Angola Algeria Benin Botswana Cameroon Cabo Verde Congo Gambia Ghana Guinee Ivory Coast Kenya Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mozambique Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Senegal South Africa Swaziland Tanzania Togo Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe

Dola Soul: Hip Hop Embassador Dola Soul is one of the members of Deplowmatz, the well known Tanzanian crew. Also he has been performing and recording with Mr 2. Now that other active DPT members Saigon is in London, Dola came out with a solo album 'Balozi wenu'. This update was written just before the album came out (1999). Read more in his own words, and study his lyrics at the bottom of this page! You can also mail him to get in touch. Balozi Wenu Dolasoul represents his people through the most powerful medium of speech hip hop music which to me is: "Rhymes, Rhythm, and Poetic realistic Literature expressed by every Poet in a peculiar form to identify a certain Culture". Where ever I go on the face of this plant, I will always represent the thoughts of my people, ideas and views and speak on their behalf, I stand for the Truth and the Vision of a better tomorrow. Using my language "Kiswahili" and English as a second option if the need be. "I was born to provide solutions and to bring forth resolution." The album highlights my immediate society, East Africa, Tanzania and talks about the present economic hardship, poverty and an uncertain future for the youths of today. I also I try to provide solutions and give a wake up call to my people. I further explain how far we humans are willing to go to make sure that our fellow humans lead a miserable life. In a track "Binadam" and I get religious a bit to tell people the answer is in God. Its time we changed our lives for the better. Also yeah ! we have problems but sometimes we need to have a good time I breakdown life in a track "Mpo Tayari(Kupata goodtime) because in every troubled life I believe there is a moment in time were one experiences Goodtimes, he or she needs to make the best of it. The Solo Album " Balozi Wenu" will contain 10 tracks of which the Hit single "Piga Bao !" will be included in this project it features Saigon a.k.a Phataqi from our group "The Deplowmatz" one of Bongo's finest Mc and also one of my Mentor. Now in London, England. I have been working on this project for about 6 months. I finally have the opportunity to give my people and the world a dose of Balozi's mentality and philosophy. Most of the tracks will be in Kiswahili - I just want to make my Language more acceptable internationally and at the same time I wouldn't like to leave too many people in the Dark so there will be about 3 Tracks in English : "On a Jorni", "Keep this in Mind" feat. Abbas(Underground Souls) UGS "Love Injection". with Kay on the Chorus. Producers of the Album: Master Jay & Halfani / Co-producer : Balozi Dolasoul 1.) Halfani a.k.a P-FUNK (BONGO RECORDS). Songs produced: Nani na Nani?, On a Jorni, Mpaka Bas!, Keep this in Mind, Ukapa, Mpo Tayari? 2.) Master Jay (MJ PRODUCTIONS ). Songs produced: Fumbuwa macho, Binadam, Love injection I have faith in these 2 talented guys and I believe they are the future of Bongo Hip Hop and Music in general in Tanzania. Africa especially East Africa, Tanzania needs to have its identity in hip hop we got mad talents and beats we need to abstain from sampling and change the way we produce if we are to stand a chance of making it in the world market. Artist Featured & Song titles Mr.2 in a song : "Binadam ". Mr. Paul : in a track titled " Mpaka Bas !" a love song in Kiswahili Imam Abbas : in a track "Keep this in Mind". Kay : in a song called " Love injection". Brief Profile I was influenced into Rap by an emcee called "Naudeen" in Lagos, Nigeria who was in the "Hip Hop Crew" which happened to be a "break dance crew" that consisted of break dancers and emcees back in the days. He taught me the basics of what mcing was all about and what it entails, he told me how the record music in the studios and all that. But I got even more interested in Hip hop after listening to "Rakim" who happens to be my mentor and one of the greatest emcee to ever bless the microphone and also groups like a tribe called quest, NWA, Black moon & Epmd I said