We need the league

The importance of the NBA isn't often acknowledged. This is the sporting organisation that has more millionaires than any other... hence the politics and recent lockout.

The importance of the league is because many of us grew up on it. It has influenced so many subcultures and fashion.

What's hip-hop without basketball... what's fashion without Jordans... what's a celebrity date without the option of being front row at the game?

The NBA is very important and I'm glad they got their act together. The NBA is so crucial that its return convinced me to finally buy a TV and get over my little theories... I got a TV bigger than Young Nucho.

Basketball is life... the Clippers will be a problem, the Lakers and Boston will struggle and I run with the Heat this season... Bron Bron is ready

Wale killed it

It has been an amazing year for hip-hop... Watch the Throne, Carter 4, Takecare, Cole World and more. Locally L-Tido, Khuli, AKA and Jabba did it big.

A few months ago I mentioned that Wale was in fine form and that I expected a lot from his album... I am very far from disappointed... he killed it.

"Ambition" is a great body of work. The great difficulty for modern-day rappers is being honest, sincere and still being commercially viable... it's tough. Wale doesn't fold... he makes us fold as he stays true to himself.

"Legendary" stands out because of the type of dude I am. He breaks down how it's better to the very best rather than the most popular... "it's something to be great, it's nothing to be famous"

"Lotus Flower Bomb" is the best love ballad I've heard since Lost Boyz' "Renee". The potency of macking through poetry and slang and the metaphoric beauty of the lotus flower and its history combined with the bomb and its detonation to add to the lyricism... wow. Miguel on the hook made it money in the bank.

"Sabotage" with Lloyd is also major . "Ambition" with Ross and Mill drew me to the album... epic music.

Cudi, Neyo, Big Sean, Jeremiah all play their part in a great project.

I don't have a rating system, it's simply a great album... go find your favourites.

History Records Greatness

I got inked up yesterday. Added Cassius in his prime aka Mohammed Ali aka the world's greatest to the forearm collage. There isn't a great sportsman on the planet that hasn't been inspired by this man.

The flair, the passion, the skill, the charisma, the arrogance... we loved him for it. We needed it then and we still do. We need characters that are out of this world, stand tall and get the job done.

The world also needs those brave enough to sacrifice for others... the sacrifice of Mohammed Ali goes without saying.

In and out the ring... cooler than the other side of the pillow.

History Records Greatness.

Take care of business

I haven't been a child for a long time and although I'm far from being older than dirt... I've definitely been having some grown-man conversations and making grown up decisions. I know I'm getting older because I'm actually able to advise my parents... and they're actually listening.

A lot of the conversations are with my friends. The brothers I don't have by birth but have been gifted to me through the years. I feel like I chill with a group of dudes that are all one hit away. We've been bubbling under for some time, paid the dues, dealt with the pain of the hustle and are now ready to top the charts.

The peril of success is the people that you're bound to lose in life. The people who don't have the stomach  for your bad times or the heart to truly be happy for you when you shine. The truth is, most of the people we'll come across in life are seasonal, but we must be evergreen.

Being evergreen means we cannot lose faith. Love is a casualty of success... in most cases. In order to take care of our livelihood, we cannot always give love the time that it deserves... time is money.

Apologies for writing this from a dude's perspective, but I believe that if us dudes put you ladies on to more of our thoughts and emotions, then perhaps there would be a higher success where love is concerned.

Relationships are very similar to business. There's a general code of conduct and work must be put it for sustainability. Business is competitive and so are relationships... internally and externally. We all wish to be the boss and we all get distracted when the other business starts to look good. Competition is key, you must be kept on your toes, you must adapt and at no point can you afford to be complacent.

Being left for someone else is like someone buying you out of your business. You were studied and your weaknesses were exposed... you did not take care of home... you did not take care of business. Learn the lesson.

For business to flourish, you must have a motivated team... they should look forward to coming to work. We forget what it's like to have a lady that always wants to see us and treat us like kings. We forget that she initially did that because she was treated like a queen. You both forget that heavy is the crown and in order to rule your kingdom, you must be strong.

What's my point? Firstly know that love is real... and like all real things... it has its hardships. Loves needs your strength.

Ladies, you know if you have a good man or not... let him be a man. Guys, support that lady's hustle... a motivated, hard-working woman beats a leaching busy-body any day. If your situation isn't working out, if you do not have the strength to rule this kingdom together, then leave and build another one brick by brick with someone else. Do not ruin each other for others.

