Mic Check S.K.R HIP-HOP MC's with DJ 1-Beat

When you hear their music for the first time, you'll immediately know why they are S.K.R, talent  versatility and a profound sound that makes their production up market, unique, smart and tantalizing. S.K.R. has been featured in the South Africa’s No.1 hip-hop magazine called HYPE in 2008 and landed their music on Africa's largest reality show Big Brother. They moved on to clinch a 4 track recording deal with an American recording company, Nomadicwax  based in New York which also has a radio station. They have been given considerable airplay, so i  caught up with S.K.R and this is who they are.

Q: Who is SKR and what does it mean?

A:  RIZLA: SKR is a an acronym for our names being Spinx, Kompozitioner and Rizla. Spinx

      and  Rizla do the rapping and Kompozitioner does the production.

Q: How did you come about to do hip hop and rap?

A: RIZLA: I had been horning my skills since I was 16 and was looking for beats to produce

     my first project. Then by chance I bumped into Kompozitioner who was making beats

     and already working with Spinx. Then after hearing Spinx rap... the rest is the present.

     KOMPOZITIONER: I’ve been hooked on hip hop ever since I heard Biggie and how 

     the breaks were chopped on those records was madness, it actually inspired me to put 

     pen to paper and create my own classic.    

Q: When did you start your music?

 A: RIZLA: We have been working on our music since 2006.

Q: What stable are you co signed under?

A:  RIZLA: At the moment we are Independent and loving it.

Q: When did your careers start?

A: RIZLA: My career started in the year 2000. That's when I started writing and rapping

     with other students back in school.

     KOMPOZITIONER: Well I started out rapping at school around year 2002 and naturally 

     with no beats I started investing time and money into the art of  beat making to produce 

     a complete product . 

Q: How is your music important to you?

A: RIZLA: It's the one thing i can never get bored of doing. Getting into the studio and

     creating music is the ultimate high for me. So to share my life experiences with the world

     is like the most important thing when it comes to our music.

     KOMPOZITIONER: On the real for me it’s Therapy, an escape into a world I created were

     a baseline tells a story and a note played on a record is not just a sound but a piece 

     of me….my story with no words I guess. 

Q: Who or what influenced you to become musicians?

A: RIZLA: Eventually after so many years of being part of the culture it comes natural to

     start contributing to it one way or another. I think for me the urge to tell my story and

     represent were I'm from was the biggest push I got to getting into this.

     KOMPOZITIONER: Life did from my parents playing UB40 to my sisters listening to

     Macarena and the amount of music I had at the time about 3000 hours of Cassette

     tapes and Video tapes. Oh! yeah, and my constant adding of melodies to every song I hear.   

Q: What kind of message does your music portray?

A: RIZLA: It's basically our different life stories which somehow tend to be the same most of

     the times. Our everyday hustle is what we talk about. It's all positive good music meant 

     to invoke emotion one way or another. Laugh, cry, dance and so on. Above all like 

     Spinx always says...'You got to keep it real”.

Q: Have you performed anywhere outside Zimbabwe?

A: RIZLA: No! Hopefully from this interview we will get a few gigs lined up.

Q: What does Hip-Hop mean to you?

A: RIZLA: Hip Hop to me is a culture. It's a way of life filled with ways of expressing oneself. It's

    a unifying force that has brought the world together through it's different expressions.To me 

    it also means freedom. I am so at ease expressing myself through a pen and pad it's crazy.

Q: Do you have a favorite song/ track from your mix-tape?

A:RIZLA: At the moment it has to be the track called Gossip that we did. The lyrics are so

    real. Spinx killed that verse Of  The Top. Yes, he just got into studio and started spitting 

    fire. No pen, no pad, no phones...lol Look out for the video for that track.

Q: What has been the general response to your music?

