Times of Zambia : Macky 2 Moves From Zero to Hero
WE are in the last month of the year when artistes are busy lobbying for votes from their fans to be nominated in various categories in the Zambian Music Award (ZAMA), and here is something that might influence potential voters.This week we look at the latest offing from one of the controversial rappers whose music and following have grown since he joined the industry a decade ago.
Macky 2 has released his third album dubbed Zero to Hero, describing his rise to stardom from a boy who used to do covers of popular Western hits to a hit maker.The album comes after two successful collections Ndimupondo and Legendary which had hits such as Ndimupondo, Nangu Banchinge, Feeling, Amaka yakwa Lesa and many others that took over the Zambian airwaves and made the multi-talented rapper/singer a household name.The 27-year-old has in mind the festive mood and decided to release an 18-track collection that might just prove to be one of those albums that keep you in the party mood while offering some food for thought in some of the songs.
The album has 16 full tracks with an intro and outro while Kondwani Kaira, aka Chef, Macky 2’s younger brother, Muzo, General Kanene, OC, T Sean, Baska, K’Millian, F-Jay, Mampi, Pilato and Cream Dollar make an appearance on nine tracks.Before I discuss the songs on the album, I would like to share my thoughts on the cover which might have been designed by Mulaka Kaira, alias Macky 2 himself.I don’t have a problem with the cover but the packaging which might have been done on a small budget for such a big artiste as it leaves much to be desired.Apart from the song titles and the logos of the production houses involved that worked on the album, there isn’t any other information that can guide us on personnel behind the production.
The inlay cover is a leaf printed on one side only while if we take a look at other CDs within Zambia and on the international scene, there is an extra leaf or more which contain information on the production team and other credits.Let us give value to our customers by packaging the music in attractive covers and give fans something to read about on their favourite musicians and people that did the work.Authors, producers, instrument players, sound engineers, and bonus photos of the artistes are some of the important details that cannot miss in packaging the CD.
Back to the main topic for this week, Macky 2 has once again shown why he claims to be destined for greatness as he showcases different abilities to perform many genres on this album.Track number two called Beautiful which has been topping charts since its release as a single a few months ago, is an exceptional piece that lifts the artist’s multi-talented status.The bass-rich pop song embraces both the pop culture and traditional touch and gives an easy-to-hear sound that makes its listeners want to sing along. It’s beautiful indeed!
Google is another song that lifts the album up. The song features OC and T Sean as they liken a woman to a popular search engine Google which arguably has all the answers to many questions.The song is done in the now popular Zambian beat that has mainly the bass and kick while giving party lovers something to move their body to. This style has become popular not only in Zambia but in Nigeria as well.Macky 2 is known to many as a rapper though most of his hits have been contemporary Zambian sound and dancehall which they call Dunka because of its rich bass.
Some of the hip-hop songs on the album, that appeals mostly to the young and middle-aged, are When God Says Yes featuring Chef 187 and Muzo. The song mostly highlights the successes both real and virtual that the artistes have achieved.The rapper comes alive again in a more serious social commentary song that highlights the plight of township dwellers. I See It is done in layback style.
No More Love, By Air , Luz Kontolo , I Will Fight , We Don’t Care and Move Yo Body share the same beat and trend that have rocked the Zambian music scene and are already receiving good airplay.Fwebabako Nifwebo, Money and Zero to Hero follow in the footsteps of When God Says Yes as the songs bring out a poet and controversial social commentator that the rapper/singer has been known for.A good album must at least have more than five songs that can make airplay and, indeed, Macky 2 moved from zero to hero on this album.
By Chanda Davies