Above all, be fair. A clean slate is what we all deserve in a new relations. Be upfront about the past... your secrets will be used against you when you are knee-deep in love and it will be a mess. Tell the truth and allow yourself to be loved. Your new business venture will benefit from from the experience in the last venture.

All love

Festive Fabulosity Workshop

All love to Code Teen for this great initiative. 100 young ladies will be shown a great time and spoiled rotten out in Melrose Arch.

I've been asked to chat to the young ladies and sit on a panel about all types of issues that  are male related.

Wish me luck

Dom P showing love

So this Saturday we turn it up a notch. Showlove gets into bed with the most lavish of brands... Dom Perignon.

This is a personal achievement for me since once upon a time no luxury brands messed with me, the work our target market... we've switched it up on them.

Get ready for Luminous Launch at Icon.

Look dapper,sexy and extremely well put together.

On the decks we have Vigilante, Franky, Dimplez, Lyle, Speedsta and Lenoir.

Sexy people, sexy music... sexy vibe.

All we do is show love.

Honcho hits the Dope Store

The success of Head Honcho's summer sale has us on record numbers.

Besides our largest stockists still being Shesha and Sportscene, we have now branched out to a few African countries and our own Jhb CBD with The Dope Store.

This our attempt to make our brand easier to find. Your support in our spaces makes this possible.

The Love is appreciated.

Try a Zen Martini

I have a few lifestyle coaches... although they have no idea of it. Certain gentlemen in and around my game who have impeccable taste but pull it off with zero effort.

One of them is Siphiwe Mpye, Associate editor of GQ South Africa. Despite being a dapper gent, he's shown me that trying new things is the only way to develop you tastes.

He exposed me to the Zen Martini. Now I'm not a fan of the normal, dry martini at all... even though James Bond is my dude.

The Zen Martinis are less bitter,sweet enough and just as sophisticated.

The best places to have one are The Southern Sun Hotel in Hyde Park and the Hyatt.

Drink responsibly

Be Unexpected

Before ever catching a whiff of "Bleu de Chanel", I saw it in British GQ and what caught me was the catch phrase, "Be Unexpected"

Firstly, that's a motto that I live by, being outside of the box, elusive and always having something up my sleeve. When it comes to good cologne, I always say that it shouldn't be intrusive but she should always want to hug you again.

This cologne is the business; bold, not too sweet and almost spicy. Definitely one for the evening... all night.

Fellaz, please add this to the to the collection.

Trust me

ALS showing ladies love

So by now you know the deal... as far as weekly parties on a Sunday... ALS is where it's at. We've had the hottest line-ups and craziest nights... consistently.

This Sunday we give-away a pair of diamond earrings worth R25 000 and also celebrating the birthdays of some beautiful ladies, Noni Mbongo and Tshepi Vundla.

Expect the likes of Fanatic, Capital, Lenoir,Snypes,PH and Jawz will hold down the decks at Icon.

Doors open at 5pm... Free before 8pm

ALL LOVE

Know your purpose

Fresh off a very interesting conversation, in fact it's the second of its kind I've had in two days.

The topic is purpose, having a sense of it and more importantly having a sense of purpose in Johannesburg. Personally I've never believed that JHB is the problem, I think this is the most honest place in the world... people we cut your throat out here.

This isn't necessarily a negative... it's like that inner-voice that tells you not to do what you're about to to... you choose.

That's what I believe is the difference between Johannesburg and other places. This places forces you to make decisions and this place forces you to be accountable for them. This place forces you to grow up... you can't getaway with that bullshit, "I'm still young" excuse out here... the city has an everyday baptism by fire and if you can't handle the heat... relocate before you burn.

We are a generation that loves to act as though it has lived. Very few of us under thirty have really had some real-life issues to tackle. Most of us are concerned about whether or not we good at the club, have the invite to the private gigs and who we can get in our twitter avatars. Lately people are worried about how dirt on their names will kill their social presence and devalue their social currency.

I've been on the scene since I was fifteen. I saw real rockstars the likes of TKZee and the kwaito generation do their thing. I tell my team and others not to ever think that you have pressure... none of us are as major as those cats were so let's not get gassed.

