SHORT CUTS TO HEAVEN - DID WE MAKE IT THERE OR NOT?
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, I love the entire process of music creation from
when the producer plays the first key to when the artist brings the music to
life with words. So this will be my last post that doesn’t at least incorporate
a look into the creation behind the album’s we review. It will also be the
beginning of sharing my honest opinions, whether I’m right that’s not up to me,
it’s up to you the reader.
It goes without saying that P.O.Y is a veteran in Zim Hip Hop and this
goes as far back as 2001. So I was excited to listen to another seasoned
artist. In one interview he explained the concept of the album stating “I believe heaven is a
state of being, a state of total happiness and fulfilment. So imagine if there
was a quick way to get to Heaven like a short cut so that’s the underlying
concept to my album. For me the tracks are short cuts to my heaven because
making and listening to them gives me a feeling of total happiness and
fulfilment. I hope it will do the same for others when they listen to the album”[1]
He also went on to describe the album as going through his
journey from beginning to end. He states that “The intro is Genesis and
the outro is called Revelations. When you listen to the album you go through my
journey from beginning to end. I play with different sounds from Naija beats to
Trap Soul. I also sing a lot on the album. As an artiste I believe in evolving,
I never remain the same, I grow and change and reinvent”[2].
The opening track P.O.Y Genesis intro, is a mood and atmosphere setter a teaser of what is yet to come. I
was ready for what was to come. So when the next track Get Out The Way comes in with some hard knocking trap vibes, I was
definitely nodding and throwing a couple milly rocks. P.O.Y’s flow was nice on
the track and as far as I was concerned he was off to a perfect start. On the
next track Papi Mason, he switches
it up to singing about chasing that money something we all do. But I’ll be
honest, I had only had one issue with the track. I wasn’t convinced by the singing
not because it was bad I just wasn’t sure that’s actually him singing
#GhostSingers. This most probably boils down to the fact I never heard or knew
the brother could sing in the first place. On the next track MumaStreets, a bass knocking beat,
where P.O.Y shares a pretty cool message talking about hustle of many young
people who find themselves taken to the streets of most major cities in Zimbabwe
to make a living. BUT I wanted more from P.O.Y it felt to laid back for the
message. I wanted to be inspired on some real J Cole levels. The next track P.O.Y Godly Interlude, P.O.Y declares
that he chooses not to walk in the presence of the ungodly and that it’s a
choice we all have to make. So it was obvious on the next track P.O.Y Sinner, a ominous slow trap beat, he goes deeper and shares his
struggles. I must commend him for opening up because I always appreciate an
artist who can let the world know about themselves. He once again chooses to
sing, and I'll be honest as a drake fan the singing had not grown me, but that’s
just me. I also once again felt like he held back I wanted more but I know that
might be too much to ask. In a total switch up of vibe and tempo the next track
Love U, an up tempo afrobeat which I thoroughly enjoyed
but it caught me off guard given the previous deep context, I wasn’t ready.
On the next track P.O.Y Totem
Poles (interlude), a banging beat which felt like he was announcing a hard
section declaring that he’s got God flows. I was like okay Mr Proud of You let’s
hear what you got. This section kicks off with P.O.Y Wisha, an urban grooves vibe beat, definitely a party song. But
the party was too short for me because I found myself slowing down again on P.O.Y Dreams Interlude, which I believe
was aptly named because, he returns to the party vibe on P.O.Y Gin, a dj mustard/yg inspired beat. Then came the moment when
he decides to drop the mic on the next track P.O.Y Animal, another hard knocking beat, P.O.Y goes in on the track. He memorably takes shots at the claiming to
be the Kings and takes issue with the Zim Hip Hop Awards. I smell a beef. At
this point I was like where’s Meek Mill when you need him.
Then comes in John 14, a dark old school beat where the
P.O.Y I have heard before comes, the BATTLE RAP P.O.Y comes in and he is dropping
solid rock bars. So when Les Bigger,
an awesome head banger, comes through I was finally excited to hear P.O.Y show up
and show off but in the blink of an eye it's over. In comes P.O.Y Revelations Outro and it’s all
over.
So overall, the album was too short of a short cut. From what I heard
on tracks 12, 13 and 14 I felt like P.O.Y could
have really killed it. Although choosing to evolve I also felt that it was not
necessary for him. Someone once said “You
evolve not by seeking to go elsewhere but by paying attention to, and
embracing, what's in front of you.” So I
feel like in a world where lyricists are on top of the world I know P.O.Y can go
in and give us a great album.
My favourite tracks were Love u and Less Bigger. I would give the
album 5/10 only because I wanted so much more.
Peace and Love
Zim's Music Investigator
[1]
http://www.chronicle.co.zw/music-is-my-short-cut-to-heaven-says-poy/
[2]
http://www.chronicle.co.zw/music-is-my-short-cut-to-heaven-says-poy/
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