OPEN LETTER TO ZIM HIP HOP signed KRYPMAC

We recently received an email from award winning AMVIS producer/artist Krypmac. The letter had his thoughts and feelings about the Zim Hip Hop industry. We thought that as PUSH, we had to share it with you. Your feed back is most welcome.

Dear Zim Hip Hop

We go by the name “AMVIS” which stands for “Ambition Meets Vision”

#AmvisAMG dropped "Control" Karma Bradley Matengenzara Dropped "Kontrol" and still most of these rappers are still stuck in the same place they have always been. Somebody gota stand up and show them what competition really is. Seems like We are the only competition..

What's Hip Hop without healthy competition? 

Why Control?

First of all why not control.?

I feel like we as the hip hop generation of this country. We as the artists have let ourselves down by buying into other country’s hip hop cultures and forgot that we as Zimbabweans have to a lot to offer when it comes to musical talent. Throughout the years we have seen a lot of Zim hip hop artists come and go and a only a few have made sum impact but no major impact has been made since then within the zim hip hop scene

We as the new generation have to come up with our own identities. Our own type of sound, skill and mature our lyrical abilities and become the artists we want to be

Control is not a beef song, its not taking shots at specific artists more like at anybody who says they rap. Its more about addressing the issue of the so called top guys in hip hop now. Yes u have a hot song. A track buzzing on radio but that’s just for today and gone tomorrow.

When will the real music come out. When will we start challenging ourselves as lyricists to reach higher levels of music genius. When will we cement our names into the hip hop scene and actually start building an industry.

Most of these rappers nowadays don’t have what I call real rap. Substance or content. What there songs are is just catchy hooks and no bars.

I see a million rappers coming out of the wood works everyday. Coming out recording their 12/16 bars and thinking they are now the next big thing not knowing that we the real artists. When I say real artists I mean this is what we have put everything aside for to do. This is now what I do on a 6 to 12am basis. Music has to mean something to you when you are making it. It has to capture you the audience in a way that captivates, motivates or even medicate you. Music is like any other business. Its all hard work, long hours.

Kids can just pick up or download a version of fruity loops make a beat today release it online and start calling himself king of H-town just like that because us as artists we are the ones failing the system.

Rappers now just record a song that he/she thought of and just recorded for fun. We have not put in place a competitive type of industry that makes you work to get up a level and keep going from

I’m just here to state a fact that if you thought that zim hiphop would never have dudes going hard and making other dudes sweat. Competition is here. Keep making your little songs. It only shows how little work you put in your own music. U never challenge yourself lyrically.

amvisAMG is here to take over and we are bringing the whole team with us.

Lets the games begin.

My name be “Krypmac”

ALBUM REVIEW : THE FEELING AINT FAIR

Ok.. so we a had our IDMs revving in wait for 6pm last week  for the download we’d been promised by Few Kings for their album “The Feeling Ain’t Fair”. Twitter was a crazy buzz with bloggers, fans and pretty much everyone all going on about the album we had listed on our list of Top 5 Most Anticipated albums for the rest of year.

The first feeling

Quick and attacking, true, nice beat “the bills wouldn’t bow to the beat so the thrills of the crowds went cheap preach”. This would be an awesome start to any album. Great intro guys!!

1.      Happy

Sounds a little changed at the beginning and we could tell that there was some extra production work done on the track. Fundamentally though, its the same track that was debuted at the Zim Hip Hop Awards of 2011 somehow, Still a bumpin track!

2.      Madrinks (remix)

Recently saw a tweet saying that “pihwai madrinks vaskana” were three words more powerful than “I love you” in Harare. The song has been redone, certain features of the sound have improved, or changed, which some may find commendable (we love it). After the added verse by TehnDiamond the song sounds like we had already known it. The extension of the mbira part is entertaining. The original was an awesome track and a touch of Tehn is never a bad thing.

