Word recently trickled down to me from somewhere along the ant trail about a producer whose beats demanded my prime headphone time. Turns out he’s an extremely prominent figure in the South African music scene. He is a Cape Town turntablist, scratch dj champion and producer who calls himself Sibot. His music is a genius blend of hip hop and electronica. It’s a touch of glitch squeezed out the edges of dope hip hop beats, smoothed out with some master scratching and just dripping with thick, grinding bass lines. ]]>
Its also full of jazz and funk and, of course, samples from movies I will never even know exist.
His latest album, In With The Old, can be found on African Dope Records, an independent record label straight outta Cape Town, South Africa. So far, just about everything I’ve heard off the label deserves the given adjective.* Seems like their soundsystem is not made of speakers and cables, but of people instead. The African Dope Soundsystem is a collaboration of Capetown dub, reggae and dancehall DJs, MCs, live and electronic musicians, studio producers and video artists. These musical magicians run the label and fuel the South African music industry with “a fresh hybrid of local and international styles, ranging from dub reggae through to electronic dancehall, all songs featuring original African vocals, tight beats, accoustic musicians, electronic soundscapes and deadly subbass riddims.” Commence dancing now.
Who knew South Africa was putting out such hot shit? Maybe you did, I don’t know. The Bay Area music scene has a lot going on right now too, BUT it’s hard for djs and producers not to get stuck in the “Bay Area sound.” You can really hear the cultural differences in what African Dope is putting out. It’s refreshing, to say the least. I am particularly attracted to Sibot because he puts out that melodic, samply, organic and electronic mix of hip hop that I love for many of the same reasons I love Blockhead, Wax Tailor and Troublemakers. I also share a lot of influences with him, highest among them Ninja Tune and Nintendo. As far as I’ve heard, the label is mostly dub step and dancehall, and if you are a regular listener you know how much we love those beats. If you are not, give in to some our hottest resonant frequencies, tuned, amplified and banged the fuck out by guest selectors like Genji, Cumulus, and of course our own resident Dj Spaceinvader.
And after you have finished with those, check out what's new on African Dope. You won't be sitting still for long.
*And just in case you were wondering, the word dope is actually Dutch in origin. Given that the Dutch actually founded Cape Town, these guys really lay claim to the term in more ways than with their beats!
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