theoneboywho-blog

[theoneboywho-blog]

I had a mini party with myself surrounded by work at 02:00 prepping for this album release.I stayed up all morning listening to this Body of work.I slept for 2 hours and woke up to a client whom I had to attend to.I ensured that THIS album be my soundtrack of the whole weekend.This didn't feel right.I had the album anyway so why ain't I satisfied?So dead beat as I am,I drove to Gateway to meet the brother.Again I bought his album and stood in the queue.A girl asked me "yo,how you know all the songs already and you're queuing to buy his CD?".I laughed and just said "When you understand an artists mentality,lyrics become second nature".Honestly,I had mapped out as to how this whole "meet &I greet" was going to take place but I froze."How are the nerves for the #FillUpFNBStadium?" I muffled."They aaaaaaaaight" he responded.Man I had so much to ask the guy about the album but damnit I let myself down. Abuti @casspernyovest .3 digital albums,2 physical(now 3) albums later,all those who know me will know how greatful I am for this.Thank You Refiloe,Thank you Cass. Till we meet at the FNB stadium "Superman". #Thuto #Overjoyed (at Gateway Theatre of Shopping VIP)

[theoneboywho-blog]

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Another Emerging Band that is very personal to me.Oaks have come an extremely long way to where the are now.Watch them as they musically narrate their journey to the current height they are at now despite the intense adversities that they have faced. Acoustiq Assassins XPERIENCE at The Hexagon Theatre UKZN. 21st and 22nd of April. Tickets are still available. Come and enjoy the best of KZN talent. R80 for adults, R60 students. Visuals done by yours truly, @code_black_captures . #AcoustiqAtTheHex (at Hexagon Theatre)

[theoneboywho-blog]

Posey Posey 😎✌🏼 📸: @thabogcaba (at Legends Sports Pub and Grill)

[theoneboywho-blog]

Panorama Bar for Panoramic Views of Greatness. Durban Truly never fails. Blue 💙. #Durban #Iphonography (at Panorama Bar)

[theoneboywho-blog]

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A post shared by Brendon Khulekani Hugo Dlamini (@brendon.dlamini)

The will hear us. Till one day our war turns to victory,our tears shall be for sorrow no more,but for joy that even teargas couldn't conjure. THEY WILL HEAR US. Dope piece @nandi_khumzy . ✊🏼. #FeesMustFall (at Redlands Hotel and Lodge)

[theoneboywho-blog]

At times I wish I could start over so I could do things right... Then I contemplate that things never worked out because just maybe I deserved better. Time will reveal which is which. Happy Monday 🙏🏼. (at Essence Cafe PMB)

[theoneboywho-blog]

"Small City",Big Dreams. Pietermaritzburg.Born & Bred. 🙏🏼. (at Pietermaritzburg City Hall)

[theoneboywho-blog]

You know how it is and how it will forever go.Happy birthday Twins. (at Botanical Gardens, Pmb)

[theoneboywho-blog]

Noma : Joy.

2016 was an excellent year of good music and a couple of firsts.Beyonce dropped the bomb on us yet again with an unprecedented ‘Visual Album’,Rihanna sold a million units in a day(I don’t care.It was a great business acumen thats not offered to a lot of artists),Frank Ocean came back from his hiatus and Nasty C finally dropped his long awaited “Bad Hair” album on an international streaming site Audiomack, landed the number 1 spot beating international greats that held the position (Future and Gucci Mane to be precise),then,we received our First Black Female SA Idols winner after what seemed like forever.

Joy marks the Debut Album from Noma since clenching her Idols 2016 Winner title at a 50K difference out of a mammoth of 13 million votes that came through.I guess statistically,the margin was quite close…a whole 50K though does leave room for debate,but thats for another day.I was taken aback by the release of her album on how,arguably,premature the release was,I mean,anybody caught wind on when the release date was? This made me concerned for 3 reasons  : 

1. When did she ever really take a break to fathom the drastic shift in her lifestyle from being Zero to Hero?From being ordinary to extraordinary?

2. Idols is never known for being a smooth stretch till the end.So,emotionally and physically,did she even have time to rest?

3. More importantly so,Has she found her Identity as an artist?Not only locally in SA,but universally?A sound we can immediately say,“Ey,That’s Noma!”?

Well anyway,despite whatever reservations one may have,’Joy’ has been given to us.

