African hip hop radio has reached another milestone in its existence. The show has been around almost as long as Africanhiphop.com itself; we did our first ‘show’ from an attic room – Maluka and J4 behind the minidisc deck with a cheap mic and a dj mixer. The stream was uploaded by a 56k modem via a phone line, and at some point we had people tuning in from different European countries. Seven years later, in 2005, we took it to a real radio studio, using the facilities of VPRO for whom we also did a weekly show focusing on a wide range of music, including African, Brazilian, the new sounds of broken beat and grime and more.

African hip hop radio at Lijn5 and FunXAfrican hip hop radio had contributors’ shows from all over the world, and presenters included Wanlov (Ghana), Lee Kasumba (SA), Karim from Arabian Knightz (Egypt) and many more. Between 2008 and 2010 we ran a weekly broadcast on Holland’s popular youth radio station FunX (Lijn5) hosted by GMB, J4 and dj Threesixty, and from 2011 after program changes at FunX we found a new host at the uniquely located Red Light Radio in Amsterdam’s red light district, where we have been doing a monthly two-hour set ever since.

This month we’re in for some changes though! As you may have seen, we are beta testing a new, non-stop stream playing African hip hop around the clock. No need to tune in at a set time or wait for on-demand streams; this is the only place on the web where you can listen to a non-stop stream of 100% hip hop from all across the African continent and diaspora. For now available as a pop-up player (see the sidebar to the right of this story), we’re also planning to make it available as a mobile app. And we’re adding new songs all the time, so if you think you heard it all, check back in a few days.

The monthly show on Red Light Radio, presented by Amal and J4, won’t disappear but it will be rebranded. Under its new name ‘Africa Is Hot’ it will stay true to the makers’ roots in digging up fresh and unheard sounds, while it will expand its horizons to play music from across the board. Expect hip hop but also the more innovative afrobeats tunes, afro house, old school African funk and afrobeat and other styles that can’t be labeled into categories. Each montly show will also be published here, and you can follow the show on Twitter via @africaishot.

redlight-africanhiphopradio
Lynnee Denise in the June show

Then, as we were behind on updates – while working behind the scenes on the website design overhaul – here are no less than three fresh African hip hop radio shows. From April there’s J4’s Minidisc Special, two hours of tunes played from the antique medium of minidisc. Back in the mid to late 90s, minidisc was the affordable method of digital recording, and many of the exclusive hip hop tunes we got from Tanzania, Senegal and South Africa in those days we got on minidisc – it’s safe to say that we were the first in Tanzania to record using the medium.

The May show featured a phone interview with (ex presenter) Gery Mendes aka GMB who spoke about his new, second album Caminho (see the cover photo above this article). And in the June show we were joined by US born dj Lynnee Denise who brought a crateful of kwaito and Afro house. Enjoy… six hours African hip hop radio!

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/redlightradio/african-hip-hop-25-red-light-radio-05-28-2014[/soundcloud]

Playlist June 2014 (with guest Lynnee Denise)
Wanjiku – I am wild
Ujamaa hip hop darasa – Ujamaa
Negash Ali – The African Dream (feat. Temu)
Kiff No Beat – Tu Es Dans Pain
Chimurenga Renaissance – The BAD is so good
Akwasi – Een Wedstrijd (ft Rob Dekay)
Chiku K ft Tifa, Brown Suga, Stoch & Walter Chilambo – Wanashindana
Octopizzo feat. Kayvo – Kforce – Voices of Kibera (V.O.K)
Yasiin Gaye – Travellin’ Man Pt. II (Distant Lovers Mix) [prod Amerigo Gazaway]
Octopizzo – Mc Kah – Joe Madog – Erko – Checkmate Mido – Poeticbee – Diamondog – L.O.V.E
Gery Mendes – Running
JR – Bob Mabena Ft. Okmalumkoolkat And Spoek Mathambo
Black Magic Pass

Second hour: Lynnee Denise kwaito & South African house mix

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/redlightradio/african-hip-hop-24-red-light-radio-04-30-2014[/soundcloud]

Playlist May 2014 (with guest Gery Mendes aka GMB)
Blitz the Ambassador – Africa is the future
AKA – Congratulate
Kwesta Dakar ft. Hulu Jay
The Temple – Ntsango
Shad-Koko B Ware
Raiza Biza- New Kings feat. Spicc, Maia Rata
Gery Mendes- African Princess
Alsahara feat Nubatunes- Soukura
Gery Mendes- Gotta Be
Ruyonga – Muhuliire?
Profesa Jay ft Diamond – Kipi sijasikia
Khali Abdu- Forever Ever
Seun Kuti – African Airways
Gery Mendes – Memories
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
One the Incredible – Soga za mzawa ft Nikki Mbishi
Raiza Biza – The tunnel ft Rizvan
Jovi – B.A.S.T.A.R.D ft. Reniss
OkMalumKoolkat – Bhut’yangchaza (Muzi Remix)
Spoek Mathambo – The Mountain (Mujava, Spoko, Spoek Mathambo, Blk Blt Jns, Machepies, Panyaza Remix)
William Onyeabor – Good name (Auntie Flo Edit)
Alsarah & The Nubatones – Soukura
Khalil Abdu-Forever & Ever
Quantic – Duvidó feat. Pongolove

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/redlightradio/african-hip-hop-23-red-light[/soundcloud]

Playlist April 2014 (J4’s 1990s minidisc special)
Gangwe Mobb – Chelea pina live
Hashim – I smoked an emcee
Kwanza Unit – Check nnavyo flow
Marco Polo – freestyle live Bush Radio 2000
Hardcore Unit – Rap si mchezo
Bantu Pound – Bado nakutesa
DPT – My mind’s twisted
Mr II – Mambo ya fedha
Mr Ebbo – Usithamini pesa
Mashifta – Pesa pombe siasa na wanawake
Gangwe Mobb – Mtoto wa geti kali
FDC – Kindumbwendumbwe
X Plastaz – Mona Lisa
Kalasinga – Paparazi Misuko suko
Sos B – Ikibidivyo
PBS – L’Afrique n’est pas démuni mais seulement désunie
Gangwe Mobb – Mauza uza
Big One – ?
Bibson & Xuman