Vision mag

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#! ISSUE

November 2015

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CONTENTS

page 03

Conversions and chommies with Menzi: Page 07

Menzi brings you his idea of a great night out at the Brammfontein South Point Street Festival page 15

Oliver Zondo: Turning Hand me downs to Thrifty dimes

#REMAHIPPY FEATURE

In-depth interview with owner of the thrifty couture hand - me - dimes page 11

INDEPENDENT MUSIC CHARTS Top 10 Singles this month page 13

SINGLE REVIEW THE MOUTH - MO’ARTWELL

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page 19

Album Review Ceilings - Totem page 22

In Depth Interview: Thato Totem Megale Totem speaks GXD RADIO, Vision magazine, Business and music

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STREETFEST2015 THE GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY

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“All in all the best way to describe Street Fest is “Good Enough”, the organizers gave you nothing more and nothing less. No surprise acts, No international performers and definitely no VIP (There’s no VIP in the streets chommi).”

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Conversions and chommies with Menzi:

STREET FEST’15 THE GOOD , THE BAD T H E U G LY

As a self-proclaimed liker of things, on the first Saturday of October I found myself at Mswenkofontein for the annual South Point Street Fest to see first-hand what the big fuss was about.

The first thing that really drew my attention to the event was the date on which the organizers decided to host the Street Fest.

Even though Home Coming Picnic and Spring Fiesta were on the same day as the Street Fest, this didn’t affect the number of people that showed up to have a good time on Melle street and by Saturday afternoon Street Fest tickets were sold out

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he lineup at Street Fest was lukewarm at best, with many of the headliners scheduled to perform in the evening. This resulted in the Street Fest being a ghost town for the first two or so hours after the entrance was opened. Once the sun began to set the numbers started to increase and the party was on.

The Kid X and Maggz brought the dust and put up a fight on stage.

Representing the Cash time crew and performing songs from the stable, including those from members who weren’t present. But as with most events of this kind in South Africa, the show was stolen by the djs with Ms Cosmo and

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Twins on Decks holding it down for the hip hop and house heads respectively.

WTF tried shame but unfortunately they were let down by their limited catalogue and brought nothing new to the table. The zenith of their performance was Nomusa, as expected.

For me, the closing act Twins on Decks were the highlight of the night. Their set was a mixture of new and old which had people dancing from the first song.

All in all the best way to describe Street Fest is “Good Enough”, the organizers gave you nothing more and nothing less. No surprise acts, No international performers and definitely no VIP (There’s no VIP in the streets chommi). Once you realize that you get what you pay for, it’s very hard to leave the event disappointed (What did you expect?).

The organizers did their part and if you go to the event with no expectations or comparisons and simply enjoy it for what it is, then you’re set to have a good ass night

by Menzi Mbilini

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Oliver Zondo: Turning Hand me downs to Thrifty dimes

FASHION IS A VERY INTEGRAL PART IN STREET CULTURE, AND THRIFTING HAS BECOME A NORM AMONGST THE STREET NATIVE. TODAY WE CATCH UP WITH A WELL SKILLED FOLK IN THE ART OF THRIFTING AND ASK HIM ABOUT HIS OWN THRIFT WEAR COUTURE NAMED “HAND -ME -DIMES”

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Q N A WITH OLIVER Hi there :) My name is Neo Megale and thank you so much for giving me and the mag an opportunity to get to understand who and your brand are as well as giving us the opportunity to share what you do with people who love fashion and could potentially be looking to be put on.

Q: So firstly, who are you and where are you from?

A: My name is Oliver Zondo founder and co-owner of hand me dimes. I’m a final year student at the University of Johannesburg. I’m from the East-rand specifically Tsakane.

Q: Who were you raised by?

A: Well my upbringing is a bit of busy, I was raised by my grandparents from 8 to 12 year and my two aunts ( Qedile and Phindile Zond) from 12 18 and my sister from then, till now.

And she’s still raising me.

Q: What kind of a person would you describe yourself as?

A: I would describe myself as a passionate young man.

Q: What skills would you say you have?

A: I could say I have branding, design, sartorial intelligence ( it’s an actual skill), strategy and also negotiation.

Q: What did/are you studying at the moment?

A: I’m a strategic marketing communications student proud to say.

Q: What inspired the name of

your brand and how did you get into the business?

A: Hand me dimes is a play on the phrase hand-me-downs as our business is selling quality thrift wear. So instead of usually worn hand-me-downs. We offer high-end fashion items, exclusive pieces of clothing. Vintage baseball and basketball caps recent ones too. Our clothing offering is from head to toe. We tailor suits for our customers also Q: How would you describe the process of starting the business?