When it comes to relationships, we also act like this is the smallest place on the planet. It's as small as you allow it to be. You choose who you allow in your relationship... you choose.

Now back to your sense of purpose. Knowing who you are is key, knowing what you want is crucial, knowing which company to keep is essential.

Johannesburg cannot define you so don't blame it for your woes... live your life, make your choices and know your purpose.

History Records Greatness

I'm still far from done with my collage of portraits on my forearm. Arthur Ashe and Michael Jordan have been on there for a while now and I've now added the man who was even Steve McQueen's style icon... Miles Davis.

Miles Davis has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember... the old man put me on early, gave me the history on the man and the rest is history.

Being an indirect social activist was never Miles' game plan but because he didn't take any shit generally, he got into many a racial scuffle... walking away from shows and never succumbing to racial onslaughts... Miles was Miles.

His ultimate curse, like majority of that generation was his addiction to the needle... but the man lived. The music lives, the style lives, the mindset lives... the cool lives.

Miles is now another one of my wingmen.

HONCHOS GO HARD

So it's about that time again. The hottest local street wear brand in the land celebrate its third birthday in style.

Cape Town will never be the same again. Casablanca gets shutdown on the 29th with a line-up that will be unmatched.

The Honchos bring you Naves, SPHEctacular, Speedsta, Lulo Cafe, AKA, Micasa and a whole lot more.

Pre-sold tickets drop next week... don't be cool about it.

www.headhoncho.co.za

My bitches they be laughing

As a dude, ever asked yourself why you can't pull the lady that you're keen on or why you constantly find your blowing your savings in the friendship zone?

There's a simple philosophy that my OG's put me onto, my Wolfpack understands, my young'ns are now fully aware of and Nas broke down so precisely, "My bitches they be laughing."

The statement is so basic. It's what you forgot about before entering the friendship zone wilderness… make sure the ladies are having fun, they need to be dancing and laughing… you need to be the cause of this.

Ever seen this BEE types with the giant guts, loud-ear tickling collars and the man-bags with a squadron of broads that look bored as hell. Ever noticed how they keep looking over at the table of dudes who didn't land with broads but are laughing their little hearts out? Ever noticed how at some point in the night they have changed location and are now laughing at the next table?

This isn't science… it's basic human dynamics and interactions. Look at your friends… we all vibe with people that we share similar humour with. Your boys understand your slang and the general weird shit you utter.

It works the same with the opposite sex. If you can make a woman laugh and consistently have fun in your presence, then you pretty much have her attention… even when you're not around.

The theory on being cool isn't what you see in the mirror, homie… it's how she views you. Ironically you have to stop trying to be cool in order to be cool. She has to think you're cool… forget what your ninjaz think… unless you are attracted to them.

Keep the ladies laughing.

Trust me

The Future

The peril of any sort of success is having to match,maintain and exceed it. Anytime you achieve anything great, you receive pats on the shoulder, followed by a question, "So what's next dawg?" 

The statements that follow, " You gotta go bigger,dude"… the pressure only mounts when you achieve, hence I have great respect for those who continue to achieve… it's easy to simply bask in the glory.vet

Remember your success makes it a tad bit easier for the next dude, they have your blueprint to trace and also have more willing clientele that's seen you make it work.

The question of who my next artist will be is now an the agenda everyday. The demos, emails, tweets, facebook messages,etc are coming in fast and furious but the answer is very simple. The process of my next artist will be as organic as the AKA project. It has to feel right, it had to be natural.

I'm firstly not looking but I'm aware and observant… I'm listening. It doesn't have to be a rookie… it could be a veteran and how I rebrand them. It may not even be a musician… I have no box… i'm for a challenge that will feed me literally while simultaneously feeding my soul.

Truth be told, it may never even happen. Everyday I learn more about business as a whole and there are plenty of experiments in my path. I also plan on giving a few things up in order to not be a hypocrite… at a some point I must retire from being "Mr Party" and allow the game to exist without me… 

I wonder if the game will miss me… who knows? 

I consider myself number one still… if I didn't then I would be wasting my customer's time. Whatever I tackle and engage in, I will always aim to be the best and I expect no less from those in my camp.

Anyway… just another rant. Keep it safe, work hard and make sure you save for that rainy day.

Winning and learning from losses

So I've been quiet... Supposedly.

