Las Didge

 

Ladies and gentlemen let's take a trip to one of the greatest hoods in the East of Johannesburg where we've witnessed alot of great MC's, today Hip Hop Nation TV would like to show love to one of the dopest MC's we've ever heard in this generation from being featured on the Real McCoy track by Don Veedo.

We've all seen what he is capable of when he spits his bars at the Team Back Pack session, if you haven't then let this project be a testimony and evidence of what I'm about to preach.

Gran's Favorite is an album by Las Didge which is dedicated to his grandmother the late Mam' Qoma " Thembisa Deborah Madonci" who has made an impact in his life in positive ways that are unimaginable. As a majority of us can relate because we were raised by our grandmothers this removes the stereotype that " Hip Hop doesn't value woman" even though there were songs like "Dear Mama" Showing love to Mama Afeni.

I tuned into the first track" Isaka Nyana" a perfect track for all the hustlers out there whether you're in the burbs or the hood, we all have dreams and we aspire to be somebody that will make an impact and leave a legacy for the next generation. The Hook itself tells the story of every 9-5 worker who are bread winners or providers in their family giving the usual activities of the Joburg life " Bay Skhelm one taxi to Jozi ses' yo park e small"

This track will get you pumped early in the morning unleashing the grindmode in you despite the challenges we have in the community of unemployment at 70% amongst the youth.

As I listened to the main theme track of the album "Gransfavorite" made me realise how we need to value our elders as they are the generation who will pass dowm the wisdom to us, their experience gives us life valuable lessons this song does justice to showing love to all the grandmothers.

Many of us were raised by our grandmothers they were the pillar of the family they taught unity, loyalty and discipline. I believe that this song will touch the souls of the women that went through oppression and many challenges.

"Umakhelwane" is a dope track with a nice snare kick and flute, Didge shows his rhythmic skills and ability to tell the township story addressing serious issues in the black community touching on topics like gossip,envy and jealousy things that hold us back as a community, even though Didge does it in a humorous way which is quite intelligent because we as black people wrap truth in laughter so that it makes it more pallatable and easier to get down.

You all know that I Ecliptic love that grimey hardcore Hip-Hop so when the track "Fall Back" featuring Don Veedo was playing I knew some hardcore bars are about to come out here, the track itself is a Boombap beat with a hardcore bass that makes you wish you had a loud subwoofer speaker in your car giving that truck volume feeling.

The project gets more serious when the song "Change" plays, a moment to stare at the mirror or meditate and reflect on self considering how short life is is especially being in this pandemic.

"Season changes weather, weather changes how you living, reason changes way of thinking, thinking is voice of reason, change is how you measure progress, progress is how you lead, phases are the stages, stages raising your degree" damn this hook should be added on the African proverb archives, truly speaking Didge has done more than enough justice in this album. Sixteen Dirty Let's Go!!!!!!!!

Selema Writes

I am writing this piece with excitement because I haven't written an article or a blog for a while and I'm writing this now having a platform called Hip Hop Nation TV, It has given me the opportunity to do what I love and that is expressing myself through the Hip Hop culture.

I also feel very privileged to write about one of the greatest emcees I've been following from killing freestyles battles on YFm,winning mixtape king of the year on Shizniz, performing on Back To The City festival,Scrambles for money and becoming the World Champion at the End Of The Weak

Alright Ladies and Gentlemen let the drums roll I introduce to you Selema Writes!!!!

It is a blessing that for these past few years from seeing this brother having the stage name Sledge Lee making tracks with the OG's Mizchif and Snazzy D transitioning to Dice Mak seeing him mature in his artistry and still become an emcee who is consistent in what he does, I truly must admit that I am inspired as an artist too.

I felt it was time to show love, respect and support to those who contribute to this movement whilst they are still alive. In his transitioning from Dice Mak to Selema Writes He created three projects in 2020: Peace Be Upon You, Mama Is Still A Freedom Fighter ,There Were Mermaids At The Stream and in 2021 He released Bomaye with Mind Frame.

He explains that the artwork on Peace Be Upon You was inspired by a black saint named Martin de Porres, who performed miracles of levitation, instantaneous cures and ability to communicate with animals.

The Ep has a tone of maturity laid back which is easy to listen to as I was driving around my neighbourhood. A perfect EP to bump into on a weekend too, I love how He is also versatile in his EP with the different beats given to him. The storyline goes well and perfectly tuned, tracklist is in perfect order no peak moments the last two tracks compliment each other "Sunsetting" and " As I lay you down" concept was well planned.

29th of June 2020 he released Mama Is Still A Freedom Fighter Ep , the artwork was inspired by the black godess Oshun who is typically associated with water,purity, fertility, love and sensuality and considered one of the most powerful orisha's.

Selema says the title speaks to honour and integrity which he learned from His parents and that His parents' hearts still burn for true liberation and they still weep for the suffering of our people, this was easier for me to relate to as my Grandfather was exiled and almost assasinated by the apartheid government. The first three tracks discusses serious political issues in South Africa, with scars that remain permanent on us as black people in South Africa.

On the 30th of September 2020 He released " There Were Mermaids At The Stream" LP which took three years for him to create, I'd say one of my favourite tracks were Glory and Honour which pays homage respect to Marcus Garvey one of the greatest black leaders that inspired the black nation, Marcus Garvey during his speech states " Man in the true knowledge of himself is a superb and supreme creature" finally young black people will go back to learning Black History through Hip Hop again making knowledge cool or like KRS usually spoke of Edutainment. The " Love Jones" track with Phumza was a fine calm black love kind of music which reminds us of how great we are as the original man and original woman of this planet and "Rap Monet" comes as a sensual and seductive track the overall production album is great.

The latest album which he released this year with Mind Frame "Bomaye LP" producer from New York the Mecca of Hip Hop puts South African Hip Hop on another level globally. I love how he impersonates himself as Muhammad Ali on the song "Bomaye" truly Selema has the kind of will Ali had just by witnessing him drop three projects in one year shows passion and hardwork that many might not have.

The "Blood Diamond" track also caught my attention reminds us of how imperialism affected us considering that the Diamond in South Africa is still owned by the Rothschild through the Oppenheimer Dynasty and De Beers this is relevant as many people are demanding for the land and the resources under it

It also reminds me of what Selema said " Just because something is black owned doesn't mean it's in the interest of black people"

" Food, Clothing and Shelter" addresses issues such as ubuntu and the high rate of poverty it encourages us to go back to our roots as Africans honestly I think it is an honour that we have an artist that is brave enough to speak on political issues that many wouldn't dare to I Rolihlahla feel proud that I shall share this piece of article with the next generation.

With all the achievements Selema has he still remains the young humble man we all know who grew up in Xavier Reef Estate this makes me feel proud to say I'm not the only Emcee from Jhb South, 2091 respect!!!!