A: I have been able to maintain a steady increase in our short existence as a business. We are so growing.

Q: Would you say that it was successful?

A: What achievements would you say you have accomplished since the establishment of HMD? Q: What goals did you and do you have for HMD? A: The goal is to one day produce our own line of clothing like HMD couture, hopefully this comes soon enough.

Q: How do you market your brand and advertise to people?

A: We market ourselves through the various social media platforms, Twitter Facebook and Tumblr.

Q: Besides working on your HMD project, what else do you

do?

A: Most of the time if I’m not busy with school and running HMD, I’m just collecting clothes.

It’s hard work finding dimes.

Q: What challenges did you encounter when starting out?

A: The challenge has been balancing HMD with my other commitments such as school.

But soon enough my attention will be solely directed to HMD....

There are always challenges the trick is to have a pragmatic approach to all you do. So I apply that when dealing with challenges.

Q: Do you still encounter some challenges?

A: I think in terms of reaching the targets that we set for ourselves since we I have started we haven’t reached a couple that we though were crucial. But those are just the challenges of start-ups. Things like funding are also some challenges HMD faces.

Q: What type of music do you listen to and does it inspire your taste for fashion?

A: I LISTEN TO A LOT OF HIP HOP and definitely that has an impact on my personal style and is also, in some way, reflected in our product offering.

Q: How would you describe the moment you fell in love with fashion?

A: I use to thrift a bit, or maybe a whole lot. Cause I was fascinate with much quality the clothes I

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found in the thrift were as compared to retail stores. And I knew I would find something no one else has.

And as HMD we pride ourselves in offering our customers something different. ( We don’t sell vintage) clothing though) we have some vintage items though.

Q: What kinds of clothes do you sell?

A: I sell street wear - Casual wear - and Formal wear we do everything.

Q: Who do you sell to?

A: I sell to Anyone that wears clothes ,my peers, the student population in and around jozi. Fashionistas and thrifters.

Q: What kind of fashion trends do you like and does it play a major part in the decision process behind the clothes you make available to people?

A: I don’t think I follow trends, I it seems that I do then it must be something I do unintentionally. But one trend that I think is great is the return of caps and thats one hand me dimes capitslises on.

Q: On Facebook I saw that you are getting a lot of love for the clothes, how do you manage the demands and how do people buy them?

A: I usually post items on Facebook of which I expect people to vibe to, which they sometimes do. I maintain my customer relationship on WhatsApp with my regulars. And quick often people hit me up for new stuff and make orders of specific items which I then get for them.

Q: What future considerations or plans for HMD as well as for yourself personally?

A: Like what I said previously, the goal is to one start producing our own clothes. That’s the what we are building up to.

Q: Has Running HMD taught you anything?

A: It has taught me quite a bit about financial management cause I have always been bad with my finances. And also in terms of building networks and turning those networks into net worth.

Q: What words of encouragement would you like to give to to people who aspire to start businesses similar to yours or being in the industry?

A: There’s enough for everyone, theres a demand for quality clothes out there and the people are willing to spend if your product is good enough.

Q: Where can people get a hold of you and see the clothes you sell?

A: Peeps can find us on twitter @HandMeDimes on Tumblr hand-me-dimes.tumblr.com yeah about to hit Instagram soon cause it’s necessary. For orders and deliveries its 071 1628 159 (WhatsApp and direct line).

And that’s how you get a hold of us.

by Neo Megale

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#1 TEEMAN X JINSSKI – AT IT AGAIN

#4 Venomous Cliq x Naycha and Castino - MAEBUYE

#2 MO ARTWELL – THE MOUTH

#5 Lunar Don King x Jimmy Jones - #HighBreed

#3 MAJIK X SKITZIRKODARTH – WAVEZONE

#6 Totem - Double Cup Pt. 3 Freestyle

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#7 $pace $ave Logic- Doe Mayne

#8 Slava x Naycha – Bumpa Lepantsula

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#9 K.Brizzy x Skatle & Jinsski – Bae Vibes

#10 $tu x Sir Tsheps – Lost in it

compiled by Menzi Mbilini

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Single review: The Mouth Mo’Artwell