3.      Boys Dzangu

“Nenjani dzakatsvuka...zvimaManeta..” A brilliant song but unfortunately loses a couple of marks for us because of its similarity to American rapper Kendrick Lamar’s “the art of peer pressure”. Go listen to Good Kid/ Maad City if you do not believe us. Certain aspects make it sound like a lighter hearted  Zimbabwean version of the Compton MC ‘s song on the album GKMC. However, there is something catchy about the part “this is the part I like right here”. We realised that after playing the album, (all through the weekend), that we could get used to it, and enjoy it none the less.

4.      The Realness

The song never loses the bite it had a couple of months ago!! Again the beat sounds like it was reworked and we love this clearer feel the tracks have, a true testimony of the time put into the project. Realness seems to be the most “street” song we have heard the group do. The extension of the beat for an almost two minutes is nice to drive to. (No Madrinks and driving okay)

5.      Fewkings

Did we say The Realness was the most street?? We take that back! This one is the most street. Both the Kings; of the North and South have spoken. The song is a killer lyrically. The beat another that has the signature sounds of TakeFizzo on it unless of course it wasnt. The beat might be bland for a person who isn’t a fan of old school hip hop, but it’s the stuff we live on.

6.      Summer

The beat on this song is TOP CLASS. The story telling and feel of the song makes us realise why he group decided to only want to release it on radio. The chorus makes you want to put it on repeat. It is not too loud, the vocals by SimbaTagz are on point as usual. This is the type of song you want to see a video for. Might be the best one on the album, it was well put together, it is easy to listen to and will easily make it as a ringtone. (coz everytime someone calls, you just want to hear it)

7.      Hapana

Naughty, “uchitambisa matama”? Oh..Playing with your cheeks?  Butt cheeks!! We get it. After that we were taken. It sounded like a cross between hip hop and dancehall. A party jam.

8.      H-town girl

“and tell your ex wakudanana ne bad boy, akasvika zvedzungu tomutsvukisa kunge Rabroy”. The beat is really dope dope doooope. The sampling as it starts is nice. TehnDiamond has this tendency of sounding too loud in a bit overwhelming way whenever he sings sometimes. The chorus was beautifully composed especially as it has a lusty voiced sounding girl to pair with Tehn Diamond Junior Brown delivers his standard.

9.      I need

If you liked it then and hadn’t gotten tired of it, then you still will like it. A soothing jam that can be listened to on a Sunday morning. The song your girlfriend will like...and you will like...because it’s just that nice.

10.  Go In

A lot of Hip Hop heads were probably expecting a lot more songs like these from the trio. The song is one that any MC would probably keep. A lot can be said about the chorus. We feel like this was TehnDiamonds home ground, the type of beat he kills, and he did, straight up murdered it, left the carcass just lying there. Ooh, so did Junior Brown! Punch lining his way through the first verse, “Ndicharamba ndichi shiner kunge zuda ra Tehn”

11.  The final feeling

The closing of the album which was a twin of the Intro, shout outs. Just as awesome as the intro

Overview

The album is no doubt a great listen. It isn’t too long, so you can easily find yourself back at track one. The mastering of the tracks was top notch. It looks like the combination of the three artists’ works well. They complement each other well, (Vernacular and English).  The song ‘summer’ and ‘Htown girl part 2’ have really great vocals, ‘Go in’ is quick and nice. The album is not too loud, you don’t have to skip any song on this one.

Junior Brown does well in such partnerships, lets not forget the award winning “THE HRE Mixtape” where he partnered with MC Chita. Which one would be better though? The Feeling Ain’t Fair or The HRE Mixtape? In as much as that is subject to opinion, when the two are weighed against each other, one had more ‘rap’ features whereas the Few Kings Album. Maybe having more features would have made a little more diverse. The management of the album overall before the release was commendable, the count down to the release on a new website and release itself was epic, WHAT ABOUT THE ACTUAL MUSIC?

This is one of the nicest albums ever made in Zimbabwe, you can tell that time was put to give us a good product. The mastering is unquestionable, the themes are very Zimbabwean, the lyrics are well thought out and it is why, its Few Kings that are worthy to be the face of Zimbabwean Hip Hop.

