XBC Jumpoff - The Musikanzwa Zone

Shamie - The Journey (2010)

2010-07-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

Shamie Mabvudzi is one of the pioneer urbanites after engraving his name in Urban Grooves history as one half of the Shame and Nathan duo which gave us hits like Aripo, Hazvinei and featured on ExQ's single Pandakakuona. Years later and Shamie (changed from Shame) comes back to the forefront with a solo album entitled 'The Journey' (self explanatory!).

From the first listen it is without a doubt that Shamie comes through with a new dose of maturity and engages in live instruments to enhance his new sound. Usandisiye opens up this album and as the title suggests he is begging a current flame to stay with him at all costs because his heart simply cannot take the heartache that comes with it. There is slight use of the autotune effect which many might not even pick up on, good thing is it does not disrupt the flow of the song at all. One of my favourite tunes from this offering is Huya which we played on the Radio Kunakirwa Edition in May. It received mixed reviews from the listeners, most being positive so Shamie is definitely on the right path. This is a song about forgiveness (or at least asking for it) and touches on relationship shortcomings. Huya showcases Shamie's strength in catchy lyrics that many can relate to.

Uhambo is a slow tempo duet with Linda Mali and the lady is very talented to say the least. Her vocals were so smooth and they married the beat to perfection. In it's own way it's the track that carries the title for this album and centres on trials and tribulations faced in the quest for success in life. Iwewe for me is the stand out tune on this album, the beat is a catchy fusion of different styles and the chorus is an easy sing along. Given the option to choose, this is my pick for a potential hit on this album. Mid-way through the song Shamie uses a very well worked saxophone and it elevates the song to new heights. Kudos for the good singing as well. The depth of Torai really left me thinking about how delicate life is. the refrain goes something like this:

"Torai zvenyu, torai zvenyu nguva yangu yakwana"

It is so simple but he gives a perspective to life that we often overlook on a day to day basis. It's a well worked song to top that off.

The Journey shows the many sides to Shamie as a musician. He shows his versatility in experimenting with different genres like Jazz, RnB, House and AfroPop while maintaining the mood of the whole album. Vocally, Shamie is no TK Paradza, Trevor Dongo or Sanii Makhalima but uses his voice to his strengths so you will hardly catch him out of the zone he knows which is good. All else being constant, the disappointment of this album is in the mixing and mastering. Some instances provided muffled sound, slightly noisy clashes and the overall vocal mixing was not quite uniform. This is the one let down of this album and it being potentially the most important technical aspect of the final product it leaves a lot to be desired. It limits the potential of the album greatly in a competitive market where quality is becoming more and more prevalent. I hope that on the next release Shamie can switch gears concerning that. All in all, this is a decent offering that can grow on you.

Cover Art - 7/10
Music - 6/10
Technical Sound - 5/10
'I Like' Factor - 6/10

Cherish Bryce - The Birth (2009)

2010-06-29T01:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't written a review on a female artist in a few months and nothing better than an exciting new voice that has the potential to blow up beyond expectation. Cherish Bryce is potentially the most exciting female artist on the Radio Kunakirwa podcasts right now and at the writing of this review she sits at a healthy Number 2 on the Kunakirwa Top 12 with Ndiwe featuring Gregory & Tpie. The Birth of Cherish Bryce is the debut from this 20 year old rising star.

The Cherish Bryce journey to success began outside Zimbabwe and she is already a household name in countries like Malawi and Tanzania despite being 100% Zimbo. I will open up with the song that is currently doing the damage, Ndiwe. This song had a solid RnB sound that is so undeniably Zimbabwean with the use of ethic instruments to bring it closer to home. Cherish, Gregory and Tpie effectively use Shona, Ndebele and English to give us one of the best love songs we have come across this year. I won't give much on it, refer to the podcasts and have a listen for yourselves. Dreams ranks as one song that is a favourite with all of us at Radio Kunakirwa. It is an amazing RnB love song that could make any man cringe with some seriously inviting lyrics sung by a very sweet voice. She claims she can make dreams come true and though the lyrics are 'subtly' sexually inclined i still enjoyed the song. I nominate it for the best song she has done, ever.

I was surprised by the song Voku which took a completely different tangent from what i thought she was all about. She sings about what makes Africa what it is and this is a very mature track that crosses many barriers with an excellent execution and delivery. Come to think of it this song really deserves to be among one of the World Cup songs. The young lady can switch the tempo right up to songs like On the Dancefloor featuring Gadjet and Cuz as well as the dancehall banger We Go Hard. These guys at Bryce Music are going hard for sure. On We Go Hard, Cherish sings about how they are the new defition of what the word hard is and if there ever was a dancehall song to light up a dull party this one is it. I can imagine it being played in a club setting with the crowd singing along. I also liked the experiment with the kizomba zouk style on Crush which i reckon would get a lot of teens going crazy especially at the stage where infatuation is prevalent. I would like to hear the reception of this song in countries like Mozambique, Angola and Cape Verde Islands where this style of music is truly appreciated. Haunting Me is a song about heartbreak when a couple has broken up and the party responsible for the outcome is now realising the depth of their mistake. The social commentary on a cheating partner will strike a chord with many people out there given that infidelity is a hot topic in our day to day.

I really could go on about all the tracks on this album but i will save it for you to get yourselves copies. Other songs to look out for are Searching and Fire In The Freezer. I will will definitely make it known that this is the best RnB album i have heard from Zim this year. I listened to it from start to finish without as much as a second skipped and it rates highly as an amazing debut from a talented young lady. I usually have low points to point out and concerning Cherish, the sexual nature of some of her lyrics leaves you wondering since she is only but 20 years old. The maturiy of those lyrics doesn't quite fit her voice at times giving it a rather ironic incline. This girl holds her own be it collabos or solo on a track she has what it takes to make hits and be a star. Other than that, producer, Ahsyan the Beatmaker is one of the very best in Zimbabwe right now and he brings out the best in Cherish. One word: Impressive!

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 8/10
'I Like' factor - 8/10

Cee Jay Besa - Ndangariro (2010)

2010-06-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

2 years after the surprisingly refreshing One Ariega and a year after One Ariega Reloaded, Cee Jay Besa is showing why he is one of the hardest Zimbabwean musicians right now with a brand new album entitled Ndangariro.

Munaye opens up this CD and Cee Jay picks up from where he left off last time with a newer and improved version of the short song dedicated to his son. Ndini Here left a lasting impression on me. This is a song where every reason to thank God is put forward and makes one realise that there is a lot we can be thankful for yet many a time we choose not to give Him thanks. The joys of divine favour are explored through music with a jazzy appeal. Mafaro left me feeling very nostalgic. Cee Jays makes reference to things we used to enjoy as family and friends back home in Zimbabwe pachiurawa mombe, nekubikwa sadza vana vasanotumwa kunotsvaka tsotso dzekuvesa moto nadzo. It then hit me in how he titled his album Ndangariro as a dedication to his late father but in actuality he covers a broader sense of it all without so knowing. The man has a way of expressing himself which makes his music heartfelt and honest. The title track justifies this and it is one of the most meaningful and heart stopping songs dedicated to a parent i have heard in a while. Chokwadi ngatikudze vabereki vachiri vapenyu.

Vahombe is more mid tempo and faster than most cuts off this album. He traces back to days of tales and folklore to give a narration of how we embrace the beauty of success. I saw a live performance of Famba Zvakanaka and this song has become a favourite at Cee Jay's live shows. It is a mature take on relationships where he wishes a former love well as they part ways to focus on their individual lives. My favourite line is: 'Nyangwe taparadzana ndichafambisa zita rako mune zvakanaka.' For those old school music lovers, the song Chikoro will rate highly and is one that shall stand the test of time. You would mistake it for a song made in the early 90s and not taking anything away from it at all. Cee Jay is simply that good and his social commentary makes this song even better. I would recommend that any father who wants to encourage his son to do the best he can in life should play this song for him. I guess as a young guy my stand out track is undoubtedly the bonus tracks Mutare featuring talented brothers Bkay n Kazz and rapper Just Lyphe. This one is an up tempo track that drips of Zimbabweaness and Tony G did justice on the production. Cee Jay does his thing to perfection, the brothers from Masvingo prove why they are Zimbabwe's most talented duo, Just Lyphe gives us the best verse we have ever heard from him (ever!) and Tony G reminds us why he is one of the most sought after producers = A TIGHT TRACK. Period.

Ndangariro is the best album from Cee Jay Besa. In writing this review i am thinking of sending a copy back home to my family (that's how good it is). This is a refreshing and improved Cee Jay who comes back stronger than before with a brilliant emphasis on pentatonic scales for the bass guitar. The backing vocalists were simply outstanding throughout the album, everything was well rehearsed. I think there was a lot of preparation into the making of this album. At this rate, i see this man becoming one of the biggest Zimbabwean acts in Africa and beyond. Highly recommended, get yourself a copy!

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 8.5/10
Technical Sound - 8/10
'I Like' Factor - 9/10

Xtra Large - Xtraordinary (2010)

2010-05-16T03:27:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in previous reviews that 2010 is 'one of those great years' and without a doubt, with most albums coming to my attention serving as testimony to that. 'Maroja' continue on their path of Xtra hard work with another release. Dare i say we were not even over One Drop yet and they come back with 'Xtraordinary' to increase their tally to 6.

Super producer MacDee does his magic throughout this brand new offering. Muti Wemusango has done the rounds on PowerFM and it made it's debut on the podcasts with a bang. The song is pure genius. It borders on Afro-pop with some infectious ethnic sounds and a well sung hook by MacDee. Did i mention the song concept? Well they say muti wemusango haungautore kuita muchero wepamba which literally means you can not take a wild fruit and make it cultivated fruit at home. Expanded: You can never domesticate a wild animal. Further expanded: If you marry a woman of loose morals, do not expect her to uphold marital values over her own urges. They take a comic side to a real issue and give great advice to single guys out there, be careful who you walk down that isle with. They continue to give advice on Zvarova which again is the work of masterminds with MacDee blessing the track with vocal magic on the hook. On this one Jimmy and Normara are ghosts who are complaining about how they were taken for granted when they were alive but now their family and friends want to constantly bring flowers to the grave as if they cared to begin with. It's a well worked take on how we should appreciate our parents for who they are to us. I enjoy the social commentary even though the issue at hand is quite serious and worth a moment of consideration.

The hit single High Rate makes an appearance on Xtraordinary and it touches on people who have made a fortune from forex deals on the street. There was a time when police back home were hunting down vanaChange Money (forex dealers) who were dealing in 'high rates'. I love the melody to the song, you could well dance your feet off! One of the hottest cuts off this album is Ndoshamisika featuring Nembo Bwoy, Sizara and musala wemuZimbabwe uyu ExQue. This one is a banger of all sorts on a love tip. The line up is massive and the beat is thumping. I was rolling on the floor with laughter after the Mbiradzakondo Season II skit which is a continuation of the one from the Still At Large album. These guys are creative i tell you!

Xtraordinary is Maroja at their finest and even though we might think we know what to expect, they still manage to reinvent themselves year in year out. They thrive on killer collabos and their ability to turn any situation into a light-hearted affair. I will mention this (not sure if i have already done so concerning Xtra Large), an album every year is great to keep the skills sharp but they are not giving us time to let their material grow on us. We are OD'ing infact. Zimbos generally take time to follow up on songs/albums and with us in the diaspora almost always picking the fruit from the ground you wonder why they don't take more time to push their albums so that they reach a wider audience. I would like to see the Muti Wemusangos and Zvarovas become household hits like the classic Uri Roja, that people of all ages can sing along to. We were hardly over songs like Tsano and Kukura Hakutane. Other tracks to watch out for are Kuzokutora and Madzibaba featuring Sniper. All in all, thumbs up Maroja, this is brilliant work. Easily one of the best albums this year.

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7.5/10
'I Like' Factor - 8.5/10

Shastro - Ndini Ndakora (2010)

2010-05-12T05:06:00.000-07:00

The year has already come up with some classics in terms of the Urban genres that are topping the Zimbabwean charts. There are more new artists than we even thought possible and things are really happening. We bring you a review for yet another new artist who is really riding a wave of success at the moment featuring on ExQue's first single from his latest album. A big thanx to Tha Godfatha in Pretoria for the hook up!!! His name is Shastro (a.k.a Payce a.k.a Shadreck Mburayi) and he is Stunner's protege at Glen Norah based Tazzoita Ca$h Records.

Ndini Ndakora is the title track that opens up this review. It's more than evident that this song took a page from Team Hombe sounding so unmistakeably similar. But then again, with the song produced by Dr Clarence who produced Team Hombe and featuring Toby who sang the hook on the song, there is no need for surprise. Besides that the song is a good listen. Shastro talks up his 'swag' as well as the ability to attract money easily (a page from his manager Stunner i'm sure). He might not possess an extraordinary flow but he is so confident on the mic and this more than makes up for it all. Shastro tones it down on songs like Searching which featured the Ngonie sounding (but potentially better) voice of Larkie Mangezi. This is one of the best songs on the album and as the title suggests the man is looking for that one girl who could occupy his heart. Larkie also features on the beautiful Unbreakable. Stunner adds a verse that will rate as one of his finest showcasing that lyrical dexterity which has won him so many fans.

Jnr Brown blesses this album with a Hip Hop production called Cash. The hook has a line that goes something like, "Cash iri tii neBrick remaObama." Infectious i tell you! The only let down for me was the Lil' John vocal sample which might not have been a necessary inclusion. Chero is a very interesting track which touches on the topic of undying love and Shastro says "Chero ukauya nemwana asiri wangu ini ndobvuma hangu ini, chero ukandidhumhanisa." My favourite track from this 21 year old is Tazzoita Ca$h which is a straight banger from the beat to the lyrics. A straight party starter this. This track is a must for every party this year! Some of you might have heard Zvinyowani. It's a very laid back song yekungobatisa maStatement. Nothing much to it but everything to the lyrics. Stunner simply rips this track apart.

It's without a doubt Shastro is a young man with great potential. I believe he has room for improvement especially as he is under the wings of the current King of Urban Grooves. Iri ialbum reJoy and if you want music that is young, fun and vibrant look no further. This one is recommended if you like artists like Stunner, Maskiri and and Nasty Trix. A great debut and looking forward to more material from the man!

Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 6/10
'I Like' Factor - 6/10

TapiwaBatsirai - The Heartstrings: Mota Yemawaya (2010)

2010-05-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

This year has been really exciting when it comes to the youthful Zimbabwean genres with the usual suspects putting in some great work to release albums and singles. Amid the competitiveness, there some new names worth talking about and we received this album from one such artist. His name is TapiwaBatsirai. The Heartstrings: Mota Yemawaya is his solid debut offering.

The album opens up with the title track Mota Yemawaya which features the smooth voice of Mr Noxxa. TapiwaBatsirai introduces himself with a comfortable rapping style in Shona. The song is about the need for a life of fulfilment and he equates the failure to succeed as having a toy car compared to the real thing. He tells the world that we have to strive for the finest of what we can get and live life to the best we can. On Kuterera, he works a toned down but well done beat and shows his versatility in rapping. The song touches on love and how relationships require a lot of patience and peace in the heart. I liked the formula for successful relationships here! Some inspiring positive messages always do the job. Definitely a good track.

The album contains some seriously 'dope' tracks for the hip hop heads as well like the cut titled Hip Hop. The cast claims their love for Hip Hop as a culture. Mzansi was a surprise for me and i was totally blown away by the Ndebele spits that graced the upbeat instrumental. Given a chance this track is one of those club/party hits. Arguably the best track on the album is Aona Kunaka which again features the vocal prowess of Mr Noxxa. It recently featured on the podcasts and is a favourite already. It's a gospel track that explains how people can live a life of sin and be converted by the beauty of God and his love. It has a bouncy mid-tempo kizomba-zouk beat. The concept is intelligent and i personally feel that this dimension to gospel music is welcome. I am tired of the hymn recycling bla bla bla, i believe music fans deserve exciting gospel music as well and TapiwaBatsirai brings that on this beautifully sung tune. He also does the 'Shonglish' thing quite well i must say.

TapiwaBatsirai labels himself as Holy Hip Hop. Fair and fine but to me he is clean and largely morally correct Urban Grooves. Why i feel that way is because the tag Holy Hip Hop carries a lot of weight and if your album carries lyrics like "What the .... ? ... illuminate the dark, girls sucking on the sweets that we keep in the trunk." , well, you could find people asking a lot of questions especially in our judgemental society. This album is actually quite good especially for a debut and with direction i see TapiwaBatsirai becoming a force to reckon with. From the 11 tracks only 1 or 2 that i feel should have either been reworked or not included at all like Handidiba. Besides that i am not so sure he should have included Mota Yemawaya accapella. On a production level, some tracks were very well done and others not so much. Let the lows not deter you because this album is worth buying. I definitely look forward to hearing more from this man and i can say he is one of the finds of 2010!

Music - 6.5/10
Technical Sound - 6/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Soosh. . . the baddest boy in 2010

2010-04-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Soosh(Tendai Maswiswi) is a man who needs no introduction to the XBC audience having graced our 2009 Top 30 jams with the heartfelt You Gone Now featuring Dee. You might remember him from the Zim Hip Hop duo DS & Soosh who gave you the album Clueless. 2010 is that kind of year where 'The baddest boy' (as he is known) is not holding back. He sent us 2 singles that are straight off the Richter Scale and we will get to those freebies in a moment....

What has Soosh been up to of late? Soosh (27) was based in Lusaka, Zambia and was working Hot 87.7 fm which is a private radio station as a radio deejay and as a club deejay and emcee at Zenon Night Club. Since the beginning of 2009 he has moved onto the Copperbelt (Kitwe to be exact) in Zambia and was working for YAR 89.8 fm, another private radio station. At the moment he is freelancing in the private sector of the entertainment world in 3 different countries. Rapper, DJ, maybe next he gon get into acting.

