M. Rumbi Shows There's More To Love, Life and His sound On "Not All That"

I must admit that as a first time listener of M.Rumbi, the experience was unexpected and new in a mind blowing fashion. It's that new experience that you have  to go through as a child taking its first steps, completely oblivious of its previous life.My first reaction was to label the project boring. This is because unlike most hiphop artists that make  hard ,banging and high energy music, M.Rumbi made music that on the first listen sounds laid back and chill. But it's not all that! Trust me.

M.Rumbi is a Kenyan artist residing in Blomfentein, South Africa. He is a product of two worlds, a home to which he feels a great sense of belonging, and a residential address from which he draws a lot of inspiration.He is a "SoundCloud" rapper - a label some may find problematic, but is really a compliment. It is an unsigned rapper, working to consistently put music out there and depends on nothing but merit to get to the top of the game. That is the one thing that stands out about this particular artist.

In this project he delivers his bars unlike other rappers out there. They are delivered in a unique way, that stands out. As I pointed out, the songs are not high tempo or high energy. However they are crafted with real lyricism- in the sense that the artist chose to focus more on the lyrics than with making hits or club songs. His prowess further astonishes when you realize how smoothly he switches from English to Swahili within the same verses and vice versa. All this is effortless as if it was one language. But changing languages isn't the whole story about M.Rumbi's technique. Rapping over beat switches, and switching his flow is also executed. 

Not All That is a cleverly written and compiled EP that takes you first through a rollercoaster of  talented lyricism ,and then raw emotion and a stellar production quality. The cover art features a man, perhaps, holding a placard that is written: " Apparently, I'm not all that." This statement has then been used as a double entendre. First it is just a statement from which numerous word plays are derived from with lyrical wit. Like in the first song, Love, the rapper states," I need to distract from the fact that I'm not all that".

But what fascinates more is how the album’s title has been used to carry multiple meanings and that it fits into so many themes. On the first song, love is discussed, and the rapper admits, it's not as rosy as it is cracked up to be. That there are shortcomings from partners one may need to overlook. And on the 4th track, Not All That, he takes a dig at fame and a flashy lifestyle. He also says explicitly that relationships are not all about sex. Elsewhere he calls himself a great rapper, but he has problems too- so that his life is not all that it seems to be. 

However not all themes carry about them the irony or twist upon which this project is based. Love is addressed in a fair way. The theme of ambition and desire for a better future also comes out with no ambiguity. 

The production technique is very stellar. He deliberately created beats that are unique, un-orthodox, yet beautiful and calm, and meditative. They aren't simple either. Their complex nature is an art form many producers are yet to master or choose to abandon in favour of more hype, mainstream, market- friendly beats. Perhaps this is a partnership that is on the other side of the hip hop scene, an alternative underground sound dedicated to complexity as an art form and as a standard of excellence.

All in all, this is not your average hiphop project. It is an alternative sound that requires an open and attentive ear. The rapper may be reminiscent of a young version of J.Cole - not that I'm making a comparison. And I won't get ahead of myself here - but the way in which he is deliberately differentiating his sound and placing an emphasis on lyricism, one could not help but be reminded.

Stream Not All That here.