TRUTH-CHOKWADI 434 Lives Up to His Name in His 434 EP

By Sonny Mncedisi Dube

Saturday 29^th of April saw a multitude of ghetto yutes converge at the Hatcliffe Community Hall to witness a ghetto story unfold in its truest and raw form as a young, up and coming rapper who goes by the alias Truth-Chokwadi 434 launched his much-anticipated Extended Play (EP). The EP which was first set to drop earlier on 30^th March was later postponed to April 29^th and is titled 434. The album art cover dropped first and was followed by a tracklist which later dropped mid-March. The launch was characterized by a cross-genre line-up which saw artistes from the South of Samora such as Beav City come through to support this blooming talent from the North. The line-up was also graced by a handful of local talent from the host hood with appearances from Diana Rose, Travis tha Lit Kid, Icey Ekxene, Fizzman Junta, Brandon Beats, Chicha Music, Joystar, Major Tash, Robizy, Boi Fresh, Dj Spice, DJ Blender, Dj Tinman of Meable Floors, Tatris, Boi Austin, Telle, Cyrol, Trayvon, Therslicks, Iratty, Dennis Chris, Thain, Mac Gee Magweta, Sir Manuvah, Inspired Queen, Lil Pac, V Chaks, L Flamez.

The EP launch was sponsored by Energetic Power Entertainment. Hence the launch which was first of its kind by a Hatcliffe artist confirmed that the ghetto is indeed a hub of artistic talent.

ABOUT THE EP

TRUTH-Chokwadi 434 is originally from Bulawayo and he moved to Harare, Hatcliffe in 2018 where he is currently residing and recording from. He is popularly known as ‘Chokwadi’ which is the Shona interpretation of ‘truth’. He speaks the truth to the youth generation through his flawless ‘spits and rhymes’. The recurring number 434 which is part of his stage name and also title to the recently released EP refers to the 434 kilometres, an approximate travel distance from Bulawayo to Harare (vice versa) and it captures the artiste’s journey from the city of Kings and Queens to the Sunshine city. In a chat the artiste also mentions that he once travelled to and from Bulawayo in 24 hours and he realized that the whole toil and travel could just be summed up into but just a number, 434 kilometres, hence 434. The numerical representation in essence establishes a sense of proximity and oneness, and indicates that geographical divide should not amount to a cultural divide, hence the divide is in itself imaginary.

In addition, the 434 EP art cover has statues of two of Zimbabwe’s prominent historical figures, Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana popularly known as ‘Mbuya Nehanda’ and Joshua Nkomo also affectionately known as ‘Father Zimbabwe’ or uMdala Wethu, names he earned out of reverence for his anti-tribalist approach to the liberation struggle. Mbuya Nehanda who is also a prominent figure was a powerful spirit medium/svikiro/mhondoro who played an instrumental role in Zimbabwe’s pre-colonial history, instigating and inspiring the earliest revolts against colonialism in the 1960s and 70s, her legacy is synonymous with gallantry and resistance. The 434-art cover puts the two historical figures from Zimbabwe’s two prominent ethnic groups in the same picture, a unique representation that in essence bridges the tribal divide between the Ndebele and Shona people. The art cover imagery vividly projects a unifying message, blurs the ethnic lines and endeavors to reignite a socio-political and cultural alliance. In essence the message is reconciliation. We’re one nation, we’re one people and that is the TRUTH.

Having Nkomo and Nehanda on the cover also speaks to the fact that the artiste represents the two cities, Bulawayo & Harare, from whence he comes from, since the statues are situate in the two respective cites.

The project is a 7 track EP and the tracks include the Ten Days Freestyle (extracted from his serial #FREEFLOWFRIDAYS),Chakafukidza Nicotine, Gogo, Vatumwa, Tozeza Baba, Takafanana and Pandotadza. Whilst Vatumwa captures ancestral wrath, the track Tozeza Baba is a commentary on social vices particularly gender-based violence and abuse all which hinge on alcoholism and drug abuse. The rapper tells a story of an erratic father figure who is very abusive to his wife. The track also captures the inherent prejudices and problems associated with patriarchal norms of masculinity which prey on the vulnerability of women resultantly leading to abuse and exploitation of women and girls. The rapper’s critique of patriarchy comes not without solution, he utters the famous anti-gender-based violence phrase #LOVESHOULDN’THURT and suggests that love is the cure against the harm caused by the aforesaid patriarchal vices. Tozeza Baba is reminiscent of the legendary late Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi’s track of the same name which also critiques patriarchy in the same light of such vices as toxicity, crapulence, alcoholism and gender-based violence.

On the other hand Takafanana from the same EP is a child’s #Letter to The Parents which questions the essence of life along existentialism, family failure, fate, death and social decadence. It implores the society to love each other, including parents to love their children and vice versa. The song bridges divides that exist along gender, age, social class, affinity and highlights that despite all such disparities and divides our good intentions, aspirations and wishes to do good makes us the same people hence “Takafanana”. TRUTH/CHOKWADI brings candidness and bluntness in his raps hence it can safely be said that he lived up to his name in his latest offering.

The 434 EP was produced by Brandon Beats, Boi Fresh, and Chichamusic and it was engineered by Tynoslick and JT Zim (also known as Zimbabwe) who closely works with Holy Ten.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Malvern Chitemere, also known as TRUTH/Chokwadi started recording December 2015 at Cashlibs Studio in Dzivarasekwa. That is when he dropped a freestyle titled "Blues City". His first work to get airplay is a track titled "I Cry" which was played on Metro FM ko Bulawayo in 2016. Recorded at Zimbo Music studio Byo. He later in the same year collaborated with Asaph, Tha Dawg and Benny Jones on track titled "Levels". In the year 2017 around March, the artiste collaborated with Guspy Warrior on a track titled "Dream Weekend" recorded at Cymplex Records. In the same year he performed at various events including the TehnOuttaTen Tour in Chonhoyi where opened for Ammara Brown and TehnOuttaTen Diamond. The artiste had all this time been going by the name Chitor but he in 2018 rebranded to Truth. It is in the same year that he moved from ko Bulawayo to the capital city, Harare. He dropped his first single Demons as TRUTH which became a soundtrack for a movie "Triangled Love" that was launched at Eastgate on 13^th April 2018.

He took a hiatus between June 2018 and August 2020. He then recorded his first track as TRUTH/CHOKWADI with "JTzim" also known as "Zimbabwe" on August 12th, 2020. The track is titled "Dzimwe Nguva". He dropped his dropped his first official music video for "Gangster" in May 2021 and the visuals were shot by TulkMunny. The video was posted on NashTV YouTube Channel. Truth also worked on a collaborative project with a Zambian Female Rapper @LadyLight. A track titled "Zim-Zam" sponsored by Magamba Tv. Truth-Chokwadi 434 has since 2020 performed at various events including the Zim Hip Hop Awards, Changamire Awards22, ColourRun UZ, Hustlers Market, Essential Sundays just to mention a few. He as aforestated recently launched his Extended Play titled 434.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sonny Mncedisi Dube also known as ‘The NovemberMan’ is amongst other things a self-confessed fan of the culture and a writer

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