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Mo Artwell, the local hip hop artist that writes and produces his own tracks, singlehandedly created a mind reaching song. Inspired by his previous encounters with ex-girlfriends, The Mouth speaks of how females think as girls…it’s mainly an appeal to women; it even appealed to me. Mo played a bit with the joint, with a few drinks in, he just went with it, you can hear with the whistle towards the end of the joint. When I listened to this song, it took me back to Wale’s tracks on The Album About Nothing. Introducing the track with a conversation-like message, and ending with it as well… purely genius! This track will make you feel like you were there, in the studio, during the recording…the whistling really gave it a kick, inflecting a personal touch. You’re probably wondering “what is The Mouth”, well, it’s actually an analogy. Mo questions what a person chooses to do with ‘the mouth’. “The mouth is about fellatio, but in the same light using the mouth to speak life into my world” said Mo. by Lerato Makgetla

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Living with lerato #ReMaHippy Waar was jy ha ne re le Gabo Motho? When the 2nd annual #ReMaHippy took us back to the old school park vibe in the modern day? #76GaboMotho: #ReMaHippy, tore the hood (Mohlakeng) up on the 10th Oct 2015! Ever been to a concert feel in the hood? At a back yard? Well, Gabo Motho sure pulled it off.

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It was the talk of the town all week! You’ll never know if the west is talented until you’ve been to an event like this. The fresh, raw talent in this hood is like a diamond in the ruff that needs some discovering and nurturing. The events manager-Mothusi aka “Twice” is doing an amazing job with the organising of this dope event. They are bringing a talent showcase to the people, instead of people going to

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the showcase. It was only

dance floor, some even

their second annual and

reconciled at the sound

already they have im-

of JayZ and Kanye’s Nig-

mense support from the

gers in Paris. The crowd

hood. One thing about

was losing their minds

Mohlakeng that I noticed

on the dance floor...If you

is that they got each oth-

didn’t dance to that mix,

er’s backs and mad love

then there’s something

for each other’s work. I

seriously wrong witchu.

could not have thought

I personally LOVED Griz-

of a better place to host

zly...nigger knows how to

such an event myself.

tick your fantasies.

DJ Grizzly set the roof on fire, as he feed dust to our shoes and made us breathless...Literally!

His hip hop mix brought people together on the

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I SURE WAS FEELING HIM! THE LINE-UP WAS MAD

WAS MET,HOWEVER,NOT THE KIND OF HOUSE THEY

DOPE, THE FRESHEST ACTS IN THE HOOD WERE PER-

EXPECTED THOUGH. BUT THAT DIDN’T KILL THE JOY

FORMING THAT NIGHT. WE TALKING ABOUT THE LIKES

OF THE NIGHT. IT STILL WAS A MAD DOPE EVENT. WE

OF BLUE PRINT WITH THEIR MASH HIT “MATHATA”,K-

NOW AWAIT THE NEXT EVENT, IN WHICH WE ANTICIPATE

PE WITH “ FVCK THE POLICE”, CAVO CARDO KILLED

A YET ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT. #TEAMNOSLEEP

IT WITH “ YOU MUST NEVER”,VIX MAVUTHELA WITH

“HADE BADE” AND MANY MORE WAS HITTING UP THE STAGE. ALTHOUGH THE EVENT WAS A HIP HOP JOINT, THE CROWD REQUESTED HOUSE MUSIC AT THE END OF

by

THE PERFORMANCES, AND OF COURSE THEIR REQUEST

Lerato Makgetla

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Album Review Ceilings - Totem

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Totem is back on the scene with his latest body of work titled Ceilings. A follow up to his debut mixtape Equifinality, Totem gets personal and speaks on his experiences, issues and ambitions on Ceilings.

On a conceptual level, Ceilings really hits its mark.

The production on the mixtape, mainly handled

by Totem himself under the pseudonym Okational Soundz is driven by jazzy neo-soul sounds, minimalistic melodies and deep bass lines. This results in easy listening beats that complement the lyricism as opposed to overshadowing the rapper.

The content of the mixtape pretty much falls in line with the title. Choosing to avoid the glass ceiling that many rappers impose on themselves and opting rather to add substance to the game.

Totem’s rapping on the mixtape has shown significant growth from his previous work. There’s the rap bully, unapologetic Totem on songs like Gold Slave/Exodus and Yours Truly to the introspective and reflective side on songs like 19 April, Gone till November and Old Days.

Ceilings is about unbarred honesty, introspection and being transparent to those around you.

The mixtape sounds like nothing I’ve heard from a West Rand rapper and embodies everything I love about hip hop. The thought provoking content, the substance and lyricism.

This is a rundown of what to expect from the mixtape.

1.