But, lets look at it, The mixtape SOTG3 was WOW! Synik’s, “ Syn-City” was amazing, OutSpokens Double Album Uncool and Overrated /God Before Everything was legendary. Does “The Feeling Aint Fair” deserve to be on the same shelf with the above?

Somehow, we feel like, the downside of the album is that, you will probably skip through the first half of the album. Not because the songs are boring, it’s simply because, we have had them for quite some time. Its like waiting for a present for so long, unwrapping the box and you see the same phone you have always had only this time with a lot more cool applications, better cover, a couple of added accessories and faster processing plus bigger memory. The album has been criticized for giving listeners too much of what they already had. On a 12 track album, minus the intro and outro, we knew the other five songs. We really would’ve hoped for more new material, instead, we were given remakes and singles. The upside of these songs is however that, they have a good staying power. This means that in as much as these songs had been there, they are still as hot as the first time they were released. Maybe they are saving the rest of the good stuff for their own Solo albums, you never know.

At the end of it all, that is (maybe save the not so thumpy beats, which really we have no problem with) that’s the only downside of the album. The rest is perfect. You gotta hand it to them, they outdid a lot of Hip Hop artists not only in Zimbabwe, but in the region too. Our advice is, get a copy, it’s worth getting a hard copy for, that is why we give it the highest rating we have ever given any music we have ever publicly reviewed. If all this sounds like Greek to you go here www.fewkings.com 

3.5/5 STARS.

PUSH

IS IT MMT VS THE WORLD?

Even though the Few Kings Album has undeniably been a success, one cannot help but sense what seems like the insecurity of the Few Kings’ fans as they are going all out to attack MMT before they even release their project, the MMT LP. Prompting us to ask: is MMT that scary? Are all these shots that are being fired a confirmation of the success that MMT has achieved in such a short period of time with four hit tracks on radio? They always say Bullies only Bully because they are afraid and insecure. So is the industry afraid and insecure. Are they afraid of MMT… are they insecure of their abilities or are the Few Kings fans just being loyal. Why do we feel this way? Because honestly, let’s look at it... Few Kings fans are not praising the Few Kings album as much as they are bashing MMT. Shouldn’t this all be about The Feeling Ain’t Fair?

What does it look like now? It looks like for your project to be accepted as dope, it must have surpassed MMT. Is MMT the industry’s current benchmark for success. Has Rehab Ent, with its string of “turn up” songs engraved its spot on pole position in the industry. Is it so bad that not only the artists but also the fans now know that once MMT is beaten…Success is achieved. Is this the case or are we reading too much into simple fanaticism?

These are exciting times! Some people may not want to say it but the release of rap trio’s Few Kings album The Feeling Aint Fair has now put fellow Hip Hop group MMT on the spot as their album, The “MMT-LP” drops in a couple of  days. That however has not been the only highlight this week, followers of MMT might also be familiar to rapper Noble Stylez who had since been throwing shots at MMT and its associates prior to the release of his mixtape entitled “Masofa Panze”. Things got heated recently as a post by Rehab Ent (Rehab Ent is the label that houses the MMT Outfit ) manager Anonzi Xndr which looked like a jibe at Noble Stylez had social media buzzing. Hip hop enthusiasts including Noble Stylez himself did not have nice words to say about MMT and the affirmed producer. Later on, the Hip Hop trio was reported to have finally addressed the enmity with a “we are ready for war” message

As if that was not enough for the group, a YouTube video was uploaded yesterday which got our attention. The video, portrayed Rehab boss Xndr as a Hitler complaining about the success of the popular Hip Hop groups Few Kings album, The Feeling Aint Fair. The video pokes fun at MMT’s recent releases which include “Chakaipa” which featured dancehall star Dadza D and the video to the remix to their hit song “Zvidhori” which MC, Stunner and dancehall artist and DJ Smiley.The video also “throws shots” at Rehab Ent’s rapper Marcques of the Zunguza fame and his stable mate Boi Mac, both who have met recent success on local radio stations. 