it was time for me to write my first rhyme. Which was in 1991 from there onwards I was listening to other mcs like Ganstarr, KRS -1, L.L cool J and 2 pac. It took me sometime to come out because I happened to be studying and preparing for my final examination. Education to me comes first it is the key to life. I spent a lot of time practicing and perfecting my style and preparing for the onslaught also used to Rhyme with a couple of friends in school and at home back then just for fun no money was involved at that time. I used to go watch hip hop shows and concerts and when I came back to Tanzania in mid 93 the hip hop scene had grown and I was watching behind the scene. I did not stay long I went to the UK to take my advance diploma in computer studies for 2 years and on my return. the Deplowmatz: Dola, Saigon, Sagg Jr, Trip Dogg (pictures by Juma-4) I got married to the Rap game did my first single called "2 of a kind" with Saigon from the Deplowmatz which was to become my group later on did an Album "The Deplowmatz" Sept 97. Sold about 3000 copies. Feat. in Mr. 2's album "Ndani ya Bongo"(Ndani ya bongo, Blaah, Blaah & Black Queen). Also in "Niite Mr.2" (" Kila siku Kila mwaka, Sema Nao & Dangerous mindz). Formed a company with Mr.2 called Kwetu entertainment This Entertainment Company was established to help promote local talents in Tanzania especially the fields of (Rap and R'n'B)which happens to be the most popular Music in the country right now and also based on the fact that for many years Artist have continued to be exploited and many of them happen to have "Fame but no apparent Fortune" nothing really to show for the work they have done. We from "Kwetu" have taken this opportunity in regards of the problems stated above to use our Popularity and influence to help promote ourselves and our fellow Artist in terms of recording their work and Publishing it through various Distribution network channels in and out of the country. IT'S A "KWETU ENTERTAINMENT" THANG ! -THE YEAR 2000 "NI MWAKA WAKUSABABISHA". Hope to get it in stores and on the Internet b/4 the year 2000. The album will be available in Tapes and CD's. For more information : E-mail : deplowmatz@hotmail.com or kwetuentertainment@hotmail.com Tel: (255) 0811-606309 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUMBUWA MACHO From the album Balozi Wenu VERSE 1.0 Fumbuwa macho uone matatizo yanotukabili Yametapaka / zagaa / yana zusha balaah! Wana nchi wana ganga njaa / vibosile wana tanuwa/ kwenye viwanjaa Washa chukuwa vyao mapema/ natena wana oneysha vitu wazi -wazi kama senama Sema watu wanaogopa kusema mimi nasema nao Manake kwenye Safari kama kuna dalili ya hatari Safari sio njema / nawala hakuna neema Wakati watu hawana hela na kazi / nii njaa inomufanya mtu awe jambazi vibaruwa venyewe vya siku hizi Mpaka uhonge/uroge/ndo vitu vikorogwe kama Tanga Mwangu hii kweli ni nchi yakufunga nanga? Mambo tuliokata/ndo mambo tunayopata/ Cheki huko jarkata watu/ walivyo amuwa kufanya ukweli Siku ambayo wabongo wata amuwa/ watapinduwa hata meli Jamani tusi danganyeni kuhusu ukweli Mambo yawe wazi - wazi /hun!/ Mambo yawe wazi - wazi . Chorus ( *2) Fumbuwa macho uone - yanotupa shindikizo kufanya vitu ambavyo havina manufaa kwa jamii VERSE 2.0 Huu ni muda muafaka / wakukaa / nukutafakari Tutokako na tuendako / endapo tutafika/ kwenye mwaka elfu mbili Jamani eeh! Hali hii /yawanchi inazidi kutiririka kama machozi Balozi nina majonzi mawazo yako mengi / nashindwa hata kudozi Wangapi watakufa na ugonjwa / unotibika mara mmoja Suala lenye hoja / huku tuna ngoja lijibewe natatizo litatuliwe Tufike kwenye mwisho wa matatizo chenye mwanzo kina mwisho Elimu haina mwisho / Elimu nitishio Kwa wale watu wanofanya vitu ambavyo sio/ manufaa kwa jamii miaka inavyozidi kwenda namna hii / sioni dalili yamabadiliko mengi / nasikitita /manake maji yakisha mwagika huwezi kuya kinga na kuweka kwenye pipa. Verse from the album 'Balozi wenu'!

:: OUR TZ HIP HOP :: Crews A-Z Weekly top 10 East African Updates Archive Top 10 Audio Archive Update (99) Update (98) Producers (97) Bantu Pound Underground Souls Dola Soul High V E Attack :: SWAHILI :: Hardblasters Crew Hardcore Unit :: VIDEO :: Hali Halisi :: INTERVIEWS :: Soggy Doggy Bugsy Malone Bonnie Luv Hashim Mack-D Master J Sos-B