Featuring a stellar line-up of local legends of this genre, with an exciting crew of emcees and singers, this musical celebration of home-brewed hip hop pays tribute to music and artists from ekasi (township) who rap about life in the township.

Sugah (Mziyanda Mbutuma); Ndlulamthi (Sizakele Gegana); and Mic Substance (Luthando Gushman), spearhead the programme as emcees, with supporting acts by Waqa (Wanga Mafenuka); Evergreen (Bonani Mkhiva); and The Backyard Crew, comprising Vanne Merwe (Thando Sonandi); Kideo (Makhi Mkheto); Point2 (Buntu Klaaste); Phoenix (Lwazi Breakfast); and Mashonisa (Masiza Citashe).

Well-known ekasi performance poet, Khanyisile Mbongwa and Zozo Mohoto (from Skom Productions), are back as hosts, with a surprise appearance by some of the leading artists who took part in the last Hip Hop Kaslam in March.

Widely regarded as the founder and one of the frontrunners of this style of rapping, Archie Sopazi, also known on stage as Dat, once again directs the latest Hip Hop Kaslam with the new performers.

Sopazi is one of the first local artists to discard the American hip hop culture and rap style and create one in his own language. He chose to rap in 'ringas' which is a township street slang is also known as tsotsi-taal. This evolved into what has become known as spaza today - a combination of various indigenous languages.

What started out as a rebellion against the status quo and the direction which music was taking ended up becoming a movement which even Dat (Sopazi) did not foresee. The ringas rhyme inspired a whole generation of existing rappers and made a significant change in the local hip hop scene in South Africa over the last 15 years.

He explains, “In the 90s the perception was that kwaito was the only style of music that qualified as 'home made' in this country and any artist who rapped was considered an American wannabe. What made kwaito popular as South African music was that it was sung in indigenous languages. I don't believe that its success necessarily had anything to do with authenticity or creativity. So I thought that if it is the language that makes South African music Mzansi, then I'll rap in an African language.”

“I don't know where spaza is going because in my opinion it is still undermined as a genre. I can't wait to see this style being showcased at jazz festivals; played more regularly on local radio stations; and featured at big events. After all, it is home grown,” says Director, Sopazi.

The multi-talented Sugah is a well-known musician; qualified school teacher; 2D animator; graphic artist; and painter. In 2003 he was signed up with Gingah by Milestone Records and together they released their first album called Paralyzer under the name Ghetto Muffin, reaching great acclaim locally. On television he had a leading role in Thetha Msawawa and appeared on soapie, Backstage. As a solo artist, Sugah, has been involved on numerous music-related projects and last year he released his first solo album called Nam.

Ndlulamthi (Sizakele Gegana) is a prominent Cape Town-based lyricist who has been working in the hip hop industry for several years. He is best known for his unique style of soothing story-telling performed over jazzy; smooth; and mostly laid-back hip-hop beats or live instrumentations. He is a well sought-after poet whose works have been published in local newspapers. He has shared the stage with international artists such as Woomerah; Zulu Boy; and Georgia Me.

Mic Substance (Luthando Gushman) is the first female to tread the Hip Hop Kaslam boards as emcee. Most recently she performed at the FIFA Fan Park and earlier this year, she released her début album, Fungwa Uhuru (Freedom of Mind). She has shared the stage with some top local names in spaza like Kanyi; Driemanskaap; and Maxhoseni.

The Baxter Theatre Centre and Golden Arrow Bus Services will provide buses to transport audience members to and from the show at no extra cost. The pick-up and drop-off points are the Gugulethu Sports Complex; Delft Park; Radio Zibonele in Khayelitsha and Guga'Sthebe in Langa, and buses will leave for the theatre at 17:00 sharp on the day.

Ticket prices for Hip Hop Kaslam at 18:00 at the Baxter Concert Hall on Saturday, 31 July, are R20 and booking is through Computicket on 083 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers. For more information, call Phila Nkuzo on 021 680 3963 (during office hours); 083 239 7850; or email [email protected].