Arts Alive International Festival 2005

One of the first artists to rewrite the rap style guide by fusing a unique ragga-inspired, halting rhyme style laced with lyrics of incredible complexity, ingenuity and humour is about to hit the South African stages this September. Annual arts extravaganza, Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival is bringing Busta Rhymes to perform at Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday 3rd September!

Supporting Busta Rhymes is one of the most potent battle lyricists in the local rap scene, PROkid; as well as one of the sexiest and most accomplished female vocalists KB. This fascinating combination of lyrical and vocal diversity from ‘Woo-Hah’ to ‘Wozobona’ to ‘EL Musica’ should not only have fans bopping their heads so hard, but also prove that where music is concerned synergy is rife.Born in East Flatbush, Brooklyn in 1972 of Jamaican heritage (a definite influence on his rapping style), Busta Rhymes broke into the rap game in 1996 with his unconventional and popular solo hit single, "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check!" featured on his hit debut album, The Coming. His second album, When Disaster Strikes, debuted at number three in September 1997. Extinction Level Event followed a year later and in mid-2000 Busta released Anarchy. Undoubtedly one of the most creative artists to come out of label Elektra, with his crew Flipmode squad, his album titles tell of a catastrophic effect he causes with his rhymes. His most recent offerings include hit tracks, Gimme Some More, Pass the Courvosier, Make it Clap amongst others. Busta Rhymes has also been very instrumental in bringing invention and humour into hip hop, inspiring even the phenomenal and wacky style of our very own bigwig rhyme genius Pitch Black Afro! Opening acts PROkid and KB have also been breaking major musical waves locally. Known in the hip hop world as the kid who had killed many hip hop heads with his powerful lyrical skills, proudly Sowetan rapper PROKid broke into the mainstream last year with his hit single ‘Soweto’, and finally released his long-awaited and phenomenal album Heads and Tales recently. Also having released her much-anticipated hit album recently is R & B songstress KB with the rocking dance hit ‘EL Musica’. The annual Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival springs to life on Thursday 1^st September and runs to Sunday 4^th September 2005 across various venues in Johannesburg; and features a wide array of cultural art forms including music, visual art, theatre, spoken word, comedy and dance, delivered by the finest South African, African and international artists.The festival line up includes Freedom to Dance; Africa Unites in Newtown featuring African jazz and world music acts from around the continent; Jozi Spring Celebration, Comedy Nine Nine, Jozi Rocks, Jazz on the Lake, Spiritual Experience, two theatre productions - Sophiatown and Bling and Festival of Dance amongst others.