NaMapfumo(2007) - Leonard Mapfumo

NaMapfumo is pretty much Leonard’s debut offering. Previously he contributed half the songs on the combo R & L album with Roki and has featured on both Chamhembe compilations. Leonard Mapfumo has come a long way since the days of Seiko which was a huge hit. Despite the song being his own he played second fiddle to Roki all the way and I can imagine how much of a bitter pill to swallow that was. It seems the same guys who have been on top in the past 4 or so years are the same guys still doing it (Roki, ExQue, Knox, MaFriq, etc). Same goes for Leo.

The album is titled ‘NaMapfumo’ loosely translated to mean ‘With Mapfumo’. It’s an album about the musical journey with Leonard and his friends where every song features at least one other artist. Most of the productions are by Russo who is competing for producer of the year with MacDee. Production-wise I have to say the album is hot, and will sit well with many Urban Grooves fans. Typically if you are into American Hip Hop and RnB then be prepared to enjoy this one to the fullest with Shona lyrics to give it a twist. I was largely impressed by the song Mvura featuring Lungisani Makhalima (Sanii). What a gem. Sanii is a guru when it comes to doing choruses with a sweet harmony and the song is already doing well on the airwaves. I have always enjoyed Leonard Mapfumo’s Shona rap far more than any other Urban Grooves artist.

So far, Hera is the song everyone has been talking about since it first came out. Beyond any doubt it is indeed a great song with an infectious house flavour to it that will pack dance floors. If you liked Destiny by Malaika this song might be one for you. Usazoputsa is blessed with some lovely vocals by Trevor and Shingie and the same goes for Sherrie featuring Cindy Raw. It was a good choice to also include Seiko on this album and it reminded me of the days when Urban Grooves had just started. The great thing about the song is that it was so well done it does not even sound misplaced. NaMapfumo is packed with heat from start to finish and so far is a contender for album of the year among the young guns. Get a copy if you haven’t done so!

Cover Art – 6/10 (ndizvowo, not bad at all)
Music – 7/10 (Urban Grooves fans will love this)
Mixing & Mastering – 6/10 (clarity varume clarity)
‘I Like Factor’ – 6/10

From the R & L album, Maidei ft Kevie & ExQue

This Is Now(2007) - Carole Nyakudya

As more artists saturate the market with their offerings still only the best stand to shine especially in the gospel circuit with so many household names. I hear Carole Nyakudya has been doing music for over 10 years now only pursuing it professionally only in the last year. This Is Now is her debut offering that is set to put her on the map with no limits to what she can do.

This album has 10 tracks and is a very interesting mix of genres offering almost everything for everyone. Productions are done by man of the moment MacDonald 'Macdee' Chidavaenzi who is behind most hits currently doing well on the airwaves in Zimbabwe. The album content is mainly sung in English, Shona and Ndebele making it very appealing for most Zimbabweans. The title track, This Is Now, is a crossover song about our loved ones and how at times we take them for granted only to realise when we miss them. It reminds me of Zimbabwean Gospel group Authentik with it's pop appeal and danceable beat. It has become a huge hit receiving some good airplay. The song that put Carole on the map is He Reigns which has a lovely video. Having debuted on the gospel shows on TV it has pushed the boundary further to radio becoming one of the most requested songs on the airwaves.

The sweet piano on You Are God is soothing to say the least and Carole asks God to strengthen her faith because she believes in Him beyond anything else. It has an unmistakable touch of finesse and focuses more on the vocal ability rather than the music in the background. Prayer for Zimbabwe is a gem and highlights her passion for our country. The song has been well-received by people from all walks of life. For my favourite of the lot is a tie between Musha Wangu where she switches between all 3 languages and Glory featuring Macdee & Extra Large. The latter was a very surprising combination between Urban Grooves and Gospel which i did not expect but loved nonetheless. That is definitely one song to watch out for and is set to do great things on the charts.

