One on One with StylaGang

I recently hung out with a group of guys who have changed the scene when it comes to dressing up and looking proper , I actually don't know how to describe these cool guys but they had me the first time I met them . Good looking guys with great personalities . I wont go into detail but they are StylaGang all he way from Soweto , Protea to be exact

Real Biz 

Who are the founders of StylaGang ?

StylaGang

StylaGang

Keletso Tlhapane 

Mpho Makua

Boitumelo Mathega

Itumeleng Molotsi

 

Real Biz

Tell me more about the StylaGang movement?

StylaGang 

Its more about looking different, staying relevant , being original and never giving up on your dreams and just being consistent in what ever you doing and being comfortable in your own skin .

Real Biz 

Where does the name StylaGang come from ?

StylaGang 

Truly speaking, we were inspired by the Taylor Gang "lifestyle" cos of their originality in the game and how they made it from ground up.

Real Biz

Who inspires you ?

StylaGang

Its not the matter of who, but what inspires us, the situation we find ourselves in , inspires us.

Real Biz

How long has StylaGang been around ?

StylaGang

Stylagang has been around since 2010 .

StylaGang

Real Biz

What makes StylaGang different ?

StylaGang

We take normals things and apply our creativity to it, making it look different hence umswenko

Real Biz

Tell me more about the term umswenko 

StylaGang

The Term Umswenko is a colloquial term to describe Style, now know as Swagg

Real Biz

Does StylaGang render any services ?

StylaGang

Yes we do , we currently sell our merchandise at the Grove Market for now 

Real Biz

Who would you guys like to work with in the future  ?

StylaGang 

We'd like to work with the likes of Kanye west, Taylor gang, Camp ,Mulla and Pharell just to name a few .

Real Biz

Three words that describe StylaGang ?

StylaGang 

Umswenko over swag

Real Biz

What does StylaGang do for fun ?

StylaGang 

Customizing clothes, making music, working hard playing hard .

Real Biz

What is fashion to you ?

StylaGang 

Fashion to us is a cycle of trends

Real Biz

Where would you like to see StylaGang in five years ?

StylaGang

Having a market worldwide, and being successful

Catch StylaGang every Sunday at the Grove Market  in Braamfontein , Johannesburg selling you the best vintage gear . 

On twitter 

@STYLAGANG

Till next time , be good :-)

One on One with DeepSoul_Music

He recently released a song that I've been rocking ever since as well as a couple of proper tunes and this all started on a Friday . He brought you the Deep Friday Movement . I have to say that it's been a success and I know that he'll will go far but before I start yapping a lot let me introduce the ' Leader of Underground ' DeepSoul_Music some may know him as Siya .

Real Biz

Who is DeepSoul_Music and where is he from?

DeepSoul_Music
DeepSoul_Music is a producer/musician. Born in Port Elizabeth and raised in Johannesburg, I was initially a poet/rapper for a large portion of my youth. My first encounter with house music was Glenn Lewis's Mid Tempo Classics series of compilations which really changed my musical preference but the pivotal point was upon hearing a song by Nick Holder titled Summer Daze, from then on I left hip hop behind and pursued a house music career, first as a Dj then as a music producer.

Real Biz

You recently started a movement called ' Deep fridays' , care to tell me more about your movement ' ?

DeepSoul_Music

Deep Fridays was started at the end of February 2012, and basically, it is me giving away one track of my own production, every Friday, for 2 months. I started Deep Fridays because I was fed up with the "clique" that I was being associated with, which is a wide circle of Dj's who are highly talented at what they do but aren't giving back to the industry and are self serving and greedy. The point of Deep Fridays is to introduce a culture of sharing, and most importantly, sharing good music at that. Deep Fridays was never aimed at being about me or taking me forward but rather changing people's perspectives and rather having them appreciate a good song of original content than a mix full of other people's music.

Real Biz 

How has the response been?

DeepSoul_Music

The response has been SUPER crazy. People seem to be liking the music, which makes me very happy.

Real Biz 

I've been following your movement and I must say there's this one song called ' Show me ft Gugu ' , who or  what inspired this song ?

DeepSoul_Music

Haha that song. Well the instrumental for the song was actually produced a year ago and was lurking on my pc because I'd been waiting to find the right vocalist for it. Gugu has an amazing voice and she's a real pleasure to work with. Very few people know that I actually wrote the lyrics to the song, I was in a very bad space at the time and I just happened to write what I was feeling (which is what music is about anyways right?). That song got a really good response though, which I like.

Real Biz

Have any of your songs been aired on radio stations ?

DeepSoul_Music

Unfortunately not and its due to the fact that I'm not part of a copyright protection society (which is being sorted out as we speak).

Real Biz

What does DeepSoul_Music do for fun ?

Fun? What's that? Haha when I do have the luxury of down time I play action soccer with my old high school friends, or go to the drag strip and watch the races at Tarlton. I'm also a sport karate coach, which I do for little to no pay. I really love kids and I work with them as much as I can. The kids I coach make me extremely happy and I'm blessed to be around them on a weekly basis.

Real Biz

What are you currently listening to in your car ?

DeepSoul_Music

Meek Mill's Dreamchaser's Mixtape (I'm a Meek Mill groupie)

Real Biz 

Pick one Shimza or Kent ?

DeepSoul_Music

Shimza

Real Biz

Having accomplished this what can we expect from you in the future ?

DeepSoul_Music

People can expect to see my "Leaders Of The Underground" movement being pushed quite a lot, as well as a lot of collaborations with various artists from around the country. I guess the only way is forward :-)

Real Biz

And lastly its our youth month please leave our peers with some inspirational words

DeepSoul_Music

I'd say people our age need to start DOING stuff and stop talking about it. If I had 50c for everytime somebody told me their plans I'd be a rich man. Start doing stuff and try making a difference rather than being just another number in the system.

