HIPHOP VERSUS LAW

HIPHOP VERSUS LAW

New year is always a good year but 2018 is not doing any favor for MDubz hip hop music artists. In the first two months of the year 2018, we have already witnessed apprehension of two hip hop artists for recording songs which are said to be slightly parallel to the constitution of Malawi.

The first victim of the ordeal was rapper Chavula, real name Mwiza Chavura, ex member of the legendary music group Trap-squad which comprised of the likes of Stich fray, Juda gaga, the late Revolver & Sir patricks. The rapper got arrested earlier this year for recording a song titled Rape. The songs concept focused on a guy (Chavura) threatening a girl who has been rejecting him that he will one day rape her “Nzakupanga rape! Kukamwa kwako nzaku mata tape” part of the lyric reads.

Morally, the song was indeed extremely out of virtues for most Malawians, but unfortunately, hip-hop fans saw nothing wrong with the song. “It’s a lovely song, I see nothing wrong about it. It’s not as if Chavura has raped who so ever he was talking about in his song, it was just him speaking out his mind. It was for those who could relate” hip-hop fan John Phiri (not real name)

In an interview with Zodiak radio, Chavura AKA Nyambalo apologized to the who nation for making a song which is deemed offensive to most people. He further backed himself “This is hip-hop, averyone speaks out his mind, we here songs like “Kubanda” it doesn’t mean the artist is really smoking Marijuana, it is just exercising the freedom of expression”

Soon after Chavula, an upcoming rapper Born criss faced a court judgement of doing social work by mopping at a health clinic in Ndirande for making a diss track for a fellow artist Queen B. The track was said to be defamation for Queen B.

This has raised a lot of questions for hip-hop fans and artists. Diss tracks has always been the favorite part of hip-hop music since it started. During the 90’s hip-hop fans witnessed diss tracks between 2pac Shakur and Biggie smalls which ended up in a gun fight were by 2pac was shot to death in 1996 and in 2001 which is commonly known as the Ether era, the genre equally witnessed Nas and Jay Z diss. Despite how all these ended, hip-hop fans have never complained about diss/beef neither alone finding it unentertaining. Maybe artists should learn not to mention each others name in diss tracks to avoid defamation but surely Nas or Jay Z would be sorry for Born chriss to hear that he had been arrested for making a diss record. Ntchana Fredokiss, one of the prominent rappers in MDubz once said “Beef is always part of hip-hop. Whether you like it or not there is going to be diss in the game”

Fairly, Chavura’s issue has the same stand in the hip-hop point of view. Crazy concepts are what makes hip-hop to be hip-hop. Show organisers & music promoters Mikozi suggested that we should sign a contract before making diss records to avoid suits. Is this what hip-hop has become?