Sam Kaase
Former SA Youth Choir member, 18-year-old Sam penned this protest song by pleading with all South Africans to speak out for a better way of life. Patricia de Lille, Helen Zille, Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Bantu Holomisa were so inspired, they added their voices to his recording.
Listen:Insurgence

Kwani Experience
Dropping the price of petrol, and maybe cutting repo and interest rates before 2010 is cool and all, but c’mon politicians how about creating some jobs? Kwani Experience keeps it real by mapping Mzansi’s hip inner city pulse with their bewitching 21st century brew of jazz, soul, funk and kwaito-hop. Listen: I Need Money

Rus Nerwich
Want to make sure you party with a purpose this Youth Day? Give Madiba, Bob Marley and Martin Luther King a shout out on this fabulously funky jazzy-soul rap joint off the sax man's brand new Sama-nominated urban pop CD. "Come join me under the Poetree, you can be happy, you can be free!" Listen: Under the Poetree 

Brown
Expatriate American rapper and social worker gives SA youth the low down on this cautionary tale Off 'Hangin' in and Hangin'. Brown is the artist behind the worthy Brown Foundation - currently assisting the youth in disadvantaged Cape communities.
Listen: So You Wanna Be a Gangsta 

Van Coke Kartel
Crime, poverty, and the plummeting Rand conspiring to have you feeling like you've got not future this Youth Day? Join Francois Van Coke and co.'s rage against the sex, drugs 'n rock and roll star stereotypes on this punked out grunge wail off Waaksaam en Wakker.
Listen: 27 Kluisenaar 

Marcia Moon 
Passed your Matriculation but still scared you won't find work unless you continue your studies? Take comfort in this breezy second single off Marcia's debut album, 'A Gradual Awakening', which channels fans of Neko Case, Natalie Merchant and Josie Field's beatific folk rock craft.
Listen: Fear & Possibility of Growth

Dokta
Say no to gangsterism. Say no to crime. And say no to racism and xenophobia, okay? ho wabout we keep it real by looking beyond the beef? So raps the Kallitz word surgeon on this addictively illbient hiep-hop head-nodder off his solo EP.
Listen/Download: Maak Mekaa Sterk 

Dear Reader
The artists formerly known as Harris Tweed share this sublime indie-pop anthem about coming of age off their internationally-released new CD Replace Why with Funny. Fans of Scout Niblet, Cat Power, Regina Spektor and Tori Amos, this polymorphous chamber pop dream is for you. Download: Dear Heart courtesy of City Slang (Right click and choose 'Save As').

Blk Jks
Space is the creative place for these cats who mainline funky slabs of Miles Davis' 70s jazz fusion freakadelia, Roxy Music’s art pop outbursts, and The Mars Volta's prog excess into a polymorphously perverse free-range psyche-rock recipe. Download: Lakeside courtesy of Secretly Canadian (Right click and choose 'Save As').

Sonic Youth
Legendary New York avant-rock gods fire off this incendiary track off their forthcoming new CD, 'The Eternal'. It's "a 2:10 out-of-the gate hardcore matinee track with Kim singing salutes to French painter Yves Klein and Western Massachusetts noise artist Noise Nomads. It sets the tone for 'The Eternal', which comprises twelve tunes that are a fireworks display of Sonic Youth touchstones."
Download: Sacred Trickster Night courtesy of Matador Records (Right click and choose 'Save As': be patient).