Real Biz

Where can people find you ?

DeepSoul_Music

People can email me: djsiya@hotmail.com
Facebook: Deep-Soul Electric-Deep
Twitter: @DeepSoul_Music (this is my main form of communication with followers)

As the editor of Real Biz Magazine I will bless you with the track list just because I'm awesome 

The links to the songs in chronological order.

1. @DeepSoul_Music - Memories (Original Mix) http://www.mediafire.com/?cv347oo6stz4f2a

2. @DeepSoul_Music - Love Letter (Radio Edit) http://www.mediafire.com/?sktv4yj7mro64e6

3. @DeepSoul_Music ft. Gugu - Show Me (Radio Edit) http://hu.lk/mr9tjea9015j

4. @DeepSoul_Music ft. Ms Dippy - Touch Me (Radio Edit) http://hu.lk/23pg9nze2kfn

5. @DeepSoul_Music - Trying (Original Mix) http://hu.lk/88hjy1c7e409

6. @DeepSoul_Music - Resist (Original Mix) http://www.hulkshare.com/x3a2p6j8j4cj

7. @DeepSoul_Music - The Others (DeepSoul_Music's Afro Tech Outlook) http://hu.lk/tgx2yrjmf9mj

8. @DeepSoul_Music - Touched (DeepSoul_Music Refix) http://hu.lk/mo7y0xbf6f58

Also please find below the link to my upcoming event titled Leaders Of The Underground set to take place at Shikisha out in Newtown.

Link: http://www.facebook.com/events/346197052116509/

Enjoy the offering  

Real Biz Magazine: One on One with Kojo Akusa

Real Biz Magazine: One on One with Kojo Akusa: I recently got the opportunity to chat with to a multi-talented man who was born in Russia , with roots in Ghana ans currently living in So...

One on One with Kojo Akusa

I recently got the opportunity to chat with to a multi-talented man who was born in Russia , with roots in Ghana ans currently living in South Africa . He's been in the industry for five years now and has worked with the likes of Andy Compton , Cei Bea, and Distant people just to name a few . If you a house junkie you' ll know him , He is Kojo Akusa .

Kojo Akusa

 

Real Biz 
Three words that best describe you

Kojo Akusa 

Creative, Introvert, Perfectionist

Real Biz 

Who is Kojo Akusa?

Kojo Akusa 
Kojo Akusa is a visual artist, producer and dj who was born in Russia to Ghanaian parents and is currently living in SA.

Real Biz 

Where is Kojo Akusa based now?

Kojo Akusa
In Gauteng, Pretoria

Real Biz
You started producing and making your own beats in 2003, how has it been since then?

Kojo Akusa 
It has been fun and challenging at the same time. It started out as just a hobby, something I was   curious about. I liked house music since I was young, but I never imagined I could produce my own. And I’m someone who always wants to do something that stands out from the rest. I wanted to be different from everyone else. I kept being told that my beats are too “foreign” or “international” or “too deep” and that no one would listen. But I kept doing my own thing, whether it was accepted or not.

Kojo Akusa

Real Biz

Please tell me more about the Beat Rebels movement and why you formed it ?

Kojo Akusa

I formed Beat Rebels in 2006 with my 2 best friends Miles (Smiles) and Phethego (PT), in response to the Pretoria house (more popularly known as Rekere) that was domination in those days. Most of our peers did not understand deep or soulful house then. Most people just follow whatever is popular at the moment. So we decided to create a movement that would remain rooted in originality and uniqueness, fusing deep house, lounge, soul, and house music in its other forms to create something different. It was started as an underground movement and has remained that way, until recently. The other guys have gone their separate ways and Beat Rebels went into hibernation, but I recently revived it with my friend and protégé, Lele X.

Real Biz

How long have you been in the house industry ?

Kojo Akusa

About 5 years. 5 years because I started being active in 2007, but have been “underground” till 2010.

Real Biz

Do you classify yourself as an underground dj?

Kojo Akusa

No. I was an underground Producer. I’ve only been djing for just over a year. I never really wanted to be a dj, till I knew for certain that I could play a whole set of my own music without any doubts. I realized the importance of playing and promoting your own music.

Real Biz

Who have you worked with and who would you like to work with in future?

Kojo Akusa

I’ve worked on original music with Eugene Macdonald (Guests of Nature), from UK, Airi (Japan), and a few other international artists. Locally I’m working with Lele X, Les-Ego, Darque, to name a few. I’ve done several remixes for the likes of Andy Compton, Cei Bei, Distant people, and many more.

Real Biz 
What does Kojo Akusa do for fun?

Kojo Akusa 

I watch cartoons and movies, play computer games, and sometimes go out with friends

Real Biz 

What makes you tick?

Kojo Akusa 

Art makes me tick. Anything weird and fascinating, and extraordinary

Real Biz

Do you listen to anything else but house?

Kojo Akusa 
Yes. In fact i spend more time listening to soul and neosoul, hip-hop, rock, jazz, and even classical

Real Biz 

Favourite hang - out spot

Kojo Akusa
The cinema

Real Biz

Favourite song of all time?

 

Kojo Akusa 
The Rurals - Rebel

Real Biz

What are you currently listening to?

Kojo Akusa
Marathon men - Paradise

Real Biz

Seeing that we are in the youth month please leave us some encouraging words for them

Kojo Akusa   

This may be a cliché but you can’t say it too much, never give up on your dreams. Keep dreaming and keep working towards them. You can do anything if you believe you can. Also take the time to learn as much as you can. You can’t do much if you don’t know much.

 Get him on twitter 

@kojoakusa