In a surprising twist of events, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola put pen to paper and signed a top-secret cybercrime cooperation protocol agreement. Cue the suspenseful music! This agreement is set to revolutionize the investigation of cybercrimes, making it a win-win situation for South Africa and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

But wait, there’s more! Lamola didn’t embark on this mission alone. He joined forces with none other than French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna. 

Now, what does this agreement actually do, you ask? Well, it’s not just a fancy document for show. It’s a practical way to boost the relationship between South Africa and France, all while arming the SIU with some serious cybercrime investigation skills. They’ll be on par with global standards so that no cyber criminal can outsmart them(wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Lamola himself acknowledged that cybercrimes are a cause for concern. They’re like sneaky little thieves, wreaking havoc beyond the borders of our beloved country. But fear not! With this cooperation in place, our skills will be supercharged, and we’ll be able to tackle a whole bunch of cybercrimes. Our cyberspace will become the Fort Knox of the digital world, and if anything fishy happens, we’ll be there to investigate, Sherlock Holmes-style.

Not only that, but International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor chimed in too. She believes this agreement will help us fight corruption like true superheroes, all in line with the National Development Plan. But the fun doesn’t stop there! The benefits might extend to other countries in the southern African region and even beyond. It’s like a global cybercrime-fighting coalition in the making!

So buckle up, folks! With this newfound collaboration and superhero-level skills, are we on our way to creating safe digital spaces for all?

 Stay tuned for more thrilling adventures in the world of cybercrime, where justice always prevails!

Are you tired of scrolling through playlists trying to find the perfect song for the moment? Look no further, because Spotify has got you covered! Their new feature, DJ, is here to make your music experience even more personalized.

This AI guide knows you and your taste in music so well, it’s like having a personal DJ in your pocket. It will scan the latest releases, sort through your old favourites, and even resurface songs you haven’t heard in years. The DJ will then deliver a stream of songs picked just for you, complete with commentary about the tracks and artists in a voice that sounds so realistic, you’ll think you’re chatting to a real-life music fanatic, or maybe listening to an episode of a Dissect podcast.

If you’re not really feeling the vibe that your playlist is serving you, just tap the DJ button and it will switch it up. The more you listen and provide feedback, the better its recommendations get. It’s like having your own personal music concierge!

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

So how does this magical DJ work? Spotify uses its personalization technology to give you a lineup of music recommendations based on what they know you like. Then they added generative AI technology, which is put in the hands of their music editors to provide you with insightful facts about the music, artists, or genres you’re listening to. And the cherry on top? They even brought in a dynamic AI voice platform to bring the DJ’s commentary to life with stunningly realistic voices from text.

WHERE TO UNLEASH THE DJ?

Ready to have your own personal AI DJ guide your music journey? Good news! The DJ feature is now available in English for Spotify Premium users in the U.S. and Canada (Try using a VPN 😉). Here’s how to get started:

1. Launch the Spotify mobile app on your iOS or Android device and head to the Music Feed on Home.
2. Look for the DJ card and tap Play to start the personalized music experience.
3. Let Spotify take over and curate a lineup of tracks with insightful commentary on the artists and songs, tailored specifically to your taste.
4. Feeling like switching it up? Hit the DJ button located at the bottom right of your screen to explore different genres, moods, and artists. It’s that easy!

So what are you waiting for? Let the DJ be your guide to discovering new music and connecting with your favourite artists on a whole new level.

Yesterday was a good day for Daveyton as we saw Retrofontein apparel validate their dream of launching a walk-in store for their brand. Since 2012 this brand has been available for purchase through pop up stores and some e-commerce sites but mostly through word of mouth, cash in hand and the use of instant cash sending facilities, which demonstrated Kabelo Tsoka’s relentless desire to get his brand on the backs of many dreamers and believers alike.

We’ve seen this brand grow from an experimental clothing brand to a staple for people who have their stories deeply rooted inside the township’s core, with a dream to grow their branches beyond the invisible ceilings in the sky.

The store took a gruesome 6 months to accomplish and came with a lot of valuable lessons, but the important question here is why did Kabelo not stick to the e-commerce game and avoid the so-called dying industry of brick and mortar (In this case a recycled shipping container) outlets?