I would still like to see different producers on her next projects to bring out different sides to her music. Lyrically, her maturity, versatility and none-reliance on old church hymns is a winner. All in all i loved this album and i am happy to say it does not 'typify' gospel music like others. It is different, refreshing and honest. Carole has a great voice and will be a favourite among the younger church goers under 35. For her first album she set a very high standard for herself. Great work!

Cover Art - 8/10 (nice!)
Music - 7/10
Mixing & Mastering - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 7/10

Still At Large(2007) - Extra Large

Ba’ Panashe naBa’ Delroy vanetsa mudzimba umo nekukonzeresa! To be honest I thought these guys would be done and dusted by now. I bet many of us thought Uri Roja was a fluke, right? Wrong!!! Maroja ava maLandlord muMusic Industry hapana kwavari kuenda manje. Extra Large have teamed up with MacDee for the second album running to give us another sizzling piece.

2006 saw the duo light up the dance floors all across Zimbabwe with Roja Dance off the album Small House. I definitely did not expect an album this year again so initially I had my suspicions about this project being rushed. However, 4 albums deep they seem to have mastered the art. They can boast of being the first Urban Grooves outfit to have their own live band. Tinopa kutenda varume. The lead single House Gero talks about how the maid actually runs the house and that the father of the house should treat her well for everything she can do for him. The song is so popular it’s causing other artists headaches and sleepless nights right now. Sadly, due to the ‘nature of the lyrics’ most of their songs from this album have been banned from the airwaves but then again with a song like ‘Toilet Seat’ it’s easy to see why. The ban seems to have helped the duo achieve higher sales regardless, the same way it helped Maskiri a few years back.

This album has some very good songs and they still stick to their social commentary in a very light hearted manner. They have also grown as artists by focusing more on their musical abilities and actually do try to sing/rap. For me the songs that stood out were Kutaura Newe ft Cindy Raw (the sweetest voice in Urban Grooves), Aiwa Mukoma ft Synper & MacDee and House Gero ft MacDee. I’m glad to say I didn’t have to skip any song while I was listening and the album has been on rotation in the car for a while. Great effort!

For 7 songs, an Intro, a skit and an instrumental it’s a worthy effort and they should have some good takings from the sale of this album. It won't disappoint for many Urban Grooves fans that's for sure!

Music – 8/10
Mixing & Mastering – 7/10
‘I Like Factor’ – 7.5/10

Aiwa Mukoma ft Snyper & MacDee

Love Is My Religion(2007) - ExQue

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By Citizen Mueski

Listening to ExQue’s new Album “Love is my Religion”, it came as no surprise that all he sings about, in every single song, are girls. It is his focus on relationships that has made him popular in the genre of urban grooves so if you are fond of his style, then this is definitely for you.

The very first thing to capture my attention about this album, was that ExQue did collaborations with seasoned artists such as Oliver Mutukudzi, Roki, Stunner and Sanni and these were the songs that I enjoyed the most as they had the most emotion and soul. The song “Ndarasikirwa” had the unmistakable touch of a Sanni love song that enriched the lyrics with a refined mellow harmony to ExQue’s laid- back rap. ExQue experimented with several new sounds in this album and I must admit, the instruments where clear and a breath of fresh air from the usual ExQue sound such as the song “Paside Pangu” and the backing vocals of songs such as Ngativake Musha” and were well done and gave great harmony to his songs. He certainly did not limit himself in the area of experimenting with new sounds and to me; this is what saved the album from being monotonous.

Speaking of monotonous, I did not need to hear the song “Paside Pangu” three times with slight differences and also as an instrumental. Exque’s lyrics constantly talk about “mazirudo” which makes his music too predictable, shallow and dare I say less appealing to the older generation. In terms of lyrics, this would be a good album to listen to if you are between the ages of 13 and 16. To anyone who hasn’t heard it yet, or who isn’t familiar with Exque’s musical talent, don’t expect too much from this album. If Exque is one of your favourite artists then you are going to enjoy this album. However, I was not at all impressed by Exque’s latest release and I give it a 4 out 10.

Off the Nitredy Dormitory Compilation 2008:

KaLife(2007) - Stunner

Mr Dhaf Korera is back in 2007 with his sophomore offering, KaLife. After the immense success of his debut album ‘Hameno’ with hits like the title track, Unondidadisa, Dhaf Korera and so on, one can only wonder how anyone can bounce back the second time around.

Muface akaipa pakubatisa maStatement mhani! The guy is gifted when it comes to witty lyrics. I wish I could say the same for his rapping style which is OK, no more than that. Lyrically he is well ahead of many Urban Groovers and that makes him one of the best on the scene at the moment. Like ‘Hameno’ this album is plastered with collaborations which gives it that versatility for the listener. Thus far Stunner gets it right; variety is indeed the spice of life. He features artists like Thulani Nyashanu Mpofu on the mellow sounding Handichada, Brian on Ndakakumirira which has a video currently doing rounds on ZTV. For the internet savvy you can check the video for Ndichakumirira out on YouTube and don’t expect much either. It was poorly done but we’ll dissect videos another time. Possibly the best collaboration on the album is Song Yangu featuring ex-Mrs Roki, Pauline a.k.a Mai Sky. The song is produced by man of the moment, MacDee with an unmistakable local sound. This song might turn a few heads and win Stunner many a fan.

The song KaLife is a deep insight into the hardships of growing up in the ghetto. All along I have known Stunner as a ‘loverboy’ (probably explained by his friendship naExQue) but undoubtedly his lyrical content has matured. With lyrics like ‘Dai Gideon Gono aigara kuDombotombo… Dai Sam Levy Village yakaiswa kuAmaveni, Dai Phillip Chiyangwa aikwira nesu makombi, zvimwe dai makombi edu achiita kunge mukati mendenge…’, you can really see how serious the issue at hand is yet not being able to resist a chuckle about his delivery. Handizi Bharanzi sees Stunner crown himself the number one local rapper, a crown he will face stiff competition and hatred for. This song alone will surely make him one of the industry’s most hated artists. Despite the good some songs were just too hard to swallow. Kusasa Newe ft Jnr Brown & Roki sounded half finished from the beat to the vocals and Mukadzi Akadai instrumental sounded like a clone of The Whisper Song by Ying Yang Twins (ko originality nhai varume?).

All said and done, it’s a good come back from Stunner and marks his intention to hang around for a very long time.

Cover Art – 1/10 (this is as bad as album covers get)
Music – 6/10
Mixing and Mastering – 6/10
‘I Like Factor’ – 5/10

Ndakakumirira ft Brian

Kudakwashe/Munyaradzi(2007) - DKR

This week we look at the double disc Kudakwashe/Munyaradzi by DKR made up of Kudakwashe Musasiwa a.k.a B.Sun and Munyaradzi Nota. To be honest I started checking the post box a week before the CD rauya. I was that eager but usually when you wait for something like that you definitely do not want a disappointment, handiti? So this album had to be either all that or I was going to send it back kuUK ikoko and thank them for lending me their CD for a listen.

Kudakwashe

So the CD comes with this Create Your Own Mix software that Kuda Musasiwa created himself. I haven't used the software yet except on his myspace page but one can basically edit the songs on the CD by removing vocals or certain instruments etc and have their own feel to the music. One has to see this to believe it, zvinoshamisa vakomana. I will use it one day but that is a first and makes you proud to be Zimbabwean. I was amazed at how it was done and makes the listener part of the music!

Anyway…
When I heard the intro I realised that this album was conceptual, it is a journey and a journey back to Zimbabwe through music relating to our struggles, trials and tribulations we face. That caught my attention as a listener because I am Zimbabwean and I can identify with that(Kunyanya muDiaspora muno).

Every single track was worth a listen. Yes I said it every single track. Firstly, the inclusion of live instruments made a huge difference from computer made music and it is such a breath of fresh air especially coming from someone who is still young. It was so very African but still cool as ever! I mean who on earth gets a Hip Hop base line in there, some mbira, twungoma, chinyakare type choruses then raps in Chivet and mixes all of these so well?

The message behind each song was strong and well put out. This album is lyrically rich. I was talking to a good friend and we agreed that Kuda's strength is really in how he tells us real life stories that affect not only himself, but all of us and he raps from the heart. I felt the emotion in the songs. Nherera was on a different tip though it is eclipsed by most other tunes on the CD but the spoken word was a good approach. The best song for me was Kumusha, it was beautifully sung and it made us think about going home and seeing vanhu vese vatakasiya. It is a catchy yet simple song and more importantly the message relates to something maZimba mudiaspora look forward to. Close second is definitely Wilderness. The sampling was beautiful(taken from the song Mudzimu Mukuru by popular 80s Kwekwe group, Zig Zag Band), the message was on point, hip hop heads will dig this one fo sho. The other one I liked is Nyoka inyoka and of course the lead single Misodzi which also has a video.

Every album has a downside, on this one i think some of the choruses became predictable and in the end after some listens i was a bit tired of it all. If you heard his debut and expect the same stuff you might be a little disappointed because he takes a completely different direction on this one. Great stuff!

The lead single Misodzi/Wipe Your Tears

Munyaradzi

Again the message behind each song was very powerful, that consistency on both discs is what makes it such a great listening experience and no 'I'm fly, b***h this n*gga that' type songs. Phew! They spoke to us about their lives through their eyes without saying a word about how flashy or good-looking they may be(which is what we have come to expect when it comes to most rappers). The maturity is outstanding.

Unfortunately I did not think the Munyaradzi disc started off as well as I would've wanted. I had already communicated to these guys through myspace that I was not feeling the song Maricho/Hustles and sadly that still stands. Message iripo but i don't think Nota was vocally compatible there. I didn't like his singing. He quickly covered up on Chitauri which I think is the best jam on his half the beat is mad crazy(go to wikipedia or google under Credo Mutwa to get an in depth explanation about Chitauri). I loved it more coz of my 'blaz' associates but really it was a good song regardless '...Mother and father forget about love when they fight for Chitauri dough...' Classic stuff! That said I think a video for Chitauri was more appropriate instead of Maricho. The other songs are great, Nota is truly a rapper at heart and he brought that hardcore Hip Hop side to the African. Chenai was a great effort! That song spoke to me although I felt it lacked a little bit on the production side of things but still it made it... Vakuru is a very good song with a strong message. For Nota's first solo debut he delivered well.

Besides the one or 2 downfalls i mentioned i still enjoyed listening to it. Out of 10??? It gets an 8 and this is coming from someone who is very stingy with points!

All in all this is a Zimbabwean classic. If you really think about it these guys have created a new genre altogether. I look forward to hearing other rappers getting a hit or 2 produced on this mbira hip hop tip. If you haven't bought this album yet wakamirira ani?

Get the double disc @ http://www.dkrepublic.com

Maricho/Hustles

Happy(2006) - Cynthia Mare

It is always great to see more ladies stepping up within the music industry and making some good progress. Cynthia Mare is no exception and could possibly become one of the biggest Zimbabwean stars in and out of the country. There are many reasons to that some of which I have mathematically penned to my understanding:

Talent^2 + Hard Work + (Beauty x 2) = Success

Happy is Cynthia’s Debut album and it stems her as one of the leading female vocalists Zimbabwe has. This album is within the same R’n’B genre like Cindy Raw only with far superior production and a little more inclined to the English side of lyrics. The lady has been doing music for about 8 years now and it’s easy to tell how confident she is behind the microphone. The title track Happy is smooth and I enjoy the guitar lead with the well-produced sound overall. It is a love song about being in love and happy. As sweet as songs come and I see many lovers dedicating this song to each other to the satisfaction of the better half. To top that I hear @ PowerFM the song is getting heavy rotation.

