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Tanzania update of february 98 by Dola Soul from De-Plow-Matz, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania February 1998 - an overview of what's happening in East Africa's hip hop headquarters Poor marketing and distribution channels An inside look at the Album " Tha De-Plow-MaTz " (released Sept.1997) The producers Breaking news Other cities News Brief Contacting DPT + free tape offer 1) Poor marketing and distribution channels Tanzania does not have a proper channel till today for Marketing and Distribution of records. In the developed countries of the world an artist can benefit from single songs from upcoming albums but here in Tanzanian this is far from reality. In some cases the Artist himself plays a big part in Distribution. The more copies he sells the more money he makes. He can get much by signing a record deal. Another problem is most people lack the marketing Know how, they have no proper laid out plan on how and what will be the best possible way to market such a product. Money also is another problem because to sell music you need to set aside some money for promotion whether it be concerts, Printing of T-shirts, posters and Musical Video's and Newspapers and Magazines articles. 2) An inside look at the Album " Tha De-Plow-MaTz " (released Sept.1997) This Album comprises 13 Songs: 7 in Kiswahili and 6 in English. Although it took a long time coming Thank God it's finally out and in Stores. This Album is Basically Talking about us the De-Plow-MaTz, what we stand for and what we Represent in our Mother Land Tanzania because we are proud of being Tanzanians and of Being in This Ever Growing Culture of "Hip-Hop". We also go further to talk about Life in Tanzania today in a Track called "Maisha", it talks about how our people are living and suffering in present Time compared to how it used to be in the past. Also about how our music is being given 2 priority on Radio stations and in the media there is too much of Foreign Music being played and given a lot of coverage. Not much attention is being given to our local talented Musicians. Amazing side (production: 2,4,5,7 -Master Jay , 3 & 6 - John Kagaruki, 1-Jason & Enrico SoundCrafters) 1. Furaha 2. Bado Nipo (Feat. II Proud) 3. Likizo Time 4. Are u Down 5. Yuko Wapi ? 6. Tanzania 7. Maisha (Feat. II Proud) Bomba Side (production: 1,3,4,5 -Master Jay, 2 - John Kagaruki, 6-P.Funk) 1. DPT 4 Life 2. Microphone Technicianz 3. Take a Ride 4. Ma Mindz Twisted 5. All About Da Real (Feat. Big Quiz) 6. Saigonz in Yo Face There is a cut Titled "All About Da Real " featuring one of the newest Brothers in the Clique Called Big Quiz. You really need to listen to the smooth slick style of this brother who use to kick it back in the Days in Zimbabwe with some Rap Crews. He just recently got to Tanzania and we linked up with him. He's got a Solo Track called "Big Quiz is On" coming out Early 98.... watch out for this. 3) The producers Master Jay Producer of the Hit Track "Take a Ride", a Solo Joint from the Lyrical Genius Saigon from the De-Plow-Matz. This was one of the most talked about Tracks in this album and the one which I must say that is most loved by a lot of Rappers and People from all walks of life, it's in some way comparably to "Keep on Keepin' on" of Mc Lyte - with Simple but Phat Beats and Melodies capable of taking you off your feet. This track was played a lot in Disco's around the country and it is still being played in Disco's in Morogoro, Mbeya, Moshi, Arusha, Tanga and Mwanza. If I were to make some sort of comparison I would compared Master Jay with one of his Ideal "Eric Sermon", he is ambitious as Doctor Dre and on the R'n'B Tip so smooth like "Baby Face". This describes the 2 Faces of Master Jay he's always figuring out new ways. Late at Night in that Portakarbin studio of his J.C'S PRODUCTIONS. This son definitely has his eyes Embedded in the Future. Master Jay happens to be the producer of most of the songs in the Album THA DE-PLOW-MATZ, if you remember him he was also the Producer of the Hit Album "Ndani Ya Bongo" of II Proud, a Solo Rap Artist. He has a very promising future being in the fore front of this young but steady growing Rap Music Community. I stop short of calling it an Industry because it hasn't been properly Established. His background goes as far back as to London, England were he started to play around with his Keyboard with a Couple of Friends from his University Kouch Dogg, Yusuf, and other Guys from London. They used to make tracks and record for fun back then till when they all decided to go fully into the Business. Most the Equipments which he acquired was from his own cold sweat working hard at fast food joints and in the evening flipping through the Ever Reliable pages of the "Loot Magazine", count his stack till the day he started getting his Equipments. He is also currently producing an R'n'B Group know as the 4 Krewz Flava. This