A: RIZLA: Most people don't believe that we from Bulawayo right here in Zimbabwe coz

    our quality is too good to be from Zimbabwe, so they say! Feedback is good so far 

    so hopefully we can market ourselves more. KOMPOZITIONER: I left Zimbabwe two

    years ago so the reaction to the Mixtape in Zim I wouldn’t know about but people from

    Down Under are feeling the Music and the fact that it’s coming from Africa it’s showing them 

    a different side to the continent. 

Q: Are you being aired on radio?

A: RIZLA: Our music has been on radio for 2 years now. We recently sent the mixtape so 

     yeah, best believe we “Occupying the Airwaves” for real.

Q: What makes a good artist in your opinion?

A: RIZLA: A good artist respects his work. It starts from the respect you have for your work 

     first, then from then on you will see the discipline and hard work will naturally follow in 

     place. Artist need to take time out to learn and appreciate how things work so that they

     can best be able to produce quality products in whatever they do.

     KOMPOZITIONER: A person that knows him/her self to the point where their character 

     is reflected in their music or art.

Q: What do you enjoy most about Hip hop?

A: RIZLA: Being able to express yourself freely is what I enjoy most. Watching people use 

     what they have to create something beautiful is also in there but freedom stands out more. 

Q: What have been your biggest challenges?

A: RIZLA: Financing our projects has been the biggest problem. So, because of 

     this financial constraint we can’t solely concentrate on music alone because we have bills
     to pay.

Q: What motivates S.K.R to do what you do?

A: RIZLA: The fact that we can eventually spend the rest of our lives doing what we love 
     the most and that's contributing to Hip Hop is the greatest motivation of all. Life is too short
     so we are planning on spending it wisely.

     KOMPOZITIONER : The prospects of one day being able to provide for my family and build

     a name that lasts for generations……Lineage. Like a phrase I engraved in my brain 

     (I’m trying to feed my Grandchildren 5 years before I know 30)! 

http://www.da-grape-vine.com/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=1&Itemid=10

The Jeweler Ma Naka with DJ 1-Beat

What is jewellery, does it have to be shiny, whats the marvel behind it, should it tell a story?  These are just but a few questions i presented to a stunning jeweler, Manaka located in the United Kingdom,  and this is what she had to say.


Q: Who is Manaka?

A: My name is Mary and I live in the bustling & cosmopolitan city of London... I was born in a small mining town in the Midlands of Zimbabwe where we speak a language called Shona. Manaka translates to 'possessing beauty'

Q: What did you do to gain so much knowledge in this area?

A: I have realized that creating and making had very little to do with my education. This comes as no disrespect to teachers though as I’ve had many who inspired and fostered my creativity. Like a sponge, I collect drops of inspiration from just about anything and everything. The learning never ends... I am ever-learning and evolving...

Q:When did your career start? 

A: My career started the first time I created something I was proud of... Passion for your own art is mandatory. 

Q: What does your art mean to you? 

A: Art to me is a form of expression... 

Q: Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion, expression and style?

A: I think being an artist is encoded within a person... It takes great talent and a whole lot of imagination to create something beautiful... One of my many role models is Tim Burton... I am blown away time and time again by his beautiful imagination. He draws you into a world of wonders with his  brightly coloured animations... His work is as creepy as it is charming whilst beautiful and captivating. To me, this is magic...

Q: Does the price of  materials matter in ways that it affects the quality of your work and products?

A: I don't think price of materials is a highly contributing factor. More important is the quality of the materials used... I use a lot of recycled and re-purposed textiles in my work and increasingly try to do so... Textiles make up 12% of landfill sites and man-made fibres products do not decompose. Recycling means I can make use of quality textiles, some of which are vintage and are not available in all shops these days... I also try and use eco-friendly alternatives such as natural threads and organic fabrics were possible

Q: Do you have a special style in your work that can single you out like strokes in a painting?