“Lucid [Intro]” Aristotle, a Greek philosopher observed: “often when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what then presents itself is but a dream”. Over a backdrop of dramatic, rising strings and an evocative bass line, the opening song on the mixtape is what on the surface seems like Totem in a lucid dream or so deep in thought that it seems as though he is

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dreaming.

The first words on the intro are an adlib “Money, women, gold chain”. The adlib is quickly followed by a deep voice contrasting on those four words by exploring issues facing youth of today, “We th middle children of history, no purpose or place...”

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“Ceilings” The second song on the mixtape acts as a table of contents, showcasing the direction of the mixtape and what to expect not only in terms of lyrical content but also production wise. After being woken from heavy dreams stolen by petty thieves, Totem immediately launches into the titl track rapping on a range of topics including his mom, deception, judgment

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“19 April” One of the more personal and introspective songs on the mixtape,19 April begins with wind chimes looping over the sound of rain before the adlib “It’s one of those days” is heard. The song has no hook or chorus and Totem gives the listener a perspective into a day in his life. From rapping about walking in the street, trying to find salvation, his dreams of stacking money, to reminiscing about his weekdays inside the studio and the reason why he’s so deep and barely smiles in these streets. From the first word to the last you can hear his thoughts constantly evolve over the backdrop of the mellow beat. The song finally breaks down and comes back full circle as the song ends with the sound of wind chimes over the sound of rain.

by Menzi Mbilini

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In Depth Interview: Thato Totem Megale speaks GXD RADIO, Vision magazine, Business, music and expands on the concept of ceilings and what it meant when recording.

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Lerato: So Thato aka Totem,Inception media God,let’s talk music and business...

Totem: Ey let’s do it lol Lerato: I believe you are the founder/CEO of inception media council...correct?

Totem: Actually no I’m founder and manging director, I don’t run my company bad decisions tend to creep up.

Lerato: OK, I stand corrected. Walk me through it...what is inception media council and how did the concept come about?

Totem: Well Inception media council is a digital marketing company, so we focus on company branding, website building, web design, graphic design and further more financial advice and projection. As far as the Idea, I got it from the movie “Inception” which also means the beginning point. This has been something I’ve had in my heart and mind for 4 years. Just started now coz I have resources.

Lerato: I’m aware you’ve also achieved quite a few things this year alone, GXD Radio being one, yes?

Totem: Yes fo sho GXD Radio is one of my most exciting endeavours this year actually its crazy how people don’t see what I see, but I figure once it manifests in their head they won’t know.

What hit them.

Lerato: I see. So how does GXD Radio come in all this inception media thing? Is it under inception, or does it stand alone?

Totem: Well GXD radio is similar to complex and mass appeal, these are magazine companies with different factions within them. GXD radio is the same, it’s a magazine company with a faction which is Vision and other things that are yet to come. Can’t really reveal much. Gxd is under inception.

Lerato: So you won’t let us in on ‘things that are yet to come’? A lil teaser would be appreciated...

Totem: Well a music compilation of all the artists featured on Vision is one of them. A couple of podcast radio shows and the more exciting one is the producers corner, where we video document a producer making/Sampling a beat from 3 different random songs.

Lerato: Speaking of music, I believe you just released a mix tape titled Ceilings? Why that name?

Totem: Shiiii. Yoh Alright Look it’s a long complex idea. So u know when u meditate or when u thinking alone in your room on your bed? 8/10 times you look at the ceilings and run away in your thoughts. So ceilings is a documentation of my thoughts going wild.

Lerato: Oh...makes sense now. Which track on that tape is your favourite? And why Totem: Worthy, Gone till November and Limbo.

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Lerato: Choose one Totem: Lol Gone till November, coz of the sample, I found it 3 o clock in the morning alone in my room tired of studying.

Lerato: Which one describes who you are the most? If there is any Totem: All of them it’s one thought throughout the whole tape.

Lerato: Ok, so should one want to know Totem, they should give the tape a listen?

Totem: My character is too complex so Ceilings is just 15% of who I was throughout that time.

Lerato: Was? You’re a different person now?

Totem: Not entirely, i learn something and it develops my character.

Lerato: Ok Totem the Gxd, thanks for your time... Keep doing what you’re doing and flourish!

Totem: Thanks

by Lerato Makgetla

Magazine

Team

Menzi Mbilini

Lerato Makgetla writer, content editor

writer, content manager

Thato Megale Editor in Cheif, Content Creator

Kelebogile Musi Strategic Officer

Neo Megale copywriter

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