Bling4's 'Hosanna' – A spiritual leap marked by triumph and lyrical introspection, but let down by engineering flaws

TAWANDA CHARI

Mbare's own Bling4 released his debut album Hosanna on April 12, 2025; an event punctuated by a triumphant launch at the Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza that drew a solid crowd, marking a significant moment for hip-hop in Zimbabwe. 

The album boasts an impressive lineup, featuring heavyweights like Saintfloew, Voltz JT, Freeman HKD, Tamy Moyo and Runna Rulez—a versatile cast that appends rich texture to the project. But even with these features, Hosanna remains distinctly Bling4’s story: a faith-rooted and spiritually aware body of work that explores personal growth, doubt and desperation.

The theology of the title

The word Hosanna appears only once on the album, the (opening) title track and it feels like a deliberate choice. In the Bible, “Hosanna” is both a cry of praise and a desperate plea for salvation. Matthew 21:9 captures it best during Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem: “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” That duality between glorification and vulnerability forms the album’s backbone.

Tracks like Ndionesei and Vekunzinza touch on the latter meaning: Bling4 lays himself bare, admitting his flaws and seeking divine guidance. There’s no fake flex here, just an honest man trying to navigate life with faith intact.

Hope Dzandairota ft. Voltz JT – The album’s pinnacle

If there’s a centrepiece to Hosanna, it’s undoubtedly Hope Dzandairota featuring Voltz JT. The track perfectly embodies the spirit of the album—oscillating between thanksgiving and humble supplication.

Bling4 opens the track with a heartfelt testimony, reflecting on prayers answered and milestones achieved. It's a moment of gratitude, but also of awareness—acknowledging the road travelled, while remaining wary of what lies ahead.

Then comes Voltz JT with what may be the verse of 2025 so far. There’s something transcendent about the way he flows over the instrumental—a balance of poetry, spiritual wisdom and social commentary. His verse speaks not only to his own journey but to the shared struggles of everyday Zimbabweans: the yearning for financial stability, the psychological toll of poverty and the importance of divine trust in a world where human loyalty often fails.

And what’s masterful about his verse is that it isn’t overly personal, yet it connects deeply. It’s written for the people. Those who’ve been down bad, those stuck in the hustle, those praying for a break. It checks every box without sounding preachy or overly abstract. From the 4K metaphor to mental health nods, Voltz JT’s delivery is pure finesse — lyrical, layered and profoundly relatable.

A thankful closer

Throughout the album, Bling4 keeps circling back to the theme of gratitude, acknowledging that while he hasn’t figured it all out, he’s made it this far by grace. That theme gives Hosanna a satisfying arc —from pleading to praising, from uncertainty to clarity.

The elephant in the room: The engineering

But for all the heart and spirit that Hosanna carries, there’s one glaring issue: the engineering. Sonically, the album suffers from mixing inconsistencies and low-quality mastering that sometimes drown out the emotion of the lyrics and the nuance of the production. It’s unfortunate, because the songwriting is strong, and the concept is cohesive. But in hip-hop—especially at this level—sound quality matters. And this production flaw puts a dent in what could’ve been an even more impactful debut.

Hosanna is a spiritually anchored, thematically mature and lyrically potent. But to elevate from promising to legendary, Bling4 will need to tighten the technical side of things. Because when the message is this powerful, the sound has to match.

Listen to Hosanna by Bling4 via the link below:

https://open.spotify.com/album/5nraNpJg3hHzN4WAoHgIYw?si=xue8v20MR7e9lo0itDqm1g