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SHORT CUTS TO HEAVEN - DID WE MAKE IT THERE OR NOT?

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First of all I would like to start by apologizing, this post was supposed to have been published A LONG TIME AGO! But as they say life happens when you’re not expecting it. When I wrote my first draft of this it was during the time we were doing the Zim Hip Hop Awards Best Album of the Year Category Review. It was quite the experience where we learnt that the process of creating content and getting it out there the right way is not as easy as the click of the button. I also have to raise my hand up and acknowledge that I also never thought the artists themselves would check us out, let alone give us feedback. WHY YOU ASK? Cyden and I are not journalists and we are industry outsiders basically we are just two guys music lovers with opinions. So thank you and Noble Stylz, R Peels, Tulk Munny and the man I am writing about P.O.Y aka Mr. Proud of You. I cannot forget all those around us who have also given feedback. I started this journey and this blog because as music lover...
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THE INSIDE STORY OF GREATNESS - IS HIS ALBUM REALLY BETTER THAN YOUR ALBUM

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William Shakespeare once said “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them” . I think it is safe to say that when listening to to this album, “Noble Stylz” was; at least to me a first time listener, expressing some form of greatness. According to online articles, from day one, or more accurately from releasing his debut album Prince Butawo aka Noble Stylz has always seen, spoken and behaved like a man who knew the extent of his ability and the rest of the world was playing catch up. He broke on to the scene in 2013 with his debut album “Masofa Panze” , which in an interview he stated: “ The idea of naming my album “Masofa Panze” is derived from our African culture of putting the couch outside whenever a funeral occurs. So in the Zimbabwean hip-hop circle I am killing the game, it is a mass murder I am bringing” [1] . It didn’t end there he took shots at MMT [2] , a group that had a breakout year in 2013. From then on he has never loo...
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CHEPAJECHA – THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF THE COMMON MAN

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From StarKidz to Studio263 to Hip Hop artist, Tulk Munny has had quite a journey. When I turned to listen to this album my research the album seemed to suggest this album came out in 2016 but it was nominated in 2017. So on the note of getting nominated in 2017, I will have to assume that it may have come out too late to be considered in 2016, in conjunction with the assumption that this is in alignment with the way Zim Hip Hop Awards do their thing. I must also express my disappointment that the album is not readily available online on streaming services or ready for purchase on popular online music stores such as Apple Music. So I had to rely on the playlist of the album I found on the Youtube Channel ‘Ziscography’. So in writing this review I will to my detriment have to assume the 13 tracks I listened to are the entire album but I may be wrong. I will also have to assume the order in which I listened to them is the order of the album which I must note is available for...
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THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE – ZVIRIEVABEAUTIFUL

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Bruce Mungoyo, a.k.a “R-Peels”, in a 2014 interview with Marshall Zivashe Muchenje, a.k.a “Sharky” , R Peels passionately declared that he wanted to, “ ensure that people release real rap that consists of real life issues that people can relate to, make quality videos and support young, passionate rappers by signing them” [1] . So when it came this latest project, it comes as no surprise that he declared his debut album as the best album of 2017 [2] . Coming into the album as Bad Cop, my ears were tingling ready to hear some real music. The album opens up with the track Intro- “Mazuva Ose” , drawing from typical but famous sounds of urban grooves, a marimba, a keyboard and an acoustic guitar. I immediately had some reservations as I wondered whether R-Peels could scale the lofty heights of the genre. Lyrically, R-Peels does a great job dedicating the album to his late grandmother and aunt, whilst also boldy claiming the revered label of classic. In light of such a...
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THE FEELING AIN'T FEAR – TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY - A MISGUIDED JOURNEY OF ASSUMPTION AND EXPECTATION

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I'm gonna be honest, I listened to this album around the time it was released. In fact this one of the first albums I wrote a written review for Good Cop. But, that’s another story for another day. Lemony Snicket once said this about assumptions, “ Making assumptions simply means believing things are a certain way with little or no evidence that shows you are correct ...” So here’s what I knew for sure going into the album, Tehn Diamond....Akward Right....I had listened to his “reverbnation” page, his debut solo album a few good poems and watched the video for the song No Stress. Personally, as Bad Cop I did not believe the hype so when the Few Kings dropped their sophomore album (i.e. second album) I was not expecting much and I assumed the worst. I know....I know.....I know......it’s not looking good at all. So I press play and I’m hearing acoustic drums, electric bass, lead guitars, synth piano and other synth sounds. Honestly, I thought I was listening to an album from...
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SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT REVIEW - TRIP ZEAL OPEN YOUR MIND

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Hello Zimbabwe, So a while back before we had done the reviews of the nominated Good Cop and I realised that whilst there are artists who are recognized on the bigger stages we also wanted to find and listen to what's bubbling under the surface. We decided to call this the spotlight because we wanted you to hear music from artists you probably never heard. Our first spotlight review goes to Tanaka Nyashanu aka Trip who released his second mixtape ZEAL - Open your mind. Good Cop and I were caught off guard by this mixtape because for some one we have not heard of, Trip put together a great project that is definitely being slept on in the streets. Trip through out the mixtape showcases great sense of rhythm and skill. His stable ZimKings must also be commended for producing some great tracks. Although the tracks were to good to be true as we did not see any producer credits. The stand out tracks were Shine, Deceiving, Let em Know, Purple Haze and On...
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THE SOCIAL ALBUM THAT NEVER WAS - STRAY BULLET

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As far as concepts go the album cover and the title were a great start. Just for definitions sake, according to Wikipedia “ A stray bullet is a bullet that, after being fired from a gun, hits an unintended target” [1] . I must say for me as Bad Cop t he elephant in the room that is 2017 introduced us to Desmond Chideme and as long as you didn’t live under a rock, in the middle of the bundu and had absolutely no access at all to any form of media you heard about the drama. The question is of all the shots fired directly or indirectly at Stunner who were the innocent victims, who are the people who didn’t see it coming and what are the long lasting effects of what happened? Without hearing a single second of the album, I was personally intrigued with vast possibilities that such a concept provided. I mean was Stunner about to tell Zimbabwe WHAT REALLY HAPPENED over some great tunes. For me it definitely seemed like it because in an interview Stunner said the album was “a ...
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