishful thinking.

Here's our list of Killer Remakes in the West Coast, rated according to popularity, content and uniqueness of the artist or scheme.

5. So Sick
Envor of Legacii
Remake of Ne-Yo

The vocal tones of Envor grabbed the West Coast's attention when this R&B remake of Ne-Yo by Vredenburg's Legacii Music Group was released.

With record production by Bary D, Leagcii's leading producer, the cover version not only sounds vocally good, but also is almost a like with the original song. This unique debut and talent displayed earns 'So Sick' the #5 spot in our list of Killer Remakes, as the local rap group, proves itself to be more than just a few lines & rhymes.

4. Underground Kings
Tha Real U featuring Young Tyt

Remake of Drake

While #4 might seem as an understatement for this song given that it became the West Coast's very first song to top 100 downloads in 24 hours, this record breaking lead for Saint Helena Bay rapper Tha Real U, simply faces tough competition in this list of Killers.

While Consciously raising the bar in the Weskus, Real U aggressively tackles the third verse of this song, one that could even be considered controversial. With various issues in Hip-Hop brought to light, the Shaloma Muzik artist makes references to a Biblical perspective and evidently hits listeners hard with a message of Christian awareness through self expression.

As a Conscious Hip Hop release, one should focus on the content which itself ranges from various issues based on the identity of Hip-Hop listeners  supporters and artists. Real U challenges the listeners perspective and is joined by rapper Young Tyt (formerly known as TiTan Kai) from the Johannesburg Christian Hip-Hop group, UNiQUE.  


This long distance collaboration not only brings the West Coast together with Gauteng, but promotes our local releases in various regions of the land, even if it is one song.

The success here of follows Real U's first 100 download milestone for 'That I'm Dreaming' and has since raised the rappers influence in the Hip-Hop community.
  

3. Ransom
Jempas featuring Tha Real U
Remake of Drake

With a chart topping debut, a featured music video and 136 downloads so far since it's release in August, Shaloma Muzik artist grabs #3 with 'Ransom'. The lyrics in the song, pretty much prove it all, as Jemp reflects on his life, making use of a popular sound to speak reality in retrospective. He is joined by Real U, who adds a certain funk to the song before the ending in support of Jempas' debuting heist.

While the song has peaked the Top 10  & charted for 3 days in the Top 20 spots in the South African local music website KasiMp3, it's music video currently sits on 120 views on YouTube, and has a hoisted the flag high for the Weskus on an national level - proving that Jempas is surely an artists that's here to stay.  

2. Somewhere In The World
Big Twist
Remake of 'Somewhere In America' by Jay-Z


Although Ill Scripts & Twistyle Muzik artist Big Twist, both served the coast with a much loved remake of this song, the #2 spot has to go to Big Twist hands down. 

In 'Somewhere In The World' Twist not only stepped up lyrically invigorating a degree of Conscious Hip-Hop in his music, but also kept it well production wise, with a distinct feature of chanting the well known 'Msheli Wami.'

1. Motivation
Major & Bizzy
Remake of Kelly Rowland

While the Langas top Hip-Hop group, Wolwe also known as Wolf Pack, have had better songs, 'Motivation' defiantly comes as a stand out. 

Teen rapper Major, colabs with the West Coast's favorite Bizzy, on this local Afrikaans treffer, taking a RnB release from the Billboards straight to Kasi and turning it into something great and enjoyable for both International Music fanatics and Afrikaans speaking audiences. And after all Wolve have done, why not #1? 

The favorable flavor of the Wolf Pack remains. The song was followed up by 'Bed*nerd In My Kop'  and 'In My Zone' and has accumulated 47 downloads on mobile website, Die Kaapstad, so far through which it is also featured on SwagCity.

5 Things Happening In West Coast Hip-Hop

Over the last few months, the West Coast Hip-Hop scene has seen some changes occur. Some were noticed yet some might still be ignored as many happen to be uninformed. If you one of those who don't know or maybe you haven’t been paying close attention, take a look below:
 
 
1. Internet Exposure

 
With artists like Goku from War3 Karak3tez, Big Twist, Tha Real U and Legacii on Soundcloud and Reverbnation, Internet exposure has surely increased. Three months ago, Tha Real U released 'Underground Kings' which quickly became one of the top downloaded songs in West Coast Hip-Hop, by reaching 100 downloads in a day.
Apart from this, Goku has released a series of music videos online which accompany those of Bizzy and Zayo, as well as the Major Playaz.
 
