Africa KRUNKD
Sometimes when I'm bored, I like to randomly search words or images to see what I get. After mindlessly and casually searching and coming upon various myspace pages and further research on Wiki, I discovered Africa's new culture is young and krunked. Interestingly, Africa is in a similar state of development as parts of China and is growing quickly. With half of the country under the age of 25, and emerging out of times of the apartheid, the many young people are finding outlets in their new freedom and developments.
In a recent news broadcast on BBC World, Africans are becoming top users of cellphones. New plans are in development, where banking can be dealt with through phone transfers - making money from relatives working abroad, more accessible. Cellphones are the first widely used tool to help bring Africa up to speed technologically and economically.
Google "Cell phones, Africa" and find some articles. Here is one:
NY Times "Cellphones Catapult Rural Africa to 21st Century"
What sparked me on this random search was a network of young neonglo hiphop kids from South Africa. All inspired by American hiphop/electro/indie/punk, the graphics, beats, fashion, aesthetics are right on par, but with obvious African sounds (instruments i.e percussive), references, motifs and patterns..
After further searches, turns out I'm not the only one discovering the krunk (hip hop/grime) in Africa. Montreal's nu-hiphop 'spokesperson' GHISLAIN POIRIER also has been hyping it.
African crunk/grime mix by GHISLAIN POIRIER on the BBC
People gotta struggle a bit to make good art, or perhaps new sounds from developing places are more interesting than constant ego waving, rehash and incest happening in big cities.
China has not caught on to the Grime so much probably because Hip Hop has history and roots in Africa. However, hip hop is HUGE in China in marketable sense. It will be what the country will devour the most in terms of contemporary music. The underground however, in terms of production/passion remains more electronic and experimental.
SPOEK
In a recent news broadcast on BBC World, Africans are becoming top users of cellphones. New plans are in development, where banking can be dealt with through phone transfers - making money from relatives working abroad, more accessible. Cellphones are the first widely used tool to help bring Africa up to speed technologically and economically.
Google "Cell phones, Africa" and find some articles. Here is one:
NY Times "Cellphones Catapult Rural Africa to 21st Century"
What sparked me on this random search was a network of young neonglo hiphop kids from South Africa. All inspired by American hiphop/electro/indie/punk, the graphics, beats, fashion, aesthetics are right on par, but with obvious African sounds (instruments i.e percussive), references, motifs and patterns..
After further searches, turns out I'm not the only one discovering the krunk (hip hop/grime) in Africa. Montreal's nu-hiphop 'spokesperson' GHISLAIN POIRIER also has been hyping it.
African crunk/grime mix by GHISLAIN POIRIER on the BBC
People gotta struggle a bit to make good art, or perhaps new sounds from developing places are more interesting than constant ego waving, rehash and incest happening in big cities.
China has not caught on to the Grime so much probably because Hip Hop has history and roots in Africa. However, hip hop is HUGE in China in marketable sense. It will be what the country will devour the most in terms of contemporary music. The underground however, in terms of production/passion remains more electronic and experimental.
SPOEK
posted by elle est chiNoise at 7:39 AM
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