is Tanzania's foremost R'n"B Group, they also happened to be members of the Deplowmatz Family. We all started back in the days walking together with each other. This Group Consists of 4 Members: Paul - Moss - MacKay - Clo . Their upcoming album is self Titled 4 Krewz Flava. This is eagerly being waited for since it will be the first R'n"B Album ever Recorded and Produced in Tanzania. It has also got some tracks featuring the De-Plow-Matz. He is currently working with another young and very Talented producer called P.Funk. This collaboration will bring about more innovation, better production in Sound. He also happens to be the Master Mixer now. Master Jay can now make good use of P.Funk's Ears. Producer P. Funk (a.k.a. Skillz of Pain (S.O.P) ) Back with Another Slamming Track "Saigonz in Yo Face", you really need to listen to the fresh scratches on this track from this Rapper / Producer one of a kind in Tanzania. He has also recorded song for groups such as "Afro-Reign", Kwanza Unit, DPT Producer John Kagaruki He is the Producer of the Hit Track "Tanzania" which went all the way to Number #1 in Radio One Top 10 Charts out here in Tanzania. Other Tracks produced in the album are "Likizo Time" and "Microphone Technicianz" 4) Breaking news ON the 17th of February 1998 Paul of the 4 krewz Flavo announced on DJ Show that he will no longer be in the Group, instead he wants to go Solo. The reasons were not so clearly stated by Paul who is about to get into the Studio Early next week to record his Solo Track titled "Da 1 u have". This untimely move by Paul came at a time when everybody was Eargely awaiting their First Debut album. He attributed the split to lack of money and not being sure if the market for the Music (R'N'B) was available in Tanzania. This problem most artists are facing. But even when asked by a caller on the Program if other members of the group couldn't contribute to solve this problem he didn't have a clear answer. The reason only Paul Knows. This is a big Blow to Tanzanian R'N'B still at it's young tender age and splits have started to occur. Probably the most anticipated album ever awaited, there were a lot of distressed fans of the 4 Krewz who didn't just want to believe what they heard on Radio One's D.J show. The R'n'B scene in Tanzania has now started to grow. Another New guy on the Scene is Herbet Mkange a solo Artist who Fuses Jazz and Pop with R'n'B, I am still trying to gather more information about him. Others are the Twins, they used to sing in a choir. Now they currently make Demo tapes at a young upcoming Producer John Mahundi who I predict not in the too distant futher will make a big impact on the Rap and R'n'B scene in terms of production he is still learning but very fast catching up with the Best around him. He uses an ordinary home keyboard but not too long he plans to get himself a better one. This has been due to the influence by 4 Krewz Flavo and the Rap Scene to be over populated with Mcz. At last count I found that in Dar -es- salaam alone they were close to 100 Rap groups or solo Artist most of whom were underground. Less than 10% of this you hear on the Radio. It is so difficult for them to perform where the Top Rap Groups do a show. Nevertheless they still go on but many give up hope too soon but like the old saying goes, it's survival of the Fittest in this Rap Game. 5) Other cities Morogoro When I last visited MORO I was so impressed with how much they had improved with their Rap skills. An Artist called Boy 'G' from the Group Dog Posse flowing with such clarity and unique flow - which is hard to find these days - got a wild response from the crowd. Others were the Rap Champions of 1997 Randop, HFC, Watukutu runners up. Mbeya After Dar-Es-salaam Mbeya is seen as the second City leading in this Rap Scene. The Kids back in Mbeya got Mad skills, the only problem is there are no Studios for them to record their music - they have to travel all the way to Dar which is about 11 hours trip for those who have the money to do so because most of these Rappers happen to be students. Even when some of them get to Dar they don't know the Studios to go to. Some that find the way can't meet up to the cost of Recording. One Rapper whom I was most impressed with was Doctor Wise who's got a unique blend of Rap and Ragga mixed together in Kiswahili and sounds like the Tanzania version of Buju Banton. He is about to record his Single still searching for a studio. He Mcz in Mbeya and is very determined to break even with Dar on the Hip Hop scene. Others are Kawsa King , Adili who happens to be the current champion for Mbeya. Trouble "T" is the younger brother of Mr.II (2Proud) is also representing on the real and a rapper to look out 4 in the Future. He has won a couple of Titles in Mbeya and is now currently in Tanga were he is Schooling, but he is still active in Hip Hop. He has got another younger brother of his in Mbeya doing Hip Hop. Maybe we will see another 2 