The Sunday Mail
The self-proclaimed kings of Zimbabwean hip-hop, Black Copy, have embarked on a new project that will see them releasing solo singles to promote their individual talents.
Black Copy, which constitutes young vibrant artistes from Harare’s Glen Norah suburb, released several singles that are accompanied by videos as a way of creating a name for every group member as well as promoting their collective brand.
One of the group members, Tanaka (aka T.K.M.Z.), recently released his single called “She is a Killer”, which is receiving fair airplay, and followed this up with a high-definition video for the same single.
The video was shot at St Peter’s Kubatana in Glen Norah and was produced by one of the group members, Wellington “Yung Wellz” Kayamba.
“The video is one of my solo single projects and it features Morris MC Druu Vhutika,” said T.K.M.Z. “I also worked with Druu in the script writing of the video and my fellow group member Donald ‘Pro-oca’ Muchirahondo helped with the choreography of the video.”
“She is a Killer” is presently being aired on local television and the young rapper said he has submitted his new works to Boss Television.
T.K.M.Z. said he also released another single called “Skool of Swag” to local radio stations.
“The whole idea of doing these solo projects is to be known as individuals as much as we are known as a group. When we released our debut album it didn’t take us time for the group to be known. Therefore, it is now time for us to showcase our diversified musical talents,” he said.
“Our main objective for these solo projects is to develop into a huge recording label from merely a group of young boys releasing albums as a group.
“The projects are also bringing in new ideas and new collaborations with prominent rappers,” he said.
Black Copy’s solo projects seem to be going well for the young rappers who only started the project two months ago but have seen their releases grabbing attention.
MC Druu released “Ndayeverwa” late last month. The song is a blend of hip-hop and house music with a catchy sing-along chorus.
Her also produced a single that featured Tinashe “C4” Makaya that is titled “Good Morning”.
Black Copy was founded by Michael “Yung Mike” Matewe, Elija “Accrue” Chigwida, Mc Druu and Wellz in 2010.
The four started as a group of boys who appreciated art and composed songs without recording anything commercially until one of their parents bought them recording equipment.
Sharing the same interests, more young talents joined the group to make Black Copy bigger and better. The other group members are Tinashe Makaya (C4), Joanilla (Nilla), Pro-oca, Kudzi Mushongwe (Keish), Betty, Macdonald Nevanji (MC Miller), Gibson Makarichi (Gibbs) and Tashly Scarlett.
Between them there is a producer, three camera persons, two editors and two dancers-cum-choreographers — and all of them are songwriters.
Early this year the group released their debut album that was a mixed bag of regular hip-hop, hip-hop gospel, R ‘n’ B and reggae.
The “Black Movement” album saw the artistes reflecting on a variety of social issues that they encounter on a daily basis.
“Black Movement” has 17 songs and some of the outstanding ones are “Dudu Muduri”, “Uri Gudo” and “Hativatye”. It also carries the R ‘n’ B tracks “Babie I Love You”, “Ndiwe Wega” and “Wandipengesa”, which have sing-along choruses. “I’m drunk” and “Tanetsa paH-town” are passable party songs. The album also has the hip-hop gospel track “Ndiye Jesu”.
Following that album, Black Copy has also released five accompanying HD videos for “Don’t Move”, “Dudu Mduri”, “Champi on”, “Kicks” and “Ndiwe Wega” for YouTube and BossTV.
