It becomes relatively easy to arrive at “hey, this could actually be worth my time” when you’re acquainted with Probeatz beatboxing career. It’s fairly apparent that he’s well on his way to becoming a household name in the rap game.
And frankly speaking, these are quite vexing times, in the musical sense; everyone, deft or not, is becoming an artist, and so we’re allowed a bit of scepticism and discernment.
1. BLESS YOU “Vapfana vakabaka, takazvarwa tichisparka” is just one of the quotable lyrics from this song’s verses, where Probeatz is at his most exciting. However, the chorus, though a crucial component, is of a lacklustre nature. And although “Bless You” is preoccupied with youth, somehow it allows Probeatz’s rapping abilities to come to light.
2. CHIHWANDE HWANDE Firstly, a major shout out to the flowery artist description up on his Spotify account; if a man is “Rarely Talented”, it is what it is. “Chihwande Hwande” is somewhat competent and in it is a “rare talent” moment; when he produces a saxophone-like sound with his vocals. However, the frustration couriered by the lyrics did not make it to the delivery, and the meaning of it all sort of dissipated but that aside, the mood is generally calm and the groove of it all is undeniable.
3. FOR YOU (FEAT. MCLYNE BEATS) “For You” goes down as one of the craftier songs of this album, and for all we know it could be reason why Mclyne Beats made sure his name is on the title. The song leaves no room for the questioning of Probeatz’s abilities, and certainly smashes that of Mclyne Beats’ genius. However, despite that and everything else that is a lovable about this song, that chorus could’ve been sang more convincingly.
4. HWAI HWAI Picture this: The world’s normalcy has been restored and now we know to not take the outdoors for granted. Its a breezy Saturday 3PM and the atmosphere is balmy. You’re at a public swimming facility, rocking Aviators (which are still a thing) and sipping on that Cognac. Then at once, time comes to a standstill, when a voluptuous sister in red (looking like she just stepped out of a Director X music video) walks by. You sigh… If that specific image were a song, it’d be this particular song.
5. NINA (FEAT. LT THE PLUG) Over the course of years, Urban Grooves has diminished to a genre that’s barely clinging onto life. Never mind how good a 2020 song with a slight resemblance to the genre is, it’s quite easy to picture it at the bottom of the rubble. “Nina” is confusing by design, it takes a while to actually catch on to what its actually about (or maybe I’m slow). And when you finally catch on, its surprising how far from that emo tip, the song actually is. No painfully earnest lyrics whatsoever!
Quotable lyrics Kunge winky ndachema mugarden.
6. JOJINA Mental health 101; Breathe in, breathe out and move on. Goodbye Nina, Hello Jojina (I wonder why that rhymes). Although the song “Jojina” has a weak narrative form, its quite clear the boy is on that love tip. He dabbles in a laid back intermediate between rapping and singing, which when coupled with the lush production gives off a calm and collected sound. “Jiggy” is a term that could be used to describe this song.
7. VANONYEPERA This song starts off with adequate energy that immediately captures whoever listens to it. “Vanonyepera” is an embodiment of the term “genre-bending; it possesses a futuristic afro-pop feel but still manages to sound unapologetically Zimbabwean. Songs in an album can never be equally yoked, and it’s such songs that do the heavy lifting.