Rest In Peace Sam Mtukudzi (1988 - 2010)

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.

Various Artists - Bhodho Size 3 (2008)

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

Sam Mtukudzi - Rume Rimwe (2007)

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

Madiz - Rhumba Plus (2007)

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)

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)

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

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)

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

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

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)

2BG - Wandizadzisa (2006)

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

One Ariega(2008) - Cee Jay

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