Kwela Initiative - Sound Of The City Album Review

Sometimes you need all hands on deck to move the mountain. This is what the Kwela Initiative aimed to do when they created their workshop titled, "Hip Hop vs The Community". Hip Hop in its nature is about challenging the status quo, shining the light on the ignored and overlooked aspects of community. This workshop was aimed at shing the light on the challenges that Hip Hop artists in the City were facing and finding a way to change the narrative. Bulawayo is gifted with many exciting rappers but on the national scale most of them are unknown, changing this narrative is the biggest challenge the creatives in the City face. 

The arts sector in Zimbabwe is heavily skewed towards Harare and its a tall order for Bulawayo (or any other City/Town) to even out the landscape. A lot of strategy and funding is required to do so. To succeed the whole city (artist, promoters, authorities and fans) have to stand together, they need to make so much noise that the whole nation stops and listens. For artists this means connecting with the people, singing for the people, use their music as the amplifier of the sentiment and way of life on the street. The fans must make noise about their artists in return, demand they be included on any big show that happens in the City as a condition for attendance, if they demand loud enough promoters will definitely take heed and that gives your top artists large enough platforms to grow and showcase their talent. Even the City council can pass a bylaw that for any show they will allow to be held in the city, a certain quota of the artists on the roster have to be from koBulawayo. To change the narrative its going to be a team effort, all stakeholders coming together to ensure a platform is  created and given to creatives from the city. 

Talking about team effort lets get back to the music and see how the group of artists on this project fared. Its pains me to think that when this current wave of Hip Hip was catching fire, Bulawayo artists were on the forefront, so much that it gave many Harare, producers, artists, radio presenters some sleepless night with the late Cal_Vin and ASAPHAFRIKA leading the charge but that momentum has faded and now the two cannot be compared. When ASAPHAFIKA released Kingsvilla Harare rappers stopped and took notice, they all knew the game had changed, the standard had been raised. When Vin battled with Jnr Brown the genre was set alight, it was a battle of giants, styles and Cities, the voice of the  koBulawayo was being heard and weighed using the same measure as that from the Capital. Painfully that has all faded and now the voice of Bulawayo is like a whisper that only a few who are attentive can hear, it needs to roar again. Hope this new project does that of its a first step to the City taking back its place as a equal player in the industry.

1. Zaka (RyZon, Salem Bhebhe, TBK, Stones Moyo, iSRAEL & Farai)

The first track on the a project is an introduction to KoBulawayo, the city, the dreams, the vibe. As you listen to the track one can feel the desire to succeed from the artists in the City. They are declaring that they are ready to fight for their place and success.  

2. Top Jita (MKBEATS, KidThrill, Curtis Dee Rovar, Philo Cliff, Fuel The Don & Indigo Saint)

All the rappers teamed up on this one to show the City of Kings is filled with Top Jita's, its one of those tracks are a showcase of unity in the city, its aimed at all those who look down upon rappers from koBulawayo, its a dare, a challenge to anyone who feels can keep up with them or keep them down. 

3. Walk By Faith (MKBEATS, Mike The Future & Swazy)

This track is a declaration that the Lord is your guide, you actions are based on your faith and in not what the eyes see. Its a track for all the believers, all those who put their trust and faith in the Creator. Did not expect gospel rap when I went into this project and this caught me by surprise. It well executed also. 

4. Burg (GhawdzillaDaBroducer, Philo Cliff, Farai & Curtis Dee Rovar)

Expected such as song, the one showcasing the beauty, the activity, the feel of the City. The track paints a vivid picture of the life in the City. KoBulawayo is not chaotic as Harare and this track does a excellent job in making you picture and feel the difference. The production is solid, love the instrumental of this jam, the arrangement in overall is superb. The artists were also on point, solid verses and bars. 

5. Sweety Lami (MKBEATS, Curtis Dee Rovar, CMK & iSRAEL)

This is a beautiful love story where one pledging their love and support to their partner and will ensure they are well taken care off. In a relationship you need to hype up your partner, let them know they mean the world to you and you're willing to fight for them. The track is produced well, the arrangement is solid, both the vocals and instrumental are on point. The artists delivered top performances. 

6. Awubambeki (Leemzy Beattz, GhawdzillaDaBroducer, Canvus Ports, Fuel The Don, CMK, Nswizwa Black)

Its always stressful being in a relationship where your partner is unsteady, when you cannot really see whether they are fully in or they are standing on the fence, dating someone who is distant emotionally. That stage where an a I love you feels like a lie. The track is well made, the log drum being put to good use. 