Check out the hot new singles, top notch and still mahara!

Move Back - Now this track is my personal favourite. Why? Coz it shows u exactly why Soosh is actually the baddest on the mic. Comparing with his previous work and taking nothing away from it, there is unmistakeable maturity and confidence. Lyrically, just so you know, you cannot afford to miss a word he says. I found myself laughing at the 'dig' at a long time rival of his (you know who he is, infact listen to the song if you don't). For the record Soosh my friend, i did rewind that part myself. I remember telling him how impressed i was with the overall production and in terms of quality this song is just about faultless. That is how WhereItsAt Records does things (shout out to DS!)
Download Move Back here (mp3): http://sharebee.com/cab7fa60

Close Your Eyes - There are some songs that go beyond a simple listening experience and Close Your Eyes is one such song. The emotional connection of the song had me in thought patterns i don't experience often. The realistic take on life here is one i appreciate and this defines an impressive touch of versatility in the new material. I have no doubts that if you don't know who Soosh is by now, your eyes are definitely closed.
Download Close Your Eyes here (mp3): http://sharebee.com/6f7ebc00

Wreckless - Riddim & Bassline (2010)

2010-04-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

The name Wreckless dates back to the years when the urban genre started getting recognition with Chamhembe (That Squad) heading the whole thing. This man's CV is deep with the most popular of his collaborations being the song Kuchamhembe with the beautiful Tererai Mugwadi. Besides that he has done songs with the likes of Roki (Mazuva), James Adam(Chikondi) & the very sexy Cindy (Dhindindi).

Riddim & Bassline kicks off with an intro that gets you up on your feet, no holds barred. Reload carries the tempo of the intro with some seriously deep basslines and if there was anything like feel good dancehall this could just be it! It's a great way to start a CD with the positive vibes. One of the lead singles from this album is 4 Always featuring Rue. This is a mid tempo love song which would light up any party or gig without a doubt. Rue does a great job on this piece. I quite like the brand of dancehall that Wreckless brings to the table because it is unique and shows how much variety Zim dancehall has come to offer especially with the huge success of artists like King Shaddy, Winky D and Sniper Storm who mix English/patois with Shona.... And here comes Wreckless with a different style altogether!

Voodoo (loving the title in connection with the song!) is one of my favourite jams on a hip hop kind of beat. It features one of the first ever female vocalists on the urban scene, Sarah and i have to say whenever Wreckless collaborates with a female it always comes out wicked. Believe it or not given the song title, its a love song but cleverly expressed. The greatness extends to Love and Happiness featuring Nesu (this lady needs to drop an album, real talk). For a song about love given the style Wreckless delivers and how calm the song felt, i was nothing short of impressed. Undoubtedly one of the bangers on this album is Breeze featuring Cindy and Roki. The beat itself certifies this song as a hit. All three artists on this song make it such a great song and when we played it on the podcasts the response was quite encouraging. i loved Cindy's verse because it was so unexpected to take that 'patois' inclination. Another favourite of mine is Badman Territory and i would love to shake the hand of whoever produced that song. The beat is sick sick sick. The lead single, Evacuate, is right from the top drawer and it sums up much of this album for me.

After the listening experience i can say this 18 track album has more highs than lows. With a heavy production line up as well as collabos i found it pleasant to have so many different styles compiled into one. As i always say an 18 track album is a bit too much nowadays where an artist generally needs to try and captivate his audience in as few songs as possible. Other songs to look out for are Gimme Some More feat Kevie, From The Heart and Rub a dub. This is your 'Friday night at the club' and 'Saturday party after the bbq' kind of offering and if you are looking to have a good time with banging beats, look no further.

Cover Art - 7/10
Music - 7.5/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like Factor - 7/10

Winky D - Come 2 Tek Ova/Chatsva (2009)

2010-04-05T02:12:00.000-07:00

It is without a doubt that Winky D is one of the most respected and possibly the hardest working dancehall artist in Zimbabwe at the moment. This comes after the smashing success of his 2008 full length debut, Vanhu Vakuru (though he claims to have 2 albums prior to that). Come 2 Tek Ova/Chatsva is the surprise double disc with 34 tracks released late last year. Chatsva is done mostly in Shona and Come 2 Tek Ova in English/patois.

Come 2 Tek Ova
Some fans will have seen the video for the song Mi Nah on youtube or wherever else (which isn't really anything to write home about, i liked the Luckspin Medley video a lot more). I like the melody and Winky proclaims that there are things he will never do which would otherwise taint his image and make him more of a hypocrite than anything. He heavily uses the auto-tune effect popularised by T-Pain. Education is The Key (as the title suggests) is self explanatory and its more for the young ones who he encourages to take school seriously. The song Moma is a dedication to his mother who he always mentions in regards to his success. The message is great but the execution left a lot to be desired, the beat was a huge let down like many others on this double CD.

She Loves Me takes a sample from Vybz Kartel's worldwide hit Virginity but is nowhere near as good. Disappointing to say the least. Bigger Size is a very sexually suggestive song about the done and dusted topic of 'does size matter'. It's actually quite hilarious and Winky D has a lot of humour in his lyrics which often makes his songs well worth a listen. Same goes for the song Yogueta (whatever that means). Love Magician explores the sexual side of things yet again and is a very well done piece. The riddim is straight from the top shelf, no questions asked. Haul & Pull Op is a favourite of mine and reminds me of the dancehall tracks of the early 2000s. I think Tell Her is is definitely the top cut from this CD considering the overall production. I am definitely feeling the riddim there which sounded solid and complete.

It came as a surpise that song of the moment 'Green Like Mi Garden' which could well be an international hit does not appear on this double disc. The song has a hip hop influenced beat with 'Di Big Man' coming in with some great flow and energy. It would have been a great inclusion.

Chatsva
Many tracks from this CD were previewed in 2009 on Winky D's facebook and reverbnation pages including favourites Zvimoko Zvevanhu & Mabhebhi Ekusabhabha. These 2 songs have some of Winky D's finest lyrics though the production was not really good he makes up for it in his witty choice of words. Zvimoko Zvevanhu iSong inokonzeresa and Winky refers to taking other peoples women with no regrets about it. I thought the versions we heard then were demo versions to be properly done and to my disappointment they seem to have been the final versions. On this CD Winky D picks up from where he left off on Vanhu Vakuru.

The title track is one of those typical Winky D certified hits. It comes with a great tempo and Winky lets all his haters know that he knows that they do not like him but that will not stop him. Great song. Bhasopo is in the same light as Chatsva and talks about how rumours surfaced that he 'disappeared' in London after his live shows. Ndimba Ndimba is one song that is a likely hit and takes after his previous hits like Vanofamba Vachitaura. Again it is a song about how Winky D has haters and those are the type of people his people know how to deal with. It seems a lot of his lyrics are riddled with violent subjects evidenced by songs like PaGaza, MaNinja and the hit song Iwewe.

The overall production on this double album is poor. There is hardly any decent mixing done here, so you might as well forget mastering at that. It's not something i would ever want to write about Winky D as he is one of my favourite artists in recent years but this project was rushed and nowhere near as well done as his previous offering. It seems to be a quickly put together, 'meant to be testimony of his hard work' kind of album but for me this does not fly. I would rather take 12 very well done songs with a decent effort put towards realising a high standard of music.

I know he has been getting rave reviews about this album from the local press but after taking a listen a lot of questions are raised. Lyrically, it does not seem like the man has grown much at all since his last release. Not that his lyrics aren't good, but he seems to be in the same zone as over a year ago which brings doubt to his versatility (of which he definitely has). I write all this simply because i know an artist of Winky D's calibre can do much better and with the standard he set on Vanhu Vakuru this is more of a backward step than forward. In comparison with Sniper Storm's The Voice album (one of Winky D's direct competitors in the dancehall game) i realise how unfair the music industry can be, because comparing the 2 it's very easy to tell where significant time and effort were put in yet hardly anyone speaks of Sniper's album besides it being very good. All in all Come 2 Tek Ova/Chatsva is a huge let down for me. Having written all this i can still bet my bottom dollar that he has already received enough 'big ups' for a job well done and his fans of old will love the album anyway.

Buy the album here:
http://winkydonline.com/blog/store/

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 5/10
Technical Sound - 3/10
'I Like Factor' - 4/10

Danayi Murapa - Munerudo (2010)

2010-03-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

The Zimbabwean gospel music scene is awash with talent and i have always stated that fact time and again. Last year i was tuned in to one of the Zim internet radio stations and heard a song that simply blew me away. It prompted me to look for it and just my luck because i found it and at the same time discovered a brilliant artist at that. The name 'Danayi Murapa' may not ring a bell to most of you but let that not deter you from taking a listen to what she has to offer.

The intro is beautiful with lovely instrumentation as well as the singing. It is an invitation for everyone to call on to the Lord through all situations. I wish it was a longer into though, being only a minute. Ndichengetei is a mellow gospel groove with that distinct gospel sound we have come to expect over the years. The formula simply works and it will sit well with many a gospel fan or music fan in general. She asks for God's guidance in this journey of life as there are many hurdles along the way. Munerudo, the title track is stuff legends are made of. This is the song that prompted me to try and find out who Danayi Murapa is. Sabastian Magacha makes an appearance on this beautiful piece and the 2 artists complement each other with such conviction. Mukoma Saba vanomira mira hama dzangu! To tell you the truth i have no idea why this song has not yet made the charts in Zimbabwe because it is excellent. I like how it is listenable across all ages at the same time carrying a relevant message. This is as good as gospel music gets! I noted that the final album version is slightly different from the initial version that circulated a few months back. It still sounds great regardless.

Another lovely cut from this album is Zorora featuring Tembalami. This is pure 'feel good' gospel music and i found myself singing along and dancing. Munerudo is still my favourite but Zorora is a close second. The artists sing of God's goodness and his deliverance from those tiresome tribulations. Well done to Tembalami, i would like to hear what his music sounds like. This one is joining Munerudo on my iPod, no questions asked. Upon giving this album a listen one thing stood out, the uniform quality from start to finish. Kudos to you Danayi, this is top notch stuff. It was great to listen and connect with the effort put into this album. The other 2 songs, Ndapererwa featuring the very beautiful Petronella Gobvu and Zarura are quite good. Danayi's voice is unique and she uses it well, she knows her vocal abilities which is essential for success as an artist.

The only downside to this album for me was the fact that of the 7 tracks, one is a minute long intro and another an instrumental which leaves it down to 5 songs. I am not a fan of albums that are either too short or too long. Next time i would love to hear 8-12 tracks, i really think that is something artists need to consider for their fans and in Danayi's case she has already proved she can be versatile so why not give us more? All in all this album is brilliant, a must hear especially for those inclined to gospel music. Recommended if you are into artists like Sabastian Magacha, Taurai Gorden Nzira and Bethan Pasinawako. Please do not hesitate to get a copy!

You can buy the album here:
http://indiekazoo.com/vangodzatunes/778

Cover Art - 7/10 (beautiful)
Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 7.5/10
'I Like' Factor - 8/10 (really love her work)

Rest In Peace Sam Mtukudzi (1988 - 2010)

2010-03-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

Rest In Peace to a remarkable young man with an abundance of talent. Your passing still comes as a shock and a great loss for the Zimbabwe music industry.

Stunner - Team Hombe (2009)

2010-01-13T05:37:00.000-08:00

I've witnessed Stunner rise steadily from the days of Rudo Rwemari, experimenting as a dancehall artist and blossoming into one of Zimbabwe's most respected urban rappers. His 6 year career has seen him release the albums Hameno, KaLife and the latest one, Team Hombe. I finally managed to get my hands on the CD copy of the album that is available in stores which is quite different from the initial one which was to be titled Tambai Ngoma.

The album title was changed from Tambai Ngoma after the huge success of the single Team Hombe which graced the Power FM charts since mid - 2009. The song is about Stunner's rise in the music industry, from the days when people gave him no chance at all. It boasts of an American influenced southern beat with some clever imagery from Stunner. I can tell that he is enjoying his success to the fullest. The album opens up with an intro then Handimbokusiye produced by MacDee. This track is a great opener for the album and i reckon it has the potential to become an anthem this year. It has that distinct Urban Grooves feel and is rather danceable. Paushamwari Hwedu has a clever concept where the chorus is an old nursery school rhyme. ExQue features on this one, i've heard better verses from him. Shamwari neshamwari adopts a kizomba rhythm and surprisingly features Diana Samkange. Since the release of Hameno, it was rumoured that Diana and Stunner did not see eye to eye. Seems like they have patched up now and on this song they sing about just being friends even though people believe they are lovers.

Madziya Sister reminds me of a 50 Cent song and as i write this i am looking for the song in my library even though i have my doubts that i have it (before i even got to searching i remembered the song, I Get Money). I do like the Stunner song, it's DRIPPING of swagger with some nice energy to his flow. The freestyle by Jnr Brown will have you laughing and is enjoyable, the man anenharo paFlow hama dzangu. Kana Usipo really tickled my fancy. It borrows the melody in the chorus from somewhere but i just cannot seem to put my finger on it. Anyhoo... Cash features a heavy line up with B.G, Yoz, Johnny K and Jnr Brown (they are the ones i could figure out given the album back cover does not include features). It's one for the Hip Hop heads out there and for me this is the direction Zim Hip Hop should take. The whole line up does a great job on this song. I am against what has characterised Zim Hip Hop of late where only 'English spitting' Emcees are recognised as 'hip hop'. Takoresa is a remix to Live Your Life by T.I and i'm not so sure that it should have been part of this album. I enjoy the lyrics and surely Stunner made the most of it but more of his original work would have been more appreciated here. Rihanna's chopped up vocals are cool and stuff but for an official release? I don't think so Mr Stunner!

One thing i do not understand is why Ex Girlfriend, Dai and Tambai Ngoma are missing from this CD. These were possibly the best songs on the previous copy and they really elevated Stunner into a different class. I really need to understand his reasoning behind the ommission. There are a couple of songs that the album can do without as well. I get the feeling that on this album he was trying to mould his image towards 'Zimbabwean Rap' incline. He gets the tick from me. All in all, Stunner maintains his tried and tested formula of catchy lyrics and banging beats. It works and Team Hombe will rate as one of the hottest albums getting into 2010. Stunner fans of old will definitely like this one and it comes recommended for a taste of some of Urban Grooves best music.

Get the album here: http://tazzoitacashrecords.podbean.com/

Cover Art - 7/10 (great work and resurrection from the KaLife cover)
Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 6.5/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

BKay & Kazz - Boomslang (2009)

2010-01-09T03:31:00.000-08:00

BKay and Kazz have been on this musical journey for a while now. These 2 brothers have grown from strength to strength. I remember seeing their video for Ndikati Hello on Channel O 4 years ago without a clue who they were. Now they reign as ambassadors for Zimbabwe through their brilliant work. They released their debut album, In The Beginning, 5 years ago and it was more for the Zimbabwean and Malawian markets where their roots lie. Boomslang is their first international release and their approach is different from last time around.

Don't Stop opens up the 16 track Boomslang album with an infectious rhythm that will have you dancing. It is a dancehall track with a very commercially acceptable aspect about it such that you don't have to be a dancehall fan to enjoy it. These guys sing real music and the song relates to their will to succeed. I Wanna Get Loved is impressive. The vocal abilities that these guys have will surprise you and it is also part of what makes them so versatile. The inclusion of Ndikati Hello is one i did not expect but given that among Zimbabweans it is their most popular track and this being an international release they wanted to show that they have come a long way. Despite the track being old it by no means compromises the quality of this album and it rates highly. Decibel did his thing very well here! The same goes for Senorita concerning it being on their debut but it sounds so good i thought i was hearing it for the first time.

There are quite a few songs with videos here and i am hoping these guys come out with a DVD album as well. You Know It's Right is one of the songs with a video. This song is great, well composed, well sung and well put together. The video? Awesome! Whatever formula these guys are using it is definitely working. You Know It's Right has 2 versions here and they are both good. We played The Music Drive on our podcasts and the reception speaks for itself. The track is just massive. A definite banger and the dancehall baseline that accompanies the powerful vocals led me to have this song on repeat. It features Decibel and the man has not lost his touch at all. Of the whole album Amina Kadeya is my favourite. The way they took an old nursery school game and made it into a dance track is genius. VanaWezhira from Masvingo are talented, jealous down hama dzangu! I tip this to be one of the party regulars in 2010.

BKay & Kazz are some of the hardest working artists around and their album proves it. A lot of the songs on this offering were released as singles. Other songs to look out for include Wynd With Me, Leave Me Alone and Crazy Baby. I really liked this album from start to finish and i could change with the mood of the album without feeling robbed of any quality and so forth. There is something in there for everyone. I found very little fault to this album, it leaves you satisfied with your purchase.

Get the album here: http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/56603725-bkay-kazz (mp3 album) and iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/boomslang/id340251008

Cover Art - 8/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 8/10

Shumba DJs - Tambayi Funky Anthems (2009)

2010-01-07T02:31:00.000-08:00

Zimbabwean house music hasn't quite established itself compared to the other youthful genres. Having noted that, the genre is experiencing an exciting time after the success of the Native Flash and Zim DJ albums with hits such as Jobho (Remix) and House of Stone. Shumba DJs are relatively new to the scene 'by name' but with years of experience as DJs on the local and international stage. For this debut offering they have teamed up with Beatovenz on a 5 album deal.

