Cto Banks` Top Ten Hip Hop MvPs Of 2017

By CtO Banks

Okay firstly l would like to give respect to each and every one who did something in 2017 far as Hip Hop is concerned. This goes out to every rapper, producer, promoter/event planners, managers, radio and club Djs and not forgetting us the bloggers. If you did something that contributed to the growth of Hip Hop industry or did something Hip Hop wize shout out to you.

Well, the year came to an end and we have to look back and reminisce. But of course we got to give respect to the ones that did the most, so below is the list of ten people who l think did the most in 2017. Please note that the list is in no particular order and it’s based on my personal intellection of who did what.

tehn

I. Tehn Diamond

King Ngoda is not just a veteran in the Hip Hop circles. Ever since he came on the scene he has been shining like his  bald. Well it’s hard not put him on the top 5 of the most hard worked in 2017 alone. First quarter of the year he released his A Few Good Poems album which had successful sales, and to top that he went on tour for the album with Ammara Brown, Simba Tagz and South African rapper Thaiwanda Thai. They toured 10 cities, and all shows were hosted by Tafadzwa Muchechetere aka Zimboy. His singles Give Thanks feat Simba Tagz and No Stress Feat Thaiwanda Thai were successful and topped charts. No Stress won Song Of The Year at Zim Hip Hop Awards 2017.

II. Tulk Munny

“Give respect where its due”, so they say, well l work with that and am not going to lie l respect Tulk Munny and his art. He didn’t just come to the scene this year but he came and owned it, firstly with his masterpiece single titled `Chepa Jecha` which means (From the ghetto). And it is off his Chepa Jecha album. He later on gave us a tune to party with titled `Dakutsika Jive` (l want to dance), which l gotta say it’s a track l can’t just get enough of, and it rocked the local radio stations charts. Before 2017 ended he worked with producer Take Fizzo on his album No Gwanda Rulez which was fairly received by the streets.

exq

III. ExQue (Exqwizit)

It’s not just that this is a veteran in this Hip Hop industry this guy is actually my number when it comes to rappers who worked hard the most in 2017. Ever since he came on the scene 15 to 16 years ago he owned it and never got off the scene. Many artists came and went, he even brags about how long he has been on the spot. Well, let him he has bragging rights. In 2017 he gave us hits after hits, firstly it was `Bhachura` (Bachelor) with Ammara Brown and the song had a smashing video which played on big African music channels like Channel O and Trace Africa. Later on he got signed on to Jah Prayzah`s music label called Military Touch Movement, a huge move for his career too. 2017 he also gave us another single titled `Let’s Talk About It` featuring fellow record label mate Nutty O it also had a video which premiered on Trace Africa Tv. Before the year ended he gave us another hit titled `Vanoreva Nhema` (They Tell Lies) featuring dancehall star Killer T, the track is still making noise in the streets. Now you see why he is on my list, right. ?

zimboy

IV. Zimboy (Changamire Hip Hop Festival)

Besides him being my friend, he one of the guys l saw work hard in 2017 and l have always be there to support at his functions. He became the first Hip Hop promoter to host or go on tours with rappers going all around Zimbabwe. In 2017 he successfully hosted Tehn Diamond`s `Tehn Outta Tehn` and shook the world with the turn outs they had. They went to cities like Masvingo, Bulawayo and Gweru. To close the 2017 curtain he won Best Hip Hop Promoters at Zim Hip Hop Awards.

Fizzo

V. Take Fizzo

This veteran producer is really my best producer of 2017. He keeps getting better with age like wine.  In 2017 he worked on Tehn Diamond`s `A Few Good Poems` as an executive producer, and also went on tour with him as his Dj. He later on fully produced Tulk Munny`s `No Gwanda Rules` album. Before the year ended he produced for Few Kings` album `The Feeling Aint Fear` and went on tour, they even went to perform in South Africa. He also co-produced Ammara Brown`s hit single Akiliz.

terry

VI. Terry Africa

Terry might be a new kid on the block but really deserves to be on my list, his work is just too phenomenal to go unnoticed. He came from nowhere and did collaboration with Pah Chihera and Tocky Vibes which was major successful hit. It topped and stayed in the local radio charts for months, and he released a video for the song and it was well received by the fans too. He then featured ExQ on his `Torova Ngoma` track which is another successful hit and had a banging video.  Just like ExQ many are going to criticize me saying Terry Africa is not hip hop but you have to understand the true nature of hip hop and its elements. He is hip hop but just a different kind of fusion he brings with him.

VII. Few Kings

Few Kings is hip hop group which consists of 3 individual artists, 2 rappers and a producer which are Tehn Diamond, Jnr Brown and Take Fizzo respectively. Few Kings shook the hip hop lovers in 2017, after some years while they were busy with their personal works, they announced that they releasing a follow up album to their first album called The Feeling Aint Fair which consisted hits like` Happy` and `The Realness`. The 2017 album is titled The Feeling Aint Fear, which l got say is more of a mature album; you have to be an intellectual person for you to enjoy it. The Feeling Aint Fear landed the group  in an uncertain predicament during the Mugabe Era as the album had many anti Mugabe-Government songs and the album was banned from air because of its tracks like `The Remedy` and `15 Billion (Hapana Hapana)` which talks of the 15 Billion that disappeared from government. Few Kings went on tour the same year, it was titled `Kings Of The Summer Tour` and they went around Zimbabwe and did a few shows in South Africa. So far they have shot videos for `The Remedy` and `15 Billion`.

hubby

VIII. Hubby Blakes

He is no “rookie” in the game but he challenged the laws of engagement with hit single `Amai VaDhikondo` featuring Coco Master, the single went viral on social media, ruled the streets and toed the local radio charts. l mean everywhere you went you would hear it. It was a terrific move especially in the hip hop game. The video for the track also went viral, and received over 200 000 views in the first month of it being uploaded on YouTube. I seriously don’t know why they didn’t give him Best Video and Best Newcomer at 2017`s Hip Hop Awards l truly believe he deserved it.

mudiwa

IX. Mudiwa Hood

This is the guy who slays while praying. He might have dropped all of old style to try and fit in the 21^st era. As they say you have to move with time. Well in 2017 he really worked and impressed me too, so his work can’t go unappreciated. He took my attention when he released the video for his track `Slaying` and it was so amazing, loved everything about it. In 2017 he got a couple of corporate deals with some companies. But he really fitted into this list when he released his EP titled Street Preacher. It had outstanding tracks like KaSister KaHeavy, and You Bless Me featuring Natasha Muz and Craig Bone.

hillzy

X. Hillzy

He is the last but not least guy on my `2017 Top Ten Most Valuable Players` in the Zim Hip Hop industry. Hillzy is living proof that social media has a big influence in this entertainment industry. He is currently based in the United Kingdom but he is part of the most played artists in 2017. I believe what made him phenomenal is the way he has that fusion which is currently making noise these days. My favourite track from him is Muroora.

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