In The Building arrives as chapter four in the story of the artist born Hillary Chipunza but popularly known as Hillzy. An artist who’s sound often embodies several genres and he delivers that same blend in his latest chapter over 11 tracks.
The project owes it’s name to Hillzy’s long said catch phrase “It’s Hillzy in the building”. It delivers a tale of two sides to Hillary. as In The Building showcases Hillary the singer and songwriter, and also Hillary the producer.
Beginning with chapter one T.U.T.O.R (The University Take Over Reloaded) then moving on to Overdue (The Love Mixtape) followed by Chisikana EP, and now In The Building, Hillzy has always differentiated himself as an artist. Whether it’s a subtle change in sound or his ability to alternate from a soulful hook to a hard hitting verse. A Hillzy project has always been set apart from the rest of the flock.
In The Building is his first project in two years although he’s been putting out a steady stream of singles. The journey to In The Building’s release began with the single “Chargie”. From the song title borrowed from Jamaican slang to the sound of the track itself, there’s a clear Caribbean influence. Chargie blends elements of dancehall and afrobeats while delivering a soulful feel through the vocals. The song also has a clever hook, with a double entendre referencing Kevin Hart’s starring role on the movie Jumanji.
You say you love me
Put nobody above me
God knows you michargie
Heart go wild like Jumanji
Only You was the follow up single to Chargie and it has a mellow sound along with afrobeats elements that make for the perfect love song. It’s a track of affirmation and promise. Hillzy sings as a man ready to commit and he reaffirms his in almost every moment. Spirit Fingerz works wonders on the production.
Hillzy has often been characterised as a hiphop artist and sometimes RnB but Trapsoul is certainly what encapsulates him best. And when he dropped the braggadocious Nharo, he was completely in his trap element. The synth, along with the drums brought an intensity to the sound that was completed by Hillzy calm and collected delivery. Nharo did not hit Chargie’s high streaming numbers but it was the song that made the loudest statement.
From Nharo’s height of energy and intensity, Hillzy brought things down low with Forever, an RnB tune that reveals a bit of the hopeless romantic within him. The song features rapper H3nry, who delivers a standout verse to offset Hillzy’s smooth vocals. All throughout In The Building, love is a principal subject although Hillzy approaches it from different angles. S.Y.M (Simbi YaMudhara) talks about his chosen love and he references a shona proverb that says “Chidamoyo hamba yakada makwati” meaning you have the freedom to chase your heart’s desires.
Long Street makes reference to the famous road in Cape Town, South Africa by the same name known for having a countless selection of the best bars around. Hillzy drops his hardest hitting lyrics yet, punctuated by a hook that forgoes humility and features a clever football reference.
Look how I set the bar
I got nobody at par, oh snap
Long Street with the bars
I check a nigga like VAR
At 1 minute 48 seconds long, Ndinganyepe feels like only just a snippet but it’s my favourite song on this project. The song has quirky but ingenious lines like, “Drip like I’m trying to empty my bladder, she told me 911 you’re fighter.” Every second on this track is used to full effect. Hillzy is full on HipHop as he delivers Ita Mushe with an easy cadence to compliment the lyricism that carries a healthy dose of narcissism. Ita Mushe among others, make In The Building a project heavy on self belief.
It might be arguable if it’s better project than Chisikana EP, as it has less replay value but Hillzy is certainly more self assured. The sound is broader, while lyricism is also elavated. Better For Myself goes for that a bit of that Afrobeats sound and it features a quick tempo. Whichever sound Hillzy is channeling on a track, he embraces it fully.
Bling brings about a juxtaposition of Hillzy’s RnB and trap sides while Signs is back again to that Afrobeats sound. Mr Masinh (Hillzy’s pseudonym as a producer) handles most of the project’s production and that certainly a part of what fuses the music together. In The Building delivers variety in sound while displaying consistency in quality. It’s definitely a top project and one of 2022’s significant releases.