“As much as I’m also working on an e-commerce site, I opened a physical store because most people In the East (Ekurhuleni) are still not there yet, I feel my brand needed a space nyana to create a dope brand experience and to make the brand easily accessible to the people. I just want to create the trust first before I can make my online store live, most customers prefer to physically touch the gear before they buy it”

At first search, Daveyton comes off as a violent township filled with nothing but teenage pregnancies and ashes. Colloquially known as Vutha , meaning “to ignite”, this township was dubbed “the first black township with electricity”. Daveyton has a very rich history in politics, rebellious soccer stars, culture-shifting entertainers and has had its fair share of gangsterism, crime and all the social ills that plague communities that have been forced into a dark corner to stay separate from the affluent communities (Then, white people) during the apartheid era.

Decades later after South Africa became a democratic country and black people shared equal rights in this land, a ray of light and divine hope pierced through the darkness to give a new meaning/narrative to Daveyton. This light and narrative came in the form of a league of forward-thinking entrepreneurs such as Kabelo Tsoka the founder of Retrofontein Apparel, a premium streetwear brand that now has an iconic store which sticks out as a vibrant structure and business in this township’s architectural landscape. What can the youth learn from such a development?

“More than anything, this taught me, patience bro, so the youth needs to be patient, follow your dreams and try by all means to make it happen because, at the end of the day, it’s YOUR dream”

Kabelo admits that he faced many character defining moments and one of the biggest challenges was getting the funds to make it happen as well as staying clear of naysayers who didn’t believe that launching his flagship store was a good idea…after all, it’s his dream, why would he let anybody else dictate it?

The store is located at 5039 Mocke street, Daveyton and is open from Tuesday’s to Fridays between 10:00 – 18:00

Check them out on the socials below:

Facebook

Instagram

Kaffein Magazine went to check out Riky Rick’s Cotton Club Records  pop up in Braamfontein, Johannesburg and cover the beauty in its apparent spontaneity, we came packed with good energy, curiosity and a whole lot of Oreos and refreshments for what looked to be an interesting afternoon.

I first came across Riky Rick’s music when he dropped his Love and marriage beat tape, (I could write a whole review on this gem but you can download it here), it was then that I opened my eyes to his worldview on music and his unique form of artistry, never would I have imagined seeing his creativity grow and overflow through our screens, radios, phones and into the hearts of so many types of people on so many levels.

The vibe

Riky dropped the artwork for the event a day before – in classic pop up fashion – and the kids did what they had to do, to show love and support for their hero; and of course to get in line with the hope of getting their hands on the limited merchandise.

The streets were flooded with people watching the day’s entertainment, socializing and showing off their brown paper bags and threads. Every now and then people would come out of the store in their new hoodies and beaming smiles, while the anxious were systematically allowed to enter the store.

A hand full of die-hard supporters had already lined-up outside the shop as early as 08:00 am on a sunny winter’s morning and Boss Zonke showed his genuine appreciation and love by buying them some coffee to keep them warm and in good spirits. He was dressed in his Cotton Club Records Super Distressed hoodie which he mentioned on Instagram as his pick of the litter, blue jeans and classic gold Tims. In sharing the spirit he let his true fans tag his Tims, another solid gesture that displayed his character…to those of us who are usually a screen away from any of his representations. The producer/artist also spent quite a bit of time having fun outside with the fans, taking pictures and touching base with people he knows.

At the end of it all he let as many people as possible into the store and celebrated with them. He sold out his new merch  in a few hours but left no one excluded with his presence.

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Merch

• The store had fresh cropped gender neutral hoodies with bleached hues of soft blues and a pink “Cotton Club Records” logo. Bringing out a free spirited air about this piece.

• Another option was a hoodie with bleached shades of browns mainly Raw Umber and hints of Tan. This item gives off a militant feel to the range as it is reminiscent of a desert storm trooper’s uniform.

• The SUPER DISTRESSED is similar to the above and has a heavily worn out, rugged edge to it, with splashes of dark greens and browns, the logo is in black and appears to be wearing out.

The downfall of the day was the clashing music and entertainment from next door which made the experience a bit jarring for me and made such an awesome day seem like a clash of hip-hop egos, although there’s videos of the man of day hanging out next door and supporting their work too.

