THE RAP LAB RELOADED 2.0 13.06.2020
This is usually the BAA (BULAWAYO ARTS AWARDS) month, sadly this year, COVID-19 is mashing up the grind worldwide. Hopefully the organizers are putting something together to celebrate the city's arts and culture. Meanwhile, the industry is alive now more than ever with artists dropping new material left, right and centre. The world is still shook off the brutal face of racism and violence against black and brown people. The good thing is the conversation is being had and I wish we could say the same about Africa and tribalism. Ohhh well. On the other hand,
what is hip hop saying about social ills like these.
THIS WEEK ON THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE STREETS
Indigo Saint - HALLELUJAH
Indigo Saint seems to have no chill time with his words, every bar, verse or track is about kicking knowledge. He openly questions the fundamentals of faith tactfully asking questions that every grown man or woman has asked themselves but never openly shared. This is a beautiful piece that can't be compared to anything in modern day hip hop but transcends into the new age by virtue of delivery and style. He sat comfortably on the beat from jump to finish. And the hook....oh my word the hook, siyabonga!
Prozac ft. Orthodox Six and Calvin
The energy is level is high from the get-go. Prozac doesn't leave much for the emagination, very sexual with his metaphors and punchlines. He however displays a different side to him on this cypher, there's a bit of humor in his manner of delivery, the bars are beastly but the delivery has a mischievous hint of fun in it. A welcome surprise to his otherwise fed up approach. (Always tryng to kill a rapper... or two). This time he having fun while at it.
Calvin is not playing around on his verse. I call this verse "blood, sweat and tears". Paints a Graffic illustration of his trials and tribulations in the industry both as a rapper and an ordinary ghetto rapper. A mixture of battle rap and self-praise poetry.
Othordox Six seems to have eternally dedicated every first 8 bars of his raps to an ever evolving intro of himself and his mission in life to suffocate the rediculours misrepresentation of the art of emceeing. Never misses a bit when he spits and the precision of his metaphors hit the mark effectively on this one, garunteed to paralyze any MC entertaining thoughts to challenge. Thus, the conclusion of the cypher is garunteed to leave rappers back pedaling.
Overall, the cypher is a masterpiece on a perfect cypher beat. No loose ends. Terror!
Sugar Shayne - MAZE
Sugar Shayne has proven himself diverse in more ways than one. I thought he was a turn up Gqom dude, then that "Me" freestyle had me feeling like okay this cat belongs on #livebars and battle rap. Now on this one, he takes hip hop to the UK with what I found out is a new hip hop trend called drill. It's been around for a minute, some New York cats are vibing to it and I really didn't know what it was till I heard this track. The bars are dope and the beats are heavy. The attitude is unapologetic and the delivery is precise, no glitches. His confidence on the mic is impressive and I believe this here will shake a few faces off positions. It kind of gives Kingsville hip hop a new look and urge. Can't wait to see the visuals.
Mlue Jay - THULA ft. Cal Vin
Mlue Jay blended well with Calvin on this one, something between trap soul and hip hop. The collab tells the story of hope and resilience against all odds, a well arranged track with a kickback and relax mood. The hook and beats might depress you tho if you don't pay attention to the lyrics. It was after I heard the lyrics that I was reminded of Bone thugs n humorny. And that " live and overcome your trials and tribulations" theme blends well with the laid back beats. Something you can pump laid back and reflect your life to.
Martin Jonatao - CUDDLE ft Adrenaline and Thorne
Martin Jonatao is exactly what his music is. Humble but direct. It sounds like a turn up track when you first hear it but this dude is saying something here. This is a hit on every level in current hip hop trends and off course Adrenaline had no fancy words to waste. Straight to the point and ill with the bars. Gives the track a spin from the difficulties of relationships to difficulties of life in general but still on point with the theme.
This is an overall dope trap track.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Nsimbi One - AFRICA
ON WORD ON THE STREETS:
Cooper (Shut up and Groove) responds to Graham Planks
Last week on Word on the streets we concluded the
Lee_zie Taylor WhinQuin issue with the Quins saying they are way out of her league to beef with or even do a dis track for Taylor while she maintained that she was fed up of their subliminal shots and she is ready for whatever they wanna throw towards her. And that was that. Please note that the Lab does not cook up stories or rumors, we report them as is directly from the sources and we are not one sided we will always give you feedback from any involved parties.
That said, Graham Planks opened a can of worms last week accusing the Shut up and Groove mogul Dr cooper of unprofessional conduct and not fulfilling his contractual obligations. We reached out to Cooper and he expressed disappointment of the highest level that his efforts to help the upcoming artists are not being appreciated at all. In the Mogul's own words "as for Planks, I paid money to hip hop promoters to push his music and for him to get interviews amongst other moves to promote his music and brand which he is not aware of.
And as a part of SG, every article that he crafted for the label, he was paid for and there are statements to prove that and there is money that he was paid to do other services that he still hasnt done.
And there are ecocash statements that can prove that he was more than honoured financially. Cooper said, "we treat these kids like royalty but at the end of the day they treat us like trash.
On blasting back cooper said he wouldn't do that "I will just leave karma do deal with such people".
