By Phumzile Ndlovu
MBABANE – A revitalisation of Eswatini Hip Hop!
Hip Hop veteran and label owner Viruss, born Vumani Masuku, has officially launched his three-track Extended Playlist (EP) titled ‘March Madness’, marking the beginning of a planned series of monthly releases.
Known also as Flawless, Viruss aims to encourage local artists to produce more music annually.
The ‘March Madness’ EP features three songs:
– Head High
– Make It Out
– Back to the City (featuring longtime friend and business partner Extasy born Xoliswa Nsibandze)
The project addresses various themes, including depression and a deep appreciation for cultures often viewed as foreign to Africans. Viruss describes the music in the EP as a ‘Penicillin’ for the world’s social and financial pressures, combining elements of both conscious and commercial hip hop.
“The EP is available on YouTube for streaming, and I’m excited to embark on this creative journey with my team,” stated Viruss. He hinted at a new partnership and expressed optimism for future endeavors in the creative space. “I like to believe less is more, so I will say less, but definitely there is more music on the way,” he added.
Thandeka Khoza a publicist for the Viruss brand, confirmed that the artist is frequently in the studio working on new music. She mentioned the collaboration with 80 Script, an artist who has not released music in a while, and expressed gratitude for his contribution.
Extasy shared his excitement for the release and revealed that they are currently in the post-production phase of a short documentary documenting the recording process of the EP. “Our motive is to be a more proactive crop of creatives as opposed to a reactive group,” Nsibandze explained, emphasizing the need to forge new paths in the hip hop culture.
Viruss also confirmed that he is already working on another project titled ‘May Mayhem’ stating, “I’m already on to the next one and you can expect new releases soon.” He concluded with an inspiring message: “We are bringing back Hip Hop in its essence. We were called to this cause, and we live to inspire; I hope this inspires you wherever you are and whatever you do.”
