A Hwange-based student nurse, Mzingaye Roderick Sibanda (24), going by the stage name The Shoemaker, has released his debut hip-hop 14-track album titled Mzingaye.
SHARON SIBNDI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Sibanda is currently studying nursing at the Hwange Colliery Hospital in final year.
He started singing in 2002, but has had to wait until last week to release a mixtape featuring artistes such as Annabella, Willie Gates and Psfa who are signed under his label llWIIS Music in Hwange.
The mixtape contains tracks like, Amnesia , Zonke Bonke , Fireman remix, Caesar, Klabala, Money money , Friday Night, Number One Girl, Danger Love, She Loves, Problems, Grace, Indabenkulu and Owami.
In the track Amnesia, the artiste talks about people having forgotten what hip-hop really means and what it is as a genré. “Amnesia is simply reminiscing on the good and valuable things that olden hip-hop artistes and lovers of the music did back then,” the ambitious artiste said. He uses English, Ndebele, Shona, Nyanja, Sotho and Xhosa in his lyrics and tracks were produced at MusicLab Studios in Hwange and Digital Music Records in Victoria Falls. He said what started off as a hobby was now something he wanted to pursue for the rest of his life. “I used to listen to a lot of hip-hop back in the days and I fell in its groove. I am inspired by Jay-Z and my dream has always been to take hip-hop and bring it to the people. I respect Winky D. He has taken the music to another level in this country and he is a true pioneer,” he said. “My music brings edutainment to people. It educates at the same time providing entertainment. I am able to strike a balance between my profession and producing music on my spare time. I have always loved to produce music since high school,” he added. The artiste is working on live shows to showcase his talent and hopes to woo music lovers.