It got us thinking as PUSH (as it would any student of O-level History) that has Zimbabwean Hip Hop Industry become World War II where Rehab and MMT have become the Super Power Germany that forced the world to unite for its only shot at beating them. One cannot help but notice the similarity of the historical war which also featured a war on two fronts that MMT seems to have to battle, Noble Stylez on one end and the large collection of Few Kings fans on the other. Is MMT beaten or has MMT become the team to beat?

Well the answer is all up to you. The Few Kings album is available for download on www.fewkings.com  . We shall be posting our review of the more than 6000 downloads in 24 hours album “The Feeling Aint Fair” before the end of the day.  PUSH

Few Kings Drops Long Awaited Album Today!

The long awaited Few Kings album, "The Feeling Aint Fair" will be dropping today. Yesterday the P.U.S.H team gave you a list of five albums that we cant wait to hear, "The Feeling Aint Fair" was one of them.One of the members of the three man crew, TehnDiamond confirmed the release date (today) and the time (1800 hours) on his Facebook account that the album shall be released and urged his fans and followers to spread the album artwork. I guess like a whole lot of Hip Hop enthusiasts, the wait is over as soon as the clock strikes six. We are wondering, will it be a link for streaming or downloads? How many songs are there going to be? Who is going to be featured? We are going to have to be really patient. As soon as anything happens, the PUSH team shall be on it.

TOP 5 MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUM/MIXTAPES IN ZIM

We can’t lie about the fact that 2013 has been one of the best years for Zimbabwean Hip Hop. This is thanks to hard work, dedication and simple bite. We have realized that a lot of artists have promised us albums and mix tapes. Some followed through while others decided to fizzle out. So as P.U.S.H we decided to make a list of albums or mix tapes that we cant wait to hear. The list below is not in any order (that we can leave to you)

The Feeling Ain’t Fair – Few Kings

After a whole lot of push backs and rumors alluding to the nonexistence of the project, local media has reported that the album may be coming out on Wednesday the 23^rd of October. Given the usual ‘all in our faces’ hype surrounded by anything that TehnDiamond is part of, the much awaited project release is rather quiet this month. However, it probably could be the most anticipated album this year. Lest we forget that two or so weeks back, the trio released a banger on national radio ‘Summer’ that will only be available for download if the rap groups twitter account acquires a thousand followers. (We hope it happens quickly, we want that link). After songs like “Happy”, “Boys Dzangu “and “I Need” we already know that the album should be dope.

The MMT LP – MMT

Last week, we gave you an exclusive on the release of their last single “Chakaipa” which has been received well by the music industry. In that post we mentioned that the group which sometimes seem to throw shots at at entertainers (too many kings but, very few kingdoms) will be giving us an album very soon. The group which gave us the controversial song “Wake Up” went on to give us more eye brow raising but absolutely entertaining singles one of which was turned into a remix and had a video shot for it (Zvidhori). The album is set to be released on the 31^st of October. Recently on one of the nation’s prominent radio stations, group member Tatea Da MC said that the album will not be the usual MMT tracks but that it would be a shocker. All I can say is, we can’t wait!!

Nothing for Mahala – P.O.Y

The Bulawayo rapper who claims never to write lyrics because, "there is no time for it, just freestyle it through” also has a promising album coming through. A couple of weeks ago, the rapper came back with a HEAVY club tune called “Yebo” which was produced by a Botswana based producer. The song quickly made it to radio stations and has been on heavy rotation in Bulawayo Clubs and House Parties. ‘Nothing for Mahala’ has no exact release date yet but the rapper P.O.Y informed us that it will be ready for our consumptio in the middle of November. Some of the tracks to expect on the album are, Impilo Yinja, Robbery, Blood Money Jacob, Heroine and more.

