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

The Diet Song - Cynthia Mare *Music Video*

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

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


The Diet Song

Cynthia Mare - The Diet Song

Mixtape Vol 1(2008) - 25 To Lyf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cola - Shot The Wiz *music video*

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

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

Vangani(Konzeresa Riddim) - Jusa *Music Video*

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

Jusa - Vangani

Nesto *New videos 2008*

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

My Chocolate


Homewrecker


Kabira featuring Alexio Kawara

One Ariega(2008) - Cee Jay

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

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

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


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

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

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

Konzeresa riddim(2008) - Various Artists

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

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

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

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

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

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

NaMapfumo(2007) - Leonard Mapfumo

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

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

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

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

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

This Is Now(2007) - Carole Nyakudya

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

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

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

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

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

Still At Large(2007) - Extra Large

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

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

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

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

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

Aiwa Mukoma ft Snyper & MacDee

Love Is My Religion(2007) - ExQue

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By Citizen Mueski

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

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

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

Off the Nitredy Dormitory Compilation 2008:

KaLife(2007) - Stunner

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

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

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

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

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

Ndakakumirira ft Brian

Kudakwashe/Munyaradzi(2007) - DKR

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

Kudakwashe

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

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

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

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

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

The lead single Misodzi/Wipe Your Tears

Munyaradzi

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

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

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

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

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

Maricho/Hustles

Happy(2006) - Cynthia Mare

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Satisfied

Seiko(2006) - Gorden Taurai Nzira

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

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

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

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

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

Zvakangonaka (2007) - Living Joy

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zvakangonaka

Chizevezeve(2006) - MaFriq

By Citizen Mueski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tapinda Tapinda Tapinda(2006) - Maskiri

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

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

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

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

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

The Pen & Lighter EP(2006) - Karizma

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Banger

Kukuda/Loving You(2006) - Cindy Raw

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

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

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

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

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