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Maraire Jnr pays homage to Zim in new song

Life & Style
BY GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA UNITED STATES-BASED Zimbabwean hip-hop singer and producer Dumisani Maraire Junior, the son of the late veteran musician, Dumisani, recently released Born To Win off his forthcoming album to be released this summer. Known in the showbiz circles as Draze, the singer is the latest member of a premier Zimbabwean musical family to […]

BY GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA

UNITED STATES-BASED Zimbabwean hip-hop singer and producer Dumisani Maraire Junior, the son of the late veteran musician, Dumisani, recently released Born To Win off his forthcoming album to be released this summer.

Known in the showbiz circles as Draze, the singer is the latest member of a premier Zimbabwean musical family to emerge as a high-profile artiste in the United States.

Listening to the song as he pays homage to his Zimbabwean roots, many music lovers might think that the late mbira maestro and veteran traditional instrumentalist who was a key figure in Zimbabwean music in diaspora, has resurrected.

Written and produced by Draze, the melodic harmonies and Shona-laced chorus were inspired by a song taken from his father’s time when he was directing a choir at the University of Zimbabwe in 1994.

The song, which follows the success of his track Building Black Wealth that has more than two million views on Facebook, is raw hip-hop fused with Zimbabwean music to create a new style Draze calls ancestral art.

It features vocalist Kingdzashe and Kenyan trumpet player Owuor Arunga (formerly with Macklemore).

Destined to be a unique cultural anthem, the song highlights his experiences upon returning to America, including being ridiculed for his accent and hair texture. The lyrics in this song are layered, with one of prominent themes being the refugee’s story.

“Hip-hop has always been about authenticity.

“I grew up on the streets in the ghettos of America, but was raised within a Zimbabwean musical family.  Inside of me is where these worlds meet. That is what Born To Win is all about,” he said.

“My father Dumisani Maraire was one of the best marimba and mbira players in the world.

“Ancestral art is really the music I learned from him and my mother, fused with who I am. This is my contribution to hip-hop culture.”

Draze, who recently won Best Hip Hop Artist gong at the African Achievement Awards said the song had been nominated for Best Hip Hop Urban Track by MCPF Production Music Awards.

Draze moved to Seattle at the age of six, where he was immersed in traditional Zimbabwean music as he began his performances.

He grew up in Seattle’s hip-hop culture and street life where he was recognised as one of the top artists in the region.

Draze continued to perform in his family’s Zimbabwean marimba band on several continents around the world, opening for major artistes such as Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Macklemore, Wale, Floetry, Miles Davis, and Jimmy Buffet. He was recently propelled to global recognition after his music featured on television shows, advertisements and film.

With more than 100 placements, Draze is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after songwriters on the Hollywood scene. Some of his placement songs include The Masked singer (Fox), Empire (Fox), Love and Hip Hop (VH1), Sony PlayStation, NFL Network/ESPN SportsCenter.