OLO (One Last One) – Preach

Never did we think that a situation would take place that a mix tape leaks in Zimbabwean Hip Hop and it would actually make a whole lot of noise. We tell you no lie, it happened. A lot of people might know Rehab Producer Anonzi Xndr, some may know his younger brother who unlike most of his Rehab stable mates has a more subtle and conscious sound. The mix tape ‘OLO’ which was mixed and mastered by prominent dance and hip hop producer Reverb 7 (ooooooh), leaked onto the internet a week before the initially scheduled release date. Rumor has it that, it was postponed because of the clashing release of MMT single “Chakaipa” and subsequently their album to come later on. We have been informed that the Mix-tape shall be released at the end of November. This had many of his followers disappointed as the link to the leak was also pulled back (by management they said).

Morning Glory –Junior Brown

We have been waiting oh so long for this one! After featuring  on his partners hit single “Happy” then his own probably should be in the running for song of the year single “Madrinks” we have been thirsty for more but the rapper has been very stingy with his music. However, as we have been waiting, we have been enjoying his art through his many features on a number of projects including, the Black (Simba Tags) where he killed it on the opening verse on single “KaLife”,  on Live Love Dance, and on his groups own songs that we have shall be hearing on  ‘The Feeling Aint Fair’. The rapper has been in the lime light this year, with lovely performances in the UK, on the Big Brother eviction show and at the Shoko Festival.  We are still yet to hear a confirmed release date but till then, we shall be waiting.

MMT does Collabo with Dancehall Heavy Weight Dadza D

The official Artwork to for the single

They brought you ‘wake up’ those who did not wake up, later on, smelt the coffee when they dropped chart topper “Zvidhori” as if that was not enough, a remix was soon released and it also hit Radio chart Top Positions! The Hip Hop Trio MMT made up of Mariachi, M.C Cut and Tatea Da MC surely shook the Zim Hip Hop game up, and now they are crossing genre’s with “will probably be part of your weekend playlist dancehall meets hip hop song” CHAKAIPA feat Dadza D!

You might be wondering how we know all this, Well, we told you before, we get the major scoops before anyone else does. We were privileged to link up with one of the rappers from the group this past weekend and listened to a snippet of the song…GOSH! The song, CHAKAIPA written and recorded all in one day, with the instrumental of the song being made by renowned Dancehall producer Kritical who also mastered the jam. Asked how this song came about, MC Cut, explained to us that he had been listening to a song by Dadza D, after which he was so impressed that he had to call the Dance hall sensation to literally mouth to him over the mobile phone his idea for a hook. The artists then came together, the beat was plotted and the song was done!

Dadza D and Kritical put final touches to the song

                           
                 

The emcee explained and said “what we aim to do is bridge the gap between the two genre’s and as usual we would like to work with different artists and challenge ourselves to get out of our usual Hip Hop comfort zone, enter into the unknown and come up with something crazy”

We have been informed that the song, which is a genre transition song (fusion of hip hop and Dancehall they said) is the last of the four singles to be released from the rap trio’s upcoming album “The MMT LP”. The album will be available for sale on the 31st of this month. The album is set to have 14 tracks and part of the artist line up on the compilation will include,  Kapital K, Munetsi, Alkamai, Tinashe Makura, Slimmz27, Fungai Nengare and many more he said. The never afraid of controversy rapper also told us that, “you can expect the truth on this album and the truth is always controversial when you have the guts to say it”.                        

Mariachi and Kritical

                                 

Back to the single however, “Chakaipa” will be available on line on Thursday the 17^th of October online and  all major radio stations on the same day! We have been informed that it will it will be posted on www.hulkshare.com/mmt-lp

This past week we were lucky to meet another one of Zimbabwe’s budding artistes. We met the young Chris Lionel James, better known as Chris J who had come into Harare from Chinhoyi. An artiste who has tried to push his music, has been on local radio and also been played in Zambia

We listened to his music and the first thing we’ll appreciate about the young man is his versatility, his ability to move between genres and still managing t pull it off and give a good song. This boy sings and raps and manages to be gripping when he does both. He gave us a brief description of the studio set up they use in Chinhoyi and all we could say is that his love for music is evident. With Scottish and Zambian parentage (are you picturing a guy in a kilt?), Chris J manages to act character to his songs by singing in and rapping in Nyanja at times. You really get to appreiate it on songs like “number one” and ndimakukinda which features Jerry B and has a dancehall feel about it.

