Plans Tonight?

If you are in Bloemfontein, South Africa, tonight

check out local B-Boy crew 'The Anonymis'

 performing at Twice S Nice

22H00 to wheneva!!

The Blade Runner

 Oscar Pistorius is a South African athlete whose legs were amputated at the age of 1 because he was born with a fibula in both legs.

He has gone on to astound South Africa and the world by winning three gold medals at the Beijing Para Olympics.

AND then he successfully went to court to be able to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Now, like most athletes, Oscar has become  a sex-symbol and brand ambassador!

He is the new face of French perfume giant Thierry Mugler's A*Men. And check out those pics!

For the ad campaign Oscar was fitted with special chrome plated blades. Dude looks like a real-life super-hero!



2011 South African Music Awards

The South African Music Awards Nominations were announced at a glittering affair at Montecasino, Johannesburg, yesterday.

As usual, the who's-who of the South African music industry were in attendance.

Here are some of the most notable nominations:

Best Urban DVD

1. Nhlanhla Nciza - Live At The Joy Of Jazz

2. Teargas 101 - Teargas 101 Live

3. Thandiswa - Dance Of The Forgotten Tree

Best Urban Chart DVD

1. Locnville - Sun In My Pocket: Platinum Edition

2. Nadine - Live In Europe

3. Nataniel - Cathedral

4. Nianell - Sand & Water: Live & More

5. The Parlotones - Live Design

Best Music Video Of The Year

1. Freshlyground - Chicken To Change

2. Nomfusi - Nontsokolo

3. Teargas - Goodfellaz

4. The Parlotones - The Stars Fall Down

5. The Parlotones - Life Design

Best Adult Contemporary Album: English

1. Freshlyground - Radio Africa

2. John Manuel - Lost And Found

3. Karen Zoid - Terms & Conditions

4. Louise Carver - Look To The Edge

5. Loyiso Bala - Full Circle

Best Adult Contemporary Album: African

1. Siphokazi - Ethembeni

2. Skipper Tshabalala - Bekezela

3. Stimela - A Lifetime

4. Thandiswa - The Forgotten Tree - Live In Concert

5. Vusi Mahlasela - Say Africa

Best Pop Album: English

1. Danny K - Across The Line

2. Jax Panik - I Am Jax Panik

3. Locnville - Sun In My Pocket

4. Louise Day - Swallowed By The City

5. The Arrows - Make Believe

Best Pop Album: African

1. Camagu - Camagu

2. Patricia Majalisa - Epatini

3. Rythmic Elements - Badorondoro - Ancestors

4. Speedy & Stoan - Second Son Rise

5. Theo Kgosinkwe - Grateful

Best Urban Pop Album

1. Chomee - Fly The Flag

2. Ernie B. St. Clair - I Am Universal

3. Howza - World Premier

4. Kwela Tebza - Gauteng Made In South Africa/Mzansi

5. Ntombi Ngcobo - African Sexy

Best Urban Dance Album

1. DJ Kent - I Can't Survive

2. Giggs Superstar - Deep House Chronicles 4

3. Liquideep - Fabrics Of The Heart

4. Tumelo - Arise And Shine

5. Zakes Bantwini - Love, Light & Music

Best Rap Album

1. Amu - The Principal

2. Kwesta - Special Rekwest

3. Slikour - Ventiliation Volume 3 (VV3)

4. Tuks Senganga - Tshwanelo

5. Tumi & The Volume - Pick A Dream

Newcomer Of The Year

1. Jay - Solo

2. Kwesta - Special Rekwest

3. Liquideep - Fabrics Of The Heart

4. Lcnville - Sun In My Pocket

5. Nomsa Mazwai - Nomisupa

Record of the year1. Alone – Liquideep
2. Breathing – Prime Circle
3. Bum Bum – Zakes Bantwini
4. Dreamer – Arno Carstens
5. Fire Is Low – Freshly Ground
6. Get Busy Living – Goldfish
7. Hobie Beach – Kinky Robot
8. Imoto – Professor
9. It’s A Party – Jozi
10. Lovesick – The Arrows
11. Love You Better (w/ Rue-Groove) – Crazy White Boy
12. Mama (w/ Ringo) – Black Coffee
13. Ngisemthanda (w/ Joocy, DJ Tira & Dr Duda) – DJ CNDO
14. Potoko (w/ Juice Matute) – DJ Mahoota
15. Show Dem (w/ HHP) – JR
16. Turn Up The Volume – Auriol Hays
17. Twisted – Crash Car Burn
18. Warrior – Louise Carver
19. Woza – Jaziel Brothers
20. Wrong For You – Loyiso

Album of the year
1. Flash Republic – Killer Moves
2. Liquideep – Fabrics Of The Heart
3. Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde
4. Professor – University Of Kalawa Jazmee
5. Zakes Bantwini – Love, Light & Music

The Winner will be announced on the 20/21 May 2011 at Montecasino.