Other than this Tha Real U happened to release a music video as well. For the coast, this kind of exposure not only helps artists but it sheds light on the West Coast Hip-Hop community as well. Online releases help artists get recognised locally and Internationally quicker and more conveniently.
 
Last year mobile-site Swag City, was released in favour of this, so that locally people can download songs without having to hassle with computers, looking for links on Google or better yet not knowing where to find music.
 
 
2. Collaborations
 
Recently Big Twist collaborated with Goku. This created a banger along with Ivaan and Lazy B who previous also appeared on one of Goku's songs. Not only did this song ('We Made It') show how West Coast Hip-Hop steps things up, but so did Tha Real U's 'That I'm Dreaming' and 'Long Nights' which got newcomers Jempas and Lee Rick further involved in music.
 
General and Young Fl!p gained access to the Hip-Hop scene as well when they debuted on Big Twist's first mixtape, along with Prospect and Double D which gained added recognition. These collaborations show how West Coast Hip-Hop is transforming.
The scene is no longer monopolised by a single group of artists or band, but diverse, with different perspectives, styles and influences.
 

3. Started From The Bottom
 
Like everyone in the industry, you have to start somewhere even if it is the bottom. The past year has seen this happen. Not only did Twist come out of his shadow, but so did Tha Real U who happened to be a mash-up DJ.
 
Legacii, Illscripts, WBMG, also formed. These three groups soon started making music with a passion and are yet fighting for some exposure. With so many artists popping up out of no where, the West Coast community might soon see a revolution take place. While other artists remain unknown, the little light that has become the platform for West Coast Hip-Hop has helped artists grow and release more and more songs. With this comes better sound quality, lyrics and production quality.
 
Although most artists pushing songs these days are underground and newcomers, their support structures are constantly expanding. It's might just be a matter of time until their music is everywhere.
 

4. The Platform
 
Before 2013, West Coast Hip-Hop lacked a serious platform. Artists seem to be hidden in all places, some are popular yet the notorious, remain notorious. This reality however is starting to change. With Facebook pages and groups, websites like Swag City and communication structures between artists through these tools, West Coast Hip Hop now has a growing platform open for new artists and ready to support existing artists.
 
One problem though. Somehow there's always a disadvantage and this is it: some artists are promoting self with old, outdated procedures, rather then modernising and keeping up with the new platform. Not only do they aim at creating fan-bases or added support for themselves, they do this with no intention of building up the West Coast Hip-Hop community.
 
Networking tools like Facebook groups/pages, Websites etc... depend on the whole communities involvement to become an true success. Not only do artists gain exposure, while they lend exposure, they also help the whole West Coast Hip-Hop scene gain exposure and this will either help them cutback at trying to win fans cause they'll naturally gain support, or cause them to fade out if the scene becomes quickly populated.
 

5. Performances

Recently Big Twist and brand, started hitting a few popular venues. With performances springing up in local places, West Coast Hip-Hop is becoming much more engaging.
Although some regular performances do happen in the West Coast community, they seem to be aimed at one area, particularly a certain fan-base to please the supporters of a certain group. This is remarkable as fans will keep coming back for more, but it doesn't get the Hip-Hop scene to expand into unheard regions of the coast.
 
The group, ILLSCRIPTS took on this attempt however, by performing in a local High School Talent show, which scored them 2nd place. Not only does this performance help debut the group, but it also informs the general community about the emerging Hip-Hop scene within its community.
 
While some Hip-Hop artists (unknown to us) do also perform in popular places, it is yet a mystery on how their music actually engages with the public.
 
It is said that more events are being planned for West Coast Hip-Hop artists, especially the thought of possibly seeing some of these current power-forces work together. Will that happen? and is this even possible? For now we have no idea, only the Lord knows.

 

Why Would Shaloma Make A Diss Track?

The song is both a linked artistry of Saldanha rapper, Jempas & Saint Helena Bay Conscious/Christian rapper, Tha Real U. Following preceding works of Tha Real U, the fact that a Conscious Rapper released a diss track seemed to leave many in arrears.

