photograph by Leeroy Jason

How is your label Renaissance Rock Recordings doing?
RRR is doing well; we are currently representing 21 composers and a number of exciting artists who are busy shaking things, such as Loui Lvndn, Frank Marksy, Frankie Beagle and Dead Alphabet. We’re also in talks with underground rap legends Revivolution and a performance-rap duo by the name of Stash Crew who used to perform with A Brother Moves On.

You’ve also introduced RRR, your new clothing brand. Tell us a bit about this coming together of music and fashion…?
The name of the clothing brand is RRR and it’s a blatant merger of fashion and music. The clothing directly reflects the attitude of the company, which is punk rock. So we’re doing prints that evoke a sense of rebellion and social tension. It’s in the music and it’s in our society, so why not put it in the clothes?

What does ‘Mazishe’ and ‘Sgebengu’ mean? Is the use of rhyming in vernac important for you and what’s been the public’s response?
‘Mazishe’ is Joburg slang for ‘let’s do it’ or ‘light it up’. Sgebengu is a Zulu word for criminal. The use of vernac in the music is important but also second nature, there’s no way anybody can grow up in South Africa — especially in Joburg — and not be affected by the culture. I put the whole city on my back when I used it in my name because that’s how much I love being a Joburg kid and being a South African. The people have responded positively and overwhelmingly to the music and the brand. The kids can tell that I’m actually here for them and not just making a quick buck.

What are your plans for the rest of 2014? And the future?
During the second half of 2014, I’ll be releasing my EP, my DVD, my video, I’ll be going on tour with Revivolution, new clothing designs will be out and I’ll be expanding my brand to overseas. In short, we’ll be staging a coup d’état.

Where in Joburg do you feel most alive?
Downtown baby! Yeoville stand up!

Any upcoming gigs we can look forward to?
Definitely! My management keeps me busy.The biggest will be the the #LIVEFROMTHE011 launch that I’m hosting with GRIME TOWN at the end of July in Maboneng. I’m also branching into public speaking and will be speaking to children at a school in Alexandra township which I’m excited about!

How would you describe South Africa’s hip hop scene? Does it (and if so, why?) differ from province to province; city to suburb…? What are the most significant differences and where do you feel your style is most aligned to?
South Africa’s hip hop scene is growing very well and it’s on pace to be the biggest cultural influencer in this country. My only problem with it at the moment is that it’s very soft and safe. Nobody dares to talk about what’s really going on in society. That’s where I come in, and I think that MAZISHE being played on national radio is a testament to how hungry the public is for a hip hop artist who actually raps about something they can relate to.

SPAZA$HOP – PHOTOGRAPH BY TINI JIZZLEI

My style is not regional, my style is street. I’m aligned to the streets. My experiences are from the streets. Street life is one of the most universal concepts known to man and it connects people from all over our country, continent and planet. I’m just speaking about street life from a Joburg perspective.

We are witnessing a handful of local acts which seem to be getting more support from overseas and by international promoters and labels than local ones. What are your thoughts on this?

I’ve got no problem with anything that serves to take my message further. Give us bigger venues and bigger crowds and you’ll see a bigger change.

How important do you think radio exposure is and how does it directly affect artists’ revenue?
I speak from personal experience when I say that national radio is the difference and performance royalties can be very significant if you’ve had a hit, but artists shouldn’t think about that too much when composing.

Would you still consider there to be an underground music scene with the increasing emergence of artists’ releasing their work online?
The internet only served to grow the underground music scene…

So yes, the underground is alive in Joburg.

If you could work with any local and international artist, who would it be?
Locally I would like to work with the producers Nyambz, PH-Superman and Brian Soko and internationally I’d like to work with Madlib and Pharrell. Ask me in five years if I made all of that happen!

Jonny Joburg – Photograph by Justin McGee

Would you ever host a huge concert from a Spaza container? If so, who else would we see on stage?
When I was in SPAZA$HOP BOYZ, that was our dream so if one small seed is keen I’d love to partner on making that show happen. I’d have Revivolution, Dead Alphabet and STASH CREW open for me. It would be epic!

