Years active 2008 – present Past members Mingus Genres Hip hop music, Jazz, Funk | Website koolout.co.za Origin Cape Town, South Africa | |
Members DJ I.D(Intelligent Design), DJ Raiko, Reason, P-Kuttah Similar Lex LaFoy, Anatii, Blaklez, Tweezy, Stilo Magolide | ||
1001 days with kool out concepts
Kool Out Entertainment is a South African based nightlife brand focusing on Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, and Jazz. They host live music events in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. KOL founder, DJ ID Akio Kawahito has held resident status in clubs in Japan and the Netherlands before settling in Cape Town. Dj Raiko, whose career begun in 1998, has established himself as a DJ, producer, broadcaster, promoter and writer. The two run the overall Kool Out Entertainment operations.
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History
The first event, Kool Out Lounge, was started in May 2008 to fill a gap in the Cape Town music scene. It conceived as a free platform for underground Hip Hop artists, lyricists, poets, and Hip Hop lovers to come together and share their love for Hip Hop without commercial music influences. Within the first year, it became Cape Town's largest monthly Hip Hop event.
In November 2009, Kool Out expanded into international acts bringing L.A. Hip Hop duo People Under The Stairs to South Africa. This widely successful tour paved the way for future international tours by John Robinson, Ras Kass, DJ Babu, Blu and Exile, Akil (Jurassic 5), and The Gaslamp Killer. In August 2012, Kool Out helped facilitate Talib Kweli's South African tour.
Kool Out is currently South Africa's biggest national Hip Hop brand with events running in 3 cities as well as Maputo, Mozambique. The brand acts a consultant to various corporate entities and music festivals.
Members
Akio Kawahito otherwise known as DJ ID (Intelligent Design) is a half Asian, half Dutch DJ from Tennessee, United States.
DJ ID is an internationally recognized DJ having spent time living in Australia, Belgium, Japan, Spain, and the Netherlands. In 2001, one year after graduating from Rhodes College with a B.A. in Economics and a Minor in Art History, ID created Collide-A-Scope Records, a consortium of DJs, in Nagoya, Japan and regularly put on events.
ID has held resident status at The Plastic Factory (Nagoya, Japan), Lux (Amsterdam), and The Waiting Room (Cape Town, South Africa). He also is a member of one of South Africa's top crews ILL-Literate-Skill while also DJing for solo artists Reason and Miss Nthabi. Akio has performed alongside Slum Village, Ready D, People Under The Stairs, DJ Babu, Ras Kass, Tumi Molekane, HHP, and at festivals such as Synergy, Oppikoppi, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Earthdance, and STR CRD.
DJ Raiko joined the crew in 2010 and is well known in the Hip Hop circles for his exceptional skills as a Hip Hop DJ with an affinity for the classics of the 1990s Golden era. Raiko made a name for himself in the early 2000s by being associated with Cape Town’s, then biggest regular Hip Hop night “the Lounge”. After the demise of the lounge, Raiko stepped out on his own and established himself as a solo dj outfit, rocking parties in and around Cape Town for the last 10 yrs.
Having come up through the golden era age of hip hop, his sets tend to lean towards music from that era as well as newer music that emulates that distinct sound. His approach is soulful and jazzy with a hint of raw edge that made Hip Hop so appealing in its prime. Known for smooth, technical sets, his sound has been fortunate enough to allow him to travel throughout South Africa as well as 4 successful European tours as Dj for fellow Pioneer Unit label mate, Rapper Ben Sharpa.
Reason joined Kool Out in 2011 to host the new events in Johannesburg. Coming up as a young battle rapper, Reason first made an impact on the scene delivering jingles on the YFM breakfast show. His early success garnered multiple accolades and provided an opportunity for a Scandinavian tour. In 2011, Reason signed to Motif Records and released his 2nd album "Audio 3D" to critical acclaim. His first single "Do It Like I Can" topped both the YFM and 5FM charts at #1 in August 2012.
P-Kuttah also joined Kool Out in 2011 having already established himself as one of South Africa’s top hip hop DJs while in Durban. In 2010 he was a Hype Magazine finalist for “DJ of the Year” and is a noted turntablist. Musically, he also works with his band T.O.T.S and DJs for L Tido and is a brand ambassador for DC Shoes.
Events
KOL have been very successful at delivering International artists and prolific Hip Hop acts to both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Among them are Blu and Exile, Akil the MC(Jurassic 5), Asheru, John Robinson (Lil Sci), DJ Babu, People Under The Stairs and Ras Kass.
Kool Out Lounge
Kool Out Lounge is a laid back Hip Hop event that happens on a regular basis. It allows Hip Hop lovers and artists to come together, connected by their shared love for the Hip Hop Culture, and enjoy themselves for free.
Kool Out Live
Kool Out Live was born after the success of Kool Out Lounge. It's more of a concert concept rather than a laid back one like Kool Out Lounge.