Thug Life Army

Artscape, the hub of the performing arts in the Western Cape, is to stage the first ever Hip-Hop concert as part of the Imvelo Feast to celebrate heritage month.

The Hip Hop Connected concert on Friday, September 30 at the Artscape Theatre, consists of several Hip-Hop acts integrated into one central story and will be performed on a specially constructed set, called Hip-Hop Avenue, designed by the well-known graffiti artist, Mak One of Mitchells Plain.

This two-hour-long extravaganza will feature mainly local talent such as Archetypes fronting Ben Sharpa, Azanian B Boys, Controversy, Klenched Fist, Driemanskap, Writers Block and the youngest group, Street Life, with DJ Raiko the resident DJ for the show. An Angolan group which now resides in Cape Town, Triblo Sul, will add some international flavour and Basemental Platform will represent the Gauteng Hip Hop scene.

The events will be narrated by Jo-Ann Petersen and Portia Everts, dressed as two old women, Malam and Zima, as they watch the younger generation express themselves through the different Hip-Hop elements.

Other attractions include a basket ball demonstration by the talented Jays Fluid and a BMX bicycle flatland freestyle demo by Buddy, winner of the 2004 BMX Groll Cup. To add authenticity various clothing and music stalls as well as street art exhibitions will be installed in the Theatre Foyer.

"Hip Hop is a new concept in the theatre environment," says Marlene le Roux, Artscape's Director of Audience Development and Education. "With this concert we aim to demystify the Hip Hop culture by showcasing the various Hip Hop elements and develop an unknown art form.

"Artscape is committed to the introduction and development of new and previous neglected performing art forms. Hip Hop does not belong to anyone. In the true spirit of the performing arts, it speaks all languages and demands respect and discipline," says Le Roux.

Hip Hop consists of five elements known as the "Super Five", namely music, rap, dance, street art and ''knowledge of self''.

"This concert is the culmination of an open forum in July this year to identify common ground among Hip Hop crews around the world," says Bradley Van Sitters aka Bradlox, convenor of Hip-Hop Connected.

"Artscape now offers us the opportunity to raise the level of professionalism among developing artists and to engage youth in fun activities. We believe the diverse composition of the performers will introduce new audiences to the theatre environment," says Van Sitters.

Tickets cost R30 and are available from Artscape Dial-A-Seat, Tel: 021 421 7695 or Computicket.

Seven of the participating groups will perform on Heritage Day, September 24 from 14:00 (2pm) at CD Wherehouse at the V&A Waterfront.

* This is the second Hip-Hop event, but the first fully fledged theatre show at Artscape. The first, Jonzi D, was presented in 2001 in the Artscape Arena.