Prequel
I have this take. Pietermaritzburg has this sound. Distinct Alternative Hip Hop sound. Blend of Boom Bap, Jazz, Elements of House Music, and Blues samples. It might be the fact that I’m reviewing a lot of 4PM artists and associates but either way? It needs to be formalized and marketed strategically. Once that is done? The industry develops and that Ripple Effect leads on to the monetization stage. With no ambiguity to it. The Collective Wave solely exists to promote art and facilitate artists being paid in this space. In turn they monetize via a marketing space. It’s an easy win for all parties. Anyway, back at it like a crack addict.
This artist (Willing Listeners Forum) has been at the top of the list of the artists I’ve reviewed. Shows the selflessness of the people in the city. What I can easily pick up is that he’s gifted. Respected by his peers for a reason. He also pioneers this alternative sound. I wish I was qualified enough to articulate this distinct sound and throw buzz words at you from the world of production so you get it.
“My Moustache Makes Music 2” sounds like a concept draft. Starts off with Lalela. An intro with an intricate sound. Its like he’s telling us that my sound is complex but stick to it.
The second joint? 28 Candles? Let’s get technical. Candles are placed on the cake as a symbol of light, illuminance, wisdom… Wisdom you should have picked up on the previous year of your journey. I might be clutching here with this one, but that’s a fire concept. Introduction, Follow Up with the intellect check, then you move on to the first joint…
“Ngithwele Kanzima” now we in the tape now. We finally understand why we’re here. “Angry and I got myself to blame?” What happened? Zithini? Its looped too. In poetry, a loop is an element of repetition. A tool to exhibit regret in poetry.
Igenge – “Weeeh sebefikileke”. We got some tension with the girls. Double standards, societal imbalances. Transactional relationships. We all know this. If you’re on X (Twitter) I’m sure you could write a thesis on this topic. Mabonga must have got with a baddie and she must have been shallow and I don’t need to explain the rest. Ya’ll know how those situations end.
“Lemm Tel Ya” how I got passed this situation. “Mabonga uhlompoza yonke i-weekend.”
“Ngenelela AA” this joint is fire. A fitting conclusion to a wild weekend forgetting a shallow baddie. You can tell it ended well. Impemphe yaseLamonti? Come on. I don’t have to explain how iGqom sets the mood.
You know what? This might be the most well written tape with the most unorthodox story telling I’ve ever come across and I have to give Willing Listeners Forum his flowers for that. Or, this could be a bad reach from me and I’ve interpreted this another way. Either way, W.L.F had me thinking and that’s art. It is a medium to jog the mind and he did exactly that. Incredible artist.
God Speed