Xtra Large - One Drop (2008)

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

ExQue - For The Grown & Sexy (2008)

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

Love Is My Religion(2007) - ExQue

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By Citizen Mueski

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

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

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

Off the Nitredy Dormitory Compilation 2008:

KaLife(2007) - Stunner

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

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

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

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

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

Ndakakumirira ft Brian