Graham Planks' music earned more than 710 views in less than a month in our youtube account", he said
"There is money he was paid to do services for the label and money I put up for him to do a battle against NguDoni but that didnt pan out, probabbly he was scared. After I personally instigated the beef myself to make sure it happens". Cooper said, I was told he was leaving SG through the grapevine, I am surprised that he is speaking ill behind my back but its no biggie, we'll terminate his contract with emmediate effect.
However, I have not recieved any fomal later of termination and thats why I thought everything was still cool.
And how he ended up terminating his contract on the Lab is simply a shady move to say the least, I gues the kid was just looking for attention from you and me" said Cooper. Artist recently signed to us include Chimzy ,kelly Gugu who has signed an exotic contract with Fabolouse Queens ,Dee nice from Hwange , Lip Saint who is currently in SA, Jft Beekay and other stables who have signed contracts for digital markerting. The label is thriving
right now and there are other contracts and artists in Harare who want to remain descreet.
Cooper said, " to me bad Publicity is just another form of publicity and I'm cool".
I am used to people who speak ill behind my back, its just that these kids expect more from me than what they are worth in the markert, but I have done justice because their families have not slept on an empty stomach under my watch. I aint saying I'm the best but I do the best to promote these kids then, at the end of the day I get issulted, I feel like my efforts have been rewarded with insults in the streets and for that I am very disappointed, and all who have bad mouthed me God is watching they wont archive anything in music but misery and poverty.
That's The Shut up and Groove mogul's response to Graham Planks. He says dude if you out, just be a man about it and officially terminate our contract instead of running to the press with accusations. And, all professionalism considered, where is yours in that?
For those of you that do not know.
SHUT UP & GROOVE EVENTS is a local (Zimbabwean) music promoters, producers and performers association based in Bulawayo. Its foundation is based on the ancestry of most of the climatic musical movements ranging from local to inter-national genres, remarkably. The organ strives to improve local levels of recognition for young and up-coming artists’ through-out the city and country as a whole. As such our forte is to create a basis between local artists whereas the best content and musical concepts are achieved within the local sphere to reach the international standards by year 2022.
Artist of the week
This week on the Royalty platform our Artist of the week is yoz truelly, the Ndaramu Trap king:
Fish F Ndaramu.
He says....I rebranded from Fish f McSwagg to Fish f Ndaramu recently to show the transition of my career in terms of content , brand management and corporate engagement. Fish f Mcswagg was cool, but too teen and playful like, But Ndaramu comes with industrial maturity and clearly means business.
Fish stayed in Nketa for 24years then moved to his own apartment in North end. Dude says he doesn't remember his first lay...what? Can yo believe DAT?
Currently he a single dude, no first lady, so ladies better get yo flex on real quick.
He doesn't have a local industry crush but he is heavily crushing on South African artist Kamo Mpela.
Fish f Ndaramu does not do Alcohol. He says.... Ngoba ngiyadaka ngisober, crazy!!!.
I wish to take over!!! And be an African Giant that will rap Zim and Ubuntu till I die!!!✊🏿✊🏿
I don't beef with no1 I mind my own business and stay in my lane and handle mine.
For those of you that didnt know, Fish F Ndaramus's real name is Utloanang Valela, he is Sotho by origin. He says, "my mom is Masiziba thats where I took the name Fish , also thats why my ep is titled ESizebeni
My fav Local Artist"" is Takura.
Hugely inspired by the hood he grew up in, his own life experiences and those around him. He says, " Albert Nyathi is also a great inspiration to me with how he managed to forge a mainstream career for himself while staying true to his roots".
On why he does Ndaramu trap he says I want to bridge the gap btwn the young and the old between the numerous tribes in our country. He says my music is meant to promote love and change the perspectives of people who think being proud of one's Zimbabwean roots is not cool. My greatest inspiration is love, love for one's self, and love for one another.
He says the aim of his music is to make people proud of who they are world wide.
Look out for the brand new EP Titled Esizibeni with 9Tracks.
Dropping on the 27th of June. And for these and more updates you can follow the Ndaramu trap king
He @fishfndaramu on all social media platforms and also the brand new track "Too much" is up on all online platforms , iTunes google play n spotify.
Last week on the Micnificent 5:
future hit prediction Kidd Ego - Ngeke
5. Gunx da Pharoah ft Prey yung and Vic Jita - Gabazi
4. J Dumza - Gcobha remix ft Muse and Gunx da Pharoah ( New Entry)
3. Sugar Shane - Me freestyle
2. Terry Tempo - Focused
1. Stenno ft Calvin - Mfowethu
THIS WEEK ON THE MICNIFICENT 5
5. GUNX DA PHAROH - GABAZI
4. SUGAR SHANE - ME
3. J DUMZA - GCOBHA (REMIX)
2. STENNO - MFOWETHU
1. TERRY TEMPO - FOCUS
Remember voting for the Micnificent 5 is done ONLY DURING THE SHOW every Saturday morning at 09:30am to 10:30am via Whatsapp 00263784323334. Catch the show on Khulumani Fm 95.0 if you out of range just go to Google play store and download the Khulumani Fm app and live stream
#hiphopcapital
@RapLab09
@ThorneLaroq
email:laroqthorne@gmail.com
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