This Is A Straight Line

"I don't know why they would call this a 'revolution'

I mean, 

Mathematically speaking, a revolution is a 360 degree turn that ends at the very same place it began...

So technically, 

This is not a revolution,
This is a forward movement-

So it's more like a straight line,

180 degrees to be mathematically correct."

- Conformists

Review | Soul Sista Tilo's One Love Jam/Exhibition - Regime Records

Ever entered a strange room filled with familiar faces that do not hesitate to smile and share their space with you?

Well, this is exactly how it felt entering the doors of the Cape Diamond Hotel (Saturday 27 July) and conveniently falling into the light of the One Love venue. A small space filled with talent, love, spirit and art. With the lovely portraits of Soul Sista Tilo covering the walls, blessed with quotes from artists and activists, from Bob Marley to Erykah Badu and even some inspiring words from Soul Sista herself made it hard to not feel comfortably at home and easily blend into the artistic gap that is freely felt by every person there.

Boldly including the thought provoking and distinctive art on exhibition, as well as sick apparel from Dutch Like This and BAAS, the surrounding air urges you into feeling that you’re in for an eventful, chilled yet holistic night.

Sitting comfortably on a floor draped with blankets and pillows, you and a couple of beautifully free-spirited people bob your heads to the soothing sounds of Soul Sista Tilo and her good friend the Juke Box (a ridiculously astounding beat boxer and drummer who is as well involved in the I.AMovement) as she sings and raps her truth while sanctifying the floor with some old jams and also a few of her very own uniquely booming songs.

Joined by artists such as Blaq Slim, Chris Gaudy and A.D.I who are from a very prominent hip hop movement called I AM Movement (who charm the mic with pure hip hop underground elegance), they are by far an extremely determined and genuine group of young rapper.

With the blessing of having artists such as Supreme Soul whose rhymes are so good he freestyles the room into a total hip hop frenzy and more amazingly talented creatives such as Lyrically Inclined, Blaze Ryders, Ryan Adams, Cicatrixx (a mad writer and owner of Regime Records with artists such as Soul  Sista Tilo under his label) and a vibrant emcee known as Just Macmillan, you can’t help but notice that you’re sharing a room with such great and authentic souls, it is almost too hard not to try and keep up with them as they spit their verses and create a family all moving in unison to the sounds of untainted and wholesome skills.

Imagine the excitement when hearing that this event will surely be a monthly occurrence with different groups of originals (people such as you and me) joining together forming a family of artists and thinkers who are ready to take a stand and keep art to its truest and purest form.

And most importantly, before you go on and press that play button, be sure to check out Soul Sista Tilo’s and Chris Gaudy’s new track – Sugar Man.

And if you're interested, please do check out:

A.D.I's Introspective 

Chris Gaudy's The//Grey//Trek 

BlaQ-Slim's The Dreamer

One Love.

Are you interested in these acoustic performers? Please do contact them.

Artists:

-Soul SistA Tilo - @soulsistatilo
-Regime Records - @regimerecords
-I A.M Movement - @i_amovement
-Cicatrixx - @thecica
-Supreme Soul - @its_supremesoul
- Blaze Ryders - @blazeryders

Emcee:

-Just MacMillian - @just_macmillian

Local wear:

-Dutch Like This - @dutchlikethis
-BAAS - @baasclothing

Support local talent.

#c

Behind the scenes

conformists behind the scenes of the Lookbook his & hers 

A 17 Year Old Tupac speaking on education (1988)

"School is really important: Reading, writing, arithmetic.
But what they tend to do is teach you reading, writing, arithmetic... then teach you reading, writing, arithmetic again. Then again, then again, just making it harder and harder, just to keep you busy.
That is where I think they messed up.
There should be a class on drugs.
There should be a class on sex education.
NO
Real sex education class, not just pictures and illogical terms...
There should be a class on scams, there should be a class on religious cults, there should be a class on police brutality, there should be a class on Apartheid, there should be a class on racism in America, there should be a class on why people are hungry, but there isn't
Their class is on... gym
Their class is like Algebra.
We have yet to go to a store and say, "Can I have XY+2 and give me my Y change back, thank you."
You know?
Like foreign languages, I think they are important, but I don't think it should be required.
Actually they should be teaching you English, and then teach you how to understand double talk; politicians double talk.
Not teaching you how to understand French and Spanish and GERMAN.
When am I going to Germany?
I can't afford to pay my rent in America! How am I going to Germany?"

a letter to the 'Reblog' Blogger

Which ever way you take it.
I've been meaning to ask, what's the point?
Scheming through your site and something doesn't feel right. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I failed to find relevance in your art,
No, in your work and it pains me. 

We are South African, 
We are breathing, crying, creative, growing and fighting South African youth,
So
What does a picture of a semi-naked Someone have to do with the epidemic of ignorance found in the minds of us as the youth?
What will your prada bag or manolo glasses do for the young boy who is aspiring to be something which you, yourself can't be (in reference to your blog).
Beyonce is not an activist,  Kanye is not Jesus, I'm still an African hoping that my philosophy is valued enough to be uprooted yet you sadly claim to be innovative.

As far as my knowledge goes, the youth is the future and therefore we should be inspired to be real and not waste our potential idolizing celebrities. 
We are modern 
But another post on colourblocked Italian suits, commercialized stoner lifestyles and some celebrities goods (which are pretty much insignificant to your life, as well as mine) won't offer thought and definitely won't urge me out of my bed to initiate change.

What we are promoting, whisper it in my ear?
Because to most, you're just another space reminding others of what they are not, instead of inspiring them to become the best one can be. 
South African you say? That's a bit odd, all I see is superficial, superstitious superstars publicly living their lives.
So why aren't we living ours?

So
How do I fit in?
What would you like me to do?
How do I support you and still stay true to the depth of my roots?
This is not some black thing, this is deeper than race,
If we're proudly South African let's drop the phony act. 
Offer me a forum where my ideas are valued, blow my mind and engage instead of blinding me with lies because your content is far from authentic.
I want real people, who have real identities and not deceptive alter-ego's
Show me the hereditary legacy us as youth are re-evaluating,
I want to be South African and mean it!
Show me how to be the best kind of me by being genuine to yourself and not to what society exclaims, i.e 'Kim Kardashian gaining weight'
SO WHAT?

So if you're the example of what the future of South Africa is and will be...
I would rather wait here and die as an activist of all things real. 

#c

p.s yes, this is directed to you too.