January Rap Jumpstart
Happy New Year reader, your favorite rap and hip hop column is back. January is normally a month many people use to reset. The month has started with lots of great music from veterans like King Kska and Chef 187 and newbies like Sodough Doss. Vinc On The Beat assembles an A-list team to talk about prudent use of money,a departure from the usual spendthrift image of rap. Mwana FA shares the same sentiments,doling out uncomfortable truths alongside Bongo Star Harmonize in his latest. We've included other artists as well;people with interesting sounds and approaches to making music. Press play and enjoy.
Tu Come - G Nako ft Femi One
Tanzanian dancehall artist G NAKO, steps out of his comfort zone, featuring Kenyan femcee Femi One. The soft dancehall instrumental is compatible with both artists, allowing them to perform with melodic flows. Tu Come is a love song with heavy sexual messaging that is mostly emphasized as the phrase has a double meaning. The singers arrange their verses to mirror a conversation . In this conversation, two lovers try to plan a visitation with sex as the ultimate goal. Thus the genius of the song- it employee’s euphemism not to be less vulgar, but to be less obvious. The performance method used by the artists is not strange to East Africans as it has its roots in Ngonjera, a genre of classical Swahili poetry. In this genre, a duet is performed by two poets , who represent personas with different views- the conflict. The conflict is normally resolved when one party manages to convince the others to change their opinion. This style of poetry has been adopted by modern day East African pop stars. Femi One herself had a viral hit song in 2020 with gengetone rapper Mejja using the same formula.
Pesa Onge - Vinc on the Beat ft Breeder LW, Joefes, Katapilla, Trio Mio
Vinc on the Beat is proving himself to be a hit maker. The awarded super producer beings together an A list cast of some of the hottest rappers in Kenya right now, for this anthem Pesa Onge.The title is a Luo phrase meaning - there is no money, but that is as much of the language that is used all the rappers, including Vinc, perform their verses in Swahili or Sheng. The song is timely capturing the zeitgeist of a Kenyan society feeling the pinch of an economic recession. Inflation and higher taxation are current realities many a listener can identify with. The song also subverts a common hip hop trope - flaunting of wealth.The rappers scorn the pressure to live lavish lifestyles instead of investing and bettering futures. Katapilla, an Odibets Challenge prize winner of 1 Million KES, ,deives this point home in his verse.Trio Mio prefers the stingy title as long as it makes him avoid giving away capital to good for nothing. Mbuzi Gang's Joefes advices in prudence when dealing with women and finances- a staple talking point in the red pill masculinity movement that is gaining popularity. Global trends also show a willingness by Gen Z to be more careful with money and a willingness to explore investment options at earlier ages than previous generations. This song truly speaks for the streets.
Danger In Space - Zeji
Zeji has been one of the most consistent independent East African artists of 2022. The Japan based rapper has a strong identity within melodic rap, a subgenre that has taken the back seat as drill minds the popularity wheel. Ironically, he is part of a growing school of East African rappers who have embraced the psychedelic trap sound- a sonic movement that incorporates characteristics from rock music into hip hop. The instrumental is keyboard led, with an electric guitar played for a rage effect. The producer then subtly switches the beat during the second verse, letting a softer guitar lead,as background sounds like breaking glass and heavy breathing accompany it. The song is a hustle anthem ,the rapper declaring that he chases the paper signs and does what he wants to. It is quite interesting how he mentions self determination and agency in the same breath as "money signs'' a subtle jab at the growing popularity of horoscopes and zodiac spirituality and how some adherents have factored it in making financial decisions. The persona seems to have a low regard for superstition ,instead proposing economic empowerment and investing as more rewarding and fulfilling.
Sio Kwa Ubaya - Mwana FA ft Harmonize
Mwana FA is a Tanzanian and East African hip hop veteran,commanding respect from peers and admiration from the new cats. He has largely shaped the sound and culture around Bongo hip hop for decades. Sio Kwa Ubaya is performed on a jazz inspired instrumental that heavily borrows from the Ghanaian highlife genre. Although it is not a sound most nostalgic fans would associate him with, he has delivered comfortably. The MC is dynamic enough to switch it up and experiment with this slow and chill beat. It allows him to put across his musings, a series of life truths he feels must be said. although uncomfortable. He talks about hard work,patience and prudence in life. He opens with an uncomfortable line 'hela sio matako,kila mtu anazo' setting the tone for the song. He ridicules a society greedy for money, despite the fact that not everyone can be rich. He proposes that after hard work, whatever one gets should feel sufficient. He also explores the other side of the coin- stating that having money and being self sufficient is aspirational and attainable. Harmonize performs his own verse on top of the chorus. He uses a melodic flow, changing cadences beautifully as he sings about how he hustles for what he has, and does not entertain distractions.
GOONS - Razorman
If someone told you of a hip hop song called GOONS, you'd be within your wits to assume it is a gangster rap song. But Razorman's version is not, in fact it is a chill lo-fi song that has nothing to do with crime and everything to do with relaxation. In the hook he sings,"on the stage rocking with my goons, me and the guys taking it easy". The party song is a call to take life easy, to surround yourself with people that care about you and to celebrate the small wins with them. The instrumental is decidedly an R&B lo-fi beat,with modified drumming that gives a vibrant party-friendly vibe. The artist delivers in a laid back manner,keeping the integrity of the genre. He leverages his deep voice to create a different world,a funky dance floor that does not feel like any mainstream dancefloor. It is in the way he passed his verse, starting slowly and increasing the speed to a crescendo ,before dropping a lulling hook. Razorman is very much part of the vibrant alte scene in Nairobi ,and it is exciting to see him do a hip hop number for a subculture that is heavily R&B oriented.