Shaloma however in contrast to its normal distribution online, released this song locally as it dealt with an internal issue within West Coast Hip-Hop.

 Two months ago, newcomers ILLSCRIPTS, a Saldanha Bay rap group, released 'Ons Is Bevok', a diss track aimed at Major, one of the West Coast's more acknowledged rappers, known for his works in the public favourite former rap group, Major Playerz.

The songs reception has been moderate, although it is widely-unfamiliar locally, it's greatest success saw ILLSCRIPTS debut on YouTube with 182 views so far.

Following Real U's latest official release 'Underground Kings', remarkably known for receiving 100 downloads in one day, the song briefly concludes with the statement that: those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who remain humble will be exalted, a Biblical scripture from Luke 14:11.

 As 'Underground Kings' was released as an indirect message aimed at artist particularly on the West Coast, Shaloma Muzik extended this theme with 'Lord Have Mercy' as a direct message to the newcomers.

ILLSCRIPTS' Junio A! & Lil' Sain became the prime example, reason being is that they are personally know by the duo. As Real U's 'Underground Kings' did not reach the Saldanha Bay rap group as consciously as it should have, 'Lord Have Mercy' was released to educate the group with a more direct approach.

The evidence of the link between the two songs is found in the structure of the song as 'Underground Kings' and 'Lord Have Mercy' both start with Real U lyrically rapping in the first verse, standing out the second and then concluding the song with a dramatic message-based third verse.

In both cases the third verse was recorded to clarify and provoke a powerful statement.

Perhaps the center focus behind 'Lord Have Mercy' should be where Real U's says "I'm the educator and I'm teaching it, close your eyes homie I'm about to start preachin' it, Lord have mercy upon these rappers who have no idea what real Hip-Hop is." This metaphor corresponds with the controversial line in Real U's song "will you quit rapping sh*t?! Like you got something better today." Evidently Real U is provoking rappers to add sense to their lyrics and not rapping for public impression. It's clear that Shaloma's intention was to promote consciousness by bring the issue regarding the ILLSCRIPTS' recorded diss song into light, rather than insult the artists on a mic.

Twistyle Muzik captured this rather well with the release of 'Keep Pushing.' The song features Lee Rick, a artist significantly known for his verse in 'Long Nights' - the breakthrough song for Conscious Hip-Hop on the West Coast.

The second verse in 'Lord Have Mercy' is painted by Jempas. He concludes with a powerful line, "You asses think it's insane but for yal it's all just in vain." Vanity is a large issue regarding Hip-Hop culture as a whole in these modern times, the rap duo thus formulated a inflicting message in these two songs about how the West Coast should not be pushed into the same situation. Jempas describes ILLSCRIPTS as "lil’ Chihuahuas tryna bark out loud" asking for mercy as they don't understand the implications of their actions, and quiet frankly have no idea what the underground industry is about, this lyrically suggested through the second verse. He uses a threatening tone of voice and lyrics to ensure that Shaloma Muzik will stop at nothing to awake a conscious system of listeners within its community and hopefully globally.

» Click here to read the connected article concerning 'Underground Kings.'
 

External Links:

» To download 'Lord Have Mercy (Junio A! & Lil' Sain Diss)' visit swagcity.wen.ru using your Mobile device.

» Click here for song lyrics to 'Lord Have Mercy (Junio A! & Lil' Sain Diss)' on Metrolyrics.com.

Real U Wears The Crown For The Underground

West Coast Hip-Hop raised the banner high this week as Saint Helena Bay rapper, Tha Real U reps his town and region well. The conscious rapper released his follow up to 'That I'm Dreaming' which reached a record breaking 100 downloads in 2 weeks, but that was nothing compared to this week’s happenings. The song 'Underground Kings' was produced by Shaloma Muzik following a similar production procedure of 'November 28 Girl' and a hard-core message echoing that of 'Long Nights' - the West Coast Conscious Hip-Hop banger which left many speechless after its release about 2 months ago.

