By Takudzwa Kadzura and Donald Gwasira
Takudzwa
Hillary Chiwanza (using Larry G as his stage name, yeah), a renowned hip hop writer,
picked the mic in 2019 with his first track called Kasi Chronicles together with Lawd MDA (now
Blek Off.N) Marking his debut and declaring his ungovernable love for hip
hop, the track was laden with real bars addressing societal concerns. For a
well-acquainted writer, the exquisite lyricism is well justified and backed by
solid hip hop knowledge.
This
time, his brother Tinx47La’Goon (Tinofara Chiwanza) has come with a tune titled
Bando in which Larry G features. Family ties have always proven to be an intact
and formidable source of good vibes ensuring that bars like blood are always
thick with meaning. And Bando details their ways of life – showing the
unkind nature of life for people in low-income urban areas.
Bando
is
usually base or abandoned structure providing rendezvous for drug-seeking
youths; sometimes referring to a chill-out spot, more like home, but surrounded
with positive vibes only complementing the culture. These sites have ironically
provided the youths with rehabilitation from daily madness in a country like
Zimbabwe where things are falling apart all the time.
The
track opens with Tinx47 assertively setting the record straight – from the D.V.AT
(Dangamvura, in Mutare), a reminder that hip hop talent is awash in the
Manicaland province. Another aspect that is evident in these raps is the ghetto
upbringing which dominates the message throughout the tracks from these
brothers. Tinx47 and Larry G, just like the Marleys or much more closer down
south Jody and A Reece, have shared a common goal of using art as a form of
expression.
Tinx 47 lured his elder brother Larry G to craft something which they feel represent other hip-hop heads in the country and around the globe on a beat produced by Kestrol Kun laced with a bouncy bassline (Kestrol Kun is from Chitungwiza but now based in South Africa – cousin to Tinx47 and Larry G). The first verse traditionally is honoured to the owner of the project and Tinx47 clearly took the chance to spit his heart out as he jumps on the beat with a steady declaring flow.
In
his verse he claims that Mutare indeed has got diamond gem rappers as well when
he proclaims, "They say the East ain’t making no sheets, Came up to change
this I show them the streets”. These bars may also suggest that Mutare has got
what it takes to be rated on the finest hip-hop list locally, regionally and
internationally.
Larry
G approaches his verse with fewer but bolder words in the Jamaican Patois
accent, showing his versatility which hypes his vernacular flow, balancing the creativity
and appreciating the ingredients fused by Kestrol Kun. Their [Tinx47 and Larry
G] combination gives one the imagination of how this duo may sound again on a
different concept. If it were a meal, possibly chef Tinx47La’Goon and Larry G
may tell the dinners that it is just the starter.
The
track covers aspects of hustle and respect for the fellow brethren on the
streets. Larry G proceeds to tackle distractors and points out ‘BABYLON’
which is the system causing all the suffering but the youths can never give up.
Tinx47 is also a beat-maker and the game is about to be served with an
all-round hip hop brotherhood.
And
we really expect more from these brothers. We christen them as prolific writers
with profound messages to share.
You can listen to Bando by Tinx47La’Goon and Larry G via this YouTube link and tell us what your thoughts are.
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