Search - Various Artists :: Kwaito: South African Hip Hop

Make 'Em Bounce!

empty71 | Chicago, IL | 12/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As hard as it may be for us old Afro-pop fans to swallow, "The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto" is now old school, its artists and songs as much as of an artifact to native South Africans as, oh, The Clash's debut record is for us. Hence, dig the new breed! The amalgation of disco, hip hop, and township music threw me off at first, but, as with much African music, with proper immersion I'm learning to love this stuff more with each listen. Pounding electrobeats throughout, and let give three cheers for my fave rave, the endlessly repeatable "Make 'Em Bounce," which samples an old Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens song, and whose title serves as a manifesto for both this record and the style of music it exhibits. If I may quote: "This is a kind of rhythm in Africa / We send our messages through music / This is our tradition in Africa / Come on let's get together now." Indeed. In a word, glorious!"