Johannesburg rapper, TiTan Kai from the Eldorado Park Christian Hip-Hop group, UNIQUE, joined Real U on this groundbreaking new single. As another heat-seeker following Real U's two successful releases, 'Underground Kings' rapidly gained downloads and plays within just an hour of release. According to Shaloma Muzik's posts on Tha Real U's Facebook page, the song gathered 12 plays within 45 minutes and 10 downloads within 50, a number which normally takes some artists roundabout a day, sometimes a week or even a month to achieve.

The song then went on to beat its sister, 'Long Nights' by accumulating 60 downloads in just 19 hours, compared to the 56 — 'Long Nights' has after 2 months. Followed by an abundance of thanks from Tha Real U, the song initially reached 98 downloads at 18h00 (GMT+2) on Wednesday, December 19th; 24 hours from when it was subject to release. However, due to its actual release at 18h06 the previous day this result did not reflect the full 24 hours which at just a few minutes later saw the song officially reach the 100 downloads mark at 18h10.

In respect to the songs release, mobile music-site Swagcity (swagcity.wen.ru), introduced a new feature, entitled 'Featured Song' which places a selected track located on the site, on its home page for a week. Granted that 'Underground Kings' was a brand new addition, the song became the first to be featured in this promotion.

Reflecting some of Real U's work on his mixtape, the song is recorded on a Drake instrumental of the same title. Real U stated that he found the instrumental a few months back online and felt the urge to record on it instantly. He found the title appropriate to the message he (at that time) wanted to present. This occurred after he felt a little discouraged due to the fact that some suggested that they disliked Real U's rapping in comparison to other local rappers. A few others stated that his message is different causing him not be as good as the rest. Real U however did not record this song as a response to his haters, but rather an indirect message to other rappers and their fans, which vividly compare his work to theirs.

The center aim of the song is bringing consciousness to artists, particularly rappers in the West Coast region. Real U states that he is an Underground King, not because of status but because of his position. His message of faith through Conscious Rap is a way of repping his superhero, Jesus as stated. As Galatians 4:7 in the Bible states that they are heirs in the Kingdom of God and co-heirs in Christ, Real U suggests that they should be considered kings on Earth as the Bible identities them as princes in Heaven.

This Christian perspective is evident throughout the song and stretches till the end, where Real U concludes that those who exalt themselves, considering themselves to be better than the rest, will be humbled.

As initially intended Shaloma Muzik will soon release a lyrical video for the song on YouTube. Other than this, it has not yet been confirmed as to whether or not the song will be uploaded on KasiMp3, as it will follow the release procedure of its two predecessors, appearing on Zamob and other connected sites of the Wapload network.

Real U keeps it Real COOL! One Truth and One Mixtape.

Former DJ, Real U (also known as Real Mixwell) dropped his revolutionary mixtape 50/50: The Vision last week, on the very first day of Spring on the African continent. With this 1st September release, there were no delays in getting it! Regardless of how the tape was pushed back 2 weeks since it's proposed release date, the mixtape received instant download numbers and positive comments from various listeners.



Photo courtesy of Shaloma Muzik.

Its promotion however was kept to a low, as Real U intends to provide his listeners with quality lyrics and sound. The production of The Vision can be criticised, but for many it has been overlooked as the editing and lyrically content filled the tape with a potential flow.

Feats from Lil' Beats and LiLReD helped narrow the solo feel of the release, with Kristie Alexandra vocally supporting the mixtape in its introductory stage on Crash Down.

Bonus songs Last Goodbye & Got Me Down paved a smooth ending to the 25-track Christian-based Conscious Hip-Hop fiasco. Local beat maker, Lee-Rick and musician Noel Kearns, helped as well as Real U thankfully credits them for their work. The mixtape is certainly a must hear for many. The question is not really 'who is Real U?' but rather 'what can he do?'

Title based on 1 Corinthians 13:12, '50/50' reflects both an uncertain image of life and the hope of a fulfilled vision in Christ.

Inspired to serve, this 18 year old lyricst, speaks either truth or a really brutal message to the youth. Days after the tape's release, Real U decided to tweet his expressive flow, under the hashtag #5050TheVision. No stranger to tweeting rhymes, the youngin' promotes Christian Hip Hop from the likes of Lecrae, Trip Lee & Bizzle, regularly through socially networking.

What lies in store for his artistic future? Only God knows.

To download Tha Real U '50/50: The Vision' visit www.tharealu.tk.
Download is free.