Helen Herimbi
For the fourth annual Sprite Uncontainable event, the beverage is bringing out veteran US rappers, Mobb Deep. The duo are a drawcard to what is actually a competition in which 14 graffiti artists, rappers and dancers vie for the chance to be named the best in their fields.
The final event, when the winners in these categories will be announced, takes place at Zone 6 Venue in Soweto on Saturday. Katlehong spitter, Reason, returns as the judge in the rapping category, while Mars has the final word when it comes to graffiti and Simba will judge the dancers.
Involved for the fourth year running, Reason explained what drew him to this initiative: “Two things: first, Sprite influenced a lot of hip hop movements in the hood – from basketball to music – when I was growing up. And second, although they are aware that they want to sell drinks, they want to do it in a way that genuinely interacts with the culture. It’s the authenticity that attracted me.”
With a repackaging of his third album, Audio High Definition, called Audio Re-Definition, slated to be released with new songs this year, Reason knows a thing or two about being a rapper with longevity. Many of the finalists in his category will be looking to have this kind of career, too. The winners of each category will receive an opportunity to be mentored by the judge in the respective categories for a year.
He says for the rapping category, his criteria will be stern. They will include aspects such as “knowledge of self – you must not sound like people who already exist. The music is an important criterion and being able to rap, of course, because on Saturday night, you will be performing to a crowd that came there to see Mobb Deep.”
In addition to Mobb Deep, who gave us classics like Shook Ones and The Learning (Burn), performers on the night will include Skhanda king K.O as well as hip hop dance maestro, Mernoly Simba, and rapper, Hydro.
l Be at the Sprite Uncontainable final event on Saturday at Zone 6 Venue, Soweto. R100 at Computicket, R120 at the door.