Hip Hop African Podcast

South Africa's ZuluMecca recently released her new EP "Seams", which showcases her powerful lyrics and unique style. A versatile artist, ZuluMecca is a talented lyricist and actress and in this episode, she discusses her journey in Hip Hop, the balance between authenticity and industry demands, and the influence of spirituality on her music.

Go to the announcements page for information on events and albums discussed in the episode. In this episode, I break down the road to breakdancing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. I also have a solo debate about the topic of appropriation, referencing Ada Enechi’s 2023 article: Are Black People Being Pushed out of Hip Hop?Read More »

In this episode, Breeze Yoko provides an overview of the graffiti scene in S. Africa, highlighting its unique history and evolution. Breeze also shares his experiences traveling across Africa and talks about graffiti laws and ongoing struggles against government regulations in S. Africa. Breeze Yoko also discusses experiences with intellectual property theft in creative industries.

This episode we discuss a wide range of hip hop-related news and events, including political protests, dance competitions, and recognition in prestigious institutions like The Grammys and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We also discuss the upcoming 30th anniversary of Prophets of da City's performance at Nelson Mandela's inauguration, along with upcoming events in various locations.

A conversation featuring Cameroonian artist Astrid Mafogang explored her experience as part of the African diaspora in the music industry. They delved into identity, representation, and her incorporation of Cameroonian identity into her music despite being based in London.

“All of these different cultures are a part of me. I didn’t want to limit myself to one sound.” -Six SixSaidIt is a multifaceted artist who seamlessly flows across the borders between hip-hop’s hottest subgenres to create a sound that is uniquely her own. In this wide-ranging conversation, I had the opportunity to speak toRead More »

This year, our Spring Series covers South Africa. In this episode, we have a conversation with South African Hip-Hop pioneer Emile YX?. Emile is part of the pioneering Hip Hop group Black Noise, one of the earliest Hip Hop groups in South Africa. He later co-founded the Hip Hop NGO Heal the Hood, which isRead More »

Political protest in Senegal and South Africa, Unkut Awards, events in Cali & South Africa, and new releases from Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Find links to the events and albums in our “Announcements“ The beat for the podcast intro is by Modenine If you have any questions, let us know. feedback@hiphopafrican.com FollowRead More »

This episode features a conversation with Senegalese hip hop artist Magui Diop. Magui Diop is an upcoming emcee representing another generation of Senegalese hip hop artists and Senegalese hip hop women. She is a product of one of the world’s largest and most respected hip hop scenes and has been influenced by Senegal’s tradition ofRead More »

News & Events Submissions for the 2024 Ghana Music Awards To qualify for nomination, songs entered must have been released between 1 January and 31 December 2023. The deadline for filing nominations is 31 January. Trinity International Hip Hop Festival The 18th annual Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival will take place April 5-7, 2024 at TrinityRead More »

This episode is a sit-down conversation with Toni Blackman. Toni is an artist, hip-hop activist, writer, and cultural ambassador. She holds the distinction of being the first hip-hop ambassador to the U.S. State Department, and her work has had a significant impact on the global perception of hip-hop. She has decades of experience in theRead More »

Apple Music’s Hip Hop DNA | The Sound of Freedom: The Evolution of SA Hip-Hop Apple Music is celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with the “Hip Hop DNA” series. One episode is focused on South Africa. The Hip Hop DNA series shows the diversity of hip-hop sounds, histories, and communities worldwide through radio episodes,Read More »

Links and information discussed in the episode A Huis Clos, a play by French rapper Kerry James. 15 November – 3 December at Théâtre du Rond-Point in Paris France A new play by French rap legend, Kery James and French director and writer Marc Lainé. In À huis clos, Kery James plays Soulaymaan, a lawyer whose brotherRead More »

The World Breaking Championship 2023 took place in Leuven, Belgium on September 23-24. The WBC featured 115 b-boys and 92 b-girls from 62 countries, including Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. Victor Montalvo (USA) won the men’s competition, Philip Kim, “B-Boy Phil Wizard,” (Canada) came in second place, andRead More »

Alfdaniels Mabingo (2022) Re-Contextualising Breakdance Aesthetics: Performance, Performativity, and Re-Enaction of Breakdancing in Uganda, Journal of African Cultural Studies, 34:4, 404-421, DOI: 10.1080/13696815.2022.2132473 In this episode, we speak with Dr. Alfdaniels Mabingo who wrote a fascinating article on breakdance in Uganda for the Journal of African Cultural Studies. Uganda has one of the largest breakdance scenes in the world, and Mabingo examines how the youth have reconfigured, localized, and re-interpreted breakdance aesthetics in that country. He argues that as breakdance spread, and youth innovated the art form, breakdance became part of Ugandan culture. In this sense, breakdance is no longer just a Western import, but Ugandans have evolved a breakdance into a Ugandan art form. The central thesis of Mabingo's article is to show how Ugandans have been able to localize breakdance and make it their own. He also talks about his research methods and his interest in what he refers to as “the jua cali theory”, which is about taking the imported and the local and repurposing them to create something new.