Tell us about where your style is at the moment… and for a little treat, give us a rhyme that sums up your style in 2014!
I changed my style to a form that I grew up listening to in the ’90s because I felt it would get my lyrical content across better. A rhyme from a song on my EP illustrates the shift… ‘I’m pissing off the government topless like I’m Pac.’

If you could invent a new genre of music, what would you call it?

My new genre of music would be called: ‘Don’t be afraid, be yourself’.

Stay posted to Renaissance Rock Recordings’ Facebook page for updates on Sgebengu, the music video to ‘Mazishe’ and his project in LA!

Interview by Matthew Alexander

Jonny Joburg – Photograph by Justin McGee

For an interview with The Spaza$hop Boyz on one small seed click here.

High on Fire by DeadAlphabet

Having started out in 2009, Dead Alphabet has evolved a dirty rock sound with a hint of garage and punk, and throbbing riffs and prodigious lyrics; they have climbed steadily in popularity and swelled their fan base. The band credits electronic music for re-shaping the way they see rock music and pushing the walls out with regards to what instruments they use to create their sound. Most recently they were nominated in the 2012 MK Awards under Best Rock Video category for the ‘Eat You Alive’ music video.

The Kill by DeadAlphabet

When asked how they felt about the nomination, Adam Edwards the vocalist and visual creator of the video explained, ‘It actually feels really great, we were selected as a defining video and song in a calendar year full of bands and artists trying their mightiest to be rock ’n roll. We would also like to have the opportunity to win something other than a beer drinking competition or the genetic lottery.’

So how did the actual video come about? ‘I went to the band with an idea and we all piled our cash together on a bed. After we were done throwing it in the air and slipping 10’s into Phil’s jockstrap we hired a forest and some rather fancy looking equipment and started shooting us playing a show in the dark.’ The cinematography was done by still photographers, Paul Shiakalis and Huw Morris, and Adam along with a colleague, Philip Davies, approached the visuals with trippy animation and kaleidoscopic effects in mind. I had to enquire about the inspiration for the lyrics. ‘It’s a story of dangerous courting and the promise of even more dangerous sex.’ The end result was a video focused on a live performance which engaged, entertained and used visuals to tie into the lyrics. Adam added, ‘This is no revolutionary idea, hopefully people think it looks cool and they listen to the song long enough for the subliminal messaging to do its work.’

Even though 2012 is not even at the teething stage, the band has not been resting on their laurels or recovering from any New Year’s benders, they are in the final stages of editing a music video for a song recorded late last year entitled ‘Blood on My Fist,’ due to be released as a single on radio and television with the video featuring footage of their recent European Tour. They are also currently booking a tour in the United States in June, ‘The U.S. is an exciting prospect because it is such a massive market with plenty of venues and a hunger for rock ’n roll.’ Accompanying them will be the shows unofficial extra band member and their very own paparazzo, Hanro Havenga, who was responsible for filming and photographing their European tour. Adam describes how his photographic work really captures the nuances of being on a tour and gives people a sense of what it’s like to live with them day to day.

The band is completely D.I.Y, with Adam on visuals and Philip controlling the engineering and mixing the recordings and the logistics and organization. ‘Phil likes to think he‘s in charge so he is quite good at that. Hugh and Justin buy the beer. This cannot be underestimated.’ Adam is quick to add that on a more serious note everyone contributes to the music. I had to ask if he could ask any musician a question, who would it be and what would he ask? ‘Lady Gaga. You show me yours, I’ll show you mine?’  Follow the band on their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/#!/DEADALPHABET
Lick Yourself Clean by DeadAlphabet

Produced by Dead Alphabet, recorded live at the SABC. Co-engineered by Graham Klawansky and Kyle Sutcliffe. Featured in South African horror film Rancid

Rancid preview

Rancid First Look from Kamikaze Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Words: Angelique Redmond

Photography: Mr Hanro Havenga