Online Reporter
Sipepisiwe Moyo, Zimpapers Arts & Entertainment Hub
Bulawayo-based musician and producer Melusi Mgcini Nyathi, formerly known as Maestro IV, has reinvented himself, leaving behind his Hip-Hop alter ego to embrace a new identity as Melusi Writes, a name that reflects his truth, growth, and faith.
Melusi, who made his name in the Hip-Hop scene with hits like Majaivanaback and Ungasabi from his 2016 breakout album TOP JITA – Spaza Weekend, says the change is about authenticity.
“The name has changed because I have changed. A stage name is a shield; Melusi is my centre. To embrace it is to lay down the shield and say, ‘This is me, unprotected and unedited.’ The art and the artist are now one.”
After releasing three albums, TOP JITA (2016), Married to the Game (2017), and S.C.A.R.S (2018), Melusi took a five-year break from music to rediscover himself.
“The silence was fertile ground for growth. It forced me to listen to my own spirit and prayers.”
Now returning with a fresh gospel-inspired sound, Melusi says his music is more than entertainment; it’s ministry.
“My work is a prayer session. Before, I started with beats and added meaning later. Now, I start with the message, a scripture, a moment of conviction, a burst of gratitude. The drive is no longer ‘Will this bang in the club?’ but ‘Will this heal a broken spirit?’”
His latest track, Usizolwami, is a deeply personal surrender to God. “That song is a cry I’ve had in me since 2015. It’s about hitting rock bottom and finally looking up,” he shared.
Melusi is working on a full album set for release this year, which he describes as “the redemption of my past”.
“If S.C.A.R.S was the diagnosis of the wound, this album is the testimony of the healing. The theme is ‘The Journey Home’, from isolation to community in Christ, from scars to purpose.”
Known as the godfather of Kasi rap, Melusi founded the Chillaphonia rap group in 2010, giving rise to names like TKP, J Dumza, and VICjita. Today, he owns a studio and mentors other artists.
Reflecting on his shift from Hip-Hop, he said: “Maestro IV taught me technique, but technique without truth is empty noise. I’m no longer in the business of selling sound—I’m in the ministry of sharing truth.”
His advice to up-and-coming artists: “Find your unique voice, not an algorithm’s preference. The world doesn’t need another echo; it needs your perspective. Lead with substance—the style will follow.”