The album is smooth to say the least and will provide a good listen while you are relaxing, maybe on a Sunday and probably best when enjoying some time with people you care about. Mama is definitely a gem and has 2 versions. The slow version is beautiful and I simply marvel at the piano playing skills all over this song. I prefer this one to the mid-tempo one which is also very good. It talks about a mother’s love and her Mum should be proud because this is one well-thought song and she sang it from the heart. I think Satisfied has to be one of the songs of the album and it is also doing well on the charts and the lady made a lovely video for it (YouTube my good people, get clicking). My winner, however, is Ndochema. With lyrics like ‘Huya undinyaradze babie, pukuta misodzi yangu, ndiudze kuti unondida...’ What a song. Ini ndikaimbirwa newangu ndoenda ndichimhanya veduwe-e. Watch out for the song Stimulate You which Cynthia produced herself, great stuff!

I can’t find much fault on this album. The standard is amazing, great versatility and I would not have it any other way. This doesn’t mean it is the ultimate album because she can definitely do even better, I’m sure but I can’t take away the credit due. It as a very good offering and she is set to inspire many many young girls out there to chase their dream. Cynthia is doing great things for the industry and she is taking over takatarisa.

Listen to her songs @ http://www.myspace.com/cynthiazim

Cover Art – 8/10 (I’m a guy. Nuff said)
Music – 6/10
Mixing & Mastering – 7/10
‘I Like Factor’ - 6/10

Satisfied

Seiko(2006) - Gorden Taurai Nzira

The first time i heard of this man was on the compilation by Delani and Sanii Makhalima, Urban Grooves Volume 2 which was a decent offering with relatively unknown artits in Zimbabwe. After looking for his music for over a year i finally got my hands on his debut album, Seiko which was nominated for Best Urban Grooves Album and Best Newcomer in 2006. I know it sounds misleading but Taurai Gorden Nzira is actually a gospel artist and has only one song, Ndazvipira, that talks about love and relationships (hmmm Prince Mafukidze has a love song too!). Sometimes it makes me wonder if the people at ZIMA are serious.

Produced by Sanii Makhalima and 8 tracks deep this album comes with a lot of expectation. The first track, Esethusela, is a danceable piece with the Ndebele lyrics that urge people to take up faith and believe in God despite any influences that may be set upon them by the devil. It is upbeat and very entertaining with a somewhat 'typical' gospel sound popularised in South Africa by the likes of Rebecca Malope, Lundi and so forth. The same can be said for Tarirai and most other tracks on the album. Tarirai was the first single to grace the airwaves back in 2005 as part of the compilation Urban Grooves Volume 2. It is an old church hymn revamped and has since done so well among gospel lovers. It provides a good listen on a Sunday after church.

The hit track on the album Chireurura put him on the map and was a regular on the charts peaking in the PowerFM Top 10. It is a slow song and he spreads more gospel telling people to ask for forgiveness because God's love exceeds any wrong we do. The song can surely get you in a whole different zone altogether and it got me wondering about how i have lived my life up until now. It is a beautiful song to say the least. Every song is laced with an outstanding clarity of both vocals and instruments which is a testimony to Sanii's production prowess. The album also features cameo appeareances by Otis Ngwabi and producer Sanii Makhalima

Taurai is very talented with the voice to go with. The great thing about the album is that every track is more than listenable and are all of very high quality. The downside for me is having only 8 tracks, 2 of which are remixes that aren't much different from the original songs. I felt a bit short changed in the end. Besides that, i feel he has far much more to give the fans and could do more to diversify the message to give it to us in a more interesting way. Gospel lovers will love this regardless, it's good music with a good message!

Cover Art - 5/10 (Didn't like it much)
Music - 8/10
Mixing and Mastering - 7/10 (well done)
I Like Factor -6/10

Zvakangonaka (2007) - Living Joy

Living Joy are a Zimbabwean trio currently based in the USA. I first came across them on Youtube having watched their video for the song Zvakangonaka which happens to be the title of their debut album. It was really refreshing to come across some youthful gospel music that made me want to dance while praising the Lord. That is hard enough to come by when Zimbabwean gospel is involved for a young guy like me.