The album kicks off with the Title Track ‘Joy’ which is a smooth afro jazz fusion that is blended well.Contrary to the meaning of the word(Joy),the song caused bit of controversy when she was outed to have stolen the piece.Rather upsetting that the Prosecutor(Disebo) had it in for Noma instead of challenging the song writer(Pablo) she worked with who was unanimously reported to have ‘stolen’ the song and Registered it as his own.Possibly the most controversial incident for an Idols Winner fresh out of the competition.The track has blissful lyrics which preach about over looking adversities and focusing on positivity.With lyrics like “Live for today and never worry ‘bout tomorrow” to “Joy through the storm”,Mother Theresa would be proud.

‘Want it to feel like it did with you(Sheesh what a mouthful of a title!)’is the lead single of the Project & whilst at first I really didn’t identify with the song at all,It became one of those ear worm of a track that grows on you at a snails pace overtime .Admittedly so,it would not be the song I reach for in my iTunes,BUT,with that being said,should the player shuffle the song on,I rush to skip it.What shines through for me the most is Noma’s excellent vocals,the technicality in how its well written and the insanely catchy melody.The issue?The arrangement of the song.Its too uptempo and its massive potential is lost in the 808 translation that is the ‘Boom clap,boom boom clap’ we’re fed.I want to love the song for what it is.Really I do,but I can’t help feel that given a large drop in tempo,the song would be MUCH more relatable.Truthfully,these pop styles haven’t settled in in SA yet,which leads me to ‘Say What You Wanna Say’.Not really the most shining moment on the album.I tend to gravitate towards the ‘Idols Journey Reflections’ of her Live Recordings taken from her time on Idols.One cannot shake the ‘High School Musical’ bubble gum feel,like people are going to pop out of bins and start dancing on roofs of buildings and a yellow bus(despite being in South Africa) will pull up before your eyes and you’re apprehended by bulging eyes and the hugest,never ending smiles with arms extended to you…cheesy?Exactly.Yet again,Noma’s vocals remain the only source of note.

Bringing the flavour back home,’Love Me’ is a sweet song that speaks of Noma asserting her man to love her after she had had her guard up for some time.What draws me to this track is the effortless blend in vernac and english without it having to sound…rough(just to be diplomatically correct).It is particularly the zulu that brings the romance to the song interestingly enough,given Zulu can be quite the abrasive language.Short,sweet and direct was probably the production mandate for the song,Even though a great part of me feels she could’ve pushed just a bit more on the vocals,but I was okay with the end result.The greatest attribute about Zulu songs is that they could NEVER be cheesy,take ”Ngifuna Owami” for instance.Given an english interpretation,the song would drown in a Well of cheese id bet.The chorus is the perfect ‘sing along’ melody and is a great contender for the top spot in Vernac tracks of the country.The strength in the song is the honesty and vulnerability of the lyrics.The song has that emotional appeal coupled by the delivery vocally that cannot  be ignored!It would be no surprise to hear it in heavy rotation at Wedding ceremonies.

”God Made A Woman” is the contender for the strongest song off the project.Yeah sure there is a heavy resemblance to “You Earned It” by ‘The Weeknd’,but given the choice between the songs Id chose Noma’s track.It is a stellar song that has enough drama so that Noma doesn’t have to bring much vocally.Her runs,her depths,her texture and vocal dominance adds much conviction to her content.What captured me about the song is its sense of mystery and how it glorifies the creation of a woman as the solution to the worlds turmoil.Its such a beautiful song that I believe reminds us why the idols title was rightfully hers.Learning that Sketchy Bongo would be collaborating with Khumalo for a song called “Moving On” was an odd surprise,but having heard the final production,the song is pretty DOPE.It has to be one of Bongo’s most consistent productions and its no surprise that the song’s greatness is elevated by Kyle’s production appearance given it was ‘Back To The Beach’ that placed both of these two gentlemen firmly on the map.Its quite the critical song that more or less defines her dramatic shift in what her life was to what its meant to be.The balance of the song is excellent because it subconsciously gives credit to both producer and singer.Not exactly the dance floor filler,but the ‘feel good’ effect is just as moving.

