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Could the Red Bull Culture Clash be the biggest party coming to eKasi?
If the preview of the music battle is anything to go by, then it’s a definite yes!
The Red Bull Culture Clash preview event held at City Central on Commissioner Street in Joburg on Thursday night was sure fire.
As one of the globe’s coolest and most innovative music experiences this is the ultimate sound battle – and to win, the four chosen crews on four different stages will have to charm the crowd to get the title.
This means surprise special guests (please bring Davido if you want to win) but also exclusive, one-night-only dubplate specials.
Inspired by Jamaican sound clashes, this year features AKA and Top Boyz sound system, Nigerian star Patoranking and Red Hot sound system, DJ Tira and Durban Massacre sound system and Admiral and Jahseed with African Storm sound system – representing some of the biggest sounds in hip hop, house, Afrobeat and reggae.
And on Thursday it was DJ Tira and Durban Massacre that charmed everyone. I actually think Patoranking did far better but was out-screamed by the crowd that was won over by DJ Tira’s dancers.
So, what are the rules?
Red Bull Culture Clash is split into four rounds. A crew’s set in each round lasts between five and 15 minutes.
A countdown clock appears on the main screen 10 seconds before the end of each set. When the time is up, the sound will fade out, then cut.
For the preview, the four crews gave a taste of what makes for the perfect battle – talking smack and showing what you got.
Patoranking hit AKA and his crew with some of their own music which was a smart entertaining move and nearly gave him the upper hand until Gqom happened ... everyone’s musical soft spot at the moment.
The host and almost the most obvious guy for the job was Siyabonga “Scoop Makhathini” Ngwekazi and at the clash later this month he will be joined by actor Thapelo Mokoena (absent on Thursday night). The two will have to make sure that all crews stick to the rules.
The venue was quite interesting and cool – City Central was once the Barclays Bank in the 1940s and is now a gourmet food hall. All the food stalls that are there during the day served their delicious food (you have to pay them a visit) while there as expected were cans of Red Bull galore.
The Red Bull Culture Clash 2017 will take place at Orlando Stadium on September 23.
Tickets are available at Computicket.
