Kool Out Entertainment
Kool Out Entertainment is a South African based nightlife brand. They host live music events in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. KOL founder, DJ ID 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.
Members
Akio Kawahito otherwise known as DJ ID (Intelligent Design) is a half Asian, half Dutch DJ from Tennessee, USA. Upon arrival in Cape Town, he felt that there was a gap in the Hip Hop scene that needed to filled. That was when the concept of Kool Out Lounge was conceived which is a platform for underground Hip Hop artists, lyricists, poets, and Hip Hop lovers to come together and share their love for Hip Hop.
He has a B.A. in Economics and a Minor in Art History. Having traveled the world, he grew concerned AbOUT the state of third world countries and thus went back to school and acquired a Masers in International Relations. Aside from being the founder of KOL and a DJ, Akio is the co-founder and director of Conscious Flowz. He is also the appointed Goodwill Ambassador of Step-Up 4 Life.
DJ Raiko 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 90s Golden era.
Raiko has a long list of achievements in the industry:
* 2010 – Performed cuts and scratches on Rattex’s EP, Streets, Raps & Us
* 2009 – present – Kool Out Entertainment in-house DJ
* 2008 – Featured in Vincent Moloi’s SABC 1 documentary Are we Dancing to the Same Beat
* 2008 – Produced music for 13-. part SABC 1 documentary, Trace Your Roots, including the music for the end credits
* 2008 Started writing Heads of State column for BPM Magazine
* 2008 – DJ for DMC DJing Finals in Johannesburg
* 2008 – Official tour DJ for Gini Grindith
* 2008 – Official tour DJ for Ben Sharpa
* 2008 – Performed cuts and scratches on Robo the Technician’s self-titled album, released on independent imprint Iapetus
* 2008 – Tour DJ for Wordsworth / Ben Sharpa in Cape Town
* 2008 – Performed cuts and scratches on Nigeria rapper Modenine’s track, Dissing on the Low
* 2007 – Performed on DSTV’s MK89 show, Hip Hop with Cape Town hip hop pioneers Mr. Fats and DJ Azhul
* 2007 – Performed cuts and scratches on Tha Hymphatic Thabs’, The Age of Horus, released on independent imprint Iapetus. Also performed at the album launch show.
* 2007 – Released free downloadable mixtapes on the internet, including Under the Table, The 3:30am Tape and 20/20. These were available on various blogspots including mixtape.com
* 2007 – Mixed Hype Sessions Vol. 15 CD for South Africa’s number one hip hop magazine, Hype. This included a downloadable ringtone from MTN Loaded, as well as a feature tutorial page in the magazine.
* 2006 – Compiled the soundtrack for Mike van Graan’s hit theatre production Mixed Metaphors
*2006 – DJ for Johannesburg leg of the Tri-Continental Hip Hop Festival. The line up included Wordworth (EMC, Lyricist Lounge) with DJ DP One (U.S.), Jonzi D (UK) and Ben Sharpa (SA)
* 2004 – DJ for Abnormal Detail, a hip hop theatre concept crew that consisted of two underground legends, Tha Hympathic Thabs and Gini Grindith. Abnormal Detail performed at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in 2004 to great critical acclaim.
* 2004 – Initiated the monthly Speech Therapy sessions that hosted Local MCs competing in freestyle battles that gave the winner free studio time as well as a cash prizes. Alternative months were used for artists to showcase their talent with the aid of a live band. Singers, MCs and DJs were also encouraged to participate
* 2003 – Closing set at the Cape Town launch of hip hop magazine, C.O.R.E.
* 2002 – DJ for MTN’s Free2Speak campaign which included a set at the premiere of the Eminem’s movie 8 Mile in Cape Town
* 2002 – Resident DJ for The Hotbox, a seminal underground hip hop show on UCT Radio that was hosted by members of the iconic crew GroundWorks
* 2001 – Helped co-ordinate the Cape Town leg of Black August with International hip hop acts Black Thought from The Roots, Dead Prez, Jeru the Damaja, Boots from The Coup and Talib Kweli.
* 2001 – Opened for Ready D’s very first Beatbangaz show
Reason and P-Kuttah are recent additions to the Kool Out Entertainment that are Hip Hop artists in their own right. They assist in the running of the Johannesburg branch.
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 is were 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.