ALBUM THAT REMINDS ME OF MY EARLY CHILDHOOD:
My folks used to host other adults a lot when I was growing up, we still had a JVC record player back then, I’ll never forget that grey fossil with the double cassette player. I remember Mango Groove “Hometalk” used to be on repeat. Then my brother and I in our Pj’s we knew someone was gonna come call us to go dance for the Adults. Kids back then were slash everything e.g remote control/Dj to change the record/waiter/entertainment. Back then my bro and I were Pantsula kings in our street. We owned the dance floor.
ALBUM THAT NEVER GETS BORING:
Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy…what an amazing album. Its a roller coaster ride of his ego. This came out when everyone was hating Mr West after that Taylor Swift stunt at the VMAs. Even Obama called him Jacka$$ for what he did. He took all that negative energy and gave us this masterpiece. This was Yeezy’s middle finger to everyone.
BEST KWAITO ALBUM OF ALL TIME:
No doubt TKZee Halloween by far!!! This album was genius, this was the Asian Bolt of all kwaito albums. I mean packed with hits from the first Track to the last. One could even jam to the intro and outro tracks, thats how musically good this album was. They introduced well constructed verses instead of oneliners, melodies and keys. It felt like kwaito moved from the township and went to a Private school.
ALBUM THAT REMINDS YOU OF YOUR DAYS IN GROWING UP ON EASTERN CAPE:
Brenda and the Big Dudes “Weekend Special”, before MaBrrr went solo. That Disco vibe was pumping in all the taxis. Brenda gave us hits man, its unfair to just name one Album from her because most songs she did back then were sing alongs for kids. When kids used to play outside, find 20 kids blocking the road singing Mi do do. For some reason evrytime kids sang Too late For Mama at school singing contests they fainted mid song… or should I say acted like they were fainting. It was a thing.
THE ALBUM I PLAY BEFORE & AFTER YOUR STAND UP COMEDY SHOW:
Any Ladysmith Black Mambazo album. I’m one of a few acts who is fortunate enough to be invited to go perform in other countries like Nigeria; Uganda; Kenya; Switzerland; London; etc, so for some reason when I’m away from home that’s all I listen to before I go on stage or the night before. I always crave that home connection. “Homeless” is standard my intro song when I enter the stage. That song is Magic. It feels like I have arranged a visa for my Ancestors and they’re with me at that moment on stage.
ALBUM THAT’S GUARANTEED TO LIFT MY MOOD:
Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Always. Can’t go wrong there.
THE ALBUM THAT HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON ME:
All eyes on me by Tupac. Double CD or cassette if you saved your pocket money to buy it like me. My Teenage years man, walks are changing, hormones are kicking in and pimples popping. Peer pressure is at the utmost high and the streets are my education. During a time when you think you’re being misunderstood, 2Pac reached my soul with this classic. I also had that raw beef track of all time Hit ’em Up”, waited for my parents to leave so I can play it on blast. Left it on while I took a bath, right on that part where he is delivering those F bombs in a row I heard my mom say “Jesus what is this playing in my house”… they forgot something.
BEST ALBUM TO PLAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT:
Fridays always move nicely with current music and lately I’ve been on that new Cassper Nyovest “Thuto”…Bruh!!! Homie worked there!! I liked his first album Tsholofelo, then he lost me with his second offering “Refiloe”, I was not the target market there. I love this new album, so honest, mature and very musical… Then back to turn up Sha Sha!
ALBUM I WISH I’D MADE:
D’Angelo Voodoo… Classic. Spiritual, soulful, etc. It sounds like it was a lot of fun making that album. He even made the most simple music video ever, black backdrop and he just stood there naked. If I get to make this album…that body better be part of the package.
ALBUM THAT I PLAY IN THE MORNING OR MY GET UP & GO ALBUM:
Hard to say because it depends what do I feel like listening to that morning. I love new music so anything by Kendrick Lamar, I like “Damn” now, sometimes I go back to his other albums like “To Pimp a butterfly” when I want that conscious feeling or listen to “Good Kid M.A.AD City” when I’m cruising the streets of Jozi especially at night with the lights on.
THE ALBUM USED TO PLAY DURING MY EARLY DAYS IN YOUR COMEDY CAREER:
Eminem The Marshal Mathers LP, definetly!! Night before or before I go on stage I used to listen to “The way I am” and “Stan”. By the way I was once a TKZee Stan as a youngen, I wrote them letters, eventually they replied with a signed postcard… I guess to shut me up.
ALBUM THAT SHAPED ME AS A MAN:
I dont know if I would say music shaped me as a Man. My Dad’s words shaped me to be the Man that I am, my Mom’s love also. Music comes in between those moments of life and mends…kinder make sense of everything.
ALBUM THAT I THINK SHOULD BE RE-RELEASED:
Dead Prez Let’s get free. These kids are “Turnin’ Up” too much and forgetting about whats important. Besides I miss Hip Hop that is food for the mind and soul.
THE ALBUM THAT MADE ME FALL IN LOVE
This has to go to 90’s R&B as a whole. I can’t pick a specific album. Its a cabinet of a lot of artists that made me fall in love. Everyone had their own portfolio when it comes to love e.g Boyz to Men leading that as the President, R. Kelly comes in as the Deputy, Maxwell as the minister of Energy and Chemistry, Mary J as the minister of Drama in Love…etc.
WRITTEN BY RETHABILE MOHLALA
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