Album Review: Sharky - Take Back The Land

Sharky is currently the best Zim Hip Hop has to offer, his 2016 album Soko Matemai was awarded the best Hip Hop album of the year and it deserved that gong, did a review of the album you can check it out here: Soko Matemai Album Review. Now a year after the release of Soko Matemai Sharky has released a follow up album and for someone who loved his 2016 offering I was very much looking forward to his new project.

Sharky is not one to brag or hog the limelight but he let's his work speak for him and I respect him for that. Coming into this album there are a lot of expectations I have, the major question is how it will compare to the awesome Soko Matemai. One major change I have observed is that the album contains less tracks than the previous album and that's a good move because I feel an artist must just present to us the best of the lot and not insert pointless interludes just to beef up the track-list. Going straight to the point make an album more compact and fulfilling to listen to. So now let's get into the album, have given myself some time to listen to the album and will be sharing my views and thoughts:

As usual will be doing a track by track review:

1. K!ng

The intro track starts with an interview, whereby another artist is appreciating the talent Sharky possesses and predicts that he will become one of the best rappers on the continent. Sharky takes it from there proclaiming that he is the King and he is on top of the game. Currently Sharky is at the top of the Hip Hop game and such proclamations are understandable. The track is also well produced, it has a grand feel to it, the crowd hyping Sharky up at the beginning signaling that even the fans are behind him. The vocal loops, ad-libs, guns shots are all well implemented and the end result is one daring song.

2. #2
This track remind me of Drake's Started From The Bottom, its structured in a similar way, probably it was inspired by Drake's mega-hit. Regardless the production is done quite well. Sharky continues on a bragging tip and on this track he is saying whenever he comes through he shuts its down. He is proclaiming that this second album is going to shut down all the haters, all who did not believe will believe. Quite a bold proclamation.

3. Henaro

Sharky is reflecting on his journey to the top whilst continuing on the bragging tip. He is saying he has too much sauce (swag, talent) for him to remain unnoticed. Sharky showcased his unmatched talent of switching between deep Shona and English on this track whilst delivering some good bars. The arrangement of the track will please trap fans, its arranged in a modern way. To prevent the song being similar to a lot of generic trap song they added a lot of variations to the instrumental and it worked, love the humming part in the end.

4. Homu Homu (feat Italist)

Now this is the Sharky that made me believe that Zim Hip Hop has a bright future, the song ended before I even wanted it to end, it's just that good. Sharky is at his most daring on this track and is answering the major question many Zimbos ask; "Where is Zim Hip Hop?". A question which he answers by saying whoever asks such a question just direct them to Soko and he will take care of that. Love how he addresses the fact that many people always say music was better in the past days: "Kare kwaiva nani coz I wasn't there?!?!". He doesn't address the fans only but he also shot down all the other rappers who claim to be pushing local hip hop to the next level; "Madhara ari persisten it's okay but how could you release such an album uhhhmmm...." In summary this jam is filled with super bars and shots. The track has a dancehall vibe to it which helps in creating a gangsta feel, it's filled with energy and its well produced. Italist gave a solid performance, loved his dancehall/rap style. Sharky was at his best on the verses and hooks, dropping bar after bar, shot after shot!!!!!. What I love the most is that whilst claiming that Hip Hop is not dead Sharky also delivered a song and performance that proves his words...two birds with one stone. Super Tune.

5. Make Up Your Mind

This track has a engaging feel to it, the keyboard creates this sort of wave that sweeps and serenades you into a introspective/reflective mood. The vocal loops in the background also adds to that lost in thought kind of mood and all those elements combine to create one super lovely instrumental. This is a rare love song from Sharky. On this track he is asking his girl to make up her mind, she cannot be liking him one day and despise him the other day, she should decide whether she wants him or not rather than tease him and leave him hanging. Sharky goes on to accept that he is also difficult and has also made some bad decisions during the course of their relationship which he is sorry for and is willing to amend his ways given a chance. Relationships are a tough thing and this track will be a soundtrack for many. Sharky again delivered a solid performance.

6. Side To Side

Sharky continues on the love tip on this feel good jam, its the lightest jam on the whole album. On this track Sharky is talking to this lady who is driving him crazy and has him deciding that he does not want to be single anymore. The track is also well produced, love the bass line, whoever was in charge of the bass guitar did a lovely job. Sharky was playful on this track which fits the theme very well.

7. Kwete 

This track was an experiment. Sharky is aiming at exploiting the beauty of mismatch, finding beauty in disorder and it worked. I'll liken this track to eating a lemon where you get a weirdly satisfying sensation from its sour taste and but as you keep on eating the sourness starts to fade. As you listen to this track you start at "What is this??" to; "its not that bad " then; "its actually good" then; "its different,  I like it". Its artistic but the mismatch makes it hard to follow both the lyrics and the instrumental all at once (at first) . This song speaks about an old proverb that says "nhamo yemumwe hairambirwe sadza" which means; someone's problems doesn't stop you from living. However that proverb in a way promotes selfishness so Sharky is countering it with another old proverb; "Kutsva kwendebvu varume vanodzimurana" meaning in troubles we must all help each other. So combined he saying, yes someone else's troubles doesn't stop you from living but you must help where you can because next time you may be the one in trouble. Love the last part of the song, it gets into sort of a trance.