7 years is quite the stretch for,to a certain degree and justification in some instances,monotonous version of events.For you to end that cycle of ‘predictability’,you really have to deliver something that is top notch.Noma did exactly that.She broke both the cycle of male dominance as well as the record for most votes collected for a winner on Idols, and her talent is testament enough why she deserved so.Looking back at the females who narrowly missed the crown(Melissa and Mathema who actually were the closest),Noma truly had a more monstrously refined voice that we hadn’t heard in a long time and,the fact that she hasn’t really understood how good she is,makes me excited for the time she has fully masters her voice.

“Joy” is a solid body of work from an amateur artist with expected hit and misses here and there.Given that the album came almost a heartbeat after winning season 12,one can forgive a lot of shortfalls from the album,which aren’t much actually.Her voice is addictive and is the saving grace that remains prominent throughout all the tracks,but for her next project,I will be expecting a bit more.

Good Job Baby Girl.Your boy got mad love for you.Kill Em All.

#Noma #Joy #TheMusicIsSafe

[theoneboywho-blog]

Noma : Joy. 2016 was an excellent year of good music and a couple of firsts.Beyonce dropped the bomb on us yet again with an unprecedented ‘Visual Album’,Rihanna sold a million units in a day(I don’t care.It was a great business acumen thats not offered to a lot of artists),Frank Ocean came back from his hiatus and Nasty C finally dropped his long awaited “Bad Hair” album on an international streaming site Audiomack, landed the number 1 spot beating international greats that held the position (Future and Gucci Mane to be precise),then,we received our First Black Female SA Idols winner after what seemed like forever. Joy marks the Debut Album from Noma since clenching her Idols 2016 Winner title at a 50K difference out of a mammoth of 13 million votes that came through.I guess statistically,the margin was quite close…a whole 50K though does leave room for debate,but thats for another day.I was taken aback by the release of her album on how,arguably,premature the release was,I mean,anybody caught wind on when the release date was? This made me concerned for 3 reasons  :  1. When did she ever really take a break to fathom the drastic shift in her lifestyle from being Zero to Hero?From being ordinary to extraordinary? 2. Idols is never known for being a smooth stretch till the end.So,emotionally and physically,did she even have time to rest? 3. More importantly so,Has she found her Identity as an artist?Not only locally in SA,but universally?A sound we can immediately say,"Ey,That's Noma!"? Well anyway,despite whatever reservations one may have,’Joy’ has been given to us. The album kicks off with the Title Track ‘Joy’ which is a smooth afro jazz fusion that is blended well.Contrary to the meaning of the word(Joy),the song caused bit of controversy when she was outed to have stolen the piece.Rather upsetting that the Prosecutor(Disebo) had it in for Noma instead of challenging the song writer(Pablo) she worked with who was unanimously reported to have 'stolen' the song and Registered it as his own.Possibly the most controversial incident for an Idols Winner fresh out of the competition.The track has blissful lyrics which preach about over looking adversities and focusing on positivity.With lyrics like “Live for today and never worry ‘bout tomorrow” to “Joy through the storm”,Mother Theresa would be proud. ‘Want it to feel like it did with you(Sheesh what a mouthful of a title!)’is the lead single of the Project & whilst at first I really didn’t identify with the song at all,It became one of those ear worm of a track that grows on you at a snails pace overtime .Admittedly so,it would not be the song I reach for in my iTunes,BUT,with that being said,should the player shuffle the song on,I rush to skip it.What shines through for me the most is Noma’s excellent vocals,the technicality in how its well written and the insanely catchy melody.The issue?The arrangement of the song.Its too uptempo and its massive potential is lost in the 808 translation that is the ‘Boom clap,boom boom clap’ we're fed.I want to love the song for what it is.Really I do,but I can’t help feel that given a large drop in tempo,the song would be MUCH more relatable.Truthfully,these pop styles haven’t settled in in SA yet,which leads me to ‘Say What You Wanna Say’.Not really the most shining moment on the album.I tend to gravitate towards the ‘Idols Journey Reflections’ of her Live Recordings taken from her time on Idols.One cannot shake the ‘High School Musical’ bubble gum feel,like people are going to pop out of bins and start dancing on roofs of buildings and a yellow bus(despite being in South Africa) will pull up before your eyes and you’re apprehended by bulging eyes and the hugest,never ending smiles with arms extended to you…cheesy?Exactly.Yet again,Noma’s vocals remain the only source of note. Bringing the flavour back home,’Love Me’ is a sweet song that speaks of Noma asserting her man to love her after she had had her guard up for some time.What draws me to this track is the effortless blend in vernac and english without it having to sound…rough(just to be diplomatically correct).It is particularly the zulu that brings the romance to the song interestingly enough,given Zulu can be quite the abrasive language.Short,sweet and direct was probably the production mandate for the song,Even though a great part of me feels she could’ve pushed just a bit more on the vocals,but I was okay with the end result.The greatest attribute about Zulu songs is that they could NEVER be cheesy,take ”Ngifuna Owami” for instance.Given an english interpretation,the song would drown in a Well of cheese id bet.The chorus is the perfect ‘sing along’ melody and is a great contender for the top spot in Vernac tracks of the country.The strength in the song is the honesty and vulnerability of the lyrics.The song has that emotional appeal coupled by the delivery vocally that cannot  be ignored!It would be no surprise to hear it in heavy rotation at Wedding ceremonies. ”God Made A Woman” is the contender for the strongest song off the project.Yeah sure there is a heavy resemblance to “You Earned It” by ‘The Weeknd’,but given the choice between the songs Id chose Noma’s track.It is a stellar song that has enough drama so that Noma doesn’t have to bring much vocally.Her runs,her depths,her texture and vocal dominance adds much conviction to her content.What captured me about the song is its sense of mystery and how it glorifies the creation of a woman as the solution to the worlds turmoil.Its such a beautiful song that I believe reminds us why the idols title was rightfully hers.Learning that Sketchy Bongo would be collaborating with Khumalo for a song called “Moving On” was an odd surprise,but having heard the final production,the song is pretty DOPE.It has to be one of Bongo’s most consistent productions and its no surprise that the song's greatness is elevated by Kyle's production appearance given it was ‘Back To The Beach’ that placed both of these two gentlemen firmly on the map.Its quite the critical song that more or less defines her dramatic shift in what her life was to what its meant to be.The balance of the song is excellent because it subconsciously gives credit to both producer and singer.Not exactly the dance floor filler,but the ‘feel good’ effect is just as moving. 7 years is quite the stretch for,to a certain degree and justification in some instances,monotonous version of events.For you to end that cycle of ‘predictability',you really have to deliver something that is top notch.Noma did exactly that.She broke both the cycle of male dominance as well as the record for most votes collected for a winner on Idols, and her talent is testament enough why she deserved so.Looking back at the females who narrowly missed the crown(Melissa and Mathema who actually were the closest),Noma truly had a more monstrously refined voice that we hadn’t heard in a long time and,the fact that she hasn’t really understood how good she is,makes me excited for the time she has fully masters her voice. “Joy” is a solid body of work from an amateur artist with expected hit and misses here and there.Given that the album came almost a heartbeat after winning season 12,one can forgive a lot of shortfalls from the album,which aren't much actually.Her voice is addictive and is the saving grace that remains prominent throughout all the tracks,but for her next project,I will be expecting a bit more. Good Job Baby Girl.Your boy got mad love for you.Kill Em All. #Noma #Joy #TheMusicIsSafe