Truth is I've been studying... My particular field that is. I attacked this blogging thing hard earlier this year. I created my own kind of buzz and then stepped back to see if there was any sort of void if I didn't play my part.

All love for the tweets, facebook messages, emails and those who've come up to me in the street and letting me know that they miss the blog... I'm back like I never left.

I definitely haven't been sitting on my ass doing nothing. The camp is fresh scooping one Channel O award, three Metro Awards, a new video, interviews, shoots and planned projects.

The Head Honcho camp is currently doing well with our summer range. In fact I've noticed that some of our competition are yet to drop summer ranges... Only the strong.

The events game has been hard work and fun too. We spotted the gap with "The Warm Up" at Mibar. People have nothing to do after work/school on a Friday before the club... We have have supplied the demand. All love to my young'n Dj Fanatic for helping me run that... Lookout for his mix in the next Hype issue.

ALS is without a doubt the largest and most consistent weekly Sunday event on our shores. Salute to my teammates,Makhosini,Alessio and Capital... Icon is official.

I've mentioned the positive, but the good comes with the bad. Success makes you a target. People will always assume that what you do is easy and that you do not deserve it.

AKA actually got booed by a faction of the crowd at the Metro Awards because we weren't supposed to do what we did. The fact that an older head in the game can come up to us post the awards and try and dampen our mood and tell us that AKA didn't deserve best newcomer is sad. My comment is simple,homie... You should have voted.

There are awards that I felt we deserved like "Best Video" and we lost. It's simple... In that category... Their fans were stronger. The crowd actually booed them on our behalf and that wasn't fair... Congratulations to them.

What brought me the greatest joy wasn't watching AKA step on stage three times as a victor or even his performance. The greatest joy for me was the fact that the likes of Arthur,Tira,Big Nuz and Somizi actually jumped up and down and celebrated with us... That was a magic moment.

The respect of your peers as a young'n is rare. You can be player of the year or player's player of the year... What means more to you?

Please don't expect us Honchos to turn soft. We have glory in our path and we are hard workers... There will be zero complacency.

Thank you to my team, my family and friends. Thank you to the one who keeps the smile consistent and thank you to the one who taught me my greatest lesson in life this year...

You can't win them all... But you can win the most important ones.

I'm back

Trust me

THE WARM UP

So I promised you a new vibe. A regular vibe... A sexy vibe... A free vibe... A Showlove vibe.

This Friday we launch "The Warm Up" and Mibar.

Ever Friday from 6pm.

No under 21

Fresh beats... Great music and chilled space.

Two for one cocktails between 6pm and 8pm.

Grey Goose Special... A bottle,mixers and platters for R1000(you can't beat that).

Please join us

ALS where we at

Please vote for AKA

Great news in the Showlove Music camp. Our first artist is counting to make history with a total of five nominations.

Truth is I wanted seven but I can put my greed away for a second.

Thank you for keeping the music alive, for not giving up on us when the album was delayed... We promised you quality and now with a total of eight nominations(three Channel O awards nominations)... Altar Ego is definitely making the impact that we planned it to make.

Now I could sit here and say that it's an honour to be nominated and it is, but I would be fronting if I said I don't want these awards... I want each and everyone of them and so does my young'n... He's almost as competitive as I am.

Please help us scoop these joints... Please vote for the camp.

All love

GQ showing love

Last night was another great evening in the Showlove Music camp.

AKA was named the fourth best dressed man in South Africa by GQ magazine. This is a great honour. It's always been our focus to not live in a rap box.

This is the other side, we're utilizing hip-hop to open doors that we weren't even allowed to knock on. Gave me great joy watching the likes of Oscar Pistorius,Loyiso Gola,Maps Maponyane,Trevor Madondo vibing with us... All under 30... All getting it done... All dapper.

Moments like such are a true testiment that hard work,consistency and innovation can kill any obstacle and foe. We compete with ourselves, are dreams are huge and everyday we get closer to touching them.

Please get the November issue of GQ.

Stay fresh

Campus Reboot

Crazy weekend ahead

The Vaal will be torn up by Showlove Music.

Backpackers can be cool

I guess Pharell and Kanye have shown us how to do it. Backpackers can be cool. Well let's not front, the rest of the outfit has to be fresh and the backpack has to be fly.

Here are a few fly options.

I would advise you to actually have something in the bag though.

Easy