AKA’s last album, Mass Country. Photo: Provided
The plan is to listen Mass State a little later in the year because, as a diehard fan of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, I was not ready.
Listening to this last body means accepting death and moving on, but when the editor says write, you write – ijob yijob sbali.
Released on February 24, two weeks after AKA was murdered in Durban, Mass State is a farewell letter to the country he loves and represents on the main stage around the world.
“I grew up listening to a lot of Jackson Browne and Cat Stevens, and all these weird dudes my dad played, and it was cathartic for me after my fiancé died. Country music is about heartbreak, pickup trucks and stars and stuff.
“So, I want to feel that feeling there. But in the context of South Africa, what does it mean? Maskandi; music from the Midlands, Pietermaritzburg,” the rapper told Apple music.
AKA manages to incorporate many South African genres, and sounds from around the world, into his songs but with respect. Only a few artists appreciate and post samples like Supa Mega does. We heard how he tried to track home, Summer Daze by Nick Holder on Tenogosingle on his EP Bhovamaniareleased November 2021. The song is really hot.
The influence of South African music is present in hits such as Ifwhere the AKA sample This drum by Bongo Muffin. Sweet Fire clearly influenced by Ray Phiri and Stimela’s body. At Song Caiphushe paid tribute to Caiphus Semenya by sampling cousin.
At first I was surprised by the order of the album. It felt a little uncomfortable, but after a few listens, I understood the story. intro track, Last time, capture that maskandi feel very much. After repeating it, I wanted to listen Shwi and Mtekhala or Dry Boy after that. Absolute genius.
He also mentioned Riky Rick, rapping, “Remember what Makhado said, just take care of the kids.” AKA takes this message to heart by featuring Nasty C, Blxckie, and Yanga Chief, among other young artists in the industry. They have young producers, such as Zadok, Fdeezus, and Tshepo “Teddy” Moloi, working with them Mass State.
Easy and Diary (Emergency) it’s a very heavy song. On Easyhe recounts some toxic moments in his relationship with his fiancée, Anele Tembe.
He said, “Everything was fine until you put your paws on me.” He also said, “Your tongue is sharp, you are very sharp.” Those lines sent a chill down my spine.
It will fall from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town in April 2021.
The album also featured groovy songs such as Lemons (Lemonade), Company, Paradise, and Dangerous, featuring his girlfriend, Nadia Nakai.
I might get in trouble for not being impressed with Nakai’s bar on Dangerous but the song is super-catchy. I kept singing “pioneer, icon” all weekend.
Forbes told Apple Music, “There’s no way I’m not going to make a song with my girlfriend.”
He referenced All Eyes on You, a song by Meek Mill that he recorded while dating rapper Nicki Minaj. It’s dangerous to capture that vibe well. I hope this song has a video.
Mass State different from other Supa Mega offerings. Ego and flamboyance take a little of the backseat. It’s still there, but we got a lot of it in our hearts, and I’m not mad at it.
Sometimes our work or our final time on Earth is specifically directed by a power beyond us. Asihambi sodwa.
“At Mega we believe, believe, believe, until it’s done.” — Lesego Chepape
I don’t think rapper AKA will ever make another album, song or music video. Sometimes we take musicians for granted. We don’t appreciate art until it’s no longer alive.
Listen Mass State, I have that kind of moment – remember what the gift of music AKA (real name Kiernan Forbes). It’s all over the discography Mass Statewhich dropped just two weeks after the murder in Durban last month.
At first, I had mixed feelings about the project, mainly because of the lyrics, it wasn’t the best album, but it wasn’t supposed to be. When Forbes told the publication SlikourOnLife about a month before the album was released, he said it would include traditional South African sounds with pop, kwaito and hip-hop influences. This is achieved very well in songs such as Last Time, Everest and Amapiano.
The 14-track album features artists such as his girlfriend Nadia Nakai, as well as Khuli Chana, Nasty C, Emtee, Sjava, KDDO, Musa Keys, Gyakie, Yanga Chief and Manana.
Mass State sample some tracks, including South Africa’s unofficial ratchet song Miss Bettina by Mgarimbe (real name Nkosinathi Mfeka), and Brazilian artist Sergio Mendes’ 1986 hit tune but nothingin the song Pianowhere AKA cleverly replaced the hook in Mendes’ song with the word “amapiano”.
The clear favorite for me is Lemonthe first single from Mass State which reached platinum status. Join Nsikayesizwe Ngcobo (Nasty C) to give us lines like, “Good thing with lips and curves in my corner, A ten in my lap, Maradona” and memorable “Zaba Zaba Zaba Zai Zaba Zai Always out of the country. , I am Zai Zai. ” Ah, what a gem that track is. The simple melody, the hook and the flow are unmatched.
Criticalwith Nakai, has this nostalgic teenage love, reminds me of Kelly Rowland and Nelly Dilemma. I didn’t really like the song at first, but after listening to it a few times, it grew on me.
It would be remiss of me not to mention AKA’s vulnerability in the song Diary (Emergency), where he talked about being left out of the funeral program of his fiance Anele Tembe, where he was going to speak. This song sounds very bitter now knowing that both of them are dead.
I find myself gravitating towards older albums, for example stage and Touch My Bloodinstead of for Mass State. There’s no doubt that the project is well-crafted, with a track list that has such diverse sounds that you’re bound to find something you like. But it doesn’t compare to his previous work, which had quirky rhymes, clever punch lines and catchy hooks. But, Mass State it is a strong victory lap for the race as well as the run. — Bongeka Gumede