7. My Type (MKBEATS, CMK, TBK, Ganyaz Jr, Brintz & Fuel The Don)

This is a party track you sing along to when you finally find your type in the club, everyone has their type and one you spot your all you want is them close up with you as you have a good time. The track is well made, love the arrangement of this track, the kwaito vibe offers a refreshing vibe in this Amapiano saturated era. 

8. Another Day (GhawdzillaDaBroducer, RyZon, Farai, Philo Cliff & Swazy)

Life is just one day after the other, each day has its own issues and challenges but one must always strive to be the change, to do something positive/good each and every day. Actions accumulate so one must always push to continuously making the right choices, create a mentality of perseverance if you want to survive. The production and arrangement is done well. The artists delivered good performances. 

9. Mali Yephepha (GhawdzillaDaBroducer, RyZon, Stones, Salem, Mike The Future & AsaphAfrika)

This is a hustle anthem from the team, they got into this music game to get the cash, they need to make a living. Many artists end up cozying up to the rich mbingas just to make do but they are choosing to stand by their values their city in their search for success. The track is well made, the artists delivered solid performances.

10. Vuka (Fuel The Don, CMK, Nsizwa Black & Salem Bhebhe).

Wake up! Time is moving, you will get left behind. This track is a call to action to anyone who has point to prove in their life, life will never be fair the best you can do is to get up, show up and put in the work. 

11. Amaphupho (Leemzay Beatz, Fuel The Don, Nsizwa Black, Kereng & KidThrill).

The last track on the album is about pursuing your vision in life, living up to your aspirations. Each and every one of us has a vision of a future they desire and must work hard to give themself the best chance to achieve that vision despite any setbacks they will face along the way. 

So ya that's it for Sound Of The City from the Kwela Initiative team and I have to say it's quite a commendable project. 

First I have to applaud the team behind all of this Initaitive, AsaphAfrika and team what a solid job you did here. The selection of artists, the array of producers, is all well done and pulling off such a project is a big win on its own. 

The production of the album is good, all the producers (RyZon, MKBEATZ, GhawdzillaDaBroducer, Leemzy & Fuel The Don) who worked on this project all did solid jobs. Having different producers ensures the arrangements are diverse. On this project we get some trap, Chilled rap, Kwaito, Amapiano meaning you will find a sound you like and vibe to. My favorite productions on the project (Burg, My Type, Mali Yephepha & Sweety Lami) are a testament of what I have just said, they are all different sounds. One of the most impressive things about this project is the transitions, they revived that lost art of tracks feeding off into each other, I just love that style, having those interesting outros always grabs attention, it makes the listening experience more fulfilling. That transition from Walk By Faith to Burg is just gold ahh. Well planned outro transitions are arguably the best way to prepare the listener for a change in tempo or theme. The transition from My Type to Another Day is a great example of that. 

The main subject matter of this album is shining a light on the city, painting its beauty, its uniqueness and above all showcasing the hunger that creatives in the city have to succeed. Its a call to action to every young creative in koBulawayo to rise up and shine. The selected artist all performed well, loved the vocals of Nsizwa Black on the choruses, loved Curtis De Rovar's verses and style. It was my first time listening to over 90% of the artists on this project and I was quite impressed. 

My biggest complaint with this project is more about what's lacking from the production rather than what they did wrong. In this global village we now live in, its more important than before to have identity, at least just one element to differentiate your self from the rest. HipHop from koBulawayo needs to do so, for some time its feels like they are stuck between identities, they do not want to copy the sound from the Harare which is respect and support but then much of the music starts sounding like music from Mzansi and on top of that add the American elements it copies. So as much as one might enjoy some tracks when listening, nothing really stands out to the extend that it call you back to the project. They need to find something that even despite isiNdebele and Zulu sounding alike, there will be something that sets them apart. Look at how Sungura artists from Matebeleland differentiated themselves from Sungura from anywhere else in the country.

To conclude the review I have to say this has been a great initiative and hope it continues into the future. What is now needed is to also have some ambassadors who go out and put the music in various playlists all over the nation, those who ensure the music gets into the ears all over the nation. On the next project I hope we get more identity on the sound, they need a sound and songs that the whole City can rally behind, those that the whole city (and not a small section) is proud of, a song that becomes part of the social commentary in the City. Look at how that lozvambuka lomnyaka statement became a national statement, having a song that will have the same effect will do wonders for the creatives in the City. The success of modern music in the Capital and Zim as a whole was seeded during the Urban Grooves Movement era with groups such as Cahamhembe and Chigutiro leading the charge so I know a collective effort will bear some solid fruits. The Kwela Initiative is a great start, more work is required, it's the time to experiment and find the sound and vibe that will change everything. 

My Overall Rating: 6/10

Feel free to share your thoughts and views on the project.

Proud_Zimbo