8. Ndambakuudzwa

A lovely and emotionally provocating guitar strum ushers you into this track and it serenades you throughout the track. All the other instruments are structured in a way that they support the guitar and not overpower it, lovely production. Sharky is advising those people who disregard advice, whilst set in their ways thinking they know best. He is preaching the importance of exercising caution among fellow brethren for they may ruin their futures with their pride and hardheadedness. Sharky also delivered a solid performance and one can hear the concern in his voice.

9. Issa Melanin

Was expecting many songs like this one when the album title was announced. On this track Sharky is addressing the effects colonization had on us Zimbos. How it disadvantaged us and now we are not able to create a stable future for our children and grandchildren as we are always playing catch up. The production is done well and Sharky was in his Detembo mood throughout the verses whilst painting the bleak reality many of us face because of colonization.

10. Ndarira
Always wondered if Sharky can actually play the mbira or it was just for creating the image he wanted and this track finally answered that question. The mbira is a powerful 100% African instrument and it speaks to the inner person. When it is played well like on this track it's relaxing and throws one into a reflective mood and before long you will find yourself bumping your head to the rhythm. Inserting such a piece in a hip hop album is a big no for nearly all the other artists but with Sharky it works because of the image he has built over the years.

11. Family
Sharky continues to serenade us with the mbira which constitutes the larger part of the instrumental with the hosho being the only other instrument used on this track. This track is a conversation between a husband and wife. On the first verse the wife is complaining to her husband, highlighting how irresponsible he is, he spends all the money at the bar with his friends without giving a thought about his family. On the second verse the husband is responding and he acknowledges his shortcomings, accepting that he was wrong whilst also giving his "reasons" for the way he acted and in the end he vows to change and immediately starts to amend his actions. On the third verse it's Sharky's perspective where he is contemplating if he will ever get married and what kind of father he will be given he grew up without a father and concludes by vowing that he will be try by all means to be a responsible father. Sharky delivered a passionate performance which helped give the track the emotional edge it required.

12. Far Away
We switch from the mbira to a dancehall fused kind of instrumental (which reminds me of this other track which I cannot seem to remember at the moment). Sharky continues on the social commentary tip on this track where he is addressing how hard it is now for the people of our generation to achieve our dreams. The playing field is unequal, there is a lot of corruption and nepotism to the extent it's hard to make something for yourself. The government has failed to provide opportunities for the youth and that is leading to drug abuse and many other negative decisions by the youth in-order to make ends meet. Those in office instead of creating jobs and drafting strategies for national development just want exploit the youth for their political agendas. This track is the cry of every young Zimbabwean. Sharky is very emotional on this track, as a young Zimbo he is also experiencing the challenges and injustice that young Zimbos are facing and such situation must be addressed loudly and with emotion.

13. Take Back The Land

Sharky continues on his fight against inequality and abuse on this track but instead of just highlighting the issues he is urging young people to rise up and take back the land, take back our future, take back our jobs. Those in power have been taking us for granted, doing whatever they want with our future, giving opportunities to the Chinese instead of availing those opportunities to the youth. The country is rotten from the fundamentals and there is need to take back our future and rebuild it or else we will remain in poverty for generations to come. This track ...well this is not a track but Sharky is venting out his frustrations at those in power and those Zimbos who seem to not see the oppression occurring all around them. After about 6 and a half minutes of venting Sharky cools down as the calming keyboard work takes over from the angry heaves that underlined the anger in the first 6 minutes of the track but the message remains the same. As he signs off he critics the Born Free statement, citing there is nothing Free in this world, such a Born Free mentality is causing young Zimbos to be passive and get taken advantage of, the youth have power and we must realize it. Powerful...with the 2018 Presidential elections coming, its a chance for the youth to Take Back The Land and start rebuilding our nation and future.

Stream the album: Take Back The Land on Spotify

Buy and Download the Album: Take Back The Land on iTunes

In overall this is a very well made and put together album, its very solid, more solid that last year's Soko Matemai in fact. The instrumentals are well structured and are sounding very good, the producer(s) did a splendid job on this album. The quality of the songs and overall feel of the album is just superb, the best of any local hip hop album I have listened to, to date. Sharky was solid throughout the album, he showcased his unique rapping style and added the correct emotion when required. We also got some love jams from Sharky...that's new and welcomed, it shows he is expanding as an artist.

By now you can see how impressed I am with this album but it's not perfect, from the title I expected a lot of politically charged tracks and there are just three..out of all the 13 songs!!! ( Issa Melanin, Far Away and Take Back The Land ), the title is a misleading. Another thing is that the album lacks a story-line, it not really a deal-breaker but a story-line makes the album more enjoyable to listen to as a whole. Lastly and this is a future worry; this album contains more self praise songs (K!ng, #2, Henaro & Homu Homu) compared to the last album which had even more songs so I dearly hope that we do not get to a situation whereby the next Sharky project consists of 50+% self praise songs and few social & political commentary songs even if the tracks sound as awesome as Homu Homu, they must be kept at a minimum.

My overall rating: A,B,C,Poor

In conclusion this album will definitely again be nominated among the best Hip Hop albums of the year, the only artist I can see releasing a project that can compete is ASAPH and i'm now turning my attention to his next project, Sharky pake asakura azunza. And to answer Sharky's proclamation on track two #2, yes this second album definitely shuts it down.

What are your thoughts on the album???

Proud_Zimbo