adminTafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
MORE than 25 Zim dancehall artistes from the Sepp Records stable have come together on a compilation album titled “Tough Time Riddim” that is set to make a huge splash on the local dancehall scene.
Produced by DJ Kujay – whose real name is Kudakwashe Zumani – the album features prominent dancehall artistes like Ninja Lipsy who represents female chanters in the genre on the album with her single, “Shanya”, while other big names also featured on the project include Mostaff, Crystal, Trinta, TC Blacks and Demian Marcus.
According to DJ Kujay, the album is set to revolutionise the local dancehall scene since the lyrical content of the songs is more mature than what has come to be expected of most artistes in the genre.
“The lyrical content of the songs on this riddim is mature, more focused on real-life situations and we are happy that the established artistes who featured on this project showed the upcoming artistes the way to go and do things. This is one album that we are expecting to appeal to a cross-section of listeners and people of all ages,” he said.
Fellow music producer at the Hatcliffe-based studio, Shepherd Foya, said he was happy that Zim dancehall music was now headed towards some level of sanity in lyrical content and sound quality.
“We are beginning to match international standards inasfar as sound is concerned in this area, and also the misconception of dancehall as a sound for the wayward people is beginning to go away since the artistes themselves have realised that shallow lyrics that promote violence, sex and drugs do them no good,” he said.
Although the tracks on this album are all appealing, there are a handful that are set to make an impression especially “Kubatsira”, “Havasikuziva Zviri Kuiitika” and “Shanya”.
In “Havasikuziva Zviri Kuitika”, the artistes from Sepp Records make a bold statement that they are now ready to conquer the music industry, especilly with this riddim album.
“We decided to call it ‘Tough Time Riddim’ because as a studio and artistes we have come a long way but that cannot drag us back. This is the same spirit that people should cultivate in life,” Foya said.
Foya groomed “Tough Time Riddim” producer Kujay, who started off as a singer way back in Chinhoyi where he was born on September 26, 1989. “To me, Sepp Records is like a school of music since a lot of artistes and music producers including myself, were groomed there. Levels – one of the country’s leading dancehall music producers – also came through the hands of Sepp Records and we are glad to also say the likes of Maskiri, Lady Squanda and Saiwe Chimbetu, among others, also recorded some projects with us, while owner of the studio, Mai Foya, also records her albums,” said DJ Kujay.
Online Reporter