@castlelitesa Announces All-Star Line Up Celebrating Women In Hip Hop With #HipHopHerstory

On the eve of National Women's Day, Castle Lite shares a project they have been working on in what will be an era defining move by a brand as they put together an all female cast for a concert on the 8th of September 2018. Intended to highlight and celebrate women in hip hop, the concert will see Gigi Lamayne, Moozlie, Nadia Nakai, Roxanne Shante, Rouge, Lee Kasumba, Loot Love, Angela Yee (The Breakfast Club), and Young M.A all headline the show set to take place at Gallagher Convention Centre.

In what I think was a brilliant press move that saw some of the leading acts Gigi Lamayne (on YFM), Moozlie (on Gagasi FM), and Nadia Nakai (on Metro FM) take over key radio stations in interviews that would reveal the concert, the conversation of celebrating women in hip hop was opened up triggering a wider conversation on social media. With impactful women like Melanie Ramjee, Farah Fortune, Boogy Maboi, and so many more getting in on the discussion, the #HipHopHerstory conversation spread with fans and culture observers adding their two cent's worth on the subject. Albeit I am always, personally, irked by such conversations only being louder in Women's Month, what this concert has done is not only be about the talk but has, in fact, made a solid move of action and initiative. Castle Lite is essentially saying, "We're not going to talk about this anymore, we're just going to be about it," and this is something I really respect about them with this move. 

Debates about who else should be on the line up, as well as who should be celebrated along with the highlighted acts are also part of the conversation. However, the biggest thing for me is our ability as a culture to finally make a louder noise about this issue of women's contributions to hip hop being less recognised compared to their male counterparts. One would raise the point of not needing a co-sign or working hard enough to match up the boys, but I think many people will agree that women in hop hop are some of the hardest and smartest working people who single handedly uphold the culture itself. From artist managers, publicists, event organisers, booking agents, to the producers and writers in various media platforms, SA hip hop is run by women - mostly in the background but their presence cannot be denied.

That said, let this concert and concept only be the beginning of a continuously held conversation that is not only relevant in the month of August. Let's ask ourselves as a culture, "What are we doing to contribute to the recognition of this silence towards women's efforts and presence?" As well as, " What are we doing to be on the right side of herstory (history) in terms of solidifying the impact that women have had in evolving the culture, further cementing that?"  

Women have made a significant impact on Hip Hop. Unlock their untold stories with Castle Lite at #HipHopHerstory, featuring local and international acts. Find out more: https://t.co/Lfi2llmfjX pic.twitter.com/iejLwEfUF5

— CastleLiteSA (@castlelitesa) August 6, 2018

This is a lot more than just a concert. A percentage of ticket sales will be donated towards developing a future female hip hop star. Please support @castlelitesa on this movement!????????????

— #VictoryInTheMaking???? (@NoMoozlie) August 6, 2018