Events discussed in episode: August – December 2023 | Culture Curators: Hip Hop 50 | National Museum of Accra (Ghana) September 28 & 29, 2023 – Archiving Hip Hop: 50 years in the making – Milton Keynes, UK / online May 16-19, 2024 | European Hip Hop Studies Conference | Cork, Ireland In the article Pride Month: Embracing The LGBTIQA+ Community In African Hip Hop - Hiphop Africa, these are some of the artists featured in the article: ZuluMecca | https://www.instagram.com/zulumecca K.Keed | https://www.instagram.com/whodat_keed/ Dope Saint Jude | https://www.instagram.com/dopesaintjude Mx Blouse| https://www.instagram.com/sandiblouse Keko | https://www.instagram.com/kekotown1 Noti Flow | https://www.instagram.com/notiflowmusic Documentaries: The Eternal Spirit of Hip-Hop in Algeria (Documentary) Hiphop as a Vessel for Black Consciousness: Digging into the artistry of Pure Akan and Elom 20ce. Credits Theme music: DJ Teck Zilla Intro: "Good Gods Freestyle" by ZuluMecca (2022) Outro: "Culture" by ZuluMecca (2022)

Events discussed in the episode August 10 & 11 | Hip-Hop 50: Past, Present & Future | Howard University Join us for a dynamic fusion of academic discourse and cultural celebration. Engage with renowned scholars, influential artists, and passionate enthusiasts as we explore the multifaceted dimensions of Hip Hop’s impact on society, music, fashion, and activism. Delve into thought-provoking panel discussions, captivating performances, and interactive workshops. Uncover the intricate narratives that shape the genre’s past, present, and future. From breakdancing to lyricism, graffiti to social justice, this conference is a platform for understanding Hip Hop culture like never before. Don’t miss out on this exhilarating opportunity at Howard University! August 11, 2023 | Hip-Hop 50 Live | Bronx, New York “Co-produced by Live Nation, Mass Appeal and Yankee Stadium, Hip-Hop 50 Live will celebrate the genre’s 50th birthday in The Bronx this August.” August 11, 2023 | The Block Party for Hip Hop 50 | Nairobi, Kenya August 11th 1973 is a historic date in the Hip Hop community & as 2023 marks 50 years of this global cultural phenomenon, tuko na form! On August 11th, UnKut Africa presents The Block Party (Hip Hop 50 Edition). August 12, 2023 | NMAAHC Hip-Hop Block Party | Washington, DC “The Hip-Hop Block Party returns to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, celebrating the culture and music that has been originated and shaped by Black America for decades. This year’s celebration will honor 50 years of hip-hop’s artistry, innovation, and global transcendence.   The 2023 Hip-Hop Block Party will feature multi-generational performances by some of hip-hop’s most influential DJs, artists, and cultural influencers. Attendees will also be able to participate in interactive activities, such as graffiti art, breakdancing and more. There will also be hip-hop-focused tours of NMAAHC’s renowned galleries, revealing the genre’s connection to centuries-old improvisation and social-consciousness traditions.” October 8-14 | Chattanooga Hip Hop Week | Chattanooga, TN The fourth annual Chattanooga Hip-Hop Summit is a conference that celebrates Chattanooga Hip-Hop culture through an entrepreneurial lens and is primarily a Black-led initiative serving majority Black communities in Chattanooga and the Southeastern United States. Our aim is to: (1) bring in industry experts to help educate local and regional artists and those in the hip-hop industry, (2) highlight the talents of our local artists, and (3) bring hip-hop to the forefront of our community as a legitimate industry or career path. October 14-17, 2023 | Freestyle Lab: NYC | New York Freestyle Lab by WorldStrides is a weekend of workshops and rehearsals with featured artists in the hip-hop industry. You will then perform on two of the most famous stages in the world—The Apollo Theatre and Carnegie Hall! This experience goes beyond the beat to immerse you in this American art form with a story as powerful as its sound. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop in its birthplace, New York City, with hands-on, icon-led instruction that culminates in a legendary performance onstage at Carnegie Hall exploring the evolution of hip-hop. November 8-10th | Global Conference on Hip-Hop Education | Los Angeles, CA The 2023 Global Conference on Hip Hop Education will expand upon our previous theme, which focused on the foundation of the culture and explore how this culture both migrated out of New York to states like California (i.e. the Golden State), and into popular culture and academia in the late 1970s to mid-1980s. Our conference theme “From the Golden Era to the Golden State,” will guide us as we explore the foundation of this culture, understand what brought about an increase in cultural diffusion, and how lessons learned from the golden era can inform current pedagogies, interventions, research, scholarship, and practices.

