Hip Hop on depression

Hip Hop on Depression



From the very beginning of Hip Hop music, artists have used their medium to express struggles faced by themselves and their community. It’s no surprise that the theme of emotional suffering and pain shows up regularly in rap lyrics. Hearing how deeply this illness impacts so many, regardless of race, creed, background or economic status, can provide some comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your journey.

Young black men experience a lot of trauma. They’ve lost people, seen violence, been humiliated by the society. In this song Turm communicates many feelings most have when death occurs, especially at random, undeserving times.

This is the fourth installment on his ‘13 August Freestyle’ marathon, he releases yearly to celebrate his birthday with his fans.

In this emotional roller-coaster there's a sense of weariness due to anxiety of his past and present life difficulties, nonetheless it's one of Turm’s more philosophical raps that truly explains his relationship with God and how seriously he takes death.

First verse he is reading his suicide note. In which he outlines all his struggles, suffering and fight with depression, from feeling trapped in his own body, not being able to sleep, confidence and self-esteem dropping to feeling like a disappointment to his family and hurting the mother of his child endlessly – he feels he has lost purpose in this life and in turn this leads to him taking his own life. He chooses every word carefully showing that deep inside he doesn’t want to die, but he can’t deny it will end his struggles. 

Second verse his spirit is floating on earth, all confused looking at the pain he has caused. This verse has close links to scenes from the book of Revelations, he is in heaven where he is to receive his divine judgement, but he realises that he has sinned and now feels bad for putting his loved one through that pain and he thinks he is going to be sent hell. He asks God for his life back, a second chance so he can go home and be a better father and son but it’s too late, they’re carrying his lifeless body in a coffin.

Third verse an angel of death responding and speaking to him. It suggests that suicide is indeed a permanent solution but to a temporary problem and the big downside is its very permanence make room for other options. Also suggests that time and perspective change even the trenchant of beliefs, it goes further to tell him he should have forgiven himself, pray about it and use those problems to build himself because everyone else has their demons that they battle with, instead of being comfortable with the unfortunate ‘last’ option of victimizing himself.

It’s a perfect model to write about suicidal thoughts because there is a big difference between suicide awareness and suicide prevention, it’s very easy to glamorize it and get the message wrong. “Art can connect people with sufferings, but there has to be hope on the other side. It does not have to end in tragedy if you give people an action step.” – Draper

When rappers open up, fans listen; and this case, they’re moved to open up too. Now that the genre is finally more open to its dark mental storms, how should artists write and work in honest ways, while also helping those who are truly suffering?

By Shabba-Pen

For counselling queries e-mail: zane@sadag.org

To contact a counsellor between 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday,
Call: 011 234 4837 / Fax number: 011 234 8182

For a suicidal Emergency contact us on 0800 567 567

24hr Helpline 0800 12 13 14
www.sadag.org

Dj 949 is a multitasking Hip Hop Dj/Producer

DJ 949 is a multi-tasking Hip Hop producer and a DJ


You may not know the name Setshaba Maganyela, but if you are a fan of local acts and real Hip Hop head that enjoys the streets-inspired and handcrafted occasional hop you know who DJ 949 is.

Some artists use nicknames that they have had their whole life, while other MCs and Djs create an entirely new persona, Setshaba decided to keep it simple and use his birthdate, September 9th in 1994, so keeping up with the theme, DJ 949 was born.

As a local Dj, Setshaba started small like many other, to mention the recent few, in 2017 he played at HHC Awards in Burgersfort, Hip Hop in the Park (SK) and also played at Sekhukhune Picnic hosted by Mzansi Humour, the same year he did a radio tour with SK FM and Mascom FM.

His hard work and dedication did not stop there as he continued to work his way to consistent gigs and eventually winning the Best Producer of the Year (2017) at BEM Limhop Awards.

Working with local talent, DJ 949 dropped a beat-tape with SK’s finest and renowned producer Kay Beats. His 100% local Hip Hop mix aired on TransAfrica Radio Channel DSTV872, OVHD609.

He also showcased beats at F.C.A event in Johannesburg, K1 where the guest artists were the members of South African Hip Hop outfit hailing from the Vaal, Rapper Golden Shovel and MC/Producer - Battlekat.

DJ 949 really made his mark when he represented the whole province (Limpopo) in the biggest Hip Hop Festival in Africa, the mighty Back To The City(BTTC) hosted in JHB, Newtown with over 30 000 spectators and made it to Top 20 of South African Hip Hop producers and see himself coming second in the 10K producers challenge.