The album opens up with One of These Days which is a dance classic. The song adopts a sound that house lovers would instantly connect with and would light up dancefloors across the world without fail. The song maintains the same tempo throughout with some excellent use of the bongo which makes the song very catchy. Zvamauya Zvanaka is a feel good song about how our relations with friends and family mean a lot to us. It explores the euphoria of seeing loved ones after a long time and the joys of rediscovering that closeness. The song is well sung as well. Tambai made me think of the days when kwaito was still the real deal when artists like M'du, Arthur, Abashante and B.O.P were churning out hits on a regular basis. It has that 'old school' feel to it. I felt the same way listening to Happy Birthday where Primrose Gwata sang her lungs out! I am guessing these guys must have been kwaito/digong fans at some point.

Wynd For Me by BKay and Kazz is the first song from this album that came out some time back. The song is a straight banger and BKay and Kazz (anaWezhira, Masvingo Massive!) are definitely among some of Zimbabwe's best exports within the diaspora. They prove this without a doubt on this tracks singing about the beauty of a girl who is on the dancefloor who is looking lonely. These guys surely know how to hype up a track and with the Shumba DJs producing a well worked beat this is a collaboration at its best. On My Way sounded experimental and leans more to the techno side of music. It's not really my taste but the composition is still good. Mandela The Great was a very meaningful contribution highlighting that even when we have fun there are sons and daughters who have helped Africa to become what it is today. Their call for Africa to unite is one that many artists should consider. Loved the female vocals on this song.

All in all this 17 track offering is a testimony of what talent, hard work and experience can give you. Besides the songs already mentioned i greatly enjoyed the song Kumusha. Many of us outside Zimbabwe can relate to this song. I believe the number of tracks on this album could have been cut down to a good 12 - 14. That way they would have taken the very best tracks as one or two cuts are rather luke warm. For a debut these guys did well regardless and it's a worthy purchase. I believe Zimbabwean House is truly taking shape and any house music lovers this one is for you. Great work guys!

Get the album here: http://www.zimvibes.com and http://www.vangodzatunes.com

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 6.5/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Zimbabwe Today - Various Artists (2009)

2009-12-27T01:58:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since i have come across a compilation of contemporary artists from Zimbabwe. The recently released Zimbabwe Today compilation includes 11 great artists from Zimbabwe, singing within different genres and languages.

This sizzling album opens up with a song by Hope Masike entitled The Land. The mbira leads this composition with some well controlled vocals sung in the Shona language. She delves into the origins of 'Africa' asking what it means and where it came from. It is a very mellow song which boasts of having a highly ethnic sound, a true gem. The popular Shaina by Alexio Kawara is a fitting inclusion with its positive message which should definitely inspire many generations to come. Andy Brown plays the guitar with a passion that connects through the song. Of all the Alexio songs released to date, this one is definitely his stand out track.

Prior to this release i had never heard of Mathius Julius before and i was at a loss. His song struck a chord with me. On a reggae vibe with a delivery i have not quite heard in ages. Coming from a Zimbabwean artist the song Der Pon raised the bar to a standard which many artists will find hard to reach. I marvelled at the backing vocals. Mathius relates to the bonds of slavery which led to forced migration of Africans to far away lands. He asks God to guide him in his walk of life. Selmor Mtukudzi has an undeniable Oliver Mtukudzi influence in her music characterised by the afro-jazz cum pop sound in her songs. Her mature approach holds much weight for her social commentary. The legendary Victor Kunonga graces this album with Mamurega. He maintains his formula of music that is easy on the ears which sounds like a mixture of 'chimurenga' music and jazz. Zimbabwe reggae's finest, Transit Crew also make an appearance with Lord If I Cry.

This album is easily the best compilation i have heard in the last few years. The level of quality, maturity and depth is a rare find on the Zimbabwean and even international scene. Other tracks on the album that tickled my fancy were Handishore by guitar legend Clive 'Mono' Mukundu, Arumwa by Willis Wataffi and Mubvunzo by Sebede. To top it all off it is all for a good cause with a portion of proceeds going to Tariro - Hope & Health for Zimbabwe's Orphans. It is a non-profit organisation located in Glen Norah, Zimbabwe, working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by educating young women. Grab a copy, high recommendation here!

Get the album here:
http://www.wideworldartists.com/ZimbabweToday.html

Visit Tariro - Hope & Health for Zimbabwe's Orphans website:
http://tariro.org/

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 9/10
Technical Sound - 9/10
'I Like' Factor - 8/10

Bethen Pasinawako - Anotida (2009)

2009-11-19T19:15:00.000-08:00

It always excites me to find relatively new artists doing well other than the usual so and sos we have come to know over the years. The gospel music scene in Zimbabwe is probably the most vibrant and talent nurturing compared to any other genre. Bethen Pasinawako's debut album, Aripo, a couple of years back ranks as one of the best gospel albums ever produced in Zimbabwe and she gives us her sophomore offering, Anotida.

We played the title track, Anotida, a few weeks back on the XBC podcasts and the reception was quite overwhelming among gospel fans and others alike. The song is quite laid back and will be familiar with many people as one of the songs we used to sing in church from long back. The instrumentantion is commendable, definitely one of my favourites cuts off the album. Donhodzo is a bit more uptempo mixing many elements of gospel, rhumba and so forth. It got me on my feet and she is singing about how the time has come for us to wipe our tears and be happy again. Gundawakunda is on a similar tip and it is a celebratory piece about God's victory in His actions. It adopts a popular sound from South African gospel of the late 90s. Mamuri is a dance track and would be great for gatherings. It reminds me of the late 80s and early 90s. It could pass for a kwaito track and i loved hearing Bethen sing in Ndebele, English and Shona on the same track.

Namatwai was an absolute surprise on this album. There is a sound i had grown to expect as i listened through the songs and this one was nowhere near that! It starts with an old school RnB flavour and a piano that is as sweet as it can get. It got me wondering how Bethen would fair singing Shona RnB then the beat changed and became much more 'Zimbabweanised'. Anti-climax! Well to be fair the song is still great but i would like to see her explore that RnB side which sounded so great on a song or two. Pfugama Unamate is an old church hymn with a personal Bethen touch that and i think this one will be a favourite of many, young and old. It testifies to Bethen's ability to make her music appeal to various age groups. I love the mbira on this song and the lead guitar is also well worked with an undeniable Zimbabwean sound. Nditungamirei variates between a subtle reggae sound and a familiar Rebecca Malope/Lundi kind of sound. Another good song and as the title suggests it is a track about asking for God's guidance through life days.

I believe we have another gospel star made in Bethen Pasinawako. This brilliant album shows that she has a lot more to give with such an exciting voice. A perfect example of a great comeback. Other tracks to look out for are the sad Famba Zvakanaka and Andidana (which sounds a lot like her song Jehovah Jireh from her previous offering). I am highly impressed. Get yourself a copy!

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Eloi Manjoro - In God's Love (2007)

2009-10-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

The name 'Eloi' might not ring a bell but i am sure that is set to change. I really do feel that gospel music is so vibrant at the moment and the talent Zimbabwe possesses is something we all ought to be proud of. It's not all about the 'household' names either. The debut from Eloi Manjoro is called In God's Love and it reveals some amazing versatility in our gospel music industry. Despite the fact that it came to our attention nearly 2 years after it was produced, it is timeless.

The album opens up with a very interesting intro. You can tell the quality straight away, a lot of work was put into this project. The Stream is a lovely piece with some interesting backing vocals that would strike a chord with most church goers. I could not help but notice the way the singers compliment each other which made me think that they must have been singing together for a while. Eloi leads the song and does it so well. It is about thanking God for his blessings. The song If JC Ain't in The House featuring Soosh and Priestly has a mid tempo dancehall vibe. The vocal team just does wonders here from the singing to the rapping. Besides the uplifting message this kind of music is well worth marketing internationally and would represent us so very well.

As i listened i began to connect with Eloi's music being more of a fusion between mainly RnB and dancehall. It sits very well with a young, vibrant listener who finds pride in the good word. You will find yourself vibing to songs like Amen. The melody is really groovy and picks up the tempo and the female lead does justice to this track. Add to that, the chorus is very much an easy sing along. One of the best tracks on this album. In that category of some of the finest music on this album is Everlasting Love. I would not be far off by saying this tracks calms your heart. It is beautifully contsructed.

This album is one that should not be overlooked. From start to finish all the tracks are well worth listening and over different aspects of good musical composition. Other songs to watch out for are Hey Wena and Jesu Ndewangu. I would recommend this album to you all. Get your self a copy!

Get the album here:
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8077951
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-gods-love/id346415743

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 8/10
'I Like' factor - 7/10

Sniper Storm - The Voice (2009)

2009-09-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

Sniper Storm is one of Zimbabwean dancehalls best acts and he has proved it time and again from the days of Gede Mwana through to the hit songs Kubhinya and One Room. Of late, the man had been doing mostly shows between his debut album, Ndakabata Mic 2009 and now. Many thought the man was out of the business but he is back with a brand new album, The Voice.

This piece opens up with Joy where Sniper proclaims that 'tauya kuzofara' (we have come to have a good time). It is an uptempo track that will get you dancing in no time. He gives his respect to other artists like King Labash and Winky D who many consider his rivals (im sure that squashes any beef rumours). The Buju Banton (Boom Bye Bye) inspired Soddom hit me from nowhere. The song is controversial considering the subject; gays and lesbians. He sings that 'vakadzi pavarume ndozvatinoda' (we want women to be with men). You have to hear this song for yourself. The truth is it is a touchy subject and the song will definitely be more appreciated in Zimbabwe. Having said his lyrics are quite funny though. As soon as Soddom was done, Chirungu just gave me a low blow yet again. At first when i listened to the track i thought, is this guy serious? Then i listened CAREFULLY.

Ini handidadi nechirungu
Handiite zvechirungu
Handifarire chirungu nokuti handisi murungu
Chikafu chechirungu
Tsika dzechirungu
Mwari wechirungu
Manamatiro echirungu
Handisi kuti ini ndakamaka varungu
Handivenge murungu kana kushora chirungu
Chandingatoda pamwe mukadzi wechirungu
Kudanana nemurungu zvekusvotesa varungu

Translated:
I do not take pride in westernised culture
I do not do western things
I do not like the western culture because i am not a white man
I do not like the white man's food
Nor his culture
I do not like the white man's god
Or his ways of religion
I am not saying i dislike white people
I do not hate whites or their culture
I would not mind dating a white woman
To be in love with her just to annoy white people

It's simple, this song can be taken the wrong way yet what he really is saying is that as a black Zimbabwean he finds many things wrong with our society disregarding our own culture to do things that otherwise originated from foreign countries. The man speaks his mind, no holds barred! Well worth a listen.

Madhara Madhara has a video (youtube) done by video guru Enqore. On this song he is saying he is back and some people thought he was dead. Self praise really (enjoyable at that!). Paradise featuring songstress Cindy Raw is a great track and i'm sure it will blaze many a dancehall! Cindy Raw is doing a great job in the industry and besides Plaxedes Wenyika is probably the most consistant lady in Urban Grooves. The collaboration between Diana and Sniper, Ndoda, is definitely a song to watch out for. I think it has the potential to be a big hit and is produced by hot Urban producer Russo. It is a love song where Diana is looking for love and Sniper is telling her how much love he can give. Dhanda Head is a hilarious track about 'not so clever' people who do things that leave you wondering where their common sense lies. Handimude is another track with lyrics that will leave you in stitches;

'Ndiani angade musikana anoshorwa nevamwe?
Anonzi hure, pfambi nevamwe
Pese paari anongozezwa nevanhu
Kutukwa kunyeyiwa kutyiwa
Anehunhu hwechibhanditi
Hapana chake chechokwadi
Anodanana nevamwe 50
Apa ndiwe unoitwa bhambi
Anoita kuti vanhu vakunzwire tsitsi
Kwauri akakosha ingirozi
Apa mumwe achingoti kachoki
Anonzi rubbish, marara, marutsi nevanhu'

Msoja is one of the best tracks this album has to offer. Sniper highlights the fearsome nature of soldiers and the high levels of respect they command wherever they are. He attributes this aspect to factors like the vigorous training they receive hence their potential to injure or even kill if need be. This song will win him many fans i am sure. Handife is the track doing well on the charts at the writing of this review. It is probably on the charts more because of its gospel inclination but does not compare to other songs on this album. It so happens to be a good track regardless just that i would pick at least 5 other songs as the lead single before it.

For 21 tracks, this album is worth every cent you spend on it packed with heat from start to finish. As a sophomore offering it definitely has a very high rating on all fronts. I reckon this album has more hit singles compared to Ndakabata Mic 2009 (taking nothing away from the latter!). I was hoping that his dance song Mai Chisamba which he performs at shows would be on this album but unfortunately he seems to save it only for the live performances. This is one of the best dancehall albums to come out of Zimbabwe and get yourself a copy!

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Josphat Somanje - This Time (Haulume)

2009-09-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

I was very expectant upon receiving this album. Josphat Somanje has been around for a very long time and knows how it is to ride the wave of success. I had heard lots about this album from friends and acquintances especially the song everyone calls 'Haulume'. Last time i heard such a hype about a song was 'Idya Banana' by Joseph Garakara.

The track where the album is named is called 'Handibvume' (Haulume). It opens up this album and pretty much sets the pace. We all know museve songs are usually very long and Josphat maintains that. Handibvume is about a couple going through marital problems and are on the verge of breaking up. When the husband decides that it is time his wife left the marriage she insists on having him return the child they have to where ever it came from and go back to when he was courting her. It is a hilarious track and very well penned and by my take it is one of those classic sungura songs that will live on and on. The song is infectious! Eniya is about a woman who does not understand the values of relationships and looks for all the wrong things in her marriage. The husband insists that having a home comes first and then money etc

Another hit song from this album is Mukaranga (otherwise better known as Maggie Mukaranga). The lead guitar on this song is beautiful! The song is about a man stating his intention to marry a 'mukaranga' woman called Maggie expressing how beautiful she is and that he would want to marry her as soon as possible. Vintage museve! Other tracks on the album include Kwete Kuvatendera and Jorijo.

Now i must admit that sungura is not quite my forte but This Time is absolutely fantastic. It is my pick for Sungura album of the year and Josphat equally deserving on artist of the year. Handibvume remains the best track on this album and has seen many days on my CD Player, i suggest you find this album a.s.a.p especially if you like sungura, it is simply brilliant! Recommended if you are into the likes of Alick Macheso, Chamunorwa Nebeta, Tongai Moyo, Somandle Ndebele and R & K African Sounds.

Cover Art - 0/10 (The only bad thing about this album if you consider it)
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7.5/10
'I Like' Factor - 8/10

Farai "Pharaye" M - Beautifully Learnt (2009)

2009-08-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

I appreciate it when i manage to come across talented youngsters because it reminds me that we have much to give in world music. Pharaye is a fairly young gospel artist who is set to do big things. This 21 year old young man is one to watch out for. I thought Beautifully Learnt was his debut but he actually has a previous album released in 2006 called I Take A Moment.

The title track, Beautifully Learnt, is amazing, from the production right through to the singing. It features another talented artists, a lady called Sharon Rose. Props to the E-Monie on production because this work is phenomenal. The song is about how God is always there, at ALL times. It really reminds me of how i was taught how to count on God no matter the situation. It is truly something that is beautifuly learnt when you know you can depend unconditionally. A very fitting title track. Point of View features E-Monie and Sharon Rose and the instrumental just makes you want to get up and dance. Having said that, the man talks about some heartbreaking things like losing his mother and living a difficult life. This is where Jesus came in and changed his point of view on life so he is celebrating that. It's a fresh sounding song but with such a mature topic. One of my favourite on this EP.

For Your Love is a gem. It is an RnB sounding track about how His love shines every day. Pharaye focuses on how our imperfections are no reason for God to disown us. In knowing that noone is perfect, we still have a chance to be better people and strive for perfection. I think this one can be a sing along for years to come. I like Rydmptn as well and again the production is top notch. That bouncy RnB flavour makes his brand of gospel so much better. I can relate to it on many levels. Every song is worth a listen. I really would have hoped he included more tracks but that takes nothing away from the amazing quality and high standard of professionalism on this offering. Also watch out for Shower Down... the song is phenomenal!

This is gospel music with a difference. This album is highly recommended if you like RnB and especially the younger Christians out there, this will get you going and that is a promise! Pharaye, you are a star, keep it up!

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Nasty Trixx - Vapamhe (2008)

2009-08-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

Trust Dojiwe better known in the music circles as Nasty Trixx is back with a new album and Maskiri's so called sound alike has his chance to prove that he has what it takes to stay on top. I am sure many of you out there remember the smash hit 'ChiDanger (Chimoko)' from his 2004 debut Kupinda Newe. I can confirm every song on that album was a certified hit and it put this young man on the map.

A song from the new offering that made rave reviews in 2006 is DDF (which was also on the Bhodho Size One compilation by Tony G). The song is produced by Tony G and is a comical piece about a girl who wished for Nasty Trixx to become her lover. Apparently in the song, Nasty Trixx overhears the girl at church praying for divine intervention in her quest for love. On the other hand, Nasty confirms that the young lady is so beautiful he is already in love with her after having met her on the bus the previous day. The concept just makes me laugh! Great stuff! It is also the only Tony G production there as the two parted ways over unspecified differences. This new album also contains the hit song Kukakika which made an impressive position on the 2008 Power FM charts. The title is a descriptive word about how beautiful a woman is and the song is a testimony of how clever Nasty Trixx can be. When it comes to women, it seems like that is his area of choice lyrically.

