Tumi and Zubz are two of the most prolific hip hop artists to come out of South Africa. Both based in Johannesburg we caught up with them backstage at the Arts Alive festival.

Prophets Of Da City were the first ever African Hip Hop group to come out of the African continent and step out onto the international stage. The group no longer exist but we caught up with ex lead mc Shaheen at the African Hip Hop conference at Harvard University in Boston for some amazing insight into their story against the backdrop of Apartheid in South Africa.

J4 is the founder of African Hip Hop.com and African Hip Hop Radio.com. He has been at the forefront of the African Hip Hop online movement since it began. Big up J4 for all you've done for the scene !

Ben Sharpa is one of the finest and most exciting MC's to come out of the African continent. He comes from South Africa and has one of the most unique styles around. We caught up with him while he was on tour in Europe.

DJ SPOOKY is a well known composer, multimedia artist and writer. He comes from New York and has traveled all over Africa in his quest to discover all kinds of interesting African music. Afrolution caught up with him when he was in Europe to get his take on the African Hip Hop scene. www.afrolution.com

We caught up with Black Thought - lead mc from the legendary "Roots" crew - about his trip to South Africa and what he thinks about the state of the Hip Hop industry right now.

Daara J which means "School of Life" in Wolof (the largest local launguage in Senegal) are a Senegalese rap trio that consists of N'Dongo D, Aladji Man, and Faada Freddy. Their music takes influence from hip hop, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and reggae and is performed in English, French, Spanish, and Wolof. They are now one of the biggest acts to come from the African continent and their infectious live performances have seen them touring the world for many years. We caught up with lead MC Faada Freddy just before they took to the stage at the Jazz Cafe in London. You can buy there cd at www.afrolution.com in our shop.

Michael Franti is one of the most prolific artists in the world and is a great example of an artist that has made it with socially conscious music. He's an inspiration to many people and we caught up with him back stage before his show in London.

Pee Froiss are one of the most exciting Hip Hop acts to come out of the Senegalese Hip Hop scene. Their infectious tracks have gained them international recognition and we caught up with them while they were on tour in the UK. They also feature on Afrolution Vol 1 which you can find on our site www.afrolution.com

Free Radical plating at the Great Indoors Music acoustic night. www.myspace.com/freeradicallive

Ritual Store is a tight Hip Hop shop in the center of Johannesburg city South Africa. Its an inspiring space and we caught up with its owner Osmic.

Trenton is considered one of the pioneers of the new wave African music industry, he ownes the record label Black Mango Music and Afrolution - a site dedicated to African Hip Hop. He comes from Johannesburg and his band come from Ibiza, Trinidad and Burkina Faso. They made this video of for a demo about the crap British Summer. myspace.com/freeradicallive