Dee-jaying wasn’t the initial draw for Setshaba. He says he was inspired by his uncle who was also a House music DJ. “My love for Hip Hop developed back in 2004 when my brother used to play old school Hip Hop music videos ....I was inspired by DJ Premier as he would always appear on music videos punching mpc pads and doing vinyl scratches.”

At the age of 24, DJ 949 has been dee-jaying since he was 18. “In 2012 I took interest in beat-making, my high school friend hooked me up with a fruity loops studio and taught me the basics of how it works then I started working on dopeness that people are only hearing now” 949 said.

Hip Hop was founded by DJs. DJ Kool Herc to be specific on 11 August 1973, inspired by ladies, dee-jaying for his sister Cindy at her party in 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. Since that party and throughout the 80s and 90s, Hip Hop has always been all about DJs as the linchpin of experimentation with the practice of scratching, mixing and cutting. DJs and/or producers play a major role in the foundation of turning a simple track into a song and despite of all that, they still do not get enough recognition for their dedication and hard work.

The DJ is no longer part of the creative role with the shared responsibility for the overall sound and the live performance. And not only does this cripple the growth of Hip Hop Djs but makes it hard for the current ones to make a living out of their craft.

Like any other artist in this fast pacing competition filled-industry, DJ 949 aspire to get more paying gigs nationwide for both dee-jaying and beats presentations. He said “anyone can help by booking me to deejay at any event or donate me Dee-jaying gear /mpc resonance or money to buy one, I would appreciate anyone who wanna help”

For bookings and contact with DJ 949:

Contact number: 0721819919
Email: setshabamaganyela@gmail.com
Twitter: @DJ949_Sa
Facebook: Dj nine four nine setshaba maganyela

His work is also available on Soundcloud, Audiomack and Fakaza.com
https://soundcloud.com/user-10407735/do-it-now-freestyle-prod-by-dj-949
https://audiomack.com/song/dj-949-sa/do-it-now-freestyle-prod-by-dj-949

Know that Pedi rap is here and it’s not gonna stop

Pedi rap is unique and has a lot of chance takers but King Solomon II is the man who is proving worthy to take Pedi rap to new and unchartered heights and introduce it into the mainstream.
Born and raised in Limpopo, Schoonoord. Real name Solly Phahlamohlaka aka King Solomon II is a self-taught rapper and producer who handles everything from music production to mastering his own songs.
He creates music that caters for everyone from pure lyricism that savours every word without a drop of substance to the throne for rap royalty, no one is crafting street shit this thorough.

My first encounter with King Solomon II was on his 2015 mixtape, Take Me To Your Leader (TMTYL), which included tracks like “Sho Bafosa and O seke wa lla” when I first heard this tape my thoughts were ”This is an absolute essential for any head who’s really down with this underground shit.” He mixes old Pedi idioms and new age township slang and barrage of wordplay and jaw dropping rhymes.
Like most cats, King Solomon II fell in love with Hip Hop at a very young age, when he was 12, “My first encounter with Hip Hop was in 2002, and my sister was a huge fan of hip hop. She collected a whole bunch of Hip Hop music that we jammed to. I started rapping a year after that.” He said.
“In 2005 my friends and I started a crew called BC3. It was like 7 of us. Only a few of them still rap to this day. I believe being part of that crew helped build my character and it helped me grow lyrically as an MC. Being around people who have the same ambition can motivate you.” Solly said.
In early July, 2018 King Solomon II appeared on Shiz Live to perform his latest single, “Ke Nna” from his upcoming EP “Deleted Scenes” before going to rock the stage at Hip Hop Cares (HHC) in Burgersfort, “I enjoyed performing at HHC and I'm glad the reception was good. There was no major purpose to it, it was all about having a good time with the Hip Hop community.” He said.
King Solomon has a collaboration project “Order & Chaos” with the founder of Kay Beats Foundation, HHCA2017 Producer of the Year, the man Kay Beats himself. He also appeared on a joint collaboration tape between Nose The Capital and Kay Beats “Fabrics” on the song “Militiate” which is basically a textbook example of pure lyricism, intentional or not, this song is a seminal work serving as an antithesis to the warpspeed cadences, delivery methods Nose and King are exchanging.
As a Hip Hop head that I am myself, it’s clear that the the deleted scenes happen to be the biggest highlights of his career, and I for one waiting for the EP to drop…
You can use the following details contact to King Solomon II
Twitter @King_Solomon_II
Facebook: I Am King Solomon II
Insta: @King_Solomon_II
pr@iamkingsolomonii.co.za
bookings@iamkingsolomonii.co.za
Reverbnation.com/kingsolomonii
Soundcloud.com/kingsolomonii