Unfortunately the 2 songs mentioned above are as good as this album gets and the other tracks are a complete waste of time. I hate to say it like that but if you compare Nasty Trixx on his tracks produced by Tony G and the ones by the producer he is working with now, you can tell that there is no contest. The music is horrible and amateurish to say the least. I reckon my 15 year old brother can do better on productions. My colleague upon hearing this album asked me, "Is this a demo album by Nasty Trixx from 10 years ago?" That is simply how bad it is. I would have written about the tracks in detail as i usually do but this time i do not see the point. The only other song i could mention is Ndopisa Musoro in which he blasts former friends Tony G and Madiz who had a major part in his first album. He claims Tony G shortchanged him from his album royalties and when he left Baseline Studios, Tony G was stranded and other artists left. The same producer he is dissing so happens to have, by far, the best track on this album. On the same page, comparing with Kupinda Newe, this new album has not as much as a good chorus which Madiz was mostly responsible for first time around. Sadly, truth be told, Tony G and Madiz are having the last laugh on this one enjoying enough success in the past 2 years.

Enough said, this ranks as one of the most disappointing sophomore albums i have heard in a long time. By this showing, i think Nasty Trixx will be a nobody in the industry within the next 2 years unless he rejoins Tony G's camp or finds a producer who is just as good or better. Kukakika just so happens to be the single that is a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dwindling career. Nasty you can do much better!

Music - 2/10
Technical Sound - 1/10
'I Like Factor' - 2/10

Sabastian Magacha - Ndinokutendai (2009)

2009-08-01T01:27:00.000-07:00

The Zimbabwe gospel scene is as exciting as ever with the rise of the younger gospel artists. The genre has undergone a lot of changes but still continues to excite and holds its place in popularity. The name Sabastian Magacha may ring a bell to a few but be assured the young man is a born star. Full of talent and blessed with a powerful voice, this is a name we will remember for a long time. His 2007 album Shekinah Glory shot Sabastian to fame with the massive hit, Tinomudana. In 2009 he is back with Ndinokutendai.

I had the pleasure of hearing the title track early on in the year courtesy of a friend and it was the first time i had ever heard of Sabastian Magacha. His brand of gospel music wowed me on the spot and have been trying to source his music ever since. Ndinokutendai is an uplifting number about thanking God for all he has done especially when people try to pull you down. The production on this song is nothing short of impressive and definitely puts Sabastian on a different level. I really like the way these youthful guys are making the music less predictable. Ndoenda Mberi is equally as enjoyable and it is a song about persistence. He sings about kusadzokera shure (not giving up/going back). I really enjoy the fact that he sings with such conviction and he is not the usual 'recycle-the-most-popular-bible-verse-i-know' type of Zimbabwean gospel artist.

Nemunamato sounds a bit like a reggae song (with a Zimbabwean twist of course!). I think this song relates to so many Zimbabweans who pray everyday for better opportunities. It is a song of encouragement that shows how the Zimbabwean population largely turns to religion for answers. Shaura proclaims God's glory and is a testimony of what God does in our lives. It is a slow, mellow song which touches your heart upon listening. The singing was superb. The back up singers on this track did an excellent job that deserves an applause at the very least. I like the lyrics and they struck a chord with me about how we as people hardly ever thank God but find ourselves complaining a whole lot. Nyarara is also another great track with amazing singing.

Also watch out for Anouya and Ngiaykubonga. Sabastian Magacha is the most exciting gospel prospect yet and i have no doubts about that. If he keeps producing such good music he is definitely set for a very bright and prosperous career. Of those who have already heard his stuff, you can testify. If you like a good word of God, this gem of an album will not disappoint. Recommended if you like artists like Fungisai, Taurai Gorden Nzira, Bethan Pasinawako, Alexio Kawara, Kudzai Nyakudya. Simply breathtaking!

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 8/10

Fame Nickles - Battlescars Mixtape (2009)

2009-07-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwe's finest in Toronto is back. This mixtape hit me by surprise since i have been bugging Fame Nickles for a solid drop for about 3 years now. Finally the man decided to compile some of his best work and give his fans something to keep in the library. As he says in the intro 'Fame Nickles reporting for duty' and trust, it's no lie. Before i even review the mixtape in detail, lets face facts Fame is damn generous to give a mixtape of this quality for free coz i would have sold it had it been mine!

Yeah That's Me opens up this piece and its a proclamation of Fame's sense of self. Opening statement: "My heart pump Hip Hop..." you get a feel of how Fame takes his music very seriously. The beat is sick (sick sick sick!) and kudos to Rymez for that massive production. For the opening track i must say it was well thought out, the kind of song that makes you want to listen to more songs from the man. Get It has a video on Youtube and it actually sounds much better than i thought. Again, i have to say the production was just top notch, this time by SubZ of 25 To Lyf (Mutare massive). Check out the video though, some nice honeys in there! Ok, im no perve but some things are hard not to notice. I got the vibe that Fame was on a warpath on this mixtape, songs like Bushlands In The Place, The Accused, War Shit and Checkmate are hardcore boom bap type beats with hard hitting lyrics. One of my favourite songs on this mixtape is Damn Shame. It's one of those songs that gets you nodding your head, a true head banger. My favourite line: "First of all, get yourself a Nickles CD, they can take away your body but your mind can be free, Next learn how not to follow what society feels, Having an opinion means you decide if its real." Classic stuff!

Lyrically Fame is versatile and clever. The whole mixtape is riddled with intelligence which makes him an MC with substance. This is where i find Fame to have an edge over many other MCs. Besides that, his beats are different, some what a fusion of old school and new school. Never Give In is one of the stand out tracks where he talks about politics, reality and doing this for a cause. You can almost tell how much hunger he has through song. Did i mention this MC is very opinionated? Having mentioned that, its quite hard not to agree with a lot of what he says. Fame's F****d Up is on a different level. The beat is quite toned down yet his message makes you think twice about stepping up to him if you ever will (haters?). I got an exclusive of Mind Food and for sure Fame knows it's another stand out track as i told him. All said and done Hate on Hater is THE track on this mixtape. I also got an exclusive listen to this track prior to the mixtape drop and i have been bopping to it for a while. Like the title suggests, Fame does not care whether you hate or whatever. That's my jam, period.

This is a feel good mixtape with a lot of realism contained. It has its grimey side but still maintains that enjoyable feeling. If you like hip hop chances are you will enjoy this a whole lot. It's 26 tracks deep and you can hardly go wrong. I am not sure about the number of tracks though because it's hard to keep people attentive throughout the whole thing. Having said that, i still managed to listen to the very end! This is Zimbabwean Hip Hop (ok so its pretty much international but Fame muzukuru!) on a totally different level and its of the highest standard. Very highly recommended (did i mention it's free?!)

Download the Battlescars Mixtape here: http://www.mediafire.com/?gzzddyzmt0j

Cover Art - 5/10
Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Xtra Large - One Drop (2008)

2009-07-17T04:29:00.000-07:00

Maroja adzoka futi! These guys simply DO NOT give up. Last time i said i thought these guys would be done and dusted by now. A little over a year later and guess what? They have a brand new offering for the fans. I think i will not be far off if i say this duo is probably the most hardworking outfit on the urban scene (for a while now) and i still do not know how they manage to release just about an album every year but kudos to them for making it happen. One Drop is the fifth album from Xtra Large after Zvakora, Walembe, Small House and Still At Large.

This time around they add a little extra flavour to the production prowess of MacDee by slotting in Russo and as usual the album is packed with collaborations from seasoned artists like Stunner, Diana and Trevor Dongo as well as unknowns like Samantha and Fadzie. The first single from the album, MaOrange, did quite well on the airwaves late last year. The chorus is a true sing along adopting lyrics from creche like "Aya maOrange, aya maFatcook, Ichi chigaba chehuchi". Landlord is one of the tracks that has managed to do well on the charts in 2009. The backtrack adopts a 'snap music'/'crunk' style popularised by Lil Jon some years ago. Unfortunately, this song did not quite tickle my fancy though i do accept that it is probably the sound most youth are identifying with now (I just like my good old urban grooves!) Besides that, the guys are still quite funny with their hilarious lyrics and social commentary.

The titles of the songs just make you want to listen to the whole album especially if you know what Xtra Large are capable of doing. Doctor is one such song which features Taurai Mandebvu. The group proclaims that they are the doctors of love and if women have any problems they can go to them. Funny stuff! I enjoyed the kizomba style on the song which fits perfectly. Kukura Hakutani is definitely one of the best cuts off this piece and it features Boyz Dzangu and Trevor Dongo. One of the rappers from Boyz Dzangu sounds so much like Maskiri its shocking! The song is about a girl you grow up seeing and she matures into this very beautiful woman and all you want to do is make her yours. I enjoy the concepts these guys bring, they definitely haven't run out of ideas. Tsano is my favourite song on the whole album and it focuses on a brother-in-law who is greedy when it comes to food and will eat just about anything for the sake of eating. I couldn't stop laughing! Postman is another funny song though it tackles an issue about adultery which is quite serious in our society especially with AIDS and other diseases around.

Generally this album is quite good and it is mostly vintage Xtra Large as we have grown to appreciate. I think Xtra Large fans of old will have no problem accepting this album. I do think it is not quite as good as their last 2 albums but still well worth having nonetheless. Other songs to watch out for are Baller featuring Stunner and Siyai Vana featuring Trevor Dongo. Highly recommended for your library!

Cover Art - 8/10
Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 6/10
'I Like Factor' - 6/10

Jusa - African Air Horn Dance (2009 Zim Funky House)

2009-07-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

Zimbabwe stand up!!! Nuff said!

Karizma - Rock Away (2009 Zim Funky House)

2009-06-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

Latest single by UK-based Zimbabwean rapper, Karizma entitled Rock Away (Wave Them Off). Big big funky house tune for 2009 to get everybody skanking. Enjoy

Free mp3 download: http://www.zshare.net/audio/612772994fae4163/

Pastor G - Inspiration (2008)

2009-04-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

Pastor G is no stranger to the music industry in Zimbabwe having worked with numerous artists and made a great success of his singing talent. For those who might have forgotten he burst on the scene as part of Delani Makhalima's Shamiso Studios a solid 9 or so years ago with songs like Count Your Blessings, Hande & Walk Alone to name a few.

Inspiration is the latest offering from Pastor G and it is a 14 track sizzler! He has always made somewhat danceable gospel music more inclined to the younger souls. I can describe his music as a mixture of RnB and Afro-Pop where the pastor does enough justice vocally. The title track, Inspiration, is one smooth jam. The instrumentation on the song sounds like a soft rock/pop ballad and it is so well executed i could not help but notice. The lyrics are uplifting and focus on how we find our inspiration from the Lord especially when times are hard and we feel like there is no way out. I have to say the backing vocalists on this song did a superb job equally matching the pastor himself in making the song a gem. Haya Haya has been doing awesomely well on the PowerFM charts and from the moment i heard it i knew why. It is a praise song (rwiyo rwekutenda) where Pastor G proclaims authority and dominion through Jesus Christ. I can see enough people getting down to this one mudzimba and kumaChurch uko. It is a wonderful song that has a feel good 'thing' about it. I listened to it with a smile on my face!

There are some songs which from the moment you hear the intro your expectations are raised. Mubairo does just that! When the beat sets in and you listen to the chorus you get that 'wow' feeling. The beat is simple with an amazingly catchy melody and Sharon Manyika sings this so beautifully. Vakomana Sharon anoimba zvinodadisa! I know Haya Haya is already a hit but people are sleeping on Mubairo! Of the album this is definitely my pick, the best of the lot hands down! (lol). Its another inspirational one and the duo sing about kushinga (being strong, perseverance) encouraging us all never to get tired because God is faithful. Not much i can say except that this song is great. Mandipa is another one that touched me given its very well done vocals. Pastor G has really upped a notch or 2 on this offering. While listening to this album i realised that it really focused on establishing God as the centre of people's lives to give them hope. Considering all the things Zimbabwe has gone through i really connected with this album on that note.

I cannot take anything away from Pastor G on this one, the music was beautiful so was the singing. The collabos added so much versatility to this album, were very well done and you could feel the chemistry between the artists. Other songs to watch out for on this album are Jesu, Ndamirira featuring prince Mafukidze and Turura featuring Gorden Taurai Nzira. Pastor G fans of old will love this and i recommend it to anyone who wants to listen to Zimbabwean music with a difference!

Music - 7/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 7/10

MC Mighty Live In Dublin

2009-04-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

MC MIGHTY LIVE @ BUTTON FACTORY DUBLIN from Mc Mighty on Vimeo.

Rassie Ai - Smiles & Cries/How Come (2009 Video)

2009-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Second video from the critically acclaimed debut album 'Return To Life'

Abisha Makombe - Bhomba (2008)

2009-04-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

I know the name Abisha Makombe might not immediately ring a bell especially for a lot of people in the diaspora who left Zimbabwe a while ago. That being said be assured that the face of Urban Grooves (though he calls his music Chonde music) is changing. It's great to see new names coming up. Abisha is no stranger to success as he was part of the group Romeo which gave you the big hit, Consider My Feelings. A few years down the line and this man is now a solo artist enjoying being at the top of the music industry.

Bhomba is the debut album by Abisha Makombe which was produced by producer of the moment Anthony Mukanga a.k.a Tony G. This album is 8 tracks deep and boasts of the massively popular Ndire Ndire. From my conversations with Tony G he told me that the song was recorded last for the album and none of them expected it to be a hit. The song recently became popular in the diaspora after spending much of 2008 being the party song of choice with an infectious house sound that can lift you from a bad mood. Ndire Ndire refers to a magic brew which can get you to dizzy heights. In the song Abisha describes how he feels so invincible that he will be fishing for mermaids (kuredza njuzu) and that this is a party to remember that has him on unmatched highs. My pick for song of the year for 2008 and in the diaspora for 2009. Check out the video at the bottom of this post!

Hondo Yemoyo is the second single from the album and its another very good song. This one is about that first love and the pains of being with someone you do not love while spending your time thinking about someone else. It tackles the harsh reality of loveless marriages that seem to occur more often than necessary. The song starts off with a mellow beat which is sad in its own right and really made me think about what he was singing about. Halfway through the song it becomes an up tempo rhumba track. I really would have preferred this one to stay on the sad, mellow beat but its still a good song regardless. Mumwe Wangu is similar to Hondo Yemoyo in focusing on abused love. One partner is lost on the others actions because they seem to only be in love when there is money. Abisha is telling us how a lot of people started with nothing en route to becoming successful and that love should be able to endure poverty. This is definitely one of the best tracks on the album.

I really like Abisha Makombe's originality. His music is different, his voice is different, his singing is different. Throughout the whole album he shows maturity lyrically and offers a different view point from most artists of the Urban Grooves generation. I don't know if he will ever be able to eclipse the success of Ndire Ndire which i believe is set to become a continental and international hit with the right marketing strategies. If you love Rhumba, Zouk, House and Urban Grooves you could find yourself falling in love with this album. Highly recommended!

Music - 8/10
Technical Sound - 7/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Zubz - Cochlea, One Last Letta (2009)

2009-03-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

The third offering from Zubz has been one of the most anticipated 2009 hip hop albums in possibly the whole of Africa. For starters Zubz has quite a rep compared to most MCs in the region given his track record from The Last Letta Mixtape right through to the experimental Headphone Music in A Parallel World. Cochlea - One Last Letta is the latest release from the man.

Given the very futuristic inclination on Headphone Music In A Parallel World i was not sure what to expect on this album. First point to note is that every song is double titled (doesn't really bother me). It opens up with Cochlea - The Love Thought featuring soul guru RJ Benjamin which is somewhat an introduction to the whole album. The song is about your ability to turn situations to your advantage by excercising more 'love' in your decision making. In a way it is like the opportunity cost of doing one thing over another. Zubz is amazing at giving musical concepts beyond what would be deemed more widely accepted and i believe it makes his music far more enjoyable. The Entertainer - Smoke Screen Bounce reminds me of his first commercial hit, Superstar where he refers to the variety of listeners who would rather listen to shallow lyrics with a good beat because 'there is more to life'. It questions the willingness of music lovers to engage in deep thought when listening to their favourite musician bearing the question 'Why do we really listen to music'. From an artist perspective the question being 'For what purpose do i make my music?' The song is quite enjoyable with a throwback breakbeat. The beat on Drowning - Running Out of Time also has an old school feel to it (did i mention the venomous energy on the raps?)

The first track i heard from this album is A Different Life - Live It Up featuring the lady Pebbles. It covers many stories in one to convey a message covering issues like being judgemental, stereotyping and vantage point. Part Time Lover - Part Time Freek featuring Ameen shows somewhat the 'fun' element of the music on the album with some great production. The song itself is about being used in relationships for sexual satisfaction where the male is a serial polygamist having left a trail of broken hearts. The following track, Love Blind - My Girl's a... featuring Kabomo tackles the female side of the equation on a soulful note and is a vintage Zubz track. The girl in question is creeping and the man is in denial about it yet the whole world knows (hell if that happened to me!). I really believe Zubz explored his influences within music from the 70s, 80s and 90s for this album giving it his own personal signature (and sounds like he also got some influence from Kanye West on this too).

Besides the ones already mentioned also watch out for I Got This - Bait The Prey, Batanai - A Tale Of Two Cities, Bring U Back featuring Kalakoda and A Pot Of Green Tea - Good Conversation featuring Tracey Lee. For a 16 track album this is a great listen. I am not yet sure if i still prefer this one or Headphone Music in a Parallel World but one thing is for sure i was able to comprehend Cochlea - One Last Letta quicker than i could the former. This is like Zubz reinvented but you will still enjoy what he has to give. Recommended for all the hip hop heads out there!

Buy it here: http://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/6909677/Emi+Zubz+-+Cochlea+One+Last+Letta/

Cover Art - 6.5/10

Music - 7/10

Technical Sound - 8/10

'I Like Factor' - 7/10

Various Artists - Bhodho Size 3 (2008)

2009-03-13T01:59:00.000-07:00

Tony G has been around for a good 6 years in the music industry having started out in 2003 producing the hit single Bata Musoro featuring his alter ego DJ Tula. Over the years the man has produced and released 4 compilation albums starting with Picatto Era (2004) which had the smash hit ChiDanger by Nasty Trixx. 2008 has been a year of wonders for Baseline artists with 11 songs in the Top 100 on the PowerFM charts.

