THIS FRIDAY , all roads in JHB are leading to one place only …. THE BANK in Rosebank.  The occasion? SHOWLOVE’s 4th Birthday Bash!!! If you’re not familiar with the company, Showlove is the hottest events company in the game is celebrating it’s 4th birthday. SHOWLOVE celebrated its 100th event this year, produced the Hype Awards and is about o turn it up a notch.

SHOWLOVE is the originator of the Swagger Night, Old School vs New School, Dimes and plenty more.

ITS ON, GET READY!!

Wsup Honchos, its COMPETITION TIME! For the next 4 weeks, we’ll be giving away TWO COOL HAMPERS to two lucky winners. The hampers consist of a R2000 Head Honcho shopping voucher (Yes you read that right!!), 4 awesome CD’s from Universal and VIP Access to all SHOWLOVE (JHB) and HEAD HONCHO events for the rest of the year.

So what do you have to do to stand a chance of winning these fantastic prizes??

Simple, upload images on Facebook where you’re wearing anything from our current Winter Range and tag ‘Head Honcho’ or post it in our group ‘Head Honcho Clothing’. Alternatively, upload it  on Twitter (Twitpic)  and mention us (i.e. @HeadHonchoSA). Hint: The more Head Honcho gear you’re wearing in the photo (e.g. a cap, tee and hoody) the better your chances of winning.

We’ll also post every good quality pic sent us here on our website.

The first winner will be announced in two week’s time. Spread the word!!!!

Stay Fresh!!!

Our fam Showlove are hosting their 100th gig this Friday at Moloko, Johannesburg. We caught up with the founder Tibz who also happens to be part of the Honcho team, on what this milestone means. Continue reading and learn a thing or two about the highly-competitive events game.

HH: Wadup fam…. you’ve been on this interview seat before …. whats good?

Tibz: I’m good fam, a lot has happened since that last interview… You know we got some stories…

So its Showlove’s 100th gig this Friday (the 30th) ….. did you  ever think you’d get this far when you threw your first event?

Honestly, yes and I still think that I will reach my 1000th gig. I’m hungrier than ever and we still have plenty of work to do.

By the way…. how was your first event …. any hard lessons?

It was chaos… Mo Cafe in Norwood and it was packed. I didn’t have enough security, the amp blew( I cooled it off with a fan,lol) and of course that was my first experience with the infamous guest list.I grew in 6 hours and I’m still growing.

What would you say are your most memorable events and why?

50th floor of The Carlton Center(one of my birthdays), the original Old School vs New School (Kenzhero vs Milkshake) at 88, all our parties at The Palms and of course The Hype Awards. Even though those are all hip-hop events, we were completely outside of the box and we created unbelievable memories.

The business of throwing parties and hosting events is obviously a  cut-throat one … what has kept Showlove going when a lot of your  competitors have fallen by the wayside?

I’m still one of the very few that treats this like a job, I don’t just do this on the weekend. When competition emerges, the pressure is on them hence a lot of Showlove concepts have been bitten. We respect them but we do not fear them.

I sit with my team, brainstorm, social-network, etc. Despite having an office and dealing with corporates, I’m always in touch with the street,trends,slang,dances,etc… Showlove still sets the trends and pace.

On a lighter note …. if you had a budget of R1 million, what kind  of event would you put together?

I wouldn’t do one event. I would put on a roadshow/tour… Hip-hop is still in either Jhb or Cape Town… I would take it to the masses with great artists, djs, Head Honcho and attach all the relevant media partners…. We could call it the Showlove Circus… Hopefully they won’t bite that.

You’ve put in a lot of work for Head Honcho for the past  year-and-a-half …… what can cats expects over the next couple of  month where HH is concerned?

Expect the gear to get even hotter, expect it to be more in your face, accessibility to be easier for the consumer. Expect Honcho to be behind some fresh videos, endorse the hottest talent,strike interesting partnerships and to empower as many people as we can.

Above all expect Head Honcho to keep the competition up at night.

So what you got in store for the peeps who’ll be lucky enough to attend the “Showlove 100″ gig this Friday????
We’ve taken on Moloko as a client  and we’ve brought back that flavour we had at The Palms. It’s the sexiest venue in Jhb and has an amazing history.

We have amazing brands attached; Head Honcho, Pastry, Flud watches, Patron,Vitamin Water and Trace TV. The line-up is deep; Naves,Sphectacular,Master M, Dimplez, Vigilante, Biz and Capital… We going in… Expect me to be looking extra crispy.

Last words?

100 gigs is no joke but I understand that it may take 100s more before we reach our dreams. Showlove is still the platform for talent. All love to our new roster; C-live, Master M, Biz and Switch… Get Familiar. All love to our only artist AKA… Next SAMA your SAMA. All love to our various clients… We love taking care of your brands.All love to the street… Thanks for keeping us humble and on our toes and above all… All love to all those who show love.

Our Gauteng Honcho Tibz Motsoane, who also dabbles as head of events company Showlove, got some nice coverage in Sportsteen magazine.

