Wandisile’s Plett
A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.
Raising social issues through music: Main Fact at Plett ARTS Festival
They are probably ‘The’ local Hip Hop group to look out for in the future of Plett’s music scene, particularly because they’re young, fresh and obviously bringing in something new to the game.
Here we’re talking Hip Hop back in its original state, where the conscious element was at the centre of the music, when hip hop artists concerned themselves with the socio-economic issues around them before bling and glamour took over the craft.
Afteral, Hip hop originated in the predominantly African American economically depressed South Bronx section of New York City in the late 1970s. It’s both a musical genre and a culture, its core message was to expose the realities of inner city life, especially through the lens of disenfranchised young people.
Continuing with the tradition, Main Fact told me; ‘’we chose hip hop because we felt and believed that through hip hop we can be able to express ourselves about things concerning our society and hopefully change the way people look at themselves through music, we wanted to represent the Problems of the streets, the lifestyle, aspirations and much more’’.
African American philosopher, political activist and social critic, Dr Cornel West always complains that “young people need soul stirring music like anybody”, and that “the dominant forms of hip hop today are conforming to the worst of American culture” where celebrity status and money making are the focus.
Enthusiastically I asked them about the overall message they’ll be sending across, specifically during their Plett ARTS Festival performance this coming Sunday, they say they’ll be telling Kasi stories, particularly of issues faced by young people. They hope to inspire and motivate young people that even though life might be hard at times, it goes on still.
Main Fact was founded in 2017 by Avela “AV The Rapper” Bongoza (24) and Xolile “Blag X” Nkosana (26) after breaking off from one of the popular hip hop groups then, Explosion.
They released an album in 2016 with 11 songs and reloaded it in 2017, and toured the Garden Route to sell it and in the same year, they released again a 14 songs mix tape titled ‘Mind of a Hustler’.
They have graced stages with some of South Africa’s successful artists, including amongst others Jimmy Dludlu, Lira, Simphiwe Dana, Sjava, DJ Lulo Café and DJ Tira.
Their opening song will be “Plett it’s a feeling” which speaks more about Plett as a tourist attraction, and it’s definitely a gesture that we, at Plett Tourism, will appreciate.
If it’s the spoken word you love, then you don’t want to miss these boys as they grace the Plett ARTS Festival performing alongside one of Plett’s hip hop legends, King Melisizwe. Coming to you live from N2 Lounge.