Bhodho Size 3, as the title suggests, is the third instalment of the Bhodho compilations. This one opens up with the Souls of Africa collective who had the immensely popular album Zvepabhodho 4 years ago containing the well known song Madam Chamunoda. Their song on this compilation, Lolita, tackles the issue of being taken for a ride concerning matters of love. In this case the girls name is Lolita and she left some bloke feeling worthless. This song is just brilliant and my favourite part is when the beat changes from a kizomba sound and the tempo is increased into a sizzling rhumba that had me rewinding the song over and over again. The most promising group (in my humble opinion) in Zimbabwe right now, Unique, is also featured with the song Mubhedha. I first heard this song last year and it simply got better once i got my hands on a full length copy. It reminds me of Dino's hit Jatropha as it is also about a woman feeling secluded in a marriage being denied the full (sexual) benefits she thought she would have. Given the prevalence of this topic in recent songs maybe its about time Zim guys start worrying in case the women get fed up for good (lol). The track adopts a near traditional contemporary and Urban Grooves fusion like that of Ndichakuudza Sei by MaFriq. Paunondinyerekedza by seasoned vet Gudchild (of the Fadzai and She Loves Me fame) is a big hit in Zimbabwe 27th spot on the end of year countdown. It typifies the rhumba sound that has made Tony G the star producer he is today.

One of the best Ndebele rappers, Akili, marks his territory in the industry with a heart stopping effort on Tsotsi. This is the kind of feel good song for the ladies expressed by lyricism at its highest pedigree. The beat is more kwaito than anything and the execution of the song is good with the man throwing in all sorts of witty rhymes like 'Wonke cherry size Kilimanjaro zwakala amaBig sisters with hipsters...' The brother and sister duo from Victoria Falls, PO'Zee & Skhu live up to their reputation on the massive Eta Hola which is a party track that cannot be overlooked. I can see Bulawayo getting down to this one. I was impressed by the track Shingirira done by Brian Ngwenya (especially since i have never heard of him before its god to know that new artists are making good music). He sings about a girl who drives him crazy called Chipo who he intends to ask out and state love for until she accepts him. The style here is a mixture of Urban Grooves, reggae and contemporary music with some neatly done vocals. Pamza's Hayi My Lovie was another refreshing listen and it is great to hear more ladies coming up in the industry. She has a strong voice that she uses very well on the particular kwaito sounding track (no guess that its a love song given the title).

Other tracks that will be set to do well are Gud Simbi by dancehall star Cojack, the house feel on Wherever U Go by Tess(this one reminds me of Where I wanna Be by Mina Nawe and Destiny by Malaika) and the smooth Without U by ex Romeo front man Yoko T. This compilation proves the versatility of the artists at Baseline Records (and the producer too) with genres ranging from Urban Contemporary to Kwaito. It is evident that this team is 4 compilation albums into the business, they do it well. This is definitely not your typical Urban Grooves album as it is not that predictable but something a little more exciting and refreshing with a blend of youth and experience. There is something in there for almost every ear. This is recommended for those who like Urban Contemporary, Rhumba, House and Kwaito.

Buy the album here: http://zimvibes.com/index.php?ind=reviews&op=entry_view&iden=493

Cover Art - 4/10

Music - 7/10

Technical Sound - 7/10

'I Like Factor' - 6/10

ExQue - For The Grown & Sexy (2008)

2009-02-20T04:01:00.001-08:00

ExQue is back in 2008 with his third full length album entitled 'For The Grown & Sexy' after the okayish 'Love Is My Religion'. Ngapawanewo munhu anomubatsira pamaTitle emaAlbum ake nhai (lol just jokes).

This album is a much anticipated offering considering that ExQue is one of the most successful Urban Groovers from the genres early days. I was looking forward to hearing what ExQue has to say this time around and err... ummmm... nothing has really changed. He uses the same production team from his last album of mainly Russo and MacDee. This one opens up with Mupewo Rudo, the hit song featuring Leonard Mapfumo & MacDee. The song is about a love so good that it eclipses the union of Gospel stars Baba naMai Charamba, Oliver naDaisy Mtukudzi or anyone else who thinks their love is potentially stronger. It is already a hit song featuring on the PowerFM charts this year and currently in the Top 10. The lyrics left my jaws on the floor with lyrics like 'zvinonakidza kuSatisfaya mukadzi, uchimuita yese uchimuspaka mukadzi, uchimukissa kissa uchimuFeeda nerudo... mudzimai ari sensitive, mudzimai ane maPressure points'. Murudo is one of my favourite songs on this offering which also made it to the charts early on in the year. This one features Zimbabwean songstress Tererai Mugwadi and the melody is just beautiful. Thumbs up to this tune! Handidi Newe features musical comedians Xtra Large. It is great to hear Xtra Large still making me laugh after all these years.

ExQue mostly maintains the same sleepish rap that made him popular over the years with the love songs that sometimes leave you wishing you were in a relationship. On Zvaunondiita, it is ExQue like you have never heard before and sounds like a pop song. He makes an attempt at singing (don't be fooled it's nothing to write home about) and surprisingly i was able to stomach the song though it is nowhere near my preference. Besides that it is the first single from this album and made it to the Top 100 of 2008. I could not help but wonder if ExQue is still trying to win his lost love from the last album, his songs are more about trying to win back a girl who has been wronged than anything else. Ndaramba is a track that makes me believe what i just mentioned and the instrumental reminds me of his smash single Mazirudo. I think this one is a potential hit talking about kuramba kurambwa (refusing to be dumped). Whoever this girl is apengesa ExQue shamwari wakaoma, blaz vanokuda ivava! Other songs on the album feature artists like Stunner, Taurai Mandebvu, and Junior Brown.

It is no lie that ExQue is a favourite of many and this album will do him more favours. Technically, it sounded like a rush job and it lost a lot of marks because of that. I really expected a better job especially from a producer of MacDee's calibre. For The Grown & Sexy is really more of an album for the not so grown and those who like Urban Grooves without much lyrical depth. The same formula has won him many a fan and he sticks to what he knows best: rapping about love. I have since accepted that he will never change that. It is a decent offering and to ExQue fans of old chances are you will love this one.

Music - 6/10

Technical Sound - 5/10

'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Sam Mtukudzi - Rume Rimwe (2007)

2009-02-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

Sam Mtukudzi's career started off with him touring with his father, the great Oliver Mtukudzi a few years back. That was indeed the beginning of a new dawn for an artist who is set to break through as one of the most promising musicians in Zimbabwe right now. Under the guidance and nurturing of his superstar father, Sam is indeed ready to be his own man. Rume Rimwe (released in December 2007) took the young man a good 2 years to put together and it's well worth the time.

This is Sam Mtukudzi's debut album which holds the song Chii Chanetsa that has become a very popular hit making the charts on PowerFM in 2008. On this track he engages in social commentary concerning domestic violence as seen by the children affected. It is a very in-depth view at the ills of a marriage gone wrong where all the possibilities point at a divorce but the children do not want to entertain the thought. Evidently, everyone is unhappy and all they can do is watch as it happens. This is a song that can evoke emotion within you because of the very reality it besets upon. Amai focuses on a mothers love and Sam is seemingly thanking his mother for her presence in his life (maybe because his dad was on the road half the time? lol). It is a beautiful song about appreciation and should serve to teach us all to appreciate not only parents but everyone who plays a significant role in our lives.

The musical style on this album can be described as jazz with a mixture of Tuku music to spice it up. Tibatane is my favourite song on this album (listen to the XBC podcasts and you will find evidence of that!). It is a jazzy love song where the emphasis is on becoming one. Sam praises his partner calling her 'chisikwa chaMwari' (God's beautiful creation). This is as good as a love song gets and it took me back to the love of old. The instrumentation was simply phenominal and the backing vocalists set a bar that you do not hear too often these days, not only on this song but throughout the album. It reminds me that young musicians can also make such great music (but then again this is Oliver Mtukudzi's son i didn't expect any less!). Songs like Why Can't We, Ngwara and Mazuva Mangani (which is somewhat the title track relating to the Shona proverb 'Rume rimwe harikombi churu') are littered with advice on life. Besides the good music, there are strong messages contained within these songs that are reminiscent of olden day folklore.

It is without a single doubt that Sam Mtukudzi's music is miles ahead of his age and don't let his youth deceive you, this is a brilliant album. His lyrical prowess herein lies within a poetic approach and there is an undeniable connection with Oliver's influence here. There is such wisdom in his words you will not believe he is only 20 years old. It is no surprise that his music appeals across many generations and i hear Sam is a brilliant live performer as well. Every song is very well done and you can listen from start to finish without even considering skipping a track. This is highly recommended for everyone out there especially those who like Africa Revenge, Dudu Manhenga, Oliver Mtukudzi, Simphiwe Dana, Thandiswa Mazwai and Chiwoniso to name a few.

Get the album here: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=1_49&products_id=3985

Cover Art - 6/10

Music - 7.5/10

Technical Sound - 8/10

'I Like Factor' - 7/10

Chiwoniso - Rebel Woman (2008)

2009-02-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

I have been a fan of contemporary Zimbabwean music for a few years now and have grown to appreciate it as the years have passed by. Chiwoniso has been a household name for as long as i can remember with an outstanding career from the days as part of A Peace of Ebony together with Metaphysics and Tony Chihota. Rebel Woman is her third solo project after Ancient Voices (2001) & Timeless (2004) where Chiwoniso teams up with prominent producer Keith Farquhuarson yet again.

Chiwoniso comfortably switches between Shona and English throughout her inspiring album. The title track is an international success after helping Chiwoniso to claim second spot in the International Song Writing Competition (World Music Category) in 2006. Rebel Woman delves into the world of a woman and her strengths that help to overcome the obstacles of life. The rebel woman is a fighter and stands against all odds to overcome. It is one of the most well written songs by Chiwoniso and her singing enhances the beauty of it. Vanorapa defines the Chiwoniso sound many have grown to love. The song is about the ancestral powers that we might not know about but play a huge part in our well-being as the healers of society ills. It is a deep thought of how history defined the future to be part of it. Matsotsi touches on greed and cultural decay as money has taken over the necessities of life. It boarders between the differences of the sociatal hierarchy and the envy associated with financial acquisitions. Matsotsi is a Shona word meaning 'criminals'. As a Zimbabwean, this song made me ponder on the state of our nation and realise how affected the average man is on a day to day basis. This one explores the depths of Chiwoniso's passion as a musician singing about issues that affect so many people worldwide.

The album also offers uplifting songs like Wakashinga, the jazzy Listen To The Breeze, an emotional track about rising from a slump, and the vibrant Nguva Yekufara which is about having happiness in life. Chiwoniso sings about how the time for happiness is more vital and important to the soul than times of sadness as well as telling us how God facilitates our happiness in His being. This one is one of the best songs on the album. Kurima is the first track i heard off this album a couple of years back. I particularly enjoy the fusion of mbira and the piano, the song has me snapping my fingers more often than i realise! The emphasis of the track is on the ability we have to fend for ourselves through various means and encourages the people to work hard to see out each day successfully.

The beauty of Chiwoniso's music is in being able to capture an audience stretching from young to old and even moreso going beyond cultural barriers. I believe she has what it takes to continue entertaining thousands for many more years to come. Rebel Woman is possibly Chiwoniso's best offering yet (without taking anything away from her previous albums which were very well done). For Chiwoniso fans, there is no disappointment here! This one is a must buy for anyone interested in mbira music and those who want something new. Impressive to say the least.

Get the album here: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7727674

Cover Art - 8/10
Music - 9/10
Technical Sound - 9/10
'I Like' Factor - 8/10

Madiz - Rhumba Plus (2007)

2009-02-01T23:59:00.000-08:00

Madiz rose to prominence through his work on other people's songs other than his own in the initial stages of his career which started around 2003. For those who do not know, Madiz is the man behind the popular hooks by fellow Gweru artist Nasty Trixx from his debut album Kupinda Newe. He has also featured on Maskiri's track Ngaakoreswe as well as Diana Samkange's Chingave Chii from the compilation Bhodho Size one. Before releasing his smash hit single Amina featuring Abisha Makombe in 2006, Madiz was part of the Baseline Records collective, Souls of Africa who had the popular song Madam Chamunoda.

Rhumba Plus is the exciting debut album by Madiz produced by legendary Gweru producer, Tony G. It has undoubtedly put Madiz on the elite list of some of Zimbabwe's best Urban Groovers. The album opens up with the exciting Kazevezeve featuring Abisha Makombe which adopts a kizomba zouk type beat but with a lovely Zimbabwean twist and it changes mid way not once but twice. Basically it is 3 different beats for one song! The track is about kazevezeve kemwoyo waMadiz (the whisper of his heart). This is one of the 3 songs from this album that made it into the Top 100 of 2008 charts on Power FM.The only part i did not like about this song was the fact that towards the end when it switches to the rhumba beat he uses the lyrics he used on Ndanakirwa and Amina. I would have loved to hear something a bit different, maybe more creative. I still sing along to the song every time i play it but amana tipewiwo maSerious!

Vhenenziya is a dance tune that deserves a chance on the airwaves because i am very sure it will cause headaches wherever it is played. What i like about the production by Tony G is that he makes his music very unique and does not try to do what other people do. This particular track is about finding the love of your life in bed with someone other than yourself. Considering the content, the song is rather enjoyable! That afrohouse feel definitely has me dancing away in no time. Throughout the album Madiz experiements with different tempos which makes him use his voice in unpredictable ways. It is without doubt that he is blessed with a very good voice. He shows this on the song Ndafarira which is a good love song. Ndanakirwa is possibly the most popular song from this album which is a rhumba piece that has been responsible for many sweaty bodies on dancefloors around the country and abroad. It is the kind of song that makes you realise that Urban Grooves has evolved from the typical computer generated music that was resented at first, into a much more exciting genre.

All in all this album is a great listen. Concerning the lows i mentioned before, Ndanakirwa also has a remix version which was ok though i would have preferred a completely new song altogether. Rhumba Plus also contains the other hit song Murume Wangu as well as the ever so popular Amina. I think for a debut album Madiz has done a good job and one can only wait until the next album to hear what else he has to offer. Go and get a copy of this one especially if you like Urban Grooves, Afro House, Zouk or Rhumba because it is all slotted in there.

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 8/10
Mixing & Mastering - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 6.5/10

Kazevezeve

Winky D - Vanhu Vakuru (2008)

2009-01-30T03:51:00.000-08:00

Winky D is one of dancehall's most prominent artists in Zimbabwe and he has been gaining momentum from the early days. He rose to prominence on the Luckspin Riddim in 2004 with MuRasta which became an anthem from his release entitled War. From there it has been pretty much uphill for the soft spoken young star. I really should have done this review a few months back but ndaingoti ndichaita lol. Back to the business of the day!

Vanhu Vakuru came with much expectancy given that the dancehall circuit has been ignited of late with releases from other contenders like King Labash, Jusa, Kin Shaddy, MC Mighty, Trinta and many others in the past year. The title track is on the Dragon Neck Riddim by Eye Spy Entertainment headed by DJ Tinah. The riddim is not particularly to my liking but the song by Winky D is the best of the lot on the riddim. Barika is a song to remember with lyrics like:

'Samambo Solomon ndinorima mabhebhi,

ndozopisa vaya vanoda kujima mabhebhi,

ndichibigga vaya vanovhima mabhebhi,

kwete kurohwa nehana ozopima mabhebhi,

neveClass kuratidza kuziva mabhebhi,

kuita small house kuratidza kuchiva mabhebhi,

Officer mirai kutikitivha bhebhi,

sungai ngochani inogaira ingava bhebhi.'

I could not stop laughing in enjoyment after listening to this song and it sums up most songs on the album. Ndiwe Une Yese is a love song about a girl who has got it all. It is one of the slower songs on the album but still exciting. Things are very different from this man's eyes and he conveys his feelings in a way i have not heard before. Vanosema Rasta is fast paced with an energy that features on many of the tracks. Winky D has this sort of ghetto talk (no pun intended) that just makes his music so undeniably Zimbabwean and different. His translation of our everyday talk and situations into music is a talent not many possess. It was great to hear the inclusion of the hit song from a few years back called Bhutsu which is about smelly feet and shoes (i know hahaha). I liked Chaputika which is like his announcement to everyone of his intention to stay on top for a long time and that this album is no fluke (which i certainly agree with).

There has been talk of the intense message of 'violence' on this album. I think for starters it depends on how you would like to look at it but it is no lie that a good number of the songs involve lyrics focusing on beef and physical altercations. The biggest hit from this album, Rokesheni which has been on the charts for months (yes, months!) is about the stand offs between people who live in different high density neighbourhoods around Harare. He talks about their different strengths when it comes to 'hood politics'. About the same content applies for his latest hit, Vanotaura which has only worsened the claims that his music is too violent. Other songs in the same light are Sutu Yezvibhakera, Dzungu (on the Doom Dust Riddim), Usazvifambise Mbiri and Maprati.

His flow becomes predictable after a while yet you still look forward to hearing to what else he has to say. To be honest, i was tempted to quote so many lyrics from this album but i would fill pages doing that. Most of the tracks here are top notch and dancehall fans as well as Winky D of old will enjoy this album beyond doubt. This soccer loving 25 year old is on top of his game by all means. I am looking forward to hearing his next album which he is currently working on. If you like Zim Dancehall i suggest you get this album as soon as yesterday. Urban Grooves fans might take a liking to this as well, i would buy it just for the enjoyable lyrics. Great work!

