Finalists in Sprite Uncontainable talent search announced

Listen up: the Sprite Uncontainable hip hop talent search finalists have been announced! After just shy of 5 000 mobile studio and fan submissions were received, judges Reason, Mernoly Simba and Mars have selected the most uncontainable contestants in the emcee, dance, graffiti and fan categories.

B’ballers got in on the Sprite Uncontainable action too, with over 1 000 contestants completing a NBA Skills Challenge at the auditions. Finalists will compete in a high-pressure, timed skills challenge at the finals event and the baller with the quickest time will be named the winner.

The finalists will share the stage with hip-hop-greats as they battle it out at the Sprite Uncontainable finals event at Zone 6, Diepkloof, Soweto on August 2nd, 2014. The action-packed event, brought to you by Sprite, the NBA, ShockRA Entertainment and W.A.R Media, features international hip hop stars Pharoahe Monch and Jean Grae; local artists Revivolution, Reason, Tumi and Maggz; hip hop DJ’s Vigilante, Vardz, P-Kuttah, Zakes and Mr X; totally fresh dance crews, b-ballers, a battle zone and much, much more.

The additional “fan” category was created for peeps to submit an original piece of work like a picture or a poem that best reflects their truth. These top fans have now been paired up with the finalists in a unique relationship where the finalist will use the fan’s entry submission as inspiration for their performance at the finals while the fan promotes their finalist on social media leading up to the event.

The overall winners in each category – rap, dance, graffiti, fan and basketball – will be announced on the night. These rising hip hop stars will then get to experience the trip of a lifetime to New York in 2015 where they will enjoy a truly Uncontainable experience that only Sprite can provide.

Voting for the main categories (rap, dance and graffiti) is open to the public, which holds 40% of the final vote. Voting will open on www.spritehiphop.co.za on 16 July 2014 and close at 8pm on the 2nd of August 2014. The Sprite Uncontainable competition is designed as a platform to celebrate self-expression.

The finalists are:

Emcee Category:
Andelwa Ngubane, from Pinetown, Durban
Jason Mangena, from Croydon, Johannesburg
Unathi Mpotulo aka “Uneek”, from Nyanga, Cape Town
Luthando Dekeni aka “Lolli”, from Sunnyside, Pretoria

Dance Category:
Nathan Adriaanse, from Athlone, Cape Town
Alistor Adams aka “Allycat”, from Tableview, Cape Town but currently residing in Westdene, Johannesburg
Benny Chiloane aka “Chilli”, from Sonheuwel, Nelspruit
Mlondi Ndlovu aka “Superkid”, from Inanda, Durban

Graffiti Category:
Braden Smulders, from Newlands, Cape Town
Greg Schiffer aka “Kaos”, from Randburg, Johannesburg
Charles Keylock aka “Riot”, from Randburg, Johannesburg
Werner Reddinghuys aka “Tower”, from Emmerentia, Johannesburg

Fans Category:
Christopher MacClements, from Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria
Courtney Jacobs, from Coronationville, Johannesburg
Alfonso Simmers, from Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
Sizwe Moloi, from Pimville, Soweto
Lebohang Ramaema, from Willows, Bloemfontein
Pulane Khaile, from Botshabela, Free State
Ernest Ditsele, from Soweto, Johannesburg
Junior Mmotla, from Meyers Park, Pretoria
James Fatana, from Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Shavon Etches, from Randburg, Johannesburg
Johannes Raphunda, from Polokwane, Limpopo
Moses Motshwaedi from Soweto, Johannesburg

B’ballers Category:
Olebogeng Letebele, from Bloemfontein
Tebatso Sedibe, from central Bloemfontein
Andile Zulu, from Katlehong, Johannesburg
Andile Mbhele, from Braamfontein, Johannesburg

For more information about Sprite Uncontainable, to view the Terms and Conditions and to vote, visit www.spritehiphop.co.za. Join the conversation with Sprite on Facebook and with @Sprite on Twitter using #SpriteHipHop. Tickets for the finals event are available for R100 at www.computicket.com