All in all It was a refreshing pop up store that disrupted the way day to day business gets handled in Braamfontein and gave power to the streets. A strong message of self belief and community was shared with the audience…reminding us that we can all make our dreams come true if we put our minds to it. Check out the speech below:

Check out the gallery below:

SPONSORED CONTENT

The #IAMNEXT hip-hop competition called for Russian Bear Premium Vodka fans to submit fiery and attention-grabbing one-liners about reaching the next level, captured in 150 characters. Finalists were selected, and an online video series featuring the top three wordsmiths performing their lyrics was released on Russian Bear’s social channels. The fans then spoke through their votes and crowned Sicelo “JRetta” Ngozwana, an aspiring rapper from Port Elizabeth, as the #IAMNEXT king. His likeness and lyrics will be immortalised on his very own personal Russian Bear bottle, an idea inspired by the Limited Edition Russian Bear x Riky Rick bottle design.

We got in touch with the #IAMNEXT king about all things that lead him to his throne.

Music

I realised music was something I really wanted to do and pursue, when it became my main escape from reality. When I find myself lost in the process of writing a song, it’s the only time I feel alive and free. I wrote a couple of songs then recorded them and after releasing them, people were satisfied and urged me to pursue music as a career. As it turns out, I listened. I finally found something I’m passionate about, that I enjoy doing and as it turns out, I’m actually really great at.

I believe that every single living creature on this planet, human beings in particular – have a purpose. God gives you a gift, and you are responsible for it. I understood that my purpose on this Earth is to be a storyteller and whether that is through mediums such as music or writing books or making films, it’s all up to me. God gave me this gift and as soon as I discovered what it was, and that I could really be great I made the decision to follow God’s plan and chase this dream.

Top 5, Dead or alive

The one thing that all my influences have in common, is that they’re fearless. Fearlessness brings about freedom. The freedom to be yourself, and the freedom to express yourself. The likes of Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt, J. Cole, Anderson.Paak, Ab-Soul, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake, AKA and so on. People who are always breaking boundaries with their music. Finding new sounds and taking risks. My top 5, dead or alive, in no particular order:

Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Jay-Z
Bob Marley
Michael Jackson

Creative inspiration

When inspiration runs dry, I usually take a break from it all, and try to experience the world. I listen to a lot of my favourite music, read books, watch movies, spend some time with friends or family and usually by the time I get back to the studio my appetite is back. In all honesty, I get most of my inspiration from people. Their stories, energies, and the connections formed. So being around positive people with good hearts and sharp minds usually does the trick. So essentially I am inspired by people and the world they inhabit.

Message

The message I would like to spread to the masses using my music or a couple of messages rather, is a positive uplifting one and most importantly, an honest one. I do that by using my story. My experiences, the connections I have made, the mistakes I’ve made and the lessons learned. I am a dreamer and through my music, I want to inspire and motivate other dreamers and those who are afraid of taking the risk of pursuing their dreams. I want to bring hope, spread love, happiness and positive energy. Everything the world lacks. I just want people to relate and connect to something real. And nothing is more real than the truth.

Russian Bear #IAmNext competition

I came across the Russian Bear #IamNEXT competition through a close friend of mine, Reatile Ntsane. He came across the competition on Facebook  and shared the link of the post to me. I entered the link, and spent time reading and trying to understand exactly what the campaign was about and what was required of me. After reading and understanding, I sat down and wrote a 16 bar verse for the campaign. I submitted the lyrics and well the rest is history.

The competition’s impact on your career

How I believe winning the #IamNEXT competition will assist me in my music career begins with the simple understanding that all experiences whether good or bad are accompanied by important lessons. From the moment I wrote the verse that earned me this win to the two days I spent with the Russian Bear crew (7Films) in Port Elizabeth, checking locations, shooting as early as 05:00, going home very late and also constantly being involved in the whole process; I have learned that I am capable of so much more than I think I am. It helped me understand my capabilities and also that if you believe in yourself you can achieve anything. Also, winning the competition helped get me more exposure and what it also did for me was encourage me, motivate me to go further, to keep working hard and to keep dreaming.

Favourite flavour and mix?

Russian Bear Passion Fruit, and I love mixing it with ice cold 100% orange juice.

Words to live by?

“Be the miracle.”