Zimhiphop veteran Griffin Makwiramiti recently collaborated with fellow rap heavyweight in Soko Matemai and RnB vocalist Elliot KOH for PachiGandanga. A song that personifies the spirit of the hustle and grind. Griffin brings grit and an edginess to the track, that’s offset by Soko Matemai’s calm cadence and Elliot KOH is the glue that holds everything together.
Ndakapfeka face yechimilitary
Handiite zvemajokes pakutsvaga mari
Pandopinda muround ndichiparapara
Wolverine and I go hard ndichimaramara
Ndinopinda pachigandanga
Ndinopinda pachigandanga
There’s an elegance to the hook that’s brought about by Elliot’s smooth delivery. It’s not the easy singalong type of chorus but something about it sticks in the mind. There’s a mellow feel to the music, brought about by the slow tempo and Elliot’s precision on the vocals.
Griffin raps about drug abuse and the ideology of crime as a solution but his verse emphasises the need to keep on grinding above all. In a verse that’s right on bounds of confidence and cockiness, Soko Matemai reps family and originality while embracing his Chitown roots. The two balance each other out. In more than just substance but also their chosen styles of rap.
The art of lyricism in Zimhiphop is alive and well, especially on this single. Lines like “I know tinoda kufadza njere but that’s never” are easily relatable and they tell the stories of our everyday lives. The youth is constantly chasing escapism but that’s never enough to hold back the despair. Griffin continuously expresses the difficulty of life and how the work feels like it’s never done until we’re six feet under. PachiGandanga is definitely a hustlers anthem.