The ladies switch between Shona, English and Ndebele, which is an aspect I liked about their album. Zvakangonaka is a track praising God for his works through dark days and sunshine. The ragga bassline is thumping with an infectious rhythm boasting of youthful zeal. They are talented beyond any doubt whatsoever; there is no questioning their vocal talent. Once you hear the lead singer singing you will not have an ounce of doubt about that. She is blessed with a strong voice and can surely hit the notes with ease. The album is laced with inspirational songs that are guaranteed to uplift many a soul. Kudos to the production team involved because unlike many gospel artists hailing from Zimbabwe these ladies have a versatile sound that borders between R’n’B and Afro Pop. Tracks I really enjoyed on this album are Farai, Ishe Ndokudai and Good.

Another track I enjoyed was More Than I Deserve (video on Youtube). It is an upbeat song with a medium fast tempo and it was so easy to sing along through the chorus. Whoever discovered this group surely has an eye for talent because they do not disappoint. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I listened to a gospel album that made me feel really happy about being Christian. It highlights the strength of faith and is full of assurance about God’s love for us. When He Comes struck a chord because earlier today I was thinking of how the world will react when He does come. However, I was very disappointed by the inclusion of a demixed version of Zvakangonaka which was simply terrible. I am sure they included it to add weight to the number of songs on their album but they really shouldn’t have. It was the stain on a good project. I did not particularly enjoy the remix of Good either.

Among the Zimbabwean population worldwide they are still unknown but given a chance they can be right up there with the best of them. Considering that this is their debut, they did well. I expect more to come from the trio in coming years. Hopefully they will scale the heights and offer us something even better. I recommend this album to any gospel fan out there, it is worth a buy!

Get your copy @ http://www.malabath.com

Cover Art – 5.5/10 (could do better)
Music – 8/10
Mixing & Mastering – 7/10
‘I Like Factor’ – 8/10

Zvakangonaka

Chizevezeve(2006) - MaFriq

By Citizen Mueski

This week, I listened to the debut Mafriq album and as always, the Mafriq crew were original in the content of their songs. The essence of the African spirit as seen through the eyes of young adults was the most striking aspect of this album. The mixture of a traditional resonance with a deliciously urban flavour given to mundane Zimbabwean society activities such as gossiping and family life were strikingly captivating when brought to life through the songs "Chizevezeve" and "Musha Wedu". Songs such as "Love Song" and "Higher" are not only a testament to the trademark Mafriq theme on Love, but also evidence of maturity in the substance of their music. The more relaxed and toned-down aura surrounding the song "Mvura Naya" left a lasting impression as did the surprisingly new voice and the rhythms of reggae felt in "Zion".

As with any piece of music production, there was a downside to this album. Songs from previous years such as "Woza Mama Africa"(2002) and "Ndichakuudza Sei"(2004) were included, in fact, the so-called 'remix' of "Ndichakuudza sei" only has an extended introduction to this song with less instruments. These songs should not have been included in this new album and it was unnecessary to repeat the song "Zuva". Pauline's vocal skills in some of these songs leave a lot to be desired and this greatly reduced the overall quality of the entire album. The song "Can't get no Gyal" did not adequately convey the message of the lyrics in a particularly remarkable way and neither did "Murombo" capture my attention so this was a major let down on this album. The overall, quality of production in terms of instrument clarity was good but of course, there are areas that need improvement.

This album gets a 6/10 so for those of you who are keen on urban grooves and enjoy the musical flavour Mafriq dishes out, this debut won't be a let down. Expect greater things from this group and continue to watch this space.

Here is the video to their lead single off this album, the title track Chizevezeve:

Inzwisa Volume 1(2007) - DJ Koshmo vs DJ Mabororo

Zimbabwean House music hasnt yet reached the popular heights but there are quite a number of acts that have graced the stage with their efforts to put it on the map. The same applies to DJ Koshmo and DJ Mabhororo where Masvingo meets Gweru to give some sizzling house tracks that have done very well in clubs around the nation mostly in Gweru, Bulawayo and Masvingo.

