Rise Up Zimbabwe mixtape released

Showbiz — By on May 11, 2010 4:18 am

Jamaican dancehall superstars join Zimbabean dancehall, hip-hop and R&B artists across the globe in celebrating Zimbabwe’s 30th birthday. The ZIM2010 cover features Red Rat, Jusa, Cynthia Mare, Yardsteppa and Pinnacle.

Thirty years after the legendary Bob Marley’s iconic celebration of Zimbabwe’s independence through song and performance, today’s Jamaican dancehall superstars have joined together with the creme of Zimbabwe’s young artists to restore hope in the country’s approximately 21 million citizens.

The Zimbabwe Independence Mixtape 2010 (ZIM2010), is a jam-packed history making mixtape that mainly features a wide range of Zimbabwean music released on and around Zimbabwe’s Independence, April 18th, 2010. Zimbabwean artists from all over the globe are represented on the mixtape which takes up a traditional tape format of containing an ‘A Side’, hosted by Zimdancehall’s Slaggy Yout, and a ‘B Side’ hosted by Simz ABRA of the famous ABRA Tribe, and even a bonus track.

International superstars Red Rat and Sizzla Kalonji make appearances on both sides of the mixtape with their dedications to Zimbabwe, however, it is Red Rat’s latest hit ‘Rise Up Zimbabwe’ which forms the main theme of the mixtape. The track, produced by Zimbabwe’s own dancehall sensation, Jusa Dementor, contains traditional mbira melodies and even features Shona laced lyrics that are impressively performed by the Jamaican veteran.

ZIM2010 also gives Zimbabwean dancehall fans a first listen to the official remix of ‘Rise Up Zimbabwe’. The remix features Zimbabwean reggae powerhouse Winky D, songstress Chipo Sarudzai, and Jusa Dementor also takes to the mic to sing about how his dream of one day working with Red Rat has finally come true.

Bob Marley’s legendary liberation song, ‘Zimbabwe’, which he performed in Zimbabwe during its independence in 1980, is also featured on the mixtape to honor his legacy and support for the nation.

Just about every corner of the globe is represented by Zimbabwean artists on ZIM2010, from the UK, to Germany, to Malaysia, to the USA & Canada, and of course, artists currently based within Zimbabwe.

Cynthia Mare

In terms of genres, the mixtape’s R&B roots are well represented by Jonah Sithole, Cee Jay Besa and Cynthia Mare. Meanwhile dancehall selectas on the album include Pinnacle, Yardsteppa, King Labash, Fire Flex, Maccix Flo, Guspy Warrior, Jiggaz and Lady Maji.

Possibly the greatest all-star line up of Zimbabwean hip-hop mc’s ever, including the legendary Metaphysics, Carl Prit, Just Lyphe, AC Grynn, Begotten Son, Karizma, Rayze’ Em and Scarzz The Emcee, also comes together for the first time in history on the bonus track for the mixtape.

“This 28 track mixtape represents what is possibly the largest collaboration of Zimbabwean  artists across genres and oceans ever…” said one of the mixtape’s artists, Just Lyphe. “The only artists I think were missing from this project were maybe Nas, Lost Boyz, or maybe Busta Rhymes. They seem to love Zimbabwe as much as we do.”

Recording labels represented by all these artists include ABRA Tribe, Ganganga Music, KYN Records, Rudeboy Records, POA Records, and POA Malaysia, and many of the artists are also a part of the online Zimdancehall community.

For more information on DJ Slaggy Yout, visit www.Zimdancehall.com, and for Simz ABRA visit www.JusaOnline.com. To get your free copy of the mixtape, visit www.POARecords.com, or simply search for ZIM2010 on Twitter and Facebook.

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