Freestyle Fridays with L-Tore, BigStar Johnson & Cal_Vin
by Phil Chard
Welcome to Freestyle Fridays where we find some of the best Freestyles from African rappity rappers on the interwebs and present them to you in an easy to consume and digest blog post.
L-Tore #FreestyleFridays
First up for this week we have Maseru’s L-Tore delivering another impressive freestyle in his aptly (possibly copyright infringing) named #FreestleFridays series.
BigStar Johnson Dreamwork Freestyle
Vth Season’s BigStar Johnson just hopped on his label mates beat for Dreamwork and displayed the lyrical dexterity and wordplay that helped him win the inaugural season of The Hustle.
Jnr Brown – Amen Remix (Featuring. Cal Vin)
by Phil Chard
The “beef” between Cal_Vin & Jnr Brown seems to be officially over. Though it seemed to have kicked off with a great deal of gusto, the rivalry between the two Zimbabwean rappers dwindled into the ether as cooler heads prevailed and both of them focused on releasing music and leaving the debates and battles to take place in the court of public opinion.
Last week, at the Harare International Festival of Food & Music the two rappers officially announced to the fans in attendance that the beef was over when they appeared on stage together.
Jnr Brown
Now the announcement is made officially to the rest of us with the release of the Amen Remix that features both artists. Interestingly, Cal_Vin is given the first verse that he delivers with his typical energy and ever improving flow, coupled with his own refix of the song’s chorus in Ndebele. In another act that can be interpreted as an olive branch Cal_Vin’s side profile with a bowed head and hands clasped in prayer is featured on the song’s artwork.
The song itself is an impressive remix that features two new verses and reworked productions with subtle changes to the base line and drums. The biggest and most notable change is the addition of some incredibly gnarly electric guitar riffs courtesy of Sylent Nqo.
If Zimbabwean Hip Hop is to enjoy the boon it desperately needs in the near future it needs more of what this remix embodies.
Cal_Vin – My Life
by Phil Chard
Zimbabwe’s Cal_Vin just wants to live his life, either you love him or you don’t he declares on his new song My Life. The song marks a shift in the sound Cal_Vin usually gravitates towards with a slower tempo beat comprised of , muffled synths , 808s and marching drums.
Kazz – Thinking Of You Remix Ft Cal Vin, Q Rigga & Jungle Bwoi
by Phil Chard
Kazz AKA Mr Boomslang recruits Cal_Vin, Q Rigga and Jungle Bwoi for an all Zimbabwean remix to his Reggae –Pop track Thinking of You. View the video for the original below.
@Mr_Boomslang @cal_vin @QRiggaman