The last time he was in a studio was in the United Kingdom, where he recorded Africa with Keisha White of the Weakness in Me fame in 2015.
By Sindiso Dube
It was a collaboration, which many thought would be the Chitungwiza-bred rapper’s break into continental and international stardom after six albums, but, alas, that never happened.
Maskiri took a hiatus, which he described as a moment for him to learn more about his music and to perfect his songwriting skills.
At that point, many had written off the “king” of word play from the list of top hip-hop contenders, but the Wenera hit maker maintains he is not a spent force.
He says he is about to change that with his new offering, Serious Business. “Hatipere asi tinotanga (I am not a spent force). My album is ready to drop and I have lined up a tour to promote it in Zimbabwe, South Africa and abroad,” Maskiri said.
“I worked with the likes of Nox Guni, gTbeats and E Major, among others.”
Maskiri, whose career has been marred by controversy caused by dirty lyrics, promised his fans a “clean and mature” album.
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“Controversy with me might be there, but not constantly, and this album will be clean and mature,” he said.
“I am giving you my best offering, coming from a period where I learnt a lot.
“I have grown up now and I am mature,” said the man, who at one time nursed a broken leg after allegedly jumping off the third floor of an apartment block when he was caught with someone’s wife in 2005.
The 37-year-old rapper started working with Fortune Mparutsa before joining hands with Mr See and Munetsi before teaming up with Chamhembe, fronted by Take Fizzo, where he put out his first studio album Muviri Wese.
The controversial album carried tracks such as Tambudzai, Zverudo Zvaramba (featuring Roki) and Dhara Rangu.
Since then, controversy became Maskiri’s middle name. His music was banned from national radio stations and television for containing explicit lyrics.
However, that didn’t stop Maskiri from producing more music and more albums that hit the streets in Zimbabwe, as he continued to be a household name.
Blue Movie, Tapinda Tapinda, Ndotown Yacho, New Look (2010) and Recovery (2013) followed up Muviri Wese.
The album New Look was Maskiri’s recovery path. It carried clean lyrics, with hits such as Handina Kwandinoenda and Wenera featuring Nox Guni and Chagwa Black.
Wenera topped the charts in 2012, reaching number two on Power FM’s Top 100.
The video, which happened to be Makiri’s first, came up tops on ZTV and to add icing to the cake, he was named the best hip-hop male artiste in that year.
The success he had that year propelled him to clinch a deal for his maiden United Kingdom tour with Trevor Dongo and Leonard Mapfumo.