If you can't be there, catch it live on South African channel SABC1 at 20h00.

Interview with New York Artist Vybsta! Bounce To Di Riddim

We at Melodi were lucky enough to secure an interview with an amazing rising artist from New York City: Vybsta.
His sound is best described as being unique to the urban landscape that is NYC mixed with a strong caribbean sound and can light up any dance floor in any part of the world.

From our interactions with Vybsta it is obvious to us that this is one artist who will reach the heights of the global music and entertainment. Why?
He has vision. He sees opportunities for himself where other artists may not.
Unlike Vybsta, most new artists who are just trying to be like someone else, their idols. Few dare to enter the industry with the ingenuity, creativity and open-mindedness that Vybsta has.
One thing to note about all the music and entertainment icons: there is no one else like them in the game, and others are always trying to be like them.
Vybsta has these qualities. 
He has a clothing line already! When most other artists wait to have lines offered to them with big financial backing, Vybsta has gone and done it for himself.
And when the competition gets rough he makes friends, not enemies.

Check out our interview with Vybsta and his videos below to see what we are talking about!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE

>>>>Vybsta - Bounce To Di Riddim<<<<

1. What has been your greatest achievement (ever)?
My greatest achievement would be ......Making everyone who thought I would fail believe in me!

2. What musician/artist are you most inspired by?
Well I am not inspired by any artist because I am my own artist but I believe in competition and I respect a lot of talented and competitive artist/DJ's such as BOB MARLEY ..DAMIEN MARLEY (JR GONG)...PETER TOSH....HARRY BELAFONTE (OLD SKOOL)....BOUNTY KILLA ..BEENIE MAN...MAD COBRA..LEXXUS...SEAN PAUL...MR EASY..MR PEPPER..TOK...MR VEGAS...WAYNE WONDER..NINJA MAN..BABY CHAM...(90'S)
AIDONIA..BUSY SIGNAL..DEVA BRATT...AND A LOT OF UNDERGROUND ARTIST THAT I HEARD OF, KNOW OF AND PAR WIT.

3. Who would you most like to collaborate on a song with?
AIDONIA..BUSY SIGNAL..DEVA BRATT...AND A LOT OF UNDERGROUND ARTIST THAT I HEARD OF, KNOW OF AND PAR WIT 

4. What is your 5-year plan for your career?
Well I plan to release a couple more mixtapes cause I just dropped one on my birthday which was the 26th of March and produce a lot more videos because I just put up the video to my big song BOUNCE TO DI RIDDIM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAWuSAMHqk AND ALSO PUSH MY CLOTHING LINE WHICH ALSO CAME OUT ON THE 26TH BUT ITS IN MASS PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW ..."RIFLE SHOT" by VYBSTA.
And get more shows, make some money and push until I make it!!
5. What has been your best performance so far?
Well the best performance I had so far was with one of the underground artists that was recently releasing his album and video; his name is Kimik X.
This can been seen on YouTube also....the link>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syc7SswWkj0It started as a clash and ended as ah performance.
6. What advice would you give people who want to enter the music industry?
WORK AS HARD AS YOU CAN AND EVEN WHEN YOU WORKING HARD GIVE IT 110 PERCENT MORE AND YOU MAKE IT!!!! AND NEVER SAY NEVER!!!
AND NEVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN’T DO IT !!!! 
 
7. The best life advice you have ever received?
EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE BUT I WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY ....."F*** EVERYBODY ELSE AND LIVE LIFE THE WAY YOU SEE IT AND GO FOR WAT YOU BELIEVE IN BECAUSE DREAMS COME THROUGH FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE  AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SPECIAL PERSON SINCE YOU WAS AH CHILD AND IF THERE’S ANY THING YOU NEED US TO DO TO HELP YOU LET US KNOW AND WE WILL BE THERE"......"Words Spoken By people in my community "
(some of these people can be seen in BOUNCE TO DI RIDDIM VIDEO)

8. What was the best text message you have ever received?
The best text i have ever received would be ......"my songs were being played on 94.3 fm by dj Goggles".