Music - 7/10

Technical Sound - 6/10

'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Flavour P - Original Zimbo (2008)

2009-01-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

Flavour P was relatively unknown until he took the internet by storm dropping a number of songs in 2008 that were well received by the Zimbabwean community with access to his material. The Original Zimbo album is co-produced by Jusa of ABRA fame. I hear that Flavour P has 2 albums prior to this offering which i am yet to hear and would have loved to hear them to have a bar to use as a comparison on how he has grown over the years.

The first proper single from his third album Original Zimbo, Ndirikuda Kufara which features Zimbabwe's Kora Award Nominee Jusa Dementor opens up this journey and it does not disappoint. For the first song on the CD I can definitely say it is a great opener. The man is calling upon everyone to enjoy his music because he will not be happy if the listeners arent happy as well. I am sure this song is already a party anthem and for the Zimbabwean music scene can easily become a hit song. One Family is an interesting track about togetherness and has a catchy bass with pentatonic rhythms that are popular among African music. I think this song needed a bit more vocal control on some parts to convey the emotion intended by Flavour P. Another alternative could have been to get a singer to help out to give the song that finesse it needed. It is still an inspirational piece that calls for all of us to love each other. Great message indeed.

The title track Original Zimbo is on the massively popular riddim by Jusa, Konzeresa Riddim. On this track Flavour P flexes his flow with an energetic delivery. He praises all Zimbabweans and names some of the most prominent Zimbabweans as a way of showing us all that we have successful people among ourselves. It is a good song about Zimbabwean pride and worth a listen. I also enjoyed the song Amai dedicated to the love of mothers. It is on one of the riddims by Jusa and sounds like a Jamaican production. I think of the whole album this song was the most well done from the lyrics to the production and kudos to the 2 guys for their work on this song. Would make any mother proud! Unondivhiringa is another song on this album that has a great chorus sung by one Dubblin who does a phenominal job. This is Urban grooves at its very best. For the sake of positive criticism, hoping Flavour P will get a chance to read this, you can tell his verses on this song are different from some of his songs done more recently. He has improved a lot and the verses do not do justice to the work done by Dubblin. It also sounds like the song was recorded in different places and the vocals mixed by different people because for some reason Dubblin's parts sound more 'plush' than those done by Flavour P. I really wish they can redo this song because it is a great love song and Flavour P can do much better. Another song which is a great Urban Grooves love song is Mwana Uripo. I particularly enjoyed his witty lyrics on the song Uri Razor like 'Teki teki saMahobho nehusiku, teki teki kunge bhurugwa nebhandi ... iwe uri cream ndofunga unotapira kupfuura Sun Jam, ... this is not a dream, what is your name?' If he really sits down and takes time i have no doubt he would have a hit song called Teki Teki right now. On the witty side comes Une Power which has funny lyrics.

Original Zimbo has some enjoyable tracks and Urban Grooves fans will find something they like. I think first port of call for Flavour P is to work on quality before quantity. 20 tracks is fair and fine but i would prefer 10 exceptional tracks given the preference. This is so because you can tell that there is quite a time line between the songs and quality differs throughout from vocals to the instruments. Considering that now he has moved to the States it would be great to hear if he can employ the services of a professional recording studio and sound engineer to improve on his quality because i think he has what it takes but needs to take time on his projects to give listeners the best he can. I also noticed that the man did not sound comfortable on dancehall riddims as he does on more Urban Grooves inclined instrumentals so he might want to stick to pure Urban Grooves next time. I did not like Ndinokuda because it sounded like he just took the beat from P-Squares song Temptation and added a kick and changed the tempo a little. Not a good look bro! Seriously! All in all this album is quite ok and when Flavour is up to it he does a good job. This one would be suited to fans of artists like Nasty Trixx, Stunner and Maskiri.

Get the album here: http://www.zimvibes.com/index.php?ind=reviews&op=entry_view&iden=478

Cover Art - 5/10 (Good pic but big let down on the font)
Music - 6/10 (Many highs as well as lows)
Mixing and Mastering - 3/10
'I Like Factor' - 5/10

Snaka Dread - Musikana Wandinoda Video

2009-01-18T01:24:00.000-08:00

Zimbabwean dancehall sensation Snaka Dread announces his entry onto the music scene with the video for the smash hit Musikana Wandinoda from his debut album Black Warrior. The hit single is on the Snake Bite Riddim produced by Mutare's own Alfire. Great song, great video!

Various Artists - Walala Rewire (2009)

2009-01-14T07:11:00.001-08:00

******Review coming soon!!!******

Kudakwashe (DKR) - Mambo/Fallen King new music video

2009-01-12T06:48:00.000-08:00

Kudakwashe Musasiwa of DKR recently released a video of his song Mambo/Fallen King off the Kudakwashe half of the last DKR release. As decribed by blaztv,

"An interesting hiphop allegory fused with Zimbabwean Mbira Dzevadzimu (Instruments of the Ancestors)about the Fallen King David... which as the story goes on, blurs into similar sounding themes that are affecting our current crop of "Kings" in the Motherland. The play of words and characters (like Bathsheba, the coveted wife of another man) symbolising our "Kings" fascination with all things regal and foreign including money, religion & processions. A great piece of music and poetry!"

Mambo/Fallen King (Kudakwashe 2007)

Alexio Kawara - Kana (2008)

2008-12-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

Alexio Kawara has been one of the most exciting artists of the urban generation and has continually transformed over the years with a string of hit songs and successful projects spanning over 8 years. Alexio rose to prominence at the turn of the millennium during the days of Delani Makhalima's Shamiso Entertainment alongside artists like the vivacious Plaxedes Wenyika, David Chifunyise, Major Playaz and Sanii Makhalima. His hit song Ndinomhanya was a smashing success on the then Radio 3 charts. Long gone are the days but Alexio is still doing what he does best: singing.

The appropriately titled, Kana, which means Fourth is Alexio's fourth offering after Usazondisiya (2001), Rwiyo Rwangu (2003) and Pfimbi Yangu (2006). On Kana, Alexio totally switched gears and went in a new direction given his earlier releases. This album saw the switch from computer generated music to a predominantly live sound which has a seductively jazzy twist to it. The album already boats of 3 hit songs receiving far more than generous airplay on radio only 3 months after release and by any level is doing very well. Nyaya Yerudo is one of the songs doing well and it is a love song where he promises the girl he loves everything he can give. Lyrically it sounds somewhat like a continuation of Chibvugubvugu.On the album, there are 2 versions of this song and both are equally brilliant with one more inclined to a smooth reggae vibe and the other more to jazz. Karwiyo Aka has been one of the most appreciated songs on the album in which he proclaims the song is for his loved one because the lyrics are all about her. It also has a wonderful video currently airing regularly.

I could not help but marvel at Alexio's poetic lyricism, surely he is a notch or two (maybe even three) above most Urban Grooves artists in the industry. His albums mostly touch on the same topics concerning Inspiration, love, music and parents but he still manages to skillfully present his music with a breath of fresh air. Umu is set to become one of the anthems of the 2009 and come next Valentine's Day im sure many will have this song dedicated to them. It is one of the most honest songs i have heard in a long time. I have to add that Alexio's backing vocalists were nothing short of brilliant throughout the album. Famba is an exciting track that encourages people to live life to the fullest and use their talents as best they can. It has that africaness that reminds me of the Mateo of old with his hit songs like As'hambe Africa and Pamuhacha. Undoubtedly the most talked about song on Kana is Shaina which features Andy Brown. What a song! If there was any song that should lead Zimbabwean in their quest to rise against the odds, this is the song. It is simply a masterpiece. Alexio sings about the will to go on each day when we see such wonderful blessings like the flowing rivers, the light the sun brings and so much more. I believe this songs is one that we will remember for years to come. It's a must hear and contender for song of the year.

All in all this has to be one of the most brilliant offerings by a young Zimbabwean after a massive year with some outstanding efforts from other artists. This album gives Alexio the all important edge because of its maturity and quality. I also understand that this is Alexio's first international release and it is more than deserving. The move to live instruments has worked well for Alexio and his versatility makes his music appealing to people of all walks of life and ages. It has seen him work with guitar guru Clive 'Mono' Mkundu among other greats. He still maintains that 'urban' feel in his music to a good extent. If you haven't gotten yourself a copy of this album you are missing out on some of Zimbabwe's finest music. Go and get one!

Cover Art - 3/10
Music - 8/10
Mixing & Mastering - 8/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Listen to the audio on the track Shaina below

2BG - Wandizadzisa (2006)

2008-11-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

2BG has been around for about 6 or so years and have survived the test of time and even internal changes within their group over the years. It goes without saying but the first 2BG girl Rutendo left a lot to be desired as a singer (no pun intended) and her replacement Diana Samkange is by far the better singer which has seen the groups songs improve by a great deal. Now that ive let that off my chest lets go ahead with the review :-)

Wandizadzisa is 2BGs third album and is produced by TBA The Playboy under Chigutiro Records. This album starts off with the subtle Ndibate which is a good song and is as expected, a love song. Not that i have anything against love songs but it has become a bit too easy to predict what most urban groovers will give us lyrically. On the other hand its hard to imagine that they could sing about much else really. Chandaida is stereotypically inclined to the urban sound that was very popular around 2004 with the introduction of Chamhembe which shook the music scene. The song is rather enjoyable and would easily become a radio hit. I think that these three make a good group with an understanding not many would have that is required to make such songs together.

My gem on this album is Basa Rangu which talks about singing being the job they do. The trio tells all the listeners that nomatter what job you do as long as you accept what you do and love doing it then you have done what you are meant to. The song is so well done and is almost like a sing along. I also like the fact that it gives a new edge to the lyrical content of the group. The remake of their earlier hit Famba Zvakanaka was just brilliant, remixes do not come any better i tell you! The song was slowed down and the instrumentation was pure and very artistic. I fell in love with this song. The first version was good (maybe ok) for its day but this one is brilliant. This is one of the few times i agree with remaking your own song years on after the initial effort. I must say the trio has improved overall, their second album was mostly produced by TBA, Take 5ive and Roki and had a bit more versatility with a more party type influence. This time around they slow things down and try to do more ballads that would be good if you are relaxing at home maybe taking a drive in your car.

A lot of the songs have the acoustic guitar and i appreciate what the current crop of urban artists are trying to do in involving as many live instruments as they can to enhance their sound. It is a good step towards countrywide acceptance as a genre for anoe and the future. 2BG leave little to fault on this offering. Both Bloodshow and Kevin Ashley have matured as the years have unfolded. This group remains in the game as one of the groups to beat with Wandizadzisa. Other songs that make this album tick are Chiedza, Pandimire and Tsvarakadenga.

Cover Art - 1/10 (As bad as Stunner's cover if not worse)
Music - 7/10
Mixing and Mastering - 6/10
'I Like' Factor - 6/10

Audius Mtawarira - Day Like This (2007)

2008-11-13T21:18:00.000-08:00

Audius is one of the most celebrated Zimbabwean artists and producers of his generation. Besides being a huge success within his own country, internationally he is a recognised songwriter and producer with award winning success for a number of artists including Australia's Delta Goodrem and more recently Australian Idol winner Jessica Mauboy. His smooth ballads have won him many a fan in Zimbabwe having released 4 albums to date.

The man has been back on the scene with the album 'Day like This' released earlier in the year. Audius maintains his formula throughout his albums with predominantly English lyrics and 1 or 2 Shona songs to complete the projects. A point to note is that every song Audius has sung in Shona became a chart topper in Zimbabwe. This offering opens up with What If featuring Sean Ray and it largely defines the sound you will hear throughout the album. It is a smooth yet bouncy RnB tune about 2 people falling in love with each other while involved with other partners. The production is A grade and would compete on any international bar. You can tell that the sound is heavily American influenced like we have known Audius' music to be over the years. The foxy Tegan Rogers features on Limelight Living and thet title track Day Like This with her sweet vocals. The latter has a video which has done well shot on the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The song is beautiful and the duet with Tegan is all about an undeniable musical chemistry. The song is about relationship problems which urges couples not to just give up on love when the days are not so good because such days will come and go in relationships.

Audius' style is comparable to the RnB greats like Joe Thomas, Brian McKnight, Silk, and Boyz II Men with a modern twist. One In A Million is one of the songs of the album and will touch many hearts especially the ladies. As the title suggests it compares the lady in Audius' life to the rest who simply dont match up. I cannot help but wonder if Audius was going through a rough patch with someone close to his heart because a lot of songs are about troubles in relationships or love gone wrong. Maybe it is a coincidence, only he knows. The Problem featuring Sean Ray reminds me of songs like So Sick and Let Me love U with the mellow beat and powerful lyrics. I liked the heavily acoustic J's Letter, the beat was solid and very catchy and has 'RnB hit' written all over it given a chance. The same goes for Bruises which is a very sad song that touches on the very sensitive issue of domestic violence. From a Zimbabwean perspective my song of the album is Muchandiona which is a duet with Angela who does a brilliant job. This lovely song is already doing well on the airwaves and is about a child who is telling their parents that they will make it despite who might not have faith in them. It will definitely strike a chord with many Zimbabweans because success is an everyday topic and a successful child is always the pride of their parents.

Day Like This is a winner and puts Audius well ahead of the competition. It is an album that gives RnB the much needed push after a quiet year without too many great albums out there. The man surely knows how to make great music and it is no wonder why he is the current super producer in Australia. For those who love Audius this album does not disappoint at all and for those wanting to try something new this is one of Zimbabwe's finest at his very best.

Get the album @ http://www.inertia-music.com/catalogue/48618/Audius/Day_Like_This/

Cover Art - 8/10 (very professionally done)
Music - 7/10
Mixing & Mastering - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 6/10

Day Like This featuring Tegan Rogers

Zimbabwe loses a legend - R.I.P Fortune Muparutsa

2008-10-29T23:42:00.000-07:00

It was with great sadness that we at XBC Jumpoff received the news of the passing of Fortune Muparutsa. There are few who possess such talent or greatness. We never managed to get to know Fortune personally but we still adored his work. A year ago we played the song Dream Girl on one of our podcasts and it had everything a hit needed: a good sound, mature production, brilliant vocals and touching lyrics. Besides that the sound was sure to have mass appeal. At the time very few people knew that Fortune was making a comeback as a singer after a near 10 year hiatus mostly concentrating on producing for other artists.

Fortune was well respected in the music circles in Zimbabwe. Many artists we came across always expressed their desire to work with him, though for most, his prices were unaffordable(but soooooooooo worth it!). If you wanted an assured hit Fortune was the go-to man. This is evidenced by all the hits he produced like In My Dreams by Innocent Utsiwegota, Kumba Kwenyu by Alexio, Boy U Got To Know by Tia & Come To Party by Major Playaz to mention a few. He was also a mentor to many many people in the industry for example Flash Gordon, Sanii Makhalima, John Jay and other people he closely worked with. The great thing about the songs he produced was they were all of such a high standard and could easily compete internationally by any bar. When i listen to Dzimbaremabwe by V.O.L.U.M.E i still think it eclipses many Hip Hop songs produced even to this day. He really impressed when he worked with Alexio on the song Kumba Kwenyu. The original which Alexio had recorded elsewhere was hard to stomach even with Alexio's great voice. Production quality was poor and at best it typified a sub-standard backyard recording with poor mixing and no mastering at all. Fortune then laid his hands on it and redid the whole song from the production to recording to the mixing then the mastering. The end product made me wonder if it was a different song altogether. That is just one example of the finesse and ability Fortune had.

Many describe him as not having anything close to a bad bone in his body and a very energetic and humble fellow. Us as fans knew him through his music and we loved what we knew and still do. To hear of his death hurt us as if we actually knew him. That is the impact his music had on us. His passing is a sad loss for Zimbabwe, but God made his decision and Fortune is now in a better place. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, we share your pain. Fortune Muparutsa will forever be loved and remembered.

We have done a Tribute show in his honour.
Get the show @:
http://www.xbcjumpoff.mypodcast.com or

http://sharebee.com/ecd48729
Filename: Tribute Podcast - R.I.P Fortune 'W.O.FMan' Muparutsa....mp3 Size: 39.69 MB

Rest In Peace.

Wangu ndega

Acoustic - Sanii Makhalima (2008)

2008-10-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

One of the most successful Urban Grooves artists of all time is back with a sizzling album in 2008 after the widely popular Ndofefeterwa. Sanii Makhalima needs no introduction at all following the footsteps of older brother Delani with a very colourful musical career of his own. In recent years we have witnessed his dynamic touch as a producer, sound engineer, song-writer, instrumentalist and singer.

Acoustic is Sanii Makhalima's third album which he mostly produced himself. The title of the album is influenced by the dominance of the acoustic guitar in most of the songs, in a way as a signature of the whole project. This project is a testimony of Sanii's amazing talent both as an artist and producer. Sweet Lady featuring Leonard Mapfumo opens up this piece and it is a song which will go far. With lyrics like 'Maziso ake anopenya senyeredzi' ladies will simply drop to their knees with love after giving this song a listen! Leonard's verse was one of the best he has ever written and he adds weight to this collaboration. Iwewe is a very beautiful song and Sanii picks up from where he left off on Ndofefeterwa. This song is enough for me to call him the king of ballads when it comes to Zimbabwean R'n'B . This does come with stiff competition from artists like Taku Paradza and Alexio Kawara.

One of my favourite cuts is Ngiyakuthanda, it is heart stopping and the rich Ndebele lyrics are mind-blowing. Handimbokusiya has a lovely piano and this song can make your lady cry once the lyrics sink in. I think the great thing about the music on this album is it is not far fetched or too experimental. Sanii has kept his formula and has improved on the quality of his production together with his vocal delivery. It is working well for him. For love songs Sanii is definitely the go-to man. I was surprised by 12 Minute Prayer which portrays Sanii in a very very different light as he talked to 'The Man upstairs'. He asks for forgiveness for all his sins and actually mentions a bit of what he has experienced. It is touching. Even though i have heard Pauri Ndaperera for a while now it still sounded fresh and it's a great inclusion to the album.

