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X Plastaz writes history again as the first East African rap group to perform in a French speaking country in Africa . |
Kui Kanyari
Dar es Salaam
X Plastaz writes history again as the first East African rap group to perform in a French speaking country in Africa . They have been invited to perform at Gabao Hip Hop 2006, one of the five big hip hop festivals in West Africa which takes place from 1 through 4 June 2006 in Libreville , the capital of Gabon .
X Plastaz, a hip hop group from Arusha is one of the most familiar names, with a huge following especially among the common people. Their conscious Swahili rap lyrics strike a chord with the Tanzanian youth, who can relate to their topics like Aids, unemployment, divorce and even life in prison. Their music is a unique mixture of traditional chanting and elements from hip hop, ragga and even Hindu music. X Plastaz consist of six members; the brothers Nelly (aka Ruff-Nell), Gsan, and Ziggy, Maasai singer Yamat Ole Meipuko, and two teenage siblings of the brothers.
As this is the first performance of X Plastaz without Faza Nelly, the whole festival is dedicated to the memory of Faza. X Plastaz member Nelly aka Faza recently passed away from wounds inflicted by a knife after a neighbour attacked him for no obvious reason.
X Plastaz have decided to stay together, make music and tour. Through their work they will continue Faza Nelly’s unfinished work: the second X Plastaz album for which he had thought out the concept; the music video to Faza’s solo track ‘Nini dhambi’ which was completed 3 days before he died; new videos to the tracks he completed in 2005; a next level stage show which he had been designing in his quiet back room in Arusha.
Other groups that are scheduled to perform at the hip hop festivals include Daara J ( Senegal ), Sinik (France), Baponga ( Gabon ), Krotal ( Cameroon ) and singer Lokua Kanza ( Congo ). XPlastaz will perform with DJ Precise, the legendary Dutch/Ethiopian DJ/producer with whom they recorded tracks in 2002.
As this is the first performance of X Plastaz without Faza Nelly, the whole festival is dedicated to the memory of Faza.
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