A: I create wearable art by hand... Its the magic of the human touch that sets handmakers apart... My work mirrors my love for life- the colourful, the random and its diversity! I like to create art that is offbeat and has no limits when it comes to colour! I use every colour on the pallet. 

Q: What makes a good hand craft design in your opinion? 

A: Its impossible to say what is good or bad... Its purely down to taste. Handmade jewellery for me is Love in form. It’s pretty easy to spot stuff that is made only for the sake of making money. You feel the lack of energy and the lack of love... 

Q: What do you enjoy most about hand craft design?

A: I enjoy combining my ideas with my experiences and my fantasies and then working them through my hands till I come up with something wearable... Seeing someone wearing one of my designs is the icing on the cake. I will never forget the first time I spotted someone wearing one of my designs!

Q: What motivates you to do what you do? 

A: I have a very supportive family network & my partner has been a great contributing factor to my work... Being a great artist, he is always a good & fair critic of my work whilst constantly encouraging me.

Q: What have been your most favorable moments?

A: One of my highlights so far has been joining the team at Divine Canvas Tattoos were I work and sell my art... Although I am not a tattooist, its very inspirational to be surrounded by great artists who are truly passionate about handmade jewelry, whether its in a physical object or an experience... Being part of the team has really changed my perspective on my work. I think that was the first time I truly felt like an artist. More than gaining a great confidence boost, I have also gained a family.

Love & Light.¸¸.•*¨`* ✩
Mary...✿✄--------------------------------------------------------
Manaka Handmade Jewellery Accessories

Sold Exclusively @
Divine Canvas Tattoos\ 179 Caledonian Road\ London\ N1 0SL
tel. +44(0)20 7502 7736
Shop online - www.manakahandmade.etsy.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/manakahandmade
Blog - www.manakahandmade.tumblr.com/

Dj1-Beat-House House mixx0011

Dj1-Beat-House House mixx0011 http://www.mixcloud.com/fungai-romeo-chimbwanda/dj1-beat-house-deep-mixx0012/
http://soundcloud.com/dj-onebeat/dj1-beat-beat-house-in-mixx

One on one with Jamaica's Dance-hall-Diamond Hawkeye

I caught up with Jamaican born dance-hall artist Hawkeye fresh from his Europe tour and had a very uplifting  and inspirational interview about the dance-hall-diamond behind the unmistakable voice of Hawkeye. Asked to to tell us more about himself , he had this to say  "Hawkeye is a creative artist inspired by positiveness, hope and love for the music, joy of creating music to enhance to help move away from oppression of one another and to be positive  about goodness in whom we are as people".

Hawkeye began his professional musical career in 1993 with the famous hit "Money making guy" spiraling him then to be one of the youngest and most talented artists in the birth of dance-hall  then. His greatest influence in music was a friend of his whom used to visit Jamaica who told him to start singing, and immediately he began his musical journey under the guidance of  Danny Brown and has been Hawkeye ever since.

I went on to ask him when and where he has had his most memorable concert and tour, Jamaica remains the hub of his inspiration , but he had a lot of words from his recent tour of Europe in August where he showcased himself as Hawkeye, the reception and level of appreciation of reggae and dance-hall music is large in European circles. Asked about General Degree he calls him daddy describing how General Degree mentored and gave him guidance.


Currently working on six songs he is releasing his promo tracks from probably an upcoming album not titled yet, tracks namely eh eh  and can squeeze my bum are club hits and a must hear dance-hall tunes. Hawkeye not married yet but is a family man, balances both his worlds, smoothly. He has other talents besides his music  and that's his cooking  many feel he will open a restaurant soon. He has had successful collaborations in the past and recently has had a collaboration with another dance-hall artist in Europe whom Hawkeye believes is going to be a world hit soon. You can also sample his one drop album online.