Break The Rules- 13lado
Canada based artist 13lado's Break The Rules captures rhe essence of the modern street rap song.The instrumental is decidely emo,using a mellowed melody created from a keyboard.A series of light drums overlap each ither,accompanied by trap 808's. Thematically the number addresses the emotional pain and psychological effects of living in low income neighbourhoods- a defining charaxhteristic of modern street rap in North America. The song is an emotional rillercoaster talking about fluctuating moods that could be youthful rebellion at best when he says 'F*ck the world too, imma break all the rules ' or nihilism when he says ', I have nothing to lose'. He mentions drug use as an escape,yet still leaves room to hope that the current suffering will make him stronger, turn him into a man .The cadence and flow is entirely melodic,and it feels like it wouldn't have worked any other way.
Nitarudi - Maandy ft Savara
When Maandy announced she was working on a song with Sauti Sol's Savara, her fans were excited. Her journey has been interesting to watch, moving from strength to strength. Starting her year strongly with a Savara feature.Although she uses a beat from Metro Suka Doba ,a producer she is fond of working with, she steps out of her comfort zone. The instrumental is decidedly R&B/Afropop with soft 808s that gives it hip hop undertones. A soft guitar leads, while synthesized electric melodies complement it.The drumming is superb, a mainstay of the song. One would dare say it gives the song identity, pacing it,separating beat cycles and sections as well as setting its rhythm. The song is a simp tune, as Maandy assumes a persona that readily admits she would go back to a lover that has cheated on her. The persona stresses that she wants the relationship to work because of love and not naivety. She humorously comments "me ni fala nitarudi", calling herself a fool for believing in love. She also hints that a steamy sexual chemistry is one of the factors that contributes to this unconditional love. Savara assumes a bad boy persona, stating that he knows his playboy ways will always win his victim over. The song, while attempting to paint the picture of a woman who is helplessly in love with a problematic playboy, runs the risk of being cliche at best and reinforcing negative stereotypes. There is a case to be made for forgiveness in relationships, but offering unconditional forgiveness on the basis of a strong love is a disempowering message. The good girl who falls in love with a bad boy is outdated, and the way Maandy represents it in the song does not feel nuanced . All in all , the track is her attempt at emo afropop, and would be a great addition to simp playlists.
Like That - DJ Gibbzy
DJ Gibbzy's latest number shows he is a dynamic rapper. Like most young new skool Tanzanian rappers, he'd rather try out as many sub-genres and sounds the hip hop buffet can offer instead of sticking to one.The Chin Bees, Rosa Ree’s and Brian Simbas mix it up all the time. Like That is an emo trap song whose beat features a lot of string instruments and light drumming patterns .
The rapper seeks to justify his callousness and detachment in romantic relationships. He tells the story of a previous relationship that left him hurt and scarred. He looks at vulnerability as a weakness that hurt him because he was naive- suggesting moving on without attachment makes one stronger.This kind of reasoning has dominated maso- centric love songs, legitimizing the quick dumping of partners,a mentality that has been called toxic. Instead of working in their healing , the persona chooses to hurt others instead.
No Cap - Sodough Doss
Sodough Doss is the newest signee under Zoza Nation, the label that houses rap trio Wakadinali and femcee Dyana Cods. Wakadinali announced the drop of the debut album ,Seek via their social media pages. The label seems to be pursuing a strategy that involves leveraging Wakadinali's fame to curve a fanbase for the up and coming rapper. The album heavily features Wakadinali and has even been published on the group's DSP accounts. That being said, Sudough has gotten hip hop heads talking, as he has stamped his identity within the project. The beat selection for the album is well done, and they are pooled from different producers. The rapper has shown he is as comfortable on an Ares 66 beat as that of Luigi, two producers from different generations. No Cap is one of the stand out tracks from the project,and a favorite amongst the growing fanbase. It brings out the best attributes of the rapper; a flow that is musical and dynamic as well as his interesting lyricism. The song is a statement from the rapper announcing himself to the game. He talks about his work ethic, his respect for hip hop and love for the culture. He chooses an old skool inspired Luigi beat ,delivering with a medium pace, making his words as clear as possible. He approaches hip hop in a fundamentalist way, trying to be technical with his delivery ,in the mold of an Asum Garvey or HR the Messenger. He is comfortable with switching up between English and Swahili in a way that most emcees haven't quite mastered yet.
Pettyson Daka- Chef 187
Chef 187 started off the year with an album drop. The Zambian crooner released Broke Nolunkumbwa in the second week of the year, a project that approaches various themes armed with satire. Pattyson Daka is a love song performed by a persona that is too proud to be vulnerable .Instead he finds mistakes, priding himself in being petty. The intro to the song is a skit of someone leaving a voice message, to explain why they are mostly unavailable. The conflict between the persona and his lover comes from the lack of proper communication, something he is not ironically aware of. The title is a play on the name Patson Daka, an accomplished Zambian footballer who plays for the English Premier League side Leicester. The song celebrates him, likening his star power to that of the rapper performing it.The verses are cleverly written ,Chef employing double entendre to keep the main storyline of the song but also to talk to his fans,to celebrate his achievements. The phrase 'no moreMr Nice' is repeated in the chorus ,communicating the mood as no nonsense. Ultimately the braggadocious nature of the song and energetic trap instrumental could make it fit for a work out playlist.