Rocking our classic “Silence the haters” tee, Tibz talks about how he gets his hustle on in JHB. Grab the latest issue of Sportsteen and peep the article!

MTV base celebrates women in August, dedicating the second MTV base night to all the sexy, gorgeous, vibrant, dynamic ladies that truly make the world go round. Ladies, get your girlfriends together, grab your guy and get to INC in Jo’burg and Chrome in Cape Town on 7 August for the MTV base night party.

Catch MTV base VJ, Sizwe at INC in Braamfontein as he hosts the evening. Get down to the beats of C-Live, Milkshake, Dimples, Biz and 8^th Wonder & Soul Sista, with special guest performances by Zubz (who’s just dropped his new album) and Relo (Skwatta Kamp).

Chrome in Cape Town is just as hot – with the gorgeous MTV base VJ Fix getting her groove on. Other lovelies that’ll be rocking the decks include Suga, Irma G and Jeandre. Prepare to tear the lid off the roof with superstar performances from Da LES; Bongani and Ishmael – JOZI as well as new Flava from the Ghetto Ruff stable, Leelo.

Come hang out with the Head Honcho family as we’ll be partying in our own VIP section….. see you there.

At Head Honcho we believe in associating ourselves with companies and individuals who share our ideals and vision. Having started the brand in Cape Town, it was imperative that we aligned ourselves with the best players in Joburg for us to make a serious impact. The first and only person we considered was our dude Tibz. If you don’t know much about the guy its time to get familiar; he’s built his events and entertainment company Showlove out of sheer hard work and persistence. A natural flair or swagger has also come in handy. Allow the GP Honcho to break it down for you:

What’s good big boss?

I’m good my dude. Planning and plotting as always.

Showlove has had an interesting first half of the year. What was your mindset when you went into the year? What makes this year different from the last for your company?

The goal was to come out the gate strong and we did. My mindset was to stamp our authority once again as an events and marketing machine and we have. The year is different because most businesses have been affected by the recession. We have adjusted well, launched a brand new website and done work for major brands such as Nike, Chivas, Yogi-sip, Head Honcho, etc.

What have been the highlights for Showlove thus far?

We get to do what we love everyday and that is a blessing. The highlight for me is watching my team develop and each member become a major player in their own unique way.

Let’s go back a bit, what made you start Showlove and what challenges did you face in your journey to establish it as a premier entertainment and events company?

We cater to the hip-hop and related genre fanatics. The challenge was initially getting organised and becoming professional. The other challenge was also changing hip-hop’s grimy image… we had to make it look pretty, ensure that the environment was safe and keep it consistent… we had to earn a lot of respect.

The events game is notoriously fickle….. guys come in the industry with a lot of energy and talk but fizzle out like a bottle of coke left in the sun. What has ensured your longevity?

This is work… not a popularity contest. We treat the game with the respect it deserves and we treat our patrons with the respect they deserve.

A lot of cats think that this is easy and get into for the wrong reasons. I have seen a lot of ‘promoters’ lose money through very basic errors which are a result of a lack of research and respect.

You’re obviously aware that party people are very difficult to please and are always looking for the next movement. How do you keep them happy and how do you stay ahead of the competition?

I throw the kind of events that I want to go to. I am my own harshest critic. If I am not happy then I cannot expect them to be satisfied with a lazy effort. I am in the street everyday, I speak to my patrons, I search for the new spots and am not afraid to try something new. Above all, we never bite.

Lets talk Head Honcho now; you’ve been working with us for a minute now. What attracted you to the brand?

Firstly I was impressed by the minds behind the product that live progressively. I was also attracted to the fact that it is an actual unisex range not just a logo in a hundred different colours.

The business plan was solid and at the end of the day… the gear is fresh. We work and play hard… we look fresh while doing either.

What sets HH apart from the myriad of street wear brands that are popping up all over the place? Any words for fashion enthusiasts out there who might be looking for a new brand to vibe with?

The brand is for forward thinking people who appreciate quality. The brand is not afraid to make statements… in fact rocking the brand is bound to make a statement…

Who is the flyest person you’ve seen rocking HH thus far?

My lady… no question.

What other exciting projects are you currently working on? Anything else in the near future?

We now manage seven dope djs (Milkshake, Dimplez, Master M, ViGiLante, Biz, Bo Black and Hudson). The team is definitely growing. We are dropping a documentary in September. We have some plans for the media and we are planning some large scale events.

Your site is receiving a lot of love. What influenced your decision to redesign it? What do you aim to achieve with it?

We are a brand and every brand has to reinvent itself. We found a way of making the site even hotter and stay ahead of the game. The site is another avenue for us to showcase talent, interact with our clientele, do market research and advertising.

I also get to speak my mind In the lab… the feedback has always been amazing.

You’ve been hustling for a while now. What advice do you have for the young bucks who are eager to become entrepreneurs?

Research, practice, always be professional, never make decisions based on your emotions, stick to your fundamentals but always look for a new tool to add to your arsenal.

What’s the smartest thing that has been said to you recently?