[theoneboywho-blog]

Corners of Pietermaritzburg are sharpened with hope...and the passages and ally's are filled with dreams. #vscophile #adobelightroom #adobe #samsungphotography #blackandwhitephotography #pietermaritzburg #art #phonto #codeblackcaptures #codeblack (at Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal)

[theoneboywho-blog]

You Gotta Love My Second Religion To F. With Me.

[theoneboywho-blog]

...and we still are praying for better days. Good Sunday People.Been a minute. (at Ashburton,PMB)

[theoneboywho-blog]

Hello South Africa.My name is Brendon & this is my friend,Noma,your Idols Season 12 winner. :) (at Carnival City Johannesburg)

[theoneboywho-blog]

Because best friends are the ones that celebrate the small victories as well as the big ones.Blended Family.

[theoneboywho-blog]

Taken at the Cape Point Lighthouse 😍😍😍 #codeblackcaptures #capepoint #capetown #southafrica #coastal #travel #cellphonephotography #blackandwhite⚫️⚪️ #photography #vsco #vscocam #art #creativity #itsinthecode #cameraphonephotography #beautiful

[theoneboywho-blog]

Beginning this photography venture has been quite exciting. Our endeavour is to create photographic expressions using our cellphones and showcase them to world. This is our first official entry. #codeblackcaptures #photography #cellphonephotography #blackandwhite #monochrome #vscocam #vsco #adobelightroom #capture #visuals #photographs #art #creativity #colourless #stillmotion #samsungphotography