I think this is one of the finest productions i have heard out of Zimbabwe. This album can compete internationally by all standards and i would love to see one of Sanii's videos make it on Channel O to open doors for him. For the level of talent he possesses we have a lot more coming our way. I was surprised by the inclusion of Vulela & Usadaro which helped him rise to fame. I love these songs but comparing the quality of his new songs and these, unfortunately they don't quite match up. I do understand that he most likely did it for fans who might have missed these earlier hits. Maybe remixes would have been better, at least that is my opinion. All said and done, Acoustic is a beautiful album, possibly Sanii's best release yet.

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

Chamhembe Revolution - Take 5ive & Various Artists (2008)

2008-10-09T01:32:00.000-07:00

The mention of the word 'chamhembe' is associated with Zimbabwe's most dominant crop of Urban Groove artists in the past 5 years. Most of the artists have moved on to other recording studios but still strongly associate with the name itself. Chamhembe Revolution is the third compilation out of That Squad Studios a.k.a Chamhembe.

The 'revolution' is all about reinventing Chamhembe without the Roki's, the ExQue's, the Leonard Mapfumo's and so on. The album intro is a recap of some of Chamhembe's most popular offerings like Waenda by Tererai Mugwadi, Nyeredzi by Taurai, Mazirudo by ExQue featuring Adonis and Wakaenda by Ngonie Kambarami to mention a few. Take it as the explanation that Chamhembe is a new crew altogether. The production combo of Take 5ive and TBA is also done and dusted so Take 5ive is soley responsible for this project. The opening track is Baby Don't Go by Kevie which is a smooth RnB ballad about a man who wronged a girl and is asking her to stay. The song is already very popular with a video to the remix featuring The Untouchables produced by Nqo a.k.a Encore. It can be easily mistaken for an American RnB song by Neyo. It's quite a good track.

My song of the album is Nhasi KuneParty by Alexio featuring producer Take 5ive which is a great party song where Alexio gives us his smooth vocals on a bouncy beat. I thought it would be a bit out of Alexio's depth considering that it is more of a dancehall beat but he did well to still maintain his style that many have grown to love. I also liked Hondo and Zvinhu 10 by Stunner. Stunner is definitely one of the best Urban rappers around and his style and wittiness remain mostly unmatched by anyone in the genre. Zvinhu 10 is about the 10 things a certain girl does for Stunner that make him love her. The skits on the album are not as funny as i expected and that's no surprise seeing that Inspectah Fakasimbi (Carlos the Entertainer) is no longer part of the crew. One track that is set to do very well is Inumber Yami by DJ Fizo which is a great kwaito/house track. Nothing much to the song in terms of lyrics but it's great for the dancefloor and parties.

I like the diverse genres shown by the artists and they are testimony to Take 5ive's production prowess. Look out for the track Mangwana by Kevie, i hear its doing very well on the airwaves. This album is by far nowhere near the Chamhembe of old and i dont believe it will make much of an impact like Chamhembe Volume 1 and Chamhembe Plus. There are no real exceptional tracks but the plus is most are definitely listenable. I think Take 5ive is trying a new formula and should maybe try to recreate the success of the older projects. I was disappointed to say the least because i expected more.

Music - 6/10
Mixing & Mastering - 6/10
'I Like' factor - 5/10

Kevie featuring The Untouchables - Baby Don't Go

Move To Da Beat - MC Mighty(2008)

2008-10-01T23:26:00.000-07:00

MC Mighty's album has been a long awaited debut since he gave us the single Waa Dem Want on the ever so popular Insecurity Riddim produced by Zimbabwe's own dancehall star Melvin C. Since then he has released more singles like Gyal Wyne which was a club hit in and around Ireland followed by Jah By My Side on the Konzeresa Riddim (the first official Riddim compilation from Zimbabwe).

After giving it a listen i can say this album is energetic and the title 'Move To Da Beat' is appropriate. This energy is prevalent throughout the album pretty much from start to finish. The opening self-titled track 'MC Mighty' has a thumping bassline and a catchy flute to lead. The singjay proclaims his intention to enter our minds and dancefloors in order to stay and give you something different. In short MC Mighty announces his arrival. One thing is for sure, his style is definitely different from the typical Zimbabwean dancehall artist. To make a good impact and carve a name for yourself you do need to give people what they do not hear everyday. The title track Move To Da Beat is a bouncy track and can do well on the airwaves given a chance. Having said that, it applies to many tracks on this album.

Bruk Out is a true party tune and i would like to see it do well on the charts. It is guaranteed to make many many people dance. The ability to hold a track without a collaboration is what i like about MC Mighty, he can do that. The collaborations on this album are top notch like the mellow Summer Vibe featuring the lovely Jennifer Hurley. If ever he decides to do a video this one should be a contender. Miss Hurley is an immense talent and gives this song an exceptional edge. Hold Ya Head Up is a great song which sets to inspire anyone and everyone who might be going through a tough time to stay strong. I particularly like this song because of the message, the lyrical content is great as a message to the younger people of today who need the guidance. Same goes for the gem Why where MC Mighty raises some very serious questions about the world we live in.

I think the album is well balanced and production-wise is definitely high class. Also watch out for Let's Party featuring Jennifer Hurley & Rave It Up. I think One and Only was a bit 'off' vocally, it really did not tickle my fancy and maybe the chorus would have been best sung by someone else. This album is definitely of commercial appeal and will catch the attention of the younger generation. The type of music is dancehall with a mixture of hip hop beats and a pop influence that makes it easy to cross boarders reaching out to people of different backgrounds. On a Zimbabwean scale, it is one of the best Zim dancehall albums around.

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 7/10
Mixing & Mastering - 7/10
I Like Factor - 7/10

Get the album here:
http://www.payloadz.com/go/sip/?id=503981

Return To Life -Rassie Ai(2008)

2008-09-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

Return To Life is the official full-length debut offering by one third of DKR, Takura Makoni known in the music circles as Rassie Ai. Having been in the music industry for many years since the days of The Future Compilation by Delani Makhalima, it has been a long time coming and definitely an album overdue.

This album is definitely in a different class compared to previous efforts by Rassie Ai and marks a significant evolution in the man's musical approach. It boasts of a sound untapped by many with undeniable African energy carried through the musical composition. The opening track, Blue Steel World is an insight into the exploits of humans in developing the world , creating an imbalance in different societies stripping them of pure forms of living they had prior to that. This song is an introduction to a world of thoughts through the eyes of Rassie Ai. Smiles & Cries is definitely a gem and is like a personal Rassie Ai diary about inspiration to live. It talks about the difficulty of life in our day to day and how what we live for raises us from those downs. It is my favourite track on this album.

Rassie Ai openly vents his frustration at the hypocrisy of life and the political system in place. As is in the song Free To Breathe he picks up from the lyrical intensity of Blue Steel World. The emphasis on reality of the world is and what it could be is synonimous throughout this project. Step Over Them(video below), has received a lot of airplay and exposure as the lead single off this album. I instantly connected with its 'Zimbabweaness' and the call to pride ourselves in our homeland. I also enjoyed the title track Return To Life which calls us all to enrich our lives with the ernest purity of love and simplicity. To describe Rassie Ai based on this album i would say he is a soldier for the righteous cause of the African spirit.

I think some people might find it hard to understand this album due to the 'patois' inclination in his lyrics and delivery. It's something that might take some getting used to and i had to give it a few listens to really have a more complete idea of what was being sung in the songs. Believe it or not i am still trying to find a proper classification for this genre. I usually like my albums to have more tracks but this 8 track journey is straight to the point. This is no longer the Rassie Ai of old and he is more mature, has far more controlled delivery with a twist of Bob Marley influence.

Cover Art - 9/10(one of the best i have seen)
Music - 8/10(mature and refreshingly different)
Mixing & Mastering - 8/10
'I Like' Factor - 7/10

Get the album here: http://www.kynrecords.com

Step Over Them

Backstage - Shayndingz(2007)

2008-09-09T01:44:00.000-07:00

If you were/are an Urban Grooves fan you probably remember the 2003 hit single 'Letter To My Ex' which became an anthem on Radio 3 (now PowerFM) from the album Rudo Rwedu. That was the introduction to ladies man Shayne Ndingindwayo a.k.a Shayndingz. Since then it has been pretty much uphill for the Urban Grooves artist. He is back with a new album, Backstage, currently doing rounds on the airwaves.

Backstage is his sophomore offering and seals his stake in a well decorated career spanning over 5 years now. The album is under Chigutiro Records of which Shayndingz is a stakeholder and is produced by Sipho 'TBA The Playboy' Mkhuhlane. The lead single Celebrity featuring Diana & Maskiri has already done very well on TV(video on Youtube) and radio, despite the controversial lyrics ascerting the beef between him and fellow artist Stunner. The song is about how our music 'celebrities' really live in Zimbabwe proclaiming that popularity on radio doesn't quite represent material wealth or day to day living. The title track Backstage is a smooth jam featuring Tererai Mugwadi where Shayndingz talks about life as an artist, his journey and how he enjoys 'the life'. He maintains the same laid back confident flow he has popularised only now with a lot more drive in his delivery.

This time around he comes back with a level of maturity and this is prevalent in songs like Gogo featuring Nox. The song is a dedication to his Grandmother focusing on her inspiration and guidance in his life. Nox did a great job on the hook, it is one of the best songs on the album. Ndinokuda featuring Nyasha is a song for his daughter explaining so much about Shayndingz' personal life as if it were an open diary. What i like about the song is that it is exactly what our young artists need to do more: sing songs from the heart that are part of our lives daily but not only limited to love. I appreciated that in these songs he let us know more about himself and really used the music to express his inner feelings. Of all the songs on the album, Iwe Ndiwe featuring Ngonie Kambarami is a cut above the rest. The beat is infectious and Ngonie totally ripped the chorus. It is a straight-to-the-point love song about a girl who makes him feel complete and he proclaims more than love for her. The song is a certified hit.

Shayndingz has definitely improved and still relies on the same formula of great collaborations to reduce monotony and add substance coupled with versatility. It is safe to say Backstage is a balanced album and maintains the same consistency throughout. However, i think now that we(and he) know exactly what Shayndingz can do and is comfortable with, i would like to see him step out of his zone a little, like he did with the song Dai Tiri Tose on his previous offering, to give us a new dimension to his music. This serves as a let down because the songs do become predictable in the end. It can be argued that lyrically he has no real 'depth' compared to other rappers. This may be true in its own right but to his credit for what he does, he does well and keeps it simple. I think he has so many hit songs because at times fans do not want complex music... they simply want to enjoy what they hear which is what he gives them. Quality-wise the standard is good, among some of the better Urban Grooves productions i have heard in a while.

I think the ones to enjoy this offering most are those who like mellow RnB-influenced Urban Grooves with a laid back rap. You will probably also dig this if you like artists such as ExQue, P.Diddy and David Chifunyise. It's worth having in your collection!

Cover Art - 6/10(Pretty good, different but points lost for the spelling mistake)
Music - 6.5/10
Mixing and Mastering - 7/10
'I Like Factor' - 7/10

Celebrity Remix featuring Diana & Maskiri

Nox - Chapter 3 (2007)

2008-09-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Nox is a household name in Zimbabwean Urban Grooves with 3 albums under his belt to date. Having risen to prominence in 2004 after a well worked single in Maria which was produced and also released on the compilation by Roy & Royce entitled New Discoveries, Nox has gone from strength to strength. Maria also featured on his debut album, Wandipengesa (2005) which did very well on the charts. He has featured on all Chigutiro compilations with hit songs like Chigutiro Anthem and many more.

Chapter 3 is the last offering from Nox which boasts of a star studded cast from the Chigutiro Family and others. The hit song of the album is Ndinoshuwa featuring Leonard Mapfumo. This song has been well received by the Zimbabwean community and the video gets regular airtime on national TV. It is a smooth song with some exceptional vocals from Nox singing about missing parental love after losing his parents. It is a touching journey about growing up with relatives and lacking that influence to succeed but otherwise leaving it in God’s hands. This song is definitely one that will go further than being a good listen. Sanii Makhalima’s production prowess is beyond phenomenal on this song.

I am particularly intrigued by the song Africa which has 2 different beats on the one song. I think Nox has a far more mature approach to music than most urban artists and can comfortably sing about other topics other than love. Africa is an influential piece about Africa’s potential which is yet to be tapped. It encourages people to get up and work hard to realize their dreams. Washanduka is a lovely song with a beat that will make you rewind the song over and over again, even though the song is a bit sad being about love gone wrong with a partner no longer interested in the other, it is still quite enjoyable. I have always maintained that Nox does not have the strongest singing voice but he knows exactly what his voice can do and he does it brilliantly and sweetly. I also liked the song featuring Urban Grooves prettiest lady Diana Samkange called Nerudo which sounds heavily house influenced. Nox also did the unexpected and engages in an RnB rendition of James Chimombe’s hit song Kudakwashe in which he features Blush and Trevor Dongo.

This album is littered with hits and it is not hard to see why. Songs like Musadaro adopt a zouk kizomba feel that has been dominant in French, Portuguese and Spanish speaking nations across the world. The gem has a Caribbean feel that is nothing short of addictive. Other songs to watch out for are Sarudzai, the TBA produced Dai Muripo featuring Alexio and the very very well done Nguva Ichauya featuring the sweet voice of Cindy Raw. This album marks Nox as one of Zimbabwe’s best urban vocalists at the moment and looks like he is not giving up his spot anytime soon! This one is definitely worth the buy if you are into RnB influenced Urban Grooves from people like Alexio, Ngonie, Sanii Makhalima and Trevor Dongo.

Music - 7/10
Mixing & Mastering - 6.5/10 (not uniform, you can tell songs were recorded in different studios by different people)
'I Like' Factor - 6/10

Zhizha/Time To Sow(2008) - Willis Wataffi

2008-08-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

From the glory days of Africa Revenge as a Bulawayo based afro-pop/kwaito outfit with Chengetai and Mehluli 'Tazz' Moyo, Willis Wataffi Kachambwa (affectionately known as Willis Wataffi in music circles) has come a long long way and seen major success as a Zimbabwean musical genius. After Chengetai left Africa Revenge to pursue a successful solo career in South Africa, the remaining 2 left for Harare to carry the Afrika Revenge torch and gave us one of the most successful Afro-pop/Jazz albums to be released in the country, Qaya Muzik (Music From Home). Since then Willis and Tazz have parted ways and it has given birth to the solo career of Willis Wataffi and hence his debut album Zhizha/Time To Sow.

The man has maintained that same Afrika Revenge sound and it comes as no surprise as he kept the whole band as it is minus Tazz of course. It is a very interesting album and the first thing that tickled my fancy was the fact that Willis' multi-lingual capabilities are outstanding and form the benchmark for every song. I can definitely say that many of the lyrics are beyond normal comprehension simply because of that fact. The title track Zhizha/Time To Sow has done very well and it reminds me of the Afrika Revenge hit song Wanga. The lyrics are completely different but that catchy sound still exists. It is a song about grabbing an opportunity with both hands as the title suggests asking us all what are we going to do when things get tough? Arumwa is a jazzy piece that is set on mid-tempo about a family's quest for survival in this cold world with success prompting them to visit the witchdoctors to further their good fortunes. He talks about how some people will stop at nothing to be on top of the world. These words about life are also evident on the track Enchanted Voices.This track is about how us as human still rise beyond cultural barriers or skin colour yet there are still some people who put greed before anything aiming to hinder any of this progress.

On the song MaBrake, Willis truly showed his class, talking about how God has blessed him with this talent and proclaiming that 'Khaya music haina maBrake'. It is true afro-pop with the lead acoustic, bongo and lyrics that are very enjoyable. I hope younger upcoming artists take a page from his book. Rusambo sounds like it is an extension to the story behind Mhoro from the previous Afrika Revenge offering. It is a song about the steps to marriage between a young man and woman so in love vachitamba chikudo with the lyrics 'Iwe mhani iwe, iwe mhani mudiwa wangu' sung in the softest, sweetest way possible. The man is about to pay the bride price and he is excited at spending the rest of his life with his love. The duet with Tererai is simply breathtaking and reminds me of how exciting love can be. This is my favourite song of all on the album and gets my thumbs up any day. The track has already done very well on SpotFM and PowerFM.

The social commentary is established maturely to give the album an exceptional balance of entertainment. I am also a huge fan of the live instruments over computer music. It's no wonder there are so many hits on the project because it is very well done. I don't have much more to add other than that is it simply beautiful. Also watch out for the songs Kanyemere, Vukani Vukani and Chura. I am tempted to highlight that it would be nice if he did not mix languages so much to make it more understandable. He might lose a fan or 2 simply due to the fact that they cannot understand his lyrics. On the other hand i feel that if he changed it would be unfair to his talent and could make him more ordinary than anything. Opinions opinions... But all in all this album is simply outstanding and many jazz fans will love it, think of a younger, multi-lingual Tanga wekwaSando with more vocal finesse, less comical but still entertaining, backed by Jazz Invitation then you get Willis.

Cover Art - 8/10 (i totally dig the Africaness of it)
Music - 8/10 (mature and well done)
Mixing & Mastering - 8/10
I Like Factor - 7/10

The Diet Song - Cynthia Mare Music Video

2008-07-28T03:45:00.000-07:00

Now this one is a winner for all the curvy honeys out there. Cynthia Mare with The Diet Song. If you are tired of diet after diet errmmm i think this is the song you ought to listen to, ask anyone who listens to BBC 1xtra(tune in if you can) in the UK and those who catch G-Child's info centre will tell you about it. With a strong bassline characterised by synth strings melodically blending with her powerful voice, Cynthia gives this song her all and makes us all realise that nomatter what they say you gotta be proud of yourself always. The video is now out and you cant miss the action, it is hot! The picture quality is amazing and so is the production. Thumbs up to Director Ben Peters who has worked with many UK artists including Bashy for making this video so lovely. Zimbabwe you are well represented. Keep it up Cynthia! Watch the video below.

