Boost for Zim Hip Hop

Arts Reporter

BEATSLAB Music co-founder, Blessed Chando, has vowed to promote Zim hip-hop as he scouts for new talent.

Hip-hop started as a cultural movement that attained widespread popularity in the 1980s.

It incorporates rhythmic speech influencing a unique kind of art.

The genre was popularised in the United States and it only made waves in Zimbabwe around the late 90s with Shingirayi Sabeta aka Mau Mau releasing a debut single named after him in 1997.

In an interview, Chando said the country has talented rappers with the potential to reach great heights.

“The genre is yet to be fully explored, artists in hip-hop strive to break into the mainstream as there are other competitive genres within. But there is a lot of potential underground,” he said.

Chando, who has been a fan of the genre from a young age, said he was inspired by the likes of MC Chita, Trae Yung, Tehn Diamond, and Junior Brown, among others.

He also hailed the likes of Saintfloew, Voltz JT, Bling 4, Holy Ten, Kikky Badass, and Young Gemini for rewriting the history books.

A Mbare-based stable has managed to unpack KG Phenomenal, Bush Baby and Nkay from Kadoma, among other artists who are doing fairly well as the movement grows.