Godessa

African Dope Presents: Cape of Good Dope

Cape of Good Dope is the seventh album release from African Dope Records, and the first compilation release on the Label. It?s a bold statement of intent, set to once again push SA music further forward than it?s been before.

Featuring 19 previously unreleased tracks, Cape of Good Dope is an upfront selection of hip-hop, ragga, triphop, dub and breakbeat, and features new material from established African Dope artists Moodphase5ive, Felix Laband and Kalahari Surfers; debut releases for new African Dope signings Constructus and Godessa; introductions of newcomers like Red Lion, Joshu, Mr. Mo, Dj Dope and Neon Don; and lost classics from the African Dope vaults from the likes of The Sticky, Gray Blakk and Yang Weapon.

Mixed and mastered to the customary export grade by Krushed & Sorted, and featuring bright, humorous artwork - Cape of Good Dope is the most cutting-edge, up-front, dancefloor-orientated album from African Dope yet.

About Godessa

There is no other group like us says Shameema Williams, one third of the female fronted Hip-Hop group Godessa. Speaking of Godessa's uniqueness could be no further from the truth as these women continue to make history and impact as the only recording and performing female Hip-Hop crew in South Africa. Shameema together with Eloise Jones aka EJ von Lyrik and Bernadette Amansure aka Burni formed Godessa in the year 2000.

In their lyrics, the ladies address social issues affecting their community such as crime and HIV/Aids. Shameema, Burni and EJ have separately and together as a group been involved in projects such as youth work in correctional institutions and HIV/Aids workshops using Hip-Hop as a learning tool. Godessa is based on the belief that women represent eternal life through giving birth, carrying knowledge with the balance of being psychological and analytical thinkers. The group is also driven by the need for more representation of positive black women as role models within all forms of media and entertainment.

Their debut single Social Ills released in 2003, produced by Grenville Williams under independent label, African Dope Records has been playlisted on radio stations in South Africa, London, Czech Republic and was released as a 12 vinyl thru lowlands distribution in Belgium.

Past performances include a number of Hip-Hop events and festivals held in Cape Town and Johannesburg such as African Hip-Hop Indaba, Oppikoppi, North Sea Jazz Fest and Klein Karoo Kunstefees. International events under their belt include Black August 2001 featuring Talib Kweli, Blackalicious Blazing Arrow Tour and Planet Hip-Hop conference in 0ctober 2002 in New Jersey, featuring artists such as the legendary Chuck D of Public Enemy. In November 2002 Godessa performed at the Wemilere Festival in Havanna, Cuba as part of a cultural exchange programme between the South African and Cuban governments. The group also went on tour in Europe from June to September of 2003 performing at festivals and clubs alongside superstars like Redman, Terence Trent D'arby, Salif Keita, Julian Marley and Limp Bizkit as well as a collaboration with hiphop crews from Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Seneagal.

In 2004 Godessa participated in two month residency project in Switzerland sponsored by the South African Embassy, Schlacthaus Teater and Pro Helvetia. They formed a band there and performed all over the country at major festivals relating to 10 years of democracy in South Africa. From there they traveled to the south of France for a once off performance. In September the group traveled to Barcelona to participate in the first ever international hiphop convention hosted by the United Nations and then joined Brasse Vannie Kaap to Belgium for a South African film festival. In November the group returned to Switzerland for more festivals and once again traveled to the US for the Planet Hiphop Fest they had attended two years earlier.

2004 also saw the group release their first album SPILLAGE, two years after the debut single social ills was dropped. SPILLAGE is an independent product owned entirely by the group under the High Voltage indie label and distributed by Kurse music. The album is produced by the high voltage production team Grenville Williams and Godessa lead vocalist ej von lyrik.

Singles mindz ablaze and nguwe have been doing really well on the South African commercial radio circuit and the mindz ablaze music video is currently on high rotation on Channel o.