The album is strictly and instrumental album and will most likely not have the commercial appeal because of that. Let that not be a disadvantage because the 2 DJs make a good account of themselves with their productions. The first track Rasha Ruoko has been their biggest hit to date and used in a few mixes for a few kwaito songs (which is where they derive their house influence). It is a mid tempo track with a catchy rhythm and simply groovy and the same applies to the song Dzimba Mabwe with a whistle lead that is hard to forget. The mixing and effects on this track are very well done and it sits right up there with the big boys of house music giving the DJ Cleo's and Oskidos a run for their money.

I am not wrong to say it sounds like a South African house album by someone like DJ Christos. Most of the songs are well done, that much i have to say and if you manage to get a copy listen to Mthandazo, Different, Summer Stroll, M'qhele and Mamhepo, they are all very good tracks. They have a very good understanding of which instruments work well together and their mixing is great to say the least. However, it would be great if these 2 guys decided to feature other artists on their next projects or else they will most probably end in the clubs without appealing to a bigger fan base. Instrumental albums are very hard to listen to at times, not that they are bad but sometimes you need a few words to repeat or try sing to or else you get bored quickly. This is most likely Zimbabwe's first house instrumental album and it is a great start indeed.

Cover Art - 2/10 (C'mon you guys!)
Music - 7/10
Mixing & Mastering - 8/10
'I Like' factor - 6/10

Tapinda Tapinda Tapinda(2006) - Maskiri

Possibly the most controversial artist in Urban Grooves maybe even Zimbabwean history, Maskiri is back after a 2 year hiatus from the mic. As usual the album has been much anticipated with most wondering what else does Maskiri have to say which he hasn't done so? More controversy maybe? I have always been a fan regardless.

Tapinda Tapinda Tapinda is the 3rd offering from Alishias Musimbe a.k.a Maskiri and is produced by Sipho 'TBA' Mkhuhlane of Chigutiro fame. As usual the album is plastered with comical skits where Maskiri makes a mockery of the media's stories about his life. Such light hearted gimmicks have made Maskiri a household name and in the intro he declares himself a changed man now doing all things holy hence the album Tapinda Tapinda Tapinda to stress his entry into a new life. The album opens with one of the most anticipated Urban Grooves collabos since the genre became popular on Ngaakoreswe between Maskiri and Nasty Trixx. For those who don't know the 2 have been compared since Nasty Trixx came on the scene 3 years ago. Many have claimed that there is beef between the 2 and this song cancels all the speculation. It is a song about praising God in a cool way that appeals to the youth using slang words. Madiz and Diana also feature on the song.

Just when i thought i had heard it all, the song Ivy Kombo simply made me laugh where the man professes love for gospel diva and controversial singer Ivy Kombo-Moyo-Kasi. Maskiri expresses jealousy over her concerts with the likes of Vuyo Mokoena. I strongly doubt she will consider his proposal but as a listener i was in stitches. I greatly enjoyed Ndakafa where he talks about being at a concert in South Africa then dying and going to heaven meeting the likes of the late Princess Diana and smoking the leaf with the late Brenda Fassie. The instrumental isn't quite great but the lyrics made me forget that quickly. It's all about the lyrics when it comes to Maskiri and only he knows what inspires him to even think of singing such things.

It's evident that the Maskiri of old is very much alive and has plenty of interesting things to say. Other songs that left me breathless were Wheelchair featuring songstress Tererai Mugwadi and Leo Mapfumo and Miscarriage featuring Nesu. The overall production was not very good and despite changing the production team from the not so great sophomore album Blue Movie, it seems Maskiri has a long way to go before actually improving on the quality of his music. It doesn't help that he raps about nothing really, though very entertaining. If you are a serious person who likes depth in their music you might not enjoy this, it needs someone to be totally care free about whatever to get to enjoy the music. For old Maskiri fans i am sure you will love it and he wont disappoint you at all. He is simply a love or hate type of musician.

Cover Art - 5/10 (i love the font but...)
Music - 6/10
Mixing and Mastering - 6/10
I Like Factor - 7/10