9. What is your favourite quote?BUN IT UP ......OK.......SIMPLE.......SHOTS FLY..THREW DEM ENDS....DASH HIM WEH!!!!!......Dats all of them.
10. If you were on a deserted island, what is the one item you would want to have?O.K. YOU SAID 1 ITEM BUT NEVER SAID HOW MUCH OF THAT ONE ITEM yoU CAN HAVE .......I’LL TAKE A COUPLE POUNDS OF WEED PLEAZ LOL.

11. Name your favourite place/location in the world.
TRINIDAD AND JAMAICA AND PROBABLY SOUTH AFRICA IF I EVER GET TO COME OUT THERE.
12. What is your favourite food?ANY THING THAT CAN BE COOKED LOL.

13. Your favourite T.V. show?
TO BUSY TO WATCH TV ......TV WATCHES ME ......while I sleep lol.

14. Describe your style of music in one word.
FUTURISTIC!!!

15. What is the one thing that you want people to know about you?
I AM WILLING TO WORK HARD TO REACH MY GOAL IN LIFE AND ANYONE IN MY PATH WILL BE DEMOLISHED!!!!

Interview with South African Break-Dancer

Break Dancing requires a lot of skill, discipline, hard-work and physical strength. 

Unfortunately, this style of dance is under-rated and under-appreciated in South Africa. Unlike in Europe and the States, break-dancing in South Africa is mostly a subculture. It is almost impossible for b-boys to make a living out of their talent or even to be recognised for their skills.

We at Melodi wanted to hear from a b-boy in South Africa who could teach us a little bit about this young, urban art.

Check out our interview with experienced B-Boy Genoridge Taylor.



1.       How did you get into break-dancing?

I jumped over my friends fence one afternoon late July 2000 cracked my spinal cord straight or so it felt... Freakiest thing I ever felt with my own body.  Then I watched the movie "Only The Strong" early September 2000, took my breath away when I saw how they capoeira. I then asked my brother(Prototype) to see if he can find me instructions over the internet. Exactly on the 22 November 2000 he brought me notes he downloaded. That is day it became a commitment. Studied the notes day in, day out. No teachers or other B-boys were around that time... So I had to work out every move myself. Our crew only started late 2002.

2.   How do you feel about the break-dancing community in South Africa?

The community is large yet very underground. I feel bboy in South Africa has many hurdles but has all the ability. As long as one keeps ones mind to it, all is possible.

3.       Who are you favourite b-boys?

I don't have a favorite. If I had one I would be bias for all bboys are great. My favorite bboy is the one that never gives up and always pushes on !!!

4.     Why do you think break-dancing is not as big in S.A. as it is in the States?

I think it is much greater just not that commercialised. The states is a marketing harbour. That would be the main reason.

5.       Are you a member of a b-boy crew?

           Yes... My crew's name is 'Tha Anonymis'

6.       What has been your best performance to date?

There have been many but my most potent experience ever breakin was in 2006/7 Macufe when BVK(brasse vannie kaap) performed at Clive Solomon Stadium in heidedal, when MR fats called me and another of my crew members named 'Stretch 1' up on stage to share sum of that light...It was of the hook! People screaming, crowd energy...2 local bboys on stage with the creators of the game in S.A...It showed me how much I have grown as a bboy and how much I need to still grow. 

7.       What struggles have you faced as a b-boy?

Getting a circle going... People look at you funny at first. But like my uncle told me on my 21st birthday ..." If u play Hip Hop over and over they will start to accept then they will like" ... Persistance creates motivation... Acceptance was my greatest struggle.

8.       Do you break-dance for fun or are you dancing as a professional?

I breakdance for myself and havin fun with it. I would not call myself proffesional but I will call myself experienced.

10.   Not many women break-dance, why do you think that is and how do you feel about it?

It is becuase a woman spinning on her arm or head is not generally accepted. It is looked on as crazy. And woman are put-off by this, I remember when I started it was hard, it is even harder for a woman I think. For there are more barriers to break being a woman ... And discouragement happens if there was any hope in a specific woman becoming a B-girl...

11.   What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn how to break-dance?

Be real. Be true. If this path you choose to take, power you will accumulate. Never give up. always try and stay fresh. Always visualise then you will be able to accomplish, for your vision will become real.... 

12.   What resources are there available to young people in South Africa who are starting out as b-boys?

The internet is the greatest source, videos and  teachings. I started off alone. And schooled myself. All I had was notes and my mind. Everything else had to be worked out like mathematics.... Bloemfontein is still rising. The cape and Gauteng have workshops and clubs and opportunity is everywhere....

*If you have enjoyed reading Geno's interview, and want to get in touch with him, drop us a note at melodimelodie@yahoo.com*