One of the hottest Zim hip-hop emcees who has been keeping it real since day one is MC Chita real name Chitarisiro Chiketa. Since his came up MC Chita (MC) has been making beautiful records that appealed not just for the northerners but also the southerners. He sort of bridged that gap between ghetto and the uptown masses. Now he speaks to Gem Nation News editor Jonathan Mbiriyamveka (JM) about his eighth studio album simply titled Zimbiyana Jones which is his alter-ego dropping before Christmas. The 37-year-old star also makes reference to his longevity and relevance in the Zim hip-hop scene. Read on:
JM. Good to hear you back, tell us you have an album coming out when is the release date?
MC: Expect the new album to drop just before Xmas. Like a good week before so u have something to add to your Xmas list.
JM. So the new album brings to a total of how many albums you put out?
MC: Eish that’s a big number now. This will be my 8th album.
JM. What kind of vibe do we get on the new album?
MC: The title of the album is “Zimbiyana Jones and The Temple of Boom”. So based on the title we went for songs which are very 808 based. However, we did deal with several genres of music from dancehall to afro beat, we still have a cohesive sound that carries throughout the whole album. Every song comes with a BOOM!
JM. Do you think Zim hip-hop is changing for the better or worse?
MC: I think it’s for the better. You can see the culture now reflected in it. People are making careers off it. There’s versatility. I love a lot of what I’m hearing on the radio. When I first got in, I was one of the few. Now we are many from all walks of life and background. It’s not just an uptown thing anymore. Plus with how it’s easier to do things now than when I first came out, we seeing artists pushing their sound to greater heights.
JM. Who is featured on the new album?
MC: This project is jam packed with amazing features. I got TRK who is a Zimbabwean artist based in South Afrcia who has done features and production for people like Ice Prince, Nasty C, Kwesta, DJ Dimplez to name a few. He also executive produced e album with me as well.
There’s also Nutty O, Asaph, Tulk Munny, Obi Davids, Chengetu Brown, Swaygo The Shaman and Bryan K. It also features production from TRK, GT Beatz, Simba Tagz, Ranson (from Ghana), Airmac Raw and Maco Houdini
JM. Are you going to drop new videos as well?
MC: Definitely . . . We been busy this year. Already have 3 videos in the bag and more on the way. With this project we really trying to go all out so been busy making sure everything is in place to come out with a bang.
JM. Most of the cats know you as MC Chita tells us about your new persona — Zimbiyana Jones?
MC: Zimbiyana Jones is an alter ego I created based on one of my favorite fictional characters, Indiana Jones. The album and the two to follow after, are based on the 3 classic movies based on that character; Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. So I created this new persona and dropping 3 albums based on the movies, first being “Zimbiyana Jones and The Temple of Boom”.
JM. How did you come up with Zimbiyana Jones?
MC: Well like I said I was always a fan of e character Indiana Jones. So after a while when I was planning on doing a whole rebrand, I chose to go for that name cuz it was a name I was drawn to. If I’m to b totally honest, I was never a fan of e name MC Chita. It was a name given to me cuz I was a club MC and my first name is Chitarisiro, Chita for short. Thou I am proud of all e name (MC Chita) has achieved, it’s time for a change, and I hope e fans embrace Zimbiyana Jones e same way they’ve embraced MC Chita.
JM. Will this guarantee your longevity in the game?
MC: It has shown to have that effect in some cases. We can bring up e likes of 2Chainz or The Lox . . . 2Chainz was known as Titty Boy before and The Lox were known as The Warlocks before. Your stage name does say a lot about your brand. What you put into it, what it represents etc. But I think longevity is more about what you put out and relevancy, not really about a name. Will it make people look at me different, yes I believe so. Will it guarantee longevity, I guess will have to see.
JM. Any information you want to tell your fans that we left out?
MC: Just look out for the album and know that there is so much we have in store for you….
JM. Good to hear you back, tell us you have an album coming out when is the release date?
MC: Expect e new album to drop just before Xmas. Like a good week before so u have something to add to your Xmas list.
JM. So the new album brings to a total of how many albums you put out?
MC: Eish that’s a big number now. This will be my 8th album.
JM. What kind of vibe do we get on the new album?
MC: The title of the album is “Zimbiyana Jones and The Temple of Boom”. So based on the title we went for songs which are very 808 based. However, we did deal with several genres of music from dancehall to afro beat, we still have a cohesive sound that carries throughout the whole album. Every song comes with a BOOM!
JM. Do you think Zim hip-hop is changing for the better or worse?
MC: I think it’s for the better. You can see the culture now reflected in it. People are making careers off it. There’s versatility. I love a lot of what I’m hearing on the radio. When I first got in, I was one of the few. Now we are many from all walks of life and background. It’s not just an uptown thing anymore. Plus with how it’s easier to do things now than when I first came out, we seeing artists pushing their sound to greater heights.
JM. Who is featured on the new album?
MC: This project is jam packed with amazing features. I got TRK who is a Zimbabwean artist based in South Afrcia who has done features and production for people like Ice Prince, Nasty C, Kwesta, DJ Dimplez to name a few. He also executive produced e album with me as well.
There’s also Nutty O, Asaph, Tulk Munny, Obi Davids, Chengetu Brown, Swaygo The Shaman and Bryan K. It also features production from TRK, GT Beatz, Simba Tagz, Ranson (from Ghana), Airmac Raw and Maco Houdini
JM. Are you going to drop new videos as well?
MC: Definitely . . . We been busy this year. Already have 3 videos in the bag and more on the way. With this project we really trying to go all out so been busy making sure everything is in place to come out with a bang.
JM. Most of the cats know you as MC Chita tells us about your new persona — Zimbiyana Jones?
MC: Zimbiyana Jones is an alter ego I created based on one of my favorite fictional characters, Indiana Jones. The album and the two to follow after, are based on the 3 classic movies based on that character; Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. So I created this new persona and dropping 3 albums based on the movies, first being “Zimbiyana Jones and The Temple of Boom”.
JM. How did you come up with Zimbiyana Jones?
MC: Well like I said I was always a fan of e character Indiana Jones. So after a while when I was planning on doing a whole rebrand, I chose to go for that name cuz it was a name I was drawn to. If I’m to b totally honest, I was never a fan of e name MC Chita. It was a name given to me cuz I was a club MC and my first name is Chitarisiro, Chita for short. Thou I am proud of all e name (MC Chita) has achieved, it’s time for a change, and I hope e fans embrace Zimbiyana Jones e same way they’ve embraced MC Chita.
JM. Will this guarantee your longevity in the game?
MC: It has shown to have that effect in some cases. We can bring up e likes of 2Chainz or The Lox . . . 2Chainz was known as Titty Boy before and The Lox were known as The Warlocks before. Your stage name does say a lot about your brand. What you put into it, what it represents etc. But I think longevity is more about what you put out and relevancy, not really about a name. Will it make people look at me different, yes I believe so. Will it guarantee longevity, I guess will have to see.
JM. Any information you want to tell your fans that we left out?
MC: Just look out for the album and know that there is so much we have in store for you….
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