Be part of the story with Channel O’s O-Sessions

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Channel O – O Sessions


The Original.African channel is at it again with the launch of O-Sessions – an intimate music concert featuring SA’s leading artists. It’s the artist’s story through their words and music.

Channel O is giving 50 loyal viewers per show a chance to be part of the story as some of the industry’s best host an exclusive concert while taking fans on an intimate voyage into their lives through their music. To be part of this LIVE show, viewers need to log on to the Channel O website [www.channelo.tv] and share how in their own lives have been part of the featured artist’s journey. It’s that simple!

“For me rhyming goes beyond choosing a language I feel comfortable with…”

The O-Sessions will be shot at the Red Pepper studios, located in one of Johannesburg’s most vibrant art hubs, Melville. In the first LIVE recording session Soweto will surely stand up, when Pro shares his O-Session. It’s hard to believe that Pro (real name Linda Mkhize) only turned professional in 2005. As one of the country’s well respected vernacular rapping emcee, Pro has been quoted in published reports saying “For me rhyming goes beyond choosing a language I feel comfortable with. There are things you can lose when using vernacular yet there are things that sound right when using African languages,” about his choice to rap in vernacular. With that being said… Dankie San’!

We crank up the pace to full blast with an O-Session featuring Jozi. Ishmael Morabe (aka Ish), Lesley Mampe (aka Da L.E.S) – the dynamic duo that makes up the group Jozi- take us through the songs as well as the collaborations that added the tantalising ingredient that got them to where they are today.

The following week on Thursday 24 March we take it to the hood when old school veterans TKZee meet with new school swag Slikour.

TKZee is a group that has rewritten the South African musical history books by becoming the biggest selling Kwaito group in the country. We travel with the trio from their humble beginnings; the turbulent times that plagued the group members threatening to end their flourishing careers to the release of their breakthrough comeback album titled Coming Home.

We switch things up with Siyabonga “Slikour” Metane – one of the founding members of the record breaking South African Hip Hop group Skwatta Kamp – on Thursday 17 March. We journey from the hit singles to the bad and dip into some of the greatest moments in this lyricist’s career.

A two day music experience. Four artists. One stage. Be another chapter in the story with Channel O’s O-Sessions on Thursday 17 March and Thursday 24 March!

The featured artists:

2010 was a big year for Slikour, collaborating with various African artists, stable mate Kwesta as well as Kelly Rowland in “Everywhere You Go”, MTN’s 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP anthem, which culminated with a live performance at the World Cup closing ceremony viewed by 500 million people worldwide and a 85000 crowd at Soccer City as well as the release of a third installment to his ventilation series with “Ventilation Vol. 3 (VV3)”, the 1st single from the album, “Phum’Elayinini”, caused a stir along with its wacky music video. Slikour is currently working on his music video series called VV3 The Movie and judging by the first of the seven videos that complete the movie (“Dubula 2.0” ft Kabelo) it’s going to be well worth following as it develops.

Jozi started off with group members Crazy Lu, Ishmael (aka Ish), Lesley Mampe (aka Da L.E.S) and Bongani Fassie (aka Bongz). Once there were four now there are two – Da L.E.S. and Ishmael are the two remaining members of the Muthaland Crunk super group. Despite their shortcomings the group is still going strong. The Jozi boys are the complete package as they hold it down on the stage with one of the best stage acts on the local scene. This is a crew that definitely needs to be seen and heard! Ish holds down the vocals which he has been known to do since the early 1990s within groups like P.O.C and Skeem. While Da L.E.S, the US raised Pretty boy of the crew, whose lyrical MC skills ensure that the group not only has the street cred, but also commercial appeal to put them on world stages with the best in the game. And 2010 was filled with collaborations galore, including Brick and Lace on the track “Everybody” (Muthaland Is In Your Town), Kelly Rowland on the hit tune “Everywhere you Go” promoting the 2010 Soccer World Cup as well as with Nigeria’s 2Face.

TKZee is made up of three school friends – rappers Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala and Kabelo “Bouga Luv” Mabalane as well as classically trained musician Zwai Bala. Their sound is a mixture of Hip-Hop, Classical, House, and Gospel beats that fuse into what is called “Guz” music. This deadly combination had Mzansi’s youth jamming to never-heard-before beats since the late 90s. In 1996, the group self produced the single and EP Take it Eezy. It was only in late 1997 and early 1998 that the trio shot to fame with the release of their smash hit singles “Palafala” as well as “Shibobo” (also the title of their second album) which featured Bafana Bafana and Blackburn Rovers Striker Benni McCarthy on the mic. TKZee’s third album, Halloween hit the streets in late October 1998. This was another huge hit for the group off the back of hit singles “Dlala Mapansula”, “Mambotjie” and “We Love this Space”. The album earned TKZee five SA Music Awards – for Best Kwaito Album, Best Duo/Group, Best Single, Best Kwaito Single and Best Video. In the year 2000 came GUZ 2001, a compilation album by TKZee Family, consisting of the original TKZee members alongside other names including Gwyza, Loyiso, 2 Shot and the late Dr Mageu sharing the musical stage with Kutlwano Masote and jazz genius Moses Taiwa Molelekwa. In 2002, Zwai, Tokollo and Kabelo took the decision to pursue their solo careers. Eight years later, the group made a comeback with the release of the album Coming Home.

Since the release of Head & Tails in 2005 and its follow-up, DNA (2006), Pro has become a highly regarded artist who has managed to create his own sound in a genre that is not short of acts jostling for attention. In 2007, under TS Records, this talented lyricist released his third album, Dankie San, earning more critical acclaim along the way. Pro used to front for Soweto rap group, Saudi Westerns, but has now taken to showcasing new talent on his releases and live performances. “It’s great to work with kids who have the same hunger I had, and still possess. Likeminded people always work hard at reaching a common goal,” he adds. His fourth and current album titled Snakes and Ladders was released in 2009.

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