African Hip Hop - Zambia

Zambia

In previous years what has been considered hip hop in Zambia, has been 'local rhythms' artists using the local language, .i.e. nyanja and bemba. More recently a new breed of emcees has risen blending US-style hip-hop with their own style. Some of the popular rappers in Zambia include C.R.I.$.I.$, Conscious and Takondwa Nkonjera -- who happened to be Zambia's representative in Big Brother Africa 3.

In 2005, C.R.I.$.I.$ released his debut album 'Officer in Charge' his album debuted at number 13 and peaked at number 8 on the local sales charts in Zambia. Takondwa released his debut album 'Dyonko' in 2006, he is considered one of Zambia's more controversial rappers. Conscious released his debut titled 'A.S.H Risen' (A Soldier Has Risen) in early 2008, a fourteen track set with production from Mind Blowa, Peabody and C.R.I.$.I.$. Other notable MCs and crews include C-4, Mr.Switcher, The Holstar, Diamond Chain, 2we-1ne, Al Kani, Pitch Black, Dope G, Krytic, Thugga, Thugchuld, J-Rox,Johnny Cee, Slap Dee, Abena and Dj Drex.

Also in 2005, another group began releasing music. 2-Raw Entertainment, formed by SyPhon, grouped together artists from Luanshya and Ndola. Toxiq, CKB, J-Pain, and Tony II Toz all have released material and some have had gained some radio play. Toxiq released "Sincerely Yours" in 2007, being the most successful Zambian hip-hop album to date. All albums are produced in-house, by SyPhon.

In 2007 The Hip Hop Foundation of Zambia was formed, a registered arts and culture organization. The organization was formed and registered under the Zambia Association of Musicians as a group member. ZAM is registered under the National Arts Council. The organization was established to provide a platform for hip hop music and culture for its various stakeholders in Zambia, as well as spearhead the development of the industry and address issues of social development and specifically those affecting young people through the use of hip hop. The Hip Hop Foundation has six main areas that it intends to implement in which are Events, Corporate Sponsorship, Artist and Content Development and Distribution, Outreach and Awareness, Strategic Partnership and Organizational Development.

The late 2000s saw the rise of Macky 2 hailing from Ndola, Copperbelt province and Slap Dee hailing from Lusaka. These two rappers have changed the Zambian hip hop scene by creating a genre of Hip hop called "Zed Hip hop". Zed Hip hop is a combination of local languages mixing it with western elements. This genre has taken the Zambian hip hop by storm, with Macky 2 boasting a large fan base on the Copperbelt province as well as Lusaka after Slap Dee lost pole position for nolonger "doing it for the people"