UNITED KINGDOM-based reggae/dancehall singer Mic Inity (picture) makes a welcome return to the mainstream music scene with a brand-new album simply titled 4.0.
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA
Born Mike Madamombe, the husky-voiced artiste has for the first time dropped a wholly dancehall album reminiscent of Buju Banton’s good old days.
The eight-track album is bouncy as it is danceable, something his fans love him for.
Interestingly, before he rose to fane, Mic Inity used to perform with various groups before settling down to a three-year stint as lead vocalist and front man of reggae outfit Transit Crew.
At the time, Mic Inity would churn out conscious reggae, drawing crowds at the then Book Café nestled in Harare’s Avenues area.
As the fan base grew, so did the name Mic Inity, emerging as a force to reckon with in reggae/dancehall music.
But on 4.0, Mic Inity is delivering an enjoyable album that reminds many of how talented he is as a songwriter/composer and performer.
The Shinko Beats-produced album opens with Step Pon It, a captivating club banger that will move his fans. On the track, Mic Inity laces his vocals over thumping bass and, if there is anything unique about this, it is the melody that will keep ringing in your mind long after the song has stopped playing.
The follow up track — Dreams — is purely an encouragement to fans to never give up on their dreams. As the title suggests, it is an easy number but still makes for enjoyable listening.
Track three bursts with melodies. It is called A No Mi Dat and it is social commentary in which Mic Inity talks resilience in an ever-unpredictable world. Coming from Zimbabwe, Mic Inity seems to be aware of the hardships that people go through. Surviving in Zimbabwe needs skill and character to keep going forward despite the endless adversities that come your way.
On Go Getter, he has tapped into new talent by featuring Millz on the track that talks about money. Mic Inity seems to suggest that “money makes the world go round” since you cannot do anything without money.
Riddim-wise, it brings to mind Dave Kelly’s 1997 Showtime riddim.
He turned it up on Cele and Yuh A Di Boss. Both tracks are party anthems.
The last track is Lion Roar, which is rather a low-tempo number which is above average and adds on to the dancehall niceness.
With 20 years in music, Mic Inity has shown his vocal range and growth on the album.
He dropped his debut in 2011 called Freedom.
Two years later he put out his second album Just Reggae, My Journey, which featured tunes he had recorded in Jamaica with acclaimed producer Caveman Manning, known from his work with Sizzla Kalonji.
He followed it up with Survivor in 2015, which was rather a lukewarm project and, seven years later, Mic Inity is back!
