The Sunday Mail
. . . no longer owns a cellphone
. . . manager defends ‘bad’ habits
TOCKY Vibes has fired a salvo at critics he reckons are failing to understand the dynamics in Zim dancehall that have resulted in him being labelled “big headed”.
Born Obey Makamure, Tocky is regarded by many as a rare level-headed and humble young musician to have hit the Zim dancehall genre, but the perception is fast fading.
The dancehall genre for a while grappled with issues of identity, discipline, decency and lack of depth until Tocky walked onto the scene with a “pure attitude”.
But the young man according to other stakeholders that include music promoters; is growing big headed. The talented chanter is now making headlines for wrong reasons — it appears the artiste has developed a special art for courting all sorts of controversy.
Failure to turn up for interview appointments, and reneging and renegotiating deals is fast becoming a norm for the young musician. And recent allegations of a love scandal in which he is being accused of statutory rape and neglecting his 16-year-old baby mama have not helped matters either. Without doubt, the lad has risen to the apex of Zim dancehall, a genre that has topped others in the country throughout the year, hence the never ending scrutiny.
Equally, Tocky acknowledges fame has brought him all sorts of challenges but blames ignorance among some of the stakeholders for the “bad boy” tag that he has earned.
“My brand is growing with each passing day and the way I used to do business is no longer the same. My band now has a management team that is responsible for administration work (show bookings included) and I go along with whatever arrangement they come up with.
“…this is what every other artiste the world over does. Honestly people cannot expect me to continue negotiating with promoters like I used to do years back,” argued Tocky.
Basic etiquette within the music industry calls for an artiste to sign contracts that he or she can fulfil with ease. But Tocky’s camp has on more than a single occasion been found wanting in this regard.
Last week, they booked for two shows in different towns (Chitungwiza and Mutare to be precise) on the same night. It would have been logical had the two gigs been within the same town or had one of the gigs been slated for the afternoon to leave ample time for the group to travel.
But Tocky and like-minded artistes are blaming promoters for such mishaps.
He argues that promoters have been “unlawfully” capitalising on his fame in the process bringing his name and the overall Zim dancehall genre into disrepute through engaging in unethical practices.
In some instances promoters are accused of disregarding an artiste’s commitments elsewhere.
“The problem in Zim dancehall is that everyone who wants to do a show is using my name and face on posters without concluding deals with us. Imagine someone calls you a day or so before the show advising you that you are part of his line-up. I have been a victim on numerous occasions and the uncouth stunt is now beginning to affect my brand,” explained Tocky.
A dancehall fan from Messina, Tashinga Mapungwana, early this month registered his displeasure on Facebook after Tocky failed to pitch up for a scheduled show across the Limpopo.
The fan wrote: “We were duped in Messina. They told us Tocky was coming to perform at Sibakanyane supported by Loud H and Cisco and out of the love for the man and Zim dancehall we attended in our numbers.” Arts aficionados believe Tocky has blown a number of chances in his career.
He could have been crowned king of Zim-dancehall on at least one occasion of the cup clashes held in the capital sometime in August. However, he again missed both shows, which were held on the same day and ended up crying foul. He also missed out on the revamped Zimbabwe Music Awards (Zima) after he failed to submit his work for consideration. However, humility, he says, is still and will forever be a part of him. “That I’m big-headed is an opinion based on someone’s perception. It does not make sense for someone to tell me that I’m big-headed because I have referred him or her to my manager for any business talk. When that is done by other artistes it is considered okay but in my case it becomes wrong. My life is changing in line with developments in my career,” said the chanter. He adds: “This is the reason why I no longer have a phone. The less I talk to people the less challenges I will face, I think.”
His unbecoming behaviour has often left many believing that the chanter at times works under the influence of drugs.
At times he literally sprints off stage at a pace that would make top sprinter Usain Bolt, green with envy. His manager Elvis Bokosha, however, defends the Rugare-based artiste. “Tocky is of sober habits but most often misunderstood. He does not take intoxicating substances and has vowed to maintain his upright conduct,” vouches Bokosha. With unending temptations, one hopes that Tocky does not lose his footing and in the process join the “has been” of the industry. Clearly, the dancehall musician is yet to cover the miles required to be certified the best in the genre. It would be sad for him to lose overnight the little that he has gained thus far.
Not so long ago, the likes of Guspy Warrior, Killer T, Freeman and Shinsoman enjoyed a fair share of limelight but are now being overshadowed by younger, talented and more organised chanters.
Supporters of the young artiste hope that he maintains the clean image that he came in with, so that in the long run he becomes a proper role model for the thousands of youths that now see Zim dancehall as their panacea.
