There is no music industry in Zim: Hip hop star

His skills behind the microphone won him an international ticket to share the stage with hip hop heavyweights such as Ricky Rose, Busta Rhymes, and Wyclef Jean amongst a host of others.

Showbiz reporter Yeukai Moyo (YM) had an exclusive interview to shed more light on his upcoming mixtape and music career abroad.

YM: What inspired you to become a professional hip hop artist?

MP: Actually I never really wanted to be that. It’s just one of my hobbies – something that I am good at. It was a natural progression and I have been influenced by hip hop most of my intellectual life. I decided to go with the flow and the energy.

There are different traits of hip hop that I am particularly attracted to. Especially the whole entrepreneurial aspect, going out and doing things independently.

YM: How many albums have you made?

MP: I feature on numerous projects. I was the founding member of a group called A Peace of Ebony. Kataklizim, Migrant Souls (Zim groups); we have four albums. I have three solo projects and numerous singles. Not many but enough to survive and get the name (Meta Physics) out there.

YM: I understand that you longer stay in Zimbabwe. When and why did you leave the country?

I left Zimbabwe because I wanted to expand and be in an environment that would allow me to express myself musically without having to worry about the day-to-day hassle. I think Zimbabwe has never been able to cultivate its biggest talents. It has never been able to support its breadwinners.

You find that whoever has talent leaves. It’s an intellectual drain which is not good for the country.

YM: Where are you based now and how has your music been received?

MP: I’m international, based in Miami, Germany, New York. I travel a lot to South Africa and Zimbabwe. So the world is like my oyster right now.

YM: Through your artistic journey abroad, what other great names in the industry have you brushed shoulders or featured with?

MP: I have worked with everyone, shared the stage with Black eyed peas, Wycliffe, Busta Rhymes, Tribe Called Quest, … Madlib. Reggae artistes, Mr Vegas, Buju Banton; Slum Village, Wu Tang, Ricky Ross. A lot of German and … underground artists…

YM: Now as hip hop artists, where do you place yourself especially this time when the genre is being linked to Satanism?

MP: I have nothing to do with the Satanistic aspects of hip hop. I have always valued the positive elements of hip hop. I come from the time when people used to spit knowledge, people like Rakim, KRS1. So I never dived into the whole negative aspects of hip hop.

YM: How do you view these allegations? Have they affected you or your music in any way?

MP: That is not something that I deal with, something that I’m part of. I’m in it for the people and positive part of hip hop. You will find negative elements in every part of society be it in business or whatever. It is up to the individual whether that is their taste or the way they want to pursue. But I’m pursuing a higher purpose and the manifestation of God’s body. So I praise only the Most High.

YM: Given that you were still based in Zimbabwe, could you have managed to come this far as an MC?

MP: I mean I came this far as a Zimbabwean MC. When it gets to the odds I am an Zimbabwe MC. It has nothing to do with anything else. The fact is I still carry the flag. My latest mixtape is 263-4 which clearly means Zimbabwe, Harare.

YM: In your own words can you differentiate the local hip hop industry as compared to the industry abroad?

MP: There is no industry in Zimbabwe. I have said that time and time again. Industry is something that people can generate income from. It’s something that is viable and functions. In Zimbabwe it is just hobby stuff. Don’t even think Zimbabwe has a music industry outside Sungura. Industry is a big word, it means industrial. Zimbabwe has not industrialized the music. We are far from what Jamaica has managed to do with their music.

YM: For the past decade, the local hip hop circles have remained in the doldrums. As one of the best lyricists ever to come out of Zimbabwe, what do you think is holding the genre back?

MP: Outstanding artistes will always come out of the hardest environments in the world. From poor villas of Brazil to Japan – all over the world those who do it with passion will always break through. The rest who try to follow a trend they will never be as passionate as those who transcend.

Zimbabwe has a small population. In relation to the population the right amount of people are breaking through.

YM: What should be done to resurrect the genre at home (Zimbabwe)?

MP: Leave it as it is. If people are not about it then they don’t deserve it. If the new generation is about something else then maybe we should tune into what the new generation is about.

YM: Any future plans of relocating back home?

MP: I never left Zimbabwe. I’m just here on a temporary status. I have property and responsibilities back home. I’m just trying to make it out here and live the life back home.