From th tracks we heard, another of our favourites was wakakosha which was done by D.NA which is the crew that Chris J represents. Wakakosha has an afro pop and it was really well executed. Even the mix down version of Ndimakukonda was eay on the easy on the ears..with a more mellow instrumental. He also has uptempo songs like “Blow it” and “Do da dan” that will have you thining you can dance. Whats a rapper ithout a song hat sounds like its for a stripper huh? That’s “do da dance “ for you.

Chris J is a promising artist and because we like him, and we dont lie to our readers we’ll be honest. Most of the songs are good and although there is te ocasional shallow song, the only set back for him achievin his goals would be the mixing and mastering of the tracks. Chris J is a very focused and when he spoke to us he told us of his plas to relocate to Harare where he believes it is a happening. That is what should be called etermiation. Chris J has decided to bring the game to Harare! Maybe we’ll start bumping into him in town more often.

We had a short chat interview with Chris J and this how it went.

PUSH: Tell me when you started this music thing

Chris J: I started rapping in primary school in the 4^th grade and I started writing songs when I was 11. I was the best dancer in high school and primary...

PUSH: And when did you become a recording artist?

Chris J: In 2011 when I did my first track called GO HARD.

PUSH: Was it easy starting your career as a recording artist? Where was it?

Chris J: No it wasn’t. I had to look for money. You know what they say. I had my first recording at Milton x

PUSH: This is in Chinhoyi?

Chris J: Yes in Chinhoyi. I was 19. It was produced by Jerry B

PUSH: And Jerry B has been doing your tracks since then?

Chris J: No, I then switched to Blonck yard music where I found Niktat who has been producing for me till now because I had a few complications with Jerry B [artistes and their drama and always having complications with people]

PUSH: Ok cool. Which track of yours made it to radio first?

Chris J: “Can’t stop” ft Niktat then “Number one”

PUSH: so which stations have had your music on rotation?

Chris J: Star Fm only.

PUSH: How would you describe your music?

Chris J: Mmm let’s just say it’s mainly on how I feel. My music is me.

PUSH: So you’ve got music that crosses boundaries of genres?

Chris J: Yes bra you name it. I have no genre. My songs speak for themselves

PUSH: Ok last question. What are your plans for the future?

Chris J: I want to have my own empire. Have my own record label. Make my music global and open a clothing label

 

Well we hope more radio stations discover this young man, and also, while YOU are here just follow the link below and hear some of his music. Maybe we’ll pass this on to @Zimhiphoppolice and hear what they have to say...

Soundcloud.com/chrislioneljames

Remember to always P.U.S.H

The P.U.S.H Culture

The P.U.S.H Culture

 

Today we want to introduce you to a concept we call the PUSH culture. We hope it can help create a better music industry in Zimbabwe. It is a culture where we are a community. All of us: artists, non-artists and critics. We want to Push Zimbo music and help create a situation where everyone in Zimbabwe grows in awareness and appreciation for Zimbo music.

 

 How can we do that? By pushing each other. Retweet our promotional tweets... Help an ignorant Zimbo meet Zimbabwean music. Our country's music won't get better if we don't listen to it and if we don't know it. The moment we know it, our expectations grow... We learn to demand better from our artists and our industry becomes better.

 

The artistes also have a part to play here. This I especially for artistes who o genres like Hip Hop and RnB; you guys have to stop making stable hits! What are these? The hot songs you make just to ascertain your position at your studio or stable without actually PUSHing it out onto the market. How many people have music that hasn’t left the studios they work t or their close circle of friends and family? That has to change, let us make noise with our music.

 

So let us push the unknown artistes to the forefront and build or break them down; praise them or send them back to the drawing board.

 

C'mon guys! Let us follow links, download tracks, stream for those with jobs where they can...

 

Let us and help us P.U.S.H