Understanding the World of HipHop and Afrobeats with legendary Nigerian Hip Hop artist M.I. Abaga Jude Lemfani Abaga, also known as M.I. Abaga He is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter, and music producer. He was born originally in Jos, Northern Nigeria, and released his debut album in 2008. He was the CEO of the label Chocolate City from 2015 to 2019 and then started his label in 2020 with incredible music. Before getting into the music industry, he studied in the U.S. for a while, then came back to Nigeria and got his music career launched in 2003. “Hip-hop, as an art form, requires integrity for you to be respected.” - M.I. Abaga He has received several music awards, including the MTV Africa Music Awards and BET Awards. He is also involved in different initiatives to bring about social and political change in Nigeria; he was declared the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime Goodwill Ambassador against the smuggling of migrants in 2012. In his role, he was charged with speaking out on and drawing attention to the smuggling issue in Nigeria’s most recent election; his organization TASCK, a creative agency in the last general elections launched a campaign encouraging people to vote. Having been in the industry for over two decades, M.I. has nuggets of wisdom to share with people in or who are eyeing the music industry. He believes that all upcoming artists should not limit themselves to one genre of music but should instead try different things to find out what they are most comfortable with. “Every artist has to pick their point, be true to it, and make a case.” - M.I. Abaga In this episode, M.I. takes us through his music career journey. From how he got into the industry, the challenges he has encountered, how he is mentoring young talents, his experience working with other artists, to his relationship with Afrobeats. He will also enlighten us on the tension between success and integrity for artists. Where do they draw the line? M.I. is on a mission to solve a big problem in Africa. He is working towards ensuring that creatives starting their careers don’t have to go through traumatic experiences. Through his agency, he is offering them support and infrastructure to help them build sustainable businesses for them from the onset. Listen to learn more from MI. “The goal is not to attempt to be perfect. The goal is to attempt to create with integrity, trust and know, and when you get feedback that doesn’t agree, learn, and grow.” - M.I. Abaga M.I.’s Socials https://twitter.com/MI_Abaga https://www.instagram.com/mi_abaga/ https://www.youtube.com/user/mrincrediblemi https://www.facebook.com/miabaga001 Key Talking Points of the Episode: [05:48] MI’s career trajectory [07:58] The power of being a veteran artist [12:41] The undeniable shift in the music industry [13:23] Introspection through experience and loss [18:27] M.I.’s first album [25:25] Why is it important for M.I. to help other artists? [38:22] M.I.’s relationship with Afrobeats as a genre [43:46] The tension between success and integrity as artists [50:20] What is M.I. working on currently?

Peter King Ubiebor also known as Dhoro Styles is a Nigerian street and graffiti artist. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from the University of Benin in Edo state, Nigeria. Dhoro Styles has a strong focus on drawing, painting, graffiti writing, and creating murals with spray paints and paintbrush techniques. In our conversation with him, Dhoro Styles told us that his interest for drawing started at the age of 4, and continued throughout secondary school. He added that it was in secondary school that he did his first graffiti writing with spray paint. Dhoro Styles states that he draws inspiration from contemporary urban cultures, street arts, Chicago murals, and graffiti from the 1980’s and 1990’s. As well as from Uprising, the well-known graffiti artist from Nigeria, and Eminem, the American-based rapper. Graffiti, according to Dhoro Styles, is a medium of communication. He adds that apart from graffiti addressing social issues, “when we express ourselves on the walls we are living.” This means that graffiti is a culture and a style of a people. Dhoro Styles indicated that he does his graffiti writing and painting on bridges in Lagos, the home of graffiti in Nigeria.  Dhoro Styles on social media: IG: @dhoro_styles FB: dorostyles

This is the first episode in our Spring Series, which focuses on Nigeria this year. In this episode, we talked to Victor Uwakwe Izuchukwu, the founder of Loudbase AF Entertainment, a hip-hop community organization formed in Nigeria in 2018. Loudbase is a platform “for creatives in the hip-hop community to nurture and groom skills.” They hold a yearly Hip-Hop conference, most recently in November 2022. The conference brings together hip hop heard from around the world, especially Africa, to celebrate all aspects of hip hop culture. They not only focus on music, but also hip hop dance, DJing, graffiti, and knowledge. You can find Loudbase on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram https://www.youtube.com/@loudbasenghip-hophouse6473 https://www.instagram.com/loudbase_af/ https://twitter.com/Loudbasehip_fm