Listen to the song @
http://myspace.com/cynthiamare

The Diet Song

Cynthia Mare - The Diet Song

Mixtape Vol 1(2008) - 25 To Lyf

2008-06-29T14:28:00.001-07:00

25 To Lyf have been around for some time now and believe me when i say Mutare is fully represented. For those in the know i can definitely say a lot has changed since the days of Bubble, Pull Up and so forth. Their latest drop on the market is a free mixtape featuring some of the best MCs Zimbabwe has produced. (YES IT'S FREE!***)

The production team of SubZero and DJ PeeWee did a great job with the whole mixtape maintaining a high standard that will go a long way and defining the path for many producers out there! Chosen One by Snypa Kidd heads the mixtape where the MC proclaims that he is the chosen one for this game being at it since 14 and fair enough i'm sure someone out there will want to prove him wrong which wont be easy. After hearing Flirt by J-Boss featuring Tricky T i was out of words. With a groovy bassline and Twista like flows topped up by a Jamaican type chorus, these 2 dudes shut it down. By far my favourite track of the whole compilation. Another MC who impressed me judging from his previous work is MC Chita, he has certainly upped a gear and the evidence is on the song Boss.

The inclusion of Inspectah Deck alone is most likely going to get more people to turn their heads in anticipation. By all means, it is worth it! Revolutionary Minds by Metaphysics featuring Inspectah Deck boasts of a star studded cast for starters and a message that will stay in the minds of many. I marvel at the maturity of the content in this song because its something many MCs ought to learn from and aim to bring out in their music. The backtrack is solid to say the least. Far Away by Fame Nickles and Animal by Snypa Kidd are on the same page as well so if you happen to like Revolutionary Minds you will most likely appreciate these two.

A few tracks were disappointing like Let It Go performed by Spaceman, not so much for the song itself but overall production quality was not up to scratch. The instruments sounded slightly 'busy' and the emphasis of the track was on the chords and synths where i would have preferred a more complete kick and snare to hold the whole track together. In the same category falls TLC by Speezy which is not quite 'there'. I think it needed different instruments to get that full RnB sound out. Besides that some of the vocals were a bit questionable and times when the lady seemed to go a bit out of sync with the beat. I think to up the bar it would be good to hear more of the MCs tackling issues that affect us as people because as a head i want to connect with the MC as a person, his/her mantra and not only their flow. I also feel that African Hip Hop can do so much more beyond doing it like how the Yanks do to give our Hip Hop its own identity.

Most of the tracks on the mixtape definitely got my nod of approval and y'all should look out for My Life by Louie Loco, Hardknock & Bars of Death by Snypa Kidd, Mental State by TekNeek, and Wotcha Gon Do by Q-Riggah. What i dig about the mixtape is the balance between the 'deep' tracks and those that can pass for commercial viability. The overall standard of music is great, i connected with the versatility and this project is set to put Zimbabwean Hip Hop on the map. I wouldn't be out of line to say it is the best mixtape out of Zim.

Download it @ http://sharebee.com/e0803a29

Cover Art - 6/10
Music - 7/10(will sit well with a lot of mainstream hip hop + crunk lovers)
Mixing & Mastering - 7.5/10(good quality overall)
'I Like' factor - 6/10

Cola - Shot The Wiz music video

2008-06-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ekoneni, the long awaited album by one of Bulawayo's finest, Shot The Wiz, is now out. With many years of experience under his belt, the album is a true sizzler and establishes Shot The Wiz as one of the top kwaito artists in Zimbabwe at the moment. The lead single 'Cola' has already done very well among kwaito lovers in Canada and USA so check out the video below!

Get the album @ http://www.stw.ekoneni.com

Vangani(Konzeresa Riddim) - Jusa Music Video

2008-06-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

With the Konzeresa Riddim CD out in full force and blessing every Zim party there is, as promised Jusa has come back with the video of his hit single Vangani. It is already doing rounds on Channel O and we look forward to seeing it on the charts. Zimbabwean girls are lucky to have guys that treasure them like this don't you think?

Jusa - Vangani

Nesto New videos 2008

2008-05-13T03:57:00.000-07:00

Nesto is back with a new album after about 3 years hiatus since the success of his debut album Ernestly Speaking. This album had hits such as the former number 1 Ndega Ndega featuring Lamone, Zvidikidiki and Zvibvunze featuring Pastor G to mention a few. 2008 is another big year for Urban Grooves, check out Nesto's new videos from the album, The Importance of Being Ernest, below

My Chocolate

Homewrecker

Kabira featuring Alexio Kawara

One Ariega(2008) - Cee Jay

2008-05-06T00:54:00.000-07:00

Cee Jay is back on the radar in 2008 after the success of his previous offering Desperate Measures. I can confirm that this time around, it is Cee Jay like you never heard before. Seriously. One can almost tell that his focus was really Zimbabwens at large unlike the last CD which was probably appreciated far more by African Americans and the younger Zim generations.

First up the album started off well with the title track, One Ariega. It is more like an intro into Cee Jay's world and it definitely managed to impress me especially as the first song. Turn Around was a surprise jam for me especially because the particular riddim was one i didn't like much. The great part was Cee Jay still managed to do his singing and rapping well on the song The song African Party made me realise that Zim/Kenya collabos can work. What i didn't really like was the instrumental which i felt could have sounded a lot more '2008' coz it sounded like it was produced around the late 90s. This turned out as the downside of the album, some instrumentals could have greatly improved. Nice to hear the girl rap tho! The shortage of female African rappers hurts me to the core. We need more ladies stepping up.

The more i listened the more i appreciated that Cee Jay has indeed improved greatly. Murikurasika Papi sounded far much better, given the initial version i heard a few months ago. Talk about a sing along and Ngaarohwe is a song many will probably love. The CD boasts of some really touching lyrics embracing relevant issues for example on the Lucky Dube inspired 'Tell Me Why'. Given this fact, it sort of puts Cee Jay in a good spot against other artists within this genre where generally for most artists their content leaves a lot to be desired. The mature content really takes centre stage on the last 3 songs of the album which were all recorded live and have some beautiful guitar playing in the background. Of course among these 3 is my song of the album, 'Ziyaspora' which is a masterpiece! I really connected deeply with this song and CeeJay deserves to give himself a pat on the back for a well written and well sung tune. Kinda reminds me of Tuku and Steve Makoni.

This 16 track album is worth a listen if you like Urban Grooves. Overall this was a decent offering and an amazing effort from Cee Jay. Sample the CD below

Get it @ http://www.rudeboy-records.com/

Cover Art - 7/10 (i'm feeling the simplicity, sometimes it works!)
Music - 6/10 (many Zimbabweans will relate to it easily)
Mixing and Mastering - 6/10 (a good effort here, better leveling needed)
'I Like Factor' - 7/10

Konzeresa riddim(2008) - Various Artists

2008-04-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Konzeresa Riddim, produced by Jusa, has to be one of the most anticipated albums among Zimbabweans out here in the diaspora at the moment with everybody tryna get their hands on it. It comes as no surprise after the free megamix that was flying all over the place which made people go crazy a few months back. Now that the full CD is out I had a good listen of all 22 tracks.

The song Kukonzeresa by King Labash, from which the riddim derives its name, has been a major hit in Zimbabwe and it leads the way as the opening song. I hate to even say this but the album version is so watered down and lacks the fire that the original has. It was simply a huge let down I don’t have a clue how King Labash managed to kill his own song. Luckily, there are quite a few songs that actually saved the whole album and I quickly forgot about my initial disappointment. Songs like ‘Crazy World’ by Alfire, ‘Tell Me Why’ by Cee Jay, ‘Tichatopedzerana’ by Dubbie Benzie and ‘Jah By My Side’ by MC Mighty (to mention a few) were largely enjoyable and are testimony to the maturing breed of Zimbabwe’s dancehall MCs.

The compilation also boasts of some established Zimbabwean artists like Rassie Ai and Yardsteppa who both featured on The Future way back in 2000. Yardsteppa’s Usatuke Amai NaBaba advises the youth to respect their mother and father or else bad luck will follow in everything. Talk about leading the way! Vangani is an inspirational tune for all the Zimbabwean girls performed by Jusa and will see his female fans increasing in numbers. The video is out soon and I hear it is already doing rounds in the motherland on Channel O. The downside to this compilation is that many of the tunes are truly very forgettable. It could have been a much better idea to limit the number of artists to a decent 12 or so and have some sort of a screening process to raise the bar for quality. In a quest to custom make the riddim for every artist, which was a very noble idea, I feel that the riddim ended up losing the spark that made it so catchy in the first place. Sometimes certain things are better left as they are but then again we all learn from mistakes. I hope these pointers are helpful for coming projects.

For Zimbabwe’s first riddim compilation to be released commercially it is one that will make many people very happy. Boyz remaTune kunyanya marasta will love this album which showcases some of the upcoming artists in the industry. Good work for everyone involved, keep them coming!

Get it @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/konzeresariddim

Cover Art – 8/10 (lovely artwork!)
Music – 5/10 (some songs really could have been better)
Mixing & Mastering – 5/10
‘I Like Factor’ – 6/10

NaMapfumo(2007) - Leonard Mapfumo

2007-11-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

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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

2007-08-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-30T02:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

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

2007-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-04T21:39:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-17T19:18:00.000-08:00

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

The Pen & Lighter EP(2006) - Karizma

2006-12-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

I seem to come across so many people who doubt our ‘youthful’ Zimbabwean genres. Hip Hop falls in that category. Not many have faith in our MCs. I guess it boils down to preference, though I am so tired of hearing peeps bigging up old school music like nothing new is nice. Not! Anyway before I get carried away this week I got hold of the debut album by Karizma. He is the man who gave you the ever popular Red Bull Song around 2004/5.

He is part of KYN Records headed by Begotten Sun of the Asi Chii Nhai fame. Karizma’s Pen & Lighter EP is testimony to the growing breed of current MCs. Young and full of energy with those bassline thumping beats that you gotta nod to. The album starts off with Hands Up which was dropped as the lead single a few months ago and damn, I love the track. Sometimes you just have to put the ‘Haterade’ down and give thanks where it is due. The song is simply hot and I’m down for the semi mellow flow as well. By any means I always prefer a good start to an album; it gives me more cause to listen further. I have to say production-wise the album is quite something. Zimbabwean Hip Hop is hot and like Karizma says on Hands Up “…f**k what you heard in fact f**k what they telling you!”

If you into dance floor type bangers on a hip hop tip then get a copy of this CD and listen to Get Wild because that is a party track to mash up the scene. That song does things to me each time I listen. The only problem I have with it is the song is too short mhani! Throughout the whole CD I marvel at how Karizma flows. Man can rap. Period. With that sometimes comes one or two problems and for me his biggest downfall is rapping about ‘how nice he is.’ A song, maybe 2 is fine but when you exceed that you suppress other possible concepts. I would have loved to hear a song about who Karizma is as a person, a love song with some emotional expression etc. In one word: Versatility. A collabo would have done the album good as well. All this adds an extra dimension to the music, which is what The Pen & Lighter EP lacked.

I was impressed by Let Me Politik which is a song urging people to keep on going strong if they have a dream. It’s great to see some positive lyrics, add to the talent. Other songs to watch out for are When The Sun Comes Up and The Banger. Overall, it is a good album that hip hop heads will dig and Karizma surely raises the bar among the MCs.

Get it @ http://www.itskarizma.com

Cover Art – 6.5/10
Music – 7/10
Mixing & Mastering – 8/10
‘I Like Factor’ – 6/10

The Banger

Kukuda/Loving You(2006) - Cindy Raw

2006-10-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

This year has seen more and more artists releasing albums far more than I have seen on the Urban Grooves circuit. From my recent trip to Zim I made it a sure point to stack on CDs. I bought this album based on the advice of my friend Akili and I surely want to thank him right now. Having never heard of Cindy Rufaro Munyavi ever before, I was a bit skeptical about her abilities. That feeling did not last, rest assured. She is a good singer and I found it hard to believe that she hadn’t topped charts yet. Some people just need a chance. Call it Urban Grooves sure but this lovely lady is straight Zim R’n’B. Some really hot R’n’B at that! The main concept about the album is love. She handles so many issues through her music one might end up being convinced she really went through this stuff!

Ruva is a gem I tell you. It features one of the genres most refined artist, Alexio Kawara. Their collaboration is just beautiful and they both sung very well. It might not quite compete with Tinodanana by Alexio & Teererai but it will leave you with goose bumps! The production throught the album was generally good and not monotonous and I managed to listen to every track. I appreciate it when artists acknowledge their religion and Praise You does justice. It has a bouncy beat and talks about praising God because he is the one who makes everything happen. My song of the album is Dhindindi and the title says it all. No Zimbabwean party can be complete without this tune. Take 5ive really produced a quality tune to rip through the speakers. Wreckless totally murdered his verse; he did himself a favour by switching from Hip Hop to Ragga. Other songs to watch out for are Handidi and All That I Am.

The album has the potential to do very well, some good songs and lovely singing. The let down comes in the production. Some of the instruments were not very clear and the vocals were not properly mixed and/or mastered. You can tell that some songs were recorded, mixed and mastered at different studios by different people. I think quality should be emphasized in her next project.

Kukuda/Loving You is a good album and many fans will enjoy it. I think it is worth a buy. This lady is going places and I give her 1 year tops to become Urban Grooves hottest female artist.

Cover Art – 6/10
Music – 7/10
Mixing & Mastering – 5/10
‘I Like Factor’ – 7.5/10

XBC Jumpoff - The Musikanzwa Zone

Shamie - The Journey (2010)

Cherish Bryce - The Birth (2009)

Cee Jay Besa - Ndangariro (2010)

Xtra Large - Xtraordinary (2010)

Shastro - Ndini Ndakora (2010)

TapiwaBatsirai - The Heartstrings: Mota Yemawaya (2010)

Soosh. . . the baddest boy in 2010

Wreckless - Riddim & Bassline (2010)

Winky D - Come 2 Tek Ova/Chatsva (2009)

Danayi Murapa - Munerudo (2010)

Rest In Peace Sam Mtukudzi (1988 - 2010)

Stunner - Team Hombe (2009)

BKay & Kazz - Boomslang (2009)

Shumba DJs - Tambayi Funky Anthems (2009)

Zimbabwe Today - Various Artists (2009)

Bethen Pasinawako - Anotida (2009)

Eloi Manjoro - In God's Love (2007)

Sniper Storm - The Voice (2009)

Josphat Somanje - This Time (Haulume)

Farai "Pharaye" M - Beautifully Learnt (2009)

Nasty Trixx - Vapamhe (2008)

Sabastian Magacha - Ndinokutendai (2009)

Fame Nickles - Battlescars Mixtape (2009)

Xtra Large - One Drop (2008)

Jusa - African Air Horn Dance (2009 Zim Funky House)

Karizma - Rock Away (2009 Zim Funky House)

Pastor G - Inspiration (2008)

MC Mighty Live In Dublin

Rassie Ai - Smiles & Cries/How Come (2009 Video)

Abisha Makombe - Bhomba (2008)

Zubz - Cochlea, One Last Letta (2009)

Various Artists - Bhodho Size 3 (2008)

ExQue - For The Grown & Sexy (2008)

Sam Mtukudzi - Rume Rimwe (2007)

Chiwoniso - Rebel Woman (2008)

Madiz - Rhumba Plus (2007)

Winky D - Vanhu Vakuru (2008)

Flavour P - Original Zimbo (2008)

Snaka Dread - Musikana Wandinoda Video

Various Artists - Walala Rewire (2009)

Kudakwashe (DKR) - Mambo/Fallen King *new music video*

Alexio Kawara - Kana (2008)

2BG - Wandizadzisa (2006)

Audius Mtawarira - Day Like This (2007)

Zimbabwe loses a legend - R.I.P Fortune Muparutsa

Acoustic - Sanii Makhalima (2008)

Chamhembe Revolution - Take 5ive & Various Artists (2008)

Move To Da Beat - MC Mighty(2008)

Return To Life -Rassie Ai(2008)

Backstage - Shayndingz(2007)

Nox - Chapter 3 (2007)

Zhizha/Time To Sow(2008) - Willis Wataffi

The Diet Song - Cynthia Mare *Music Video*

Mixtape Vol 1(2008) - 25 To Lyf

Cola - Shot The Wiz *music video*

Vangani(Konzeresa Riddim) - Jusa *Music Video*

Nesto *New videos 2008*

One Ariega(2008) - Cee Jay

Konzeresa riddim(2008) - Various Artists

NaMapfumo(2007) - Leonard Mapfumo

This Is Now(2007) - Carole Nyakudya

Still At Large(2007) - Extra Large

Love Is My Religion(2007) - ExQue

KaLife(2007) - Stunner

Kudakwashe/Munyaradzi(2007) - DKR

Happy(2006) - Cynthia Mare

Seiko(2006) - Gorden Taurai Nzira

Zvakangonaka (2007) - Living Joy

Chizevezeve(2006) - MaFriq

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

Tapinda Tapinda Tapinda(2006) - Maskiri

The Pen & Lighter EP(2006) - Karizma

Kukuda/Loving You(2006) - Cindy Raw

Kudakwashe (DKR) - Mambo/Fallen King new music video

The Diet Song - Cynthia Mare Music Video

Cola - Shot The Wiz music video

Vangani(Konzeresa Riddim) - Jusa Music Video

Nesto New videos 2008