Zimbabwean hip-hop artiste Kayflow on Sunday released his highly anticipated extended play (EP), Nyamadrive, a project that he has described as tribute to his childhood neighbourhood Senga Area 2 in Gweru.
The 24-year-old rapper, born Freedom Chimudzeka, weaves a rich tapestry of sounds and stories, cementing his unique AfroJecha style which music lovers across the country have embraced.
Kayflow, like many other local musicians, has attributed his art to his childhood experiences, particularly life in the high density suburbs where different activities happen from sunrise till sundown.
In a recent interview with Standard Style, Kayflow said growing up in Nyamadrive Street, he witnessed the vibrant, often tumultuous, life of the ghetto.
“House parties, police chases, and funerals — it was a crazy experience," he recalled.
According to him the experiences shape the EP's narrative, with tracks like Tariro and VanaVepasi which glimpses into Kayflow's formative years.
In the EP, Kayflow collaborated with award winning producer Nasper born Innocent Konyana.
Nasper said NyamaDrive was carefully crafted to uphold the Afro-Jecha sound and the essence of high density suburb upbringing in Kayflow’s latest project.
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“We selected tracks that clicked together, then refined them," Nasper explained.
“The result is an Afro-reggae/dancehall/neo soul fusion that defies genre boundaries,”
Kayflow's said his vision for Nyamadrive extends beyond personal storytelling.
He explained that , in the future, he would like to see his music leaving a mark in the local Hip-Hop scene.
"I want my music to contribute to Zimbabwean hip-hop's legacy," he emphasised.
“Timeless music that inspires change, no matter how small."
Nasper, the mastermind behind AfroJecha described it as a distinct sound that will mark a turnaround in the Zimbabwean hip-hop music scene.
He shed more light on the genre's origins.
“Growing up, I watched shows like Ezomgido on ZBC, which influenced my production style.”
“Jecha means ghetto, and Afro-Jecha is about sharing those stories on fusion beats,” explained Nasper.
While the music industry marred with orchestrated ‘beefs’ between artistes, Kayflow and Nasper's partnership has yielded impressive results.
Nasper revealed that producers should be respected equally as artistes are.
“Producers play a critical role in detecting the standard and quality of music,” Nasper noted.
“We must safeguard the standards of our work.”
With Nyamadrive, Kayflow has set the stage for future projects.
He said he is working on releasing more music.
“More singles and an album are on the way,” he hinted.
Kayflow's Nyamadrive is a testament to the power of music in telling Zimbabwean stories.
In the EP, Kayflow collaborated with Nutty O and Takura on tracks Musi WaTamuka and Gede respectively.
Gede video featuring Takura has already surpassed more than 12 000 views on YouTube at the time of publishing this newspaper.
