Greedysouth presents: The year 2024 in Zim hip hop as seen by the critics

Another year in Zimbabwean music has come and gone. As others fell to the wayside, new stars announced themself, while some established acts cemented their legacies. This is especially prevalent in Zimbabwean hip-hop. 

As award season officially begins we're here to sift through it all, with our views as the critics. We're going to take you through the tracks that stood out, the albums everyone should've listened to, the MVPs, the rising stars and the moments that defined the genre this year.

This year's panel featured: Tafadzwa 'Tee' Madzika (Greedysouth), Takudzwa Chiwanza (ZimSphere), Mukudzei Mlambo (Zazise Media), Denzel Sambo (Zambezi Post), Farai Mudzingwa (Story Untold ZW) and Tawanda 'Music Oracle' Chari (ZimSphere).

Here's how the critics saw the year 2024 in Zimbabwean hip hop:

10 Standout Zimbabwe Hip-Hop Songs 2024:

The releases listed here encompass conversations about men's mental health, anthems for the hustle, songs for light-hearted moments, new-age sounds and simply great displays of rap ability.

Note: For entries to the standout tracks list we restricted it to one track per artist, to accommodate a wider range of music 

Mkoma Brian - Voltz JT

Jongwe - Holy Ten ft Kayflow (This was tied with Banga)

Black Mutanda - MuGaratia ft Chikk'oz

Asake - Tanto Wavie

Murume - Runna Rulez

Gede - Kayflow ft Takura

ZaziZay - RayKaz

Vakomana (Remix) - ScripMula ft Holy Ten

Bag - Young Gemini

A King's Poem - Kbrizzy & Phanas

Five Standout Zimbabwe Hip-Hop Albums 2024:

When We Not Being Lazy (WWNBL) 

Kbrizzy and producer Phanas' 14-track project revolves around crafting a brand of hip-hop music that withstands the test of time – a mature, timeless sound. It features subtle blends of kwaito, Afro-pop, and trap, alongside a diverse line-up of guest artists, that includes South African producers Dopebwoi & FKA Moses, Namibian award-winning rapper Lioness, US-based songstress JoyRukanza, and Nkayi’s favourite, Skhosana Buhlungu. 

RayKaz - Main Oan Pack 

Main Oan Pack is the first act to the 3 part music release, RayKaz dubs as "Kazzy Szn." The album explores themes of family relations – particularly father and son dynamics, RayKaz’s standing in the culture, loss, grief and as is standard protocol in hip hop, an exhibition of lyrical dexterity and rapping prowess

Voltz JT - N.O.P Makoni

N.O.P Makoni is a tribute to Voltz JT's roots. The project gets its name from the chant by public transport touts used to refer to the route that goes to Units N, O, P and Makoni shops, in Chitungwiza. At the album's core, it is about Voltz returning to his childhood home, which is his grandmother's house located in the same area. Something that grounds him in troubled times as reflects on where he began, so that he may remember he's only experiencing a bad moment and not a bad life.

Zazise Media - Storytellers Of The Culture II

In a classic case of "the first one was so good, so why not do it twice?" Zazise Media released its second offering, Storytellers Of The Culture II. A body of work fuelled by the media organization's desire to see more collaboration in the Zimbabwean hip-hop space. Lauded for both its production and lyrical content, the album has 23 tracks, with over 30 artists lending a hand to bring it together.

MuGaratia - Pemurai Dzose  

Propelled by MuGaratia's raw honesty and Tanto Wavie's production, Pemurai Dzose challenges listeners to confront some uncomfortable truths. It is music that pushes past facades to expose vulnerabilities, making this album a refreshing addition to any playlist. 

Zimbabwe Hip-Hop MVPs 2024

Voltz JT

From his verse on Master H's Dhanzi when the year began, to his most recent collaboration with Remit Zimbabwe, Voltz JT has had a phenomenal year. His second album is tipped to win Album of the Year and his performance at the Shoko Festival ranks among the genre's key moments of the year.

Young Gemini 

Trailblazing festival stages and releasing an album that presented a new side to her artistry, Young Gemini established herself in the mainstream in 2024. In addition to a slew of features, the rapper signed an endorsement deal with Steers and she's tipped to take home the Best Female Award at this year's Zim Hip Hop Awards.

The Rising Stars:

Runna Rulez

Under the guiding hand of Bling4, Runna Rulez has been one of the revelations of the year. The rapper's single, "Murume," instantly became an anthem for the streets and he has had multiple noteworthy features and releases.

Paintafresco 

Not one to shy away from the spotlight, Paintafresco has made every moment count this year. When not consistently releasing music, he's taking on open-verse challenges, and his take on Tamy Moyo's "Rasta" challenge saw him share the stage with Afropop princess at Shoko Festival's Peace In The Hood Concert.

Hanna

After a very quiet 2023, Hanna returned to the music scene with the highly acclaimed Guilt Free EP. A thematic exploration of guilt, focusing on personal empowerment and the unapologetic pursuit of one's desires and choices in any kind of relationship, and of course, without infringing the rights of others. The quality was undeniable.

Banshee 

Powered by quarterly releases and a feature every other month, Banshee has put on a show of lyrical ability this year. This exceptional year was capped off by a performance at ACCES Rwanda, one of the biggest festivals on the continent.

Underground Sensation:

Mutsa.

Making his debut on the music scene with the release of two impressive projects: synecdoche, Harare and We're Running Out Of Soil To Bury Our Dead, Mutsa. Has been a standout figure in the underground scene. The way he weaves together themes and tells stories is truly unique.

The Genre's Most Important Moments:

The Battle of the North: RayKaz vs Donne Jovi

When RayKaz and Donne Jovi locked heads in January, they not only put a spotlight on the battle rap scene but Zim hip hop's underground artists. What that battle did for both artists and the rap scene itself cannot be overstated. It has led to an embrace of niche hip-hop events and earned both rappers multiple performances across different platforms during the year.

Shoko Festival: Kayflow on Mash Up Night, Voltz JT at Peace In The Hood

Regarded as the best-ever performance by a Zim hip-hop act at the Shoko Festival, Kayflow's performance on Mash Up Night will be talked about for years. Heralding the arrival of Afrojecha, Kayflow not only gave a great account of himself but also made people reimagine what a hip-hop act can look like on stage.

As the Shoko Festival closed off in Chitungwiza, Voltz JT's performance at Peace In The Hood almost ignited a riot. A crowd of easily 20,000 echoed every word to "Ma War Vets" and a hip-hop act had never looked so triumphant.

Indigo Saint's "Controlla Made Me Do It"

When Indigo Saint said "Controlla Made Me Do It," he started a cultural phenomenon, and of course, we can't forget Controlla's role in setting up that platform (Without a doubt the genre's personality of the year). Since then Asaph Afrika, LAB, Malcom Mufunde, M.I.L.E, and Donne Jovi have all taken to the platform to share a few words on their chests. 

Shebeen Fest

Spearheaded by Shebeen Rap pioneers Dough Major and Dingo Duke, Shebeen Fest has quickly become a staple for hip-hop lovers across the capital. Started as a way to bring people together for merrymaking—true to the shebeen lifestyle—the festival is now onto its sixth installment and it’s no small affair! The upcoming edition will be graced by heavyweights Kae Chaps, DJ Tamuka, Asaph, Probeatz and Nutty O. 

Voltz JT's collaboration with Merit Zimbabwe 

From having an album rollout that was the envy of most artists, Voltz JT redefined how brand-artist relationships are done with his deal with Merit Zimbabwe. The rapper will grace a limited collection of counter books that will merge the educational message of his music with his desire to uplift the youth.

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