Pop them bottles

In Jozi, it seems, everyone has their crew and they throw parties. Every this day, every month, whatever and whenever, and rarely do I find a soiree that sounds entertaining even before I haul my ass off my couch, dolly myself up and cruise the streets for this experience. Not that there are that many to arouse my interest in the first place, I do try see what the promoters and creators have in store for me. I can be a little picky considering I am not a tourist and can miss out on a few potentially mediocre gigs.

Now, within the Hip Hop scene, there aren't that many of these get togethers of music/alcohol/eye candy lovers and so we tend to see the same party goers and more or less the same DJ's, but can be fun nonetheless. I think we are still living in a phase of 'who'll be there?' rather than what I will leave with - by that I don't mean another human, or just the possibility of a state of intoxication. 

So, on the last sunday of every month there is such a get together at a cool venue in Norwood called The Crazy 88 - (been around for about five years, with the usual name change, although 88 has always been present). 

Brought to you well known DJ Dimplez and his Showlove crew. (we'll get to showlove and their shenanigans in another post) in an aim to be Jozi's foremost Hip Hop music party hosts. 

The PopBottles sunday sessions is by far the best and probably largest ongoing daytime party in the city. Held on the last sunday of each month with a long list of the finest and almost refreshing DJ's there are. 

As of this month, Dimplez decided to add a twist by theming the day with not only the bubbly, but with Cigars and aptly named Pop Bottles cigar session. 

I got there around 4pm and it was comfortably crowded but there were still four more hours for the beats to go down, Jozi hip hop heads to swagger in fill up the dance floor and mingle. 

True to form, by 6pm it was packed and the party was ablaze. (It really is advisable to head there early) 

I had a great time, met up with some people, had drinks, danced a bit, but mostly enjoyed the outside canopy covered lounge type terrace where we have our drinks and watch the colour of the sky change through the slants of the covering over sometimes engaging conversations, taking peaks over at the dance floor. At some point there was a group of people doing the old skool 'bus stop' routine to some older skool tracks. 

I do keep asking myself though what makes this party so amazing

Is it the month end money in the bank lets be happy vibe?

Is it the genuinely good music from DJ's that each have a different take on the genre and know how to read the crowd?

Is it how unpretentious the whole thing is?

Is it the fact that 88 is roomy and you can move from hot sweaty bumping and grinding to a chilled leather covered couch?

Is it that the Hip Hop scene is so small that you feel like you're just going to see friends and share ideas? (fresh meat is spotted the second it walks in the door - errbody knows errbody)

Who knows, just got to go yourself and see what tickles your fancy.