Written by Shabba-Pen

The Next Gear

In my life and time I have come across dozens of rappers and the classifications while vast are very simple. Rappers raised by Skwatta Kamp, H20, Slaghuis, 1808 , Teargas before skinny jeans have a different approach to the rap business than your #FiLLupTheDome guys. The first distinction would be the style of music which is the palpitation of this article.
There are a lot of vodka faces as far as the status of rap goes in relation to rappers pre Nyovest era. We can agree that a lot of the rappers we loved were phased out by evolution. The few that survived the sharp turn had to panel beat themselves to be worthy of a highway of tech-era.
Riky Rick used to drop real verses (not that his verses now are not real. In perspective they might be the bible). The new Rick sings and slims himself through a 16. The first thing we will have to admit is that Hip Hop/Rap on its own is a growing culture. Growth is synonymous with change. Facts !

Photo by Magoshi photography at Hip Hop Cares Awards 2016

This would follow the line of reasoning that supports the argument that says one must adapt if they will survive. An understanding of the mentality stated above would have avoided the blood spatter we saw between Cassper and Tumi (now known as Stogie T in attempts of evolution).
I downloaded a few mixtapes over the past year looking for something worth listening to. A body of art that has direction and purpose. The above paragraphs were supported by a wordsmith from Jane Furse , Limpopo who currently resides in the East Rand. I was not able to immediately identify him as he changed coats like Tumi did. DizzyMan Ape now known as Mochene perfectly articulates what adapt or die means in the rap world. What previously was a “I can rap” artist is now a “I can make you listen “guy.
I have learned a few things from his offering which I am keen to share. First things first, create something unique. I have never been a big believer of the soap box advocates who preach that rap is saturated. It is not possible. There are eight billion people on earth and they are all unique. If you give the market yourself it will consume faster than cocaine in one’s bloodstream. Mochene created a genre called Chantrap.
My findings are subject to correction as I did not have prior consultation with him for this particular article. What I heard from the genre was a mixture of Kiba and diphala , which are ethnic music of the Bapedi denomination. You can pick this up in ad libs and choruses. He identifies with his origins in a subtle manner. The last time we heard this was when there was an attempt to mix Maskadi and rap. It faded quickly because the maskadi was too obvious on the ear. Mochene was able to wrap the vegetables with good looking food in you get what I am saying.
Secondly, Brand imaging. It does not help to call yourself the street king but you hardly in the streets. After becoming Mochene he made sure on social media platforms he is identified as such. He is a musician and that is what his brand is about. It is disappointing to see an artist dedicating themselves to narrating jokes on their timeline rather than sharing their music. He made is music available everywhere and easily accessible to all mediums of persons. This composition must appeal to the village people too, why put it on ITunes?
Thirdly, He did not compromise what rap is really about for the sake of the industry. You must understand that after the noise your single makes we either forget about it or we sit down and really listen to your project. Chant chorus , hooky bars , heart filled lines … I am overwhelmed. This must have been an easy project to write but it should have been difficult to project. Such honesty doesn’t come across a lot of times. He basically gave us him , Mochene !!!!

I would pay for this project. It is a collector’s item. There is something for everyone without ruining the harmony of what a work of art is supposed to be. Do not take my word for it. Download ChanTrap by clicking here.
#MocheneSA on social media to extend the conversation.


@HipHopCaresSa on Twitter
Hip Hop Cares Foundation on facebook

#HHC STREET WALL

If its on the streets .....we got it


Turm- We got this

Lil Chief - Changes

Tylin - Bang Bang

Illy Ft Nose - Pen Game


Czar - First Cut Ep

Mochene - ChanTrap Mixtape

We Blogging again.

We are excited to announce to all our fans that we will be blogging once again. We stopped blogging for the use of a paid for domain which at that time made sense. The truth is we had little control of the content and could not update it effectively. Moving from a blog to a website also meant that a lot of our artist could not get the promotion and support they needed. We apologize for the experiment but ask that we do not get stoned for trying.

The Hip Hop Cares South Africa blog is back. Our content will be refined and well thought out. The primary purpose will always be our charity work but we will alternatively use this blog for rigorous discussions and well spoken articles about artists.

Those we trusted to write blogs while we did not blog, prepare to blog again as we are here to inspire you too.

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The count down is on #HHCV