In case you aren’t in the know, ‘Back To The City Festival’ was on Monday April 27^th and it is befitting to use the word EPIC! For this occasion.

Hip hop in South Africa has come a long way from the days of metropolitan and the Lee club, to under the trenches of the Newtown Bridge to the centre stage at the square. As far as numbers go a comfortable 25 000 attendees for Osmic and his team from just a mere 700 – 1000 people. Young people of Mzansi have shown their love for all things hip hop and what better way to get that experience than at #BTTCFestival.

Every year since 4 years ago, #BTTCFestival has managed to bring out an iconic hip hop group or artist from the states but, to be quite honest they (international acts) haven’t really brought it or lived up to their reputation, some of them might have been a bit old and worn out. But what we experienced this past Monday on Freedom day was nothing short of amazing from Onyx. Actually let me bump some Onyx for inspiration right now. As far as all the elements of hip hop are concerned, from fashion to basketball and everything else in the middle this festival catered for you.

I mean the Sprite uncontainable zone was on fire with young talent spitting away, Redbull had their stage at the bottom end of the festival, which has become their usual spot, skaters were shredding rails and ramps and to it I feel should mention that the gesture of allowing skaters free entry is a midas touch. Main stage was abuzz with the A-listers, the cream of the crop in Mzansi Hip hop brought their best performances.

We do feel like ninjas were cut, they didn’t get to finish some of their performances but time was also a factor, so we forgive TTP, LOL!

Back to Onyx, Sticky fingaz and Fredo Starr are some of the hardest spitters from South Jamaica, Queens, New York. They brought their A-game on that stage, I mean these guys didn’t hold back. This being the 10^th Back To The City Festival and I’ve been to all of them, from the days of being under the bridge when it was just Sprite & Redbull showing love to the culture and now we see all brands chipping in trying to get a slice of the youth market, which is the obvious route because young people are consuming it faster and more now than ever before.

I think the point as followers and loyalists of the culture, we’ve been trying to communicate to corporate across the world is that no matter how vulgar and intensely expressive the art form is, it also has been the sound track to young people all over the world. With KO winning the coveted South African Music Award for song of the year means that the genre has simply made it to top tier in the SA music scene. We had quite an experience at the event, big thank you to all the sponsors who have found value in our beloved hip hop and to Osmic and his team great work, well done. Now to see what the festival in Durban will bring to the table. Hip hop is alive.