Proud in the Making not in the too Distant future. Other rappers in Mbeya include this young kid called Crazy "P". He sounds like Shaheim, looking forward to recording his single " Lost Generation" in Dar. The future looks promising for Mbeya Mcz. Zanzibar They have finally awoken and realize they have a part to play in these Hip Hop world. Just recently a couple of concerts have been organised, some things do change. Zanzibaris are getting more and more intrigued with this new line of Music Rap, an alternative to Tarab Music and Reggae which they have been listening to for years. Groups like Struggling Islanders like the name implies want to keep up with what is going on in this world of Hip Hop on the Mainland, trying to learn from what we are doing on the mainland and introduce something similar on the island. Ever since 2 proud released "Ndani ya Bongo" followed by the subsequent release of the long awaited De-Plow-MaTz Album, Rap Crews have set that as the standard to Beat. Filled with praise for the albums a proud of having something we can call our own the songs of this 2 groups and GWM feat. 2 Proud single "Yamenikuta" can be heard in the Disco's and the Houses of many Rap Music is finally coming of Age in Tanzania. Other Rap crews : Hard to Find with member D.j Saleh , Abdallah (Solo Artist) and some other underground mcz with no names yet. DAR After being quiet for a long time Sos-B has broken his silence with 2 slamming singles produced by Master Jay "Ikibidivyo" and "For you", which is usually being played by Radio One. This brother is back and still bad despite the rumours going around town that he was finished musically but he proved people wrong that he is still a force to reckon with. Following the massive success of his single "KKZ" (Kukuru kakara zako) which propelled him to the top of the Hip Hop scene he is still shinning and flying in the high altitude. He had some personal and financial problems which he has sorted out now and he is telling all his fans that he is still around. 6) News Brief Mr.II is about to bring out his 3rd Album Niite Mr.II sometime at the end of March. Afro Reign also plans to finish their album which they are recording with P.funk and Master Jay before the end of the Year. This will be their 1st Album. This is not a new group, it was started back in 1995 members of the group 1) Boniface kalemera - Bonny Harmony 2) Sebastian Deo - Nature P 3) Raymond Muta - (Dray) and just recently Judith Mwambura- (J.D), the new addition in the Group. They were unable to complete all their songs because most of them were studying and had little or no time for Rap. Now that they have finished they want to complete their album.Their success came with their First Single Afroz Drama which incorporates R'n'B from 4 Krewz Flava and Lady Stara on the Back ground. They also featured Ras Pompidou in the intro. This song was a big hit on Radio one. These brothers were also keeping fit by practising in school and rapping during Concerts.Other songs they have Recorded are Nachoma. You can hear J.D singing on the chorus in this song and in Rejuvenation, Rap Star and JiJi la Bongo which talks about what is going Down in Bongo in this Track. They feature a Brother know as Makanga on the Chorus, yet another addition to the ever increasing R'n'B Scene. Most of the songs by Afro Reign are in English and Swahili. Looking forward to this album coming soon. Kwanza Unit They also have an album of theirs coming out real soon, after not being heard for a long time in the hip hop scene. They say this album is going to be the Bomb with 15 Tracks produced by the ever Reliable Master Jay and P.funk. The Tracks are in Swahili and English. This is the year for Albums: about 5 albums so far soon to be released. De-Plow-MaTz Still selling their long awaited Album and Touring round the country to promote it. Recently went to Tanga, Morogoro, Moshi and Mbeya. This album started to sell slow, now it has picked up pace. About 2000 Copies Sold. People are still buying it on the Mainland and Island. We are looking forward to our Trip on the Island Zanzibar in Early June where we plan to shake that island with our Hip Hop beats like never Before. 7) Contacting DPT + free tape offer For those who are willing to hear about the De-Plow-MaTz write to the following address as soon as you finish Browsing this page for a Free Demo Tape or Poster. This offer is opened till the 1st of August 1998. Tha De-Plow-MaTz (DPT) PO Box 63014 Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania Tel: 182216 / 48 Fax: 182474 (after the international Code) The first 3 writers will get a Copy of our Upcoming Album Free! Take advantage of this opportunity. For more information pertaining to DPT write to the above address and we will be glad to give you more.... PEACE! For more on the DePlowMatz, read 'Introducing the DPT' and 'Problems facing Tanzanian rap artists'.

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