Take baby steps and think long-term.

For more information about his company, visit www.showlove.co.za

If you’re a real hip hop head, you’d know that our beloved genre owes its existence to DJ’s. If it wasn’t for the likes of Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, we’d probably still be dancing to corny disco joints in shiny John Travolta-esque suits.

Thanks to these hip hop gods, the world was introduced to a phenomenal music genre that most of us would not be able to survive without. South Africa is blessed to have a couple of DJs that treat hip hop as more than just a cool past-time that affords them quick paychecks and easy lays. One of these guys is DJ ViGi Lante aka Vigi, a spirited cat that is passionate about this art-form called hip hop. Vigi has been doing his thing in Jozi for a minute now, but it seems like he’s just stepped his game up three-fold this past couple of months.

We recently caught up with him to find out about his affiliation with Head Honcho,  the state of local hip hop, the importance of branding for an artist, amongst other things. Here’s how it went down.

Whats good Vigi, it seems like you’ve come out of nowhere, can you give us a little background on yourself?

I was born 1980 something…as Tebogo (ViGi Lante) Seema, Born and raised in the East Rand (Benoni), fell in love with Hip hop from the age of 9. Yeah believe it or not I was a rapper once upon a time, it never worked out but I started DJing late 2006. I run my own production company (Sound, Stage, Lights & A.V), still studying a B.Com Acc but Music is my total existence; everything around me revolves around music & I’m still with my 1^st love and that’s music!

A lot of kids these days want to become DJs for all the wrong reasons eg. for fame, girls etc. What prompted you to pursue this art form?

First and foremost, because I love and live this culture; it’s my life b. God gave me many blessings that is why I do my thang. Rap – Lies or Fakeness = Hip Hop

We’ve noticed that your style is a little different from other DJs out
there; please break it down for us?

Majority of the time I bang fresh new joints that have never been played before and I always try to fill in local tracks for cause believe in supporting our own but I do me, I’m a hustler, I play for the hustlers & divas…I DO IT FOR HIP HOP PERIOD!!!

Who do you admire in the game and why?

Well … A lot of DJs & artists in the industry cause it ain’t easy but I admire the game itself, for it makes you who you are.

What is your association with SHOWLOVE and what’s their role in advancing your brand and career?

I’m a DJ under the Showlove roster; they handle all my bookings etc. I’ve learnt a lot through Showlove and I’m still learning a lot more. And they’ve got me associated with 1 of the dopiest and freshest clothing brands out there, ‘Head honcho.’ Showlove is my fam; what was a hobby has become a business to me. I am a new breed of brand that’s made its mark but I ain’t finished yet!

How important is branding to you and would you say enough hip-hop DJs take their brands seriously?

Its every important to get yourself out there and branding is the way to go, because many Hip Hop DJs come in the scene but never leave a mark. We (DJs) live off this profession so its time that people, promoters and companies take us seriously and know our worth. Branding is the answer; maybe that’s why even local hip-hop artists don’t sell platinum. You gotta set a trend and link up with other dope brands with a vision to make your brand bigger. Branding is power!

What’s your take on the Head Honcho brand?

It’s fresh, simple and clean, creative, a street culture, a means to live progressively! I like the fact that it’s not like many other brands that only sport one design; Head Honcho has a wide range and also makes fresh gear for the ladies too. Its quality stands out and its way ahead! That’s how I roll, Head honcho baby!

So what can your fans expect from you in the near future? And, what sort of legacy do you want to leave in the game?

I just don’t wanna be known as a DJ but also as a musician/pioneer. I’m gonna be that Kool Herc of S.A. Right now, I’m working on something with some artists and producers; not a mixtape but an actual album, something proper for all the masses/fans out there (kasi style, soul & swagger). I’m also pushing my own hustle, a website, future events and many more things which you’ll find out in time.

Please finish the following sentences:
* Hip Hop is my……. 1^st love & always will be!
* Joburg needs …….. nothing more but more Hip Hop events, proper awards & appreciation!
* Vigi’s fans are…….. true to themselves and do their thang
* Jacob Zuma should …… be President!
* My dream is……. to be a pioneer in the industry!
* Head Honcho is ……… living progressively!
* South Africa needs …….. the youth to take action against AIDS/HIV more seriously & more entrepreneurs!
* If I had a R1 million I would ……… invest half of it but id give disadvantaged kids a dream, which is education!
* One thing people don’t know about me is that ……… I’m very spiritual; I thank God for everything even before I do my sets!

SHOWLOVE brings you its last event in Johannesburg for 2008 by bringing back Old School vs New School.

Once again it’s on and we witness Kenzhero going head to head with Dimplez. Supported by Bexta and our other teammates.

We take it to the home of JHB hip-hop(The Crazy 88) with Olmeca Tequila Black and HEAD HONCHO clothing for one last jump-off in the city we love.

Head Honcho gear to be given away

R80 before 12, R100 after
Venue: The Crazy 88, Norwood, Joburg; Date: Friday, 19 December ‘08

WWW.SHOWLOVE.CO.ZA