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Nyasha Kada
BELGIUM-BASED dancehall artist, King Labash, real name Lloyd Muponda, has refuted claims by Jamaican dancehall star, Beenie Man that he is the mastermind behind Zim dancehall.
An article in the Jamaican Magazine reported that Beenie Man had also revealed that he coined the term “Zim dancehall”.
King Labash said that he was one of the pioneers of the genre, and that his 2005 song “Kukonzeresa” gave birth to Zim dancehall.
He stated that the term was actually coined by UK-based Slaggy Yout, who recommended that he and Jusa Demantor create the Kukonzeresa riddim and have local and diaspora artists record it.
“In 2005 I recorded three songs, Kukonzeresa, Mukomana neMusikana and Moto.
“Things were tough for me those days so I had to sell sneakers and some of my clothes to market the song by giving away free CDs to commuter omnibus drivers.
“The songs went viral, especially Kukonzeresa and Mukomana neMusikana and then it later made its way to radio after it was big on the streets.
“I then received an email from Slaggy Yout who appreciated the work put in and also told me how the song had become a banger on the club scene in the UK.
“He proposed we make the Kukonzeresa riddim with Jusa Demantor and have local and diaspora artists record it.
“He said the genre will be our own Zim dancehall and that’s how it all came to life.”
He added:
“The Zim dancehall issue is something I cannot keep quiet on. Personally I am one of the pioneers of the genre and to keep quiet and allow people who have nothing to do with it is wrong in my own thinking.
“Beenie Man is a big artist and has my respect, but on the issue of Zim dancehall, I feel he wants credit for something he has little information on.
“I am sure it is a sensitive issue with other artists and DJs that played a role in the pioneering of the genre as well.
“It has been a long and tough road for Zim dancehall to be what it is today, thanks to the fallen heroes and those still living.
“ Jamaican dancehall artistes did inspire our dancehall very much, but to claim to be the mastermind of the genre is an overstatement,” he said.
Since his move to Europe, King Labash has been doing some great work to put Zimbabwe on the map.
He has done some international collaborations and has been performing at various festivals in Europe.
He is currently riding high in Brazil with his latest song, “Chandon” which has almost 50 000 streams on Spotify.
He has worked with one of the biggest producers from Brazil, CP no Beat, Portugal-based rapper Curado and JC Machin from the Netherlands.
He has also released a song titled “Colour Shoe” with La Toya Linger from Surinam and Kd Sound System from the Netherlands.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter
