Xtra Large returns
By Showbiz Writer
Many will remember the comical Xtra Large duo that used to unleash hit after hit where they played allegorical tenant and landlord.
Well, they are back and it is with a bang.
The duo released their latest single titled Mufundisi on Wednesday and it is another serious jam.
While this time they redid Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers’ Sabhuku and altered the characterisation of the jiti track and made it about a fornicating pastor.
https://youtu.be/jO-YtiBLv_0
The track speaks to the numerous vices of scandalous clergymen who go on infidelity romps with congregants among them married women.
One of the members Jimmy told Showbiz that the group was ‘live and kicking’ only that the audiences expected them to be restricted to certain forms of music.
“We have been around and the problem has been that people thought we are restricted to particular sound yet we’ve been versatile. Most probably you’ve heard some of our tracks and didn’t even know it was us because they weren’t what you would want to refer to as typical Xtra Large style,” said Jimmy.
He said it was difficult to separate the urban groves and Zim dancehall movements and unfair to compare the two.
“Dancehall has always been there from when Urban Grooves started with artistes like Major E, Potato, Malvin S, Sniper Storm etc. Even back then Xtra Large were part of the people that pioneered the particular sound with tracks like Uri Roja, Roja Dance and Aiwa Mukoma. We also started doing riddims way of doing tracks on the same beat as different artistes when we did the Riddem Riddim which featured Xtra Large with Unodada Nei, Roki with Suzzana, Mafrik with Tell Me Why to name just a few,” he said.
“So comparing Zim dancehall and urban grooves is impossible but if you insist then it’s a case “YaBaba neMwana” (father and son) and we all know that dad will always have the formula. Zimbabwean music has categories and some are not original and will not last but some are original and can last a long time, a good example is Oliver Mtukudzi’s Rova Ngoma Mtavara. On the intro of his song he even mentions that “this is 1977”. I wasn’t even born but even up to date we can still dance to the song and it rocks.
“Also Xtra Large’s Ndinoda Kushamula Newe, Aiwa Mukoma, Small House, Uri Roja are still relevant and we still perform them. Word to artists that are not original, ‘Authenticity lasts forever and we make Music not songs…’.”
Jimmy also blamed the media for being biased by “ignoring” their tours.
“Like when Messi was a hit no one recognised Neymar,” he said.
“We are almost through with an Album titled Xtra Large We are THE TRUTH. The title is just to clarify who started and pioneered the game. Pane vanozviti vanomhanya sterek munzira dzavasingatomboziya kuti dzakapfumbidzwa nani. (there are some that think they are so fast on paths they do not know who c),” he said.
Jimmy said they were also working on the video for Mufundisi as well as a countrywide tour to promote it.
And the parting shot: ”Original material can easily be exported and it carries our identity as Zimbabweans. Any International artiste would want to work with a local artiste whose music is rich with Zimbabwean flavour but if you’re not original and coping music from a certain country then what would those artistes from that country want from our music? We will simply be referred to as carbon copies or copycats.”
