London Band LV and South African Okmalumkoolkat Release ‘Sebenza’

The World

South Africa has been angered and confused by the shootings of miners in Marikana and the anger was only made worse by the recent arrests of miners for murder charges.

Maybe tension will always define the rainbow nation. Perhaps that is why South African music continues to be complex and fascinating.

Take for example the new album by three producers and DJs known as LV and a track called Zulu Computer.

LV, a London-based band, takes East London grime and shakes up the local rhythm of kwaito in the process. The three core members of LV do the mixing and shaking, but the rapping comes courtesy of a rotating cast of characters.

We profiled one of them earlier in the summer: Spoek Mathambo.

And on the title track to LV’s new recording “Sebenza,” one of South Africa’s most in-demand MCs helms the session. His name is Okmalumkoolkat.

You might not have heard of LV, but if you are to believe all the web-based music speculators, LV is set to take the left-field music scene by storm.

So watch out. Their album “Sebenza” will be out next week.

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