It was a pleasure having this interview with Hawkeye who signed off with an immaculate freestyle soon to be heard on the Beat-Lock and the Pasa-Pasa dancehall radio show on www.africainyourear.com. to catch more of Hawkeye online you can follow these links and dial these numbers.
http://www.facebook.com/hawkeyemusic, http://www.myspace.com/hawkeyedancehall, http://twitter.com/#!/hawkeyemusik +18763607998 +18768665874

Business and Technology on the Dj's Review

Technology as we all know is the advancement of our day to day way of living with more use of the knowledge we acquire to co-exist in a technologically growing world.

Many people ignore the fact that the world we are now living in ponds around the era of technology. Simple things in business and general life like office automation, electronic filling, email, e-banking and social media are one of the many terms we are accustomed to in business today, but do we really understand them fully, to take advantage of them for the growth of business,? or is it the other way around.

At executive business level it is wise to understand how to best improve business using technology. Staff in organizations should be well equipped in understanding the full, correct and consistent use of the technology at their disposal wherever they operate from. Business technology is often undermined by those who don’t or may not have a clue and never pay attention to all the full capabilities of the machinery they have to maximize on business profits, expansion, business confidence, service delivery and customer returns. 

There is a tendency to ignore what technology can do for your business. Below I am going to highlight a few important objectives in business technology to business executives, and the ways to create excellence on how business is done on a day to day basis.

Staff training to all departments, is an organizations basic and most important necessity, differently inline with core position handling and departmental differentiation such as Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising, Accounts, Business Development, Managing , CEO executives duties, Secretary, Receptionist, Clerks, Data capture's, Creative Designer, Production Manager, Designers, Bankers, Human Resources, Information Technology and Project Management just to name a few.

Many might be wondering what I am trying to put across. In a nutshell, business and technology growth with in an organization lead to great success and businesses soar to greater heights through the use of proper business technology methods. A good example of technology ignorance in business is simply the use of internet and email. You will find that 65% of internet and email users in some business set ups do not have enough extensive knowledge of internet and email. Most users are of the idea that the two are the same which they are not. 

This is why at times businesses seem to fail to make proper and decisive decisions on how to introduce or implement new technological marketing, selling and advertising ideas and strategies that are in line with technology. I pose a question to all businesses who use technological materials to actually carry out their work. Are you fully equipped technologically to drive your business to success in line with the technology at your disposal? Think about it for a second, if so, then success is at your doorstep. If not, do not worry get ready to become the best technology user in your business? How?

• Take advantage of any type of seminars and workshops on new technology that may be of good benefit to your organization

• Take time to get your staff internal & external seminars according to what they do within your business e.g. receptionists, secretaries,clerks, accountants, designers e.t.c

• Lead appropriately in the use of technology for business

• Understand the benefits of the  technology you need first for your business 

• Consult the right professionals for you to get the right results

• Update yourself when ever necessary to keep abreast with any change in any of the technological tools or equipment you might be using.

Pod-casts on similar business topics coming soon...

Make-up with Christine Zemura Mua on the Dj's Review with Dj 1-Beat

Photographers : Faye Sampson, Domique Moreau, Summers Photography 

Based in the United Kingdom an intelligent young artist is coming to life and blossoming in an art form that requires the human body to reveal its self. Christine Zemura Mua  a young, energetic and enthusiastic  make-up artist is taking the world by storm with her impressive artistic form of  facial make-up. As this industry proves to be non other but talent based one tends to wonder how you end up doing it. Born in a small mining town called Zvishavane in Zimbabwe and raised in Chitungwiza also known as Chi Town, Christine now based in the UK talks about how she came to be a make-up artist.

Becoming a model for her was a dream come true, but as the her journey continued she moved into make-up and began loving it so much she was a natural at it. Currently a freelance make-up artist her work is growing more and more impeccably brilliant. The twenty one year old make-up artist and the first born in her family has broken boundaries and is probably one of the youngest make up artists of her time, as she describes that "make up is my life" it is actually present visually within her work. The amazing part of her talent is that she only began doing it early this year, and is already working on backstage make up sets like the famous X-Factor UK with the contestants and renowned photographers.

