Are we not grateful that Johannesburg’s music scene truly has a ton of content to write about?!
In this piece we look at a movement, a party or whatever you really want to call it. They call it MiHood. They are Doda, Hammathedude, Castro Jazz and Boisanza.
What excites me about writing this is when they visit this website and read this, they will go “Wow! These gents truly did it differently.” Amapiano has taken over in South Africa and this is just after the Qcom just subsided. No issues here about those genres, because they make this country what is, a fun place to go out. People love them and I’ll be honest, I jam to Amapiano when I’m drunk – It’s all about having fun and this what we have in common as South Africans. When we go out, we want to have fun, irrespective of what genre we are listening to or who we are with.
My angle on this piece is to breakdown Mi Hood by each of the founders to give you a sense of what happens at their parties from a music perspective. You can then surmise what the parties are like, so you can attend one of their events. As I write this, MiHood has graced Soweto, Mamelodi in Pretoria and Duduza in the East Rand.
Let’s start in chronological order (for our purpose, it means shortest to tallest). If you think I’m not going to take a piss at these guys when I get a chance, then you don’t know them. They are the friendliest and most fun cats you can be around at any given time.
Doda = shortest
I think you can call him Pink Lemonade! Here is the link: https://bit.ly/2KPRa6s to why I call him Pink Lemonade. The few times I’ve listened to him play, he really knows how to take his audience on a journey of “feel good and forget all your worries.” Doda takes you on a musical journey that a few DJs can do. He transports you to another music sphere, challenges you even to explore different sounds with him. Ever consistent on the vibe he is on, he will have you dancing, singing and smiling. It’s a pity he is short, or he would have all the ladies.
Hammathedude = shorter
Now Bro Thabo Hammathedude Ndlovhu is my elder, so I won’t be pulling any nonsense. I once called him Themba over the phone and he called me to order by being silent and then asking who Themba is! I apologized and I knew to never mess with him, intentionally or not. But since I’m writing and I will call him Themba one more time here! Hahahaha…When you say Hamma to me, I immediately think of madness, jumping, grabbing each other and screaming all your classic rap lines! A true master of his craft. Listen, you don’t have to be a rap/hip hop fan to vibe to this cat. He brings it! Expect the best sounds on vinyl when Hammathedude jumps on. Expect to jump to some gangster rap, switch to some soulful beats and some bass. And when you think he is done, he will drop some Erykah Badu and Jay Dilla on you, making you want to fall in love. What a selector!
Castro Jazz = short
He makes you understand that jazz is just not Sunday music or complex sounds put together, but music that you can vibe to. When I have had the chance to listen to Castro, he has made me want to collect the music he plays. I’m not even a jazz fan, but I do listen to it when someone plays it. Castro has become the one person I look forward to listening to when it comes to this genre. When he describes the music he plays, it becomes for more than just a mix or selection of tracks but he really gives you the opportunity to connect with music on a different level. He knows the background of the music he plays and to me, it means that he plays with purpose – it really becomes a teaching. Very spiritual, if I may say so. When the people that identify a purpose music has play, it becomes an occasion.
Boisanza = Tallest
Sanza is tall! In fact, his shoe size is measured in kilometers, but that is a conversation for another day. What a special spinner and selector! Fearless in his selection and how he presents music to the masses. This what makes Boisanza one of the most sought after DJs here in Jo’burg. He can move through genres and tempos with ease, allowing you to experience the past, the current and the future. Very passionate about music, but more than anything, a DJ that always wants to have fun both behind the decks and the dance floor.
If I was to surmise MiHood’s composition or fabric, if you like – Very good music, shared by people who are invested in it through passion.
Skillful delivery of music to ensure those receiving it get an experience like no other, at friendly and welcoming environments, in your hood. It is love, fun and expression in all their forms. It’s a jump!
Catch their next show in Mafikeng on the 29th September 2019 at Nxt Do
