February 8, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini
PREPARE for a shake down – rap icon Snoop Dog is coming to town. And he is bringing along a blistering posse of hip-hop and R&B artists.
Performing for the first time in South Africa, the American rapper headlines a concert that also features dancehall superstar Sean Paul, the sensational Mario, Caribbean queen Rihanna and the hottest acts in the country at the Izandla Ziyagezana, The People's Celebration Concert at the Johannesburg Stadium on Freedom Day.
This year Freedom Day, 27 April, falls on a Thursday.
Well-known for his Afro and braids hairstyles, Snoop rose to fame in 1993 with the release of his debut album Doggystyle. Part of the 1990s gangster rapper crew, Snoop became the most famous of the bunch, thanks to his unique style of drawled, lazy rhymes. And partially because the implied violence in his lyrics seemed real.
Fuelled by his gritty street life and criminal reputation, Snoop's popularity blossomed and his first album sold more than 1,5 million copies, before being released. It was also the first debut album to hit the charts at number one.
The chart-topping hits Gin ´n Juice, Drop It like its Hot, Let's Get Blown and Signs cemented his superstar status. Then Snoop's 2003 Project Revolution tour added a "rock" flare to his old and new school favourites, and engineered a musical collaboration with hard rock bands Lincoln Park and Korn.
To add spice to the Freedom Day concert, Sean Paul brings his uncut Jamaican rhythms to the stage. Carrying on the work of dancehall superstars Shabba Ranks, Super Cat and Beenie Man, Sean Paul gets the audience rocking to his sultry Kingston street sounds.
Mario and Rihanna add flavour to an already star-studded line-up. Mario brings cool harmonies, most of which are an inspiration from a range of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Usher and Joe. His infectious single, Just a Friend, is expected to wow the crowds.
Ravishing Barbados-born Rihanna, who has re-energised the music scene with her rich, cultural fusion of dancehall and raga with a fresh R&B soul sound, will certainly win a lot of hearts. Her debut album, Music of the Sun, was nominated for 2005's Record of the Year and her first single, Pon De Replay, debuted at number two on the British Singles chart.
Set to be an annual event, the concert is sponsored by Premier Foods.
And there is more: on offer is R500 000 worth of prizes. For example, there are R200 000 worth of free tickets to the concert to be won and R100 000 in cash can be won at the concert. Tickets are available at Computicket or on 083 915 8000.
Tickets prices range from R138 for west upper unreserved seating, R268 for north and south unreserved seating and R370 for Golden Circle standing.
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