The Sunday Mail
Following calls for Zim dancehall producers to go countrywide in search of talent, instead of concentrating on Harare-bred artistes – Mbare-based record label Chill Spot Records recently recorded a new riddim that features artistes from outside Harare.
Based in Matapi, Mbare; Chill Spot Records, officially launched an inimitable riddim called, Xmas Money, which features artistes from outside Harare.
The riddim, which was produced by Arnold “Fantan” Kamudyariwa with his colleagues Rodger “Levels” Kadzimwe, Samson “Sam Chris” Gwanzura and Tafadzwa “Rhiphe” Mandaza from the stable, has been well received by music fans.
The new riddim immediately went viral after its release last week, making noise in the streets, kombis, shopping malls and social gatherings.
“As Chill Spot Records we decided to produce something to cap 2014 and remind our fans what a great year it has been.
As they celebrate the Christmas festivities – the Xmas riddim will definitely keep them on their feet.
“Since Christmas is a season of bringing families together and celebrating the birth of Christ, we also want the Zim dancehall family to be unified by the Xmas Money riddim,” said Fantan.
He added: “The riddim is a special Christmas present for our fans, artistes, dancers, choreographers and presenters of Zim dancehall programmes on radio, among many other stakeholders.”
He pointed out that the Xmas Money riddim brought together several Zim dancehall artistes from different stables and cities.
At least 27 artistes have so far recorded on the new riddim under Chill Spot Records and some of the songs are already receiving considerable airplay.
Some of the songs already being played on local radio include “Nyarara” from Killer T, “Kuponda Nhamo” by Soul Jah Love, “Zvichaita Bho” by Ras Caleb and “Makomborero” by Shinsoman.
The riddim has also given other upcoming musicians a platform for their music to be heard, for instance, T Makwikwi on “Ndoenda Navo”, Ronnie the Catalyst on “Mulambo”, Ninja Kabhida on “Seta Pace”, Celsius on “Patakatanga” and Cally C on “Party”.
The Xmas Money riddim has also brought together Harare Zim dancehall artistes with those from outside the capital as the genre is being spread to other towns and cities.
There are vibrant Zim dancehall artistes from outside Harare who recorded on the riddim like Jerry B from Chinhoyi whose song “Dhudhudzira” is already making waves. Others include Legion from Gweru who did “Handife Ndakarasika Focus”.
Chill spot family this year alone has made incredible progress as their productions have dominated since the beginning of the year.
Their stable boasts of several riddims, which include the One Clan, Pure Niceness, Mad Level, Chillslam and the Silent Killer, to mention just a few.
Ras Caleb and Tocky Vibes are some of the stand out artistes on the Pure Niceness riddim while the One Clan riddim saw Winky D’s “Paita Party” reaching anthemic levels.
The Mad Level riddim, which was a collaboration between Chill Spot Records and Legendary Music, saw Tocky Vibes, real name Obey Makamure, shoot to the top.
In the last quarter of this year, the record label produced the Chillslam riddim, which featured Soul Jah Love with his song “Usadherere Ngoma”, Seh Calaz with “Life Yangu” and Tocky Vibes with “Kushanda”, among other artistes.
Recently, the stable released the Silent Killer riddim, which featured one Jamaican artiste, Eton “Kalado” Gordon on Ras Caleb’s song called “Me or Not”.
Other prominent Zim Dancehall artistes who have recorded on the riddim include Qounfused, Mic Inity, Sniper, Ricky Fire, Freeman, Badman, Killer T and Terminator.
