EP Review: Jemedari's "HEART N CRAFT"
Jemedari, legendary Kenyan hip hop MC and activist, has once again graced our ears with a powerful and evocative project, "HEART N CRAFT." This EP is not just a collection of songs; it's a deep, personal and artistic testament to Jemedari's growth as an artist and his dedication to his own originality. With "HEART N CRAFT," Jemedari invites us to delve into his innermost thoughts, his vulnerabilities, and his triumphs. Ni kama anakwambia, "Karibu ndani ya roho yangu."
For starters, the first track “Baba Yangu,” kinda gets you in a certain mood. Rumors huku nyuma ya tent zinasema for the people with daddy issues (from My DMs) and don’t go to church, it feels like a double entendre’. I like the message of the song most, slowly relaying words that I sure want to tell my father, whether in heaven or here on earth. The production is stupendous, the background-loop “baabaaaa, baba yangu” seamlessly complementing the vocals. This is a track I can listen to in whatever emotional state I am in, I enjoyed it immensely. This particular track shows range and versatality, that an artist can remain themselves even in the complete opposite direction of their norm.
The EP weaves together a rich tapestry of sounds, seamlessly blending Afrocentric rhythms, soul, hip-hop, and spoken word.Another thing that struck me cold was the curation of this body of work.
This sonic fusion creates an immersive experience that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Kiwache Kisonge’s positioning is uplifting from the laid back vibe of the first track. Not just in the beat sway, in context and messaging, it is a whole different transcension, peak artistry.
You can feel it, you can feel the artistry in every track, the attention to detail, the passion that Jemedari and production pours into his craft. you can feel it. Lyrically, the