Xtra Large - Xtraordinary (2010)

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

Wreckless - Riddim & Bassline (2010)

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)

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

BKay & Kazz - Boomslang (2009)

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)

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

Eloi Manjoro - In God's Love (2007)

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)

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

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

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

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

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