Christine is currently studying for a degree in accounting, but when asked which of the two professions she would prefer her answer came swiftly with no hesitation "being creative, but my degree is also important to me". Deriving her inspiration from her family back home in Zimbabwe she intends to put all the resources in her way to good use. I asked her what makes her work so good, and her answer was simple "practice makes perfect" and to other artists out there don't get discouraged, focus and follow your dreams. Awards given for this type of profession in the entertainment industry include Academy Award for Makeup and even several entertainment industry awards such as the Emmy awards the Golden Globes to name a few, only time will tell how far Christine plans to explore her gift.

One on one with Kritic Igwee....on the Dj's Review..

Dj1-Beat caught up with Kritic Igwee on a Q and A interview and came up with a unique insight about the talented young and diverse Hip-Hop/ Rapper MC. Twenty eight years of age born and raised in Zimbabwe's third largest city Mutare found in the eastern highlands of the country, exudes a diamond talent about to marvel and dynamite hip-hop and rap entertainment regionally across Africa and the world. This is what the maestro had to say.

Q: How many are you in your family?

A: Last born from a family of three and i am the only boy.

Q: Who is Kritic Igwee?

A: Real name is Kudakwashe Muchinguri

Q: Why do you do this type of genre?

A: I do the genre i do because that is what i grew up listening to with my peers, back in high School doing freestyles in class.

Q: Are you the spoiled one being the last born?

A: Well they say the last born is always the spoiled one and i always used to hate it when people say that for once i guess it is true when i look back at it.

Q: How did your talent come to be?

A: Well my talent is an inborn thing. my dad was into music and he often played the guitar, he even made demo tapes but never really took it seriously so i guess that passed over to me and i amplified my chances of being a real artist.

Q: What inspires you to do what you do?

A: I am inspired by different genres of music, hip-hop, rnb, jazz and as an artist i believe  you have to appreciate the art each genre represents musically. I am inspired by artists like Nas, Common, Lil Wayne, The Game among others.

Q: How far do you want to take your musical career?

A: I want to take my career in music as far as it can take me, after all the sky is the limit and i'm not looking at any limitations.

Q: Are you on National Radio and how is your music being received?

A: Well my music has reached radio play here and there cant complain but it is showing great potential online social media networks. Charity begins at home they say and the response has been huge i am getting a lot of support, friends and family and fans allover the country, and i have been invited to perform a couple of shows and gigs.

Q: Do you have any albums on the market yet, and whats the name of the album?

A: No no album release yet i have had to put it on hold, i was initially supposed to release before year end but my manager suggested we do it early next year and i still need to work on more tracks. The album is called 'Stand Up'.

Q: How many tracks will your album have?

A: Well i am still deciding how many tracks but the message in it is that if you know that you are talented and have the vision for it stand up for what you believe in, and believe in yourself. Never let anyone or anything pull you down or discourage you.


Q: Do you have any memorable moments of your career thus far?

A: I would say the most memorable part of my career was when i attended the SHE four day SHOKO Annual HIP-HOP festival, where everyone if not all reputable Zimbabwean MC's were there. We were in workshops and i had the privilege of being in one workshop with artists like Tumi and Hired Gun where we got share more about our musical experiences. We studied topics like the art of hip-hop music and its origins, and i also had the  honor of representing my city in a group track called 'Zimbabwe".

Q: Any words of wisdom for  upcoming hip-hop artists?

A: My words of wisdom to upcoming artists would be to just believe in yourself, be confident, be original and not fall in too much to what they do in the west. It is important to know your identity and where you come from. Put that in your music and let the world hear you for who you are.

That is all for now from Kritic Igwee and we hope to see and hear more from his album launch, to get a sneak preview of Kritic Igwee's music check out his link below to listen to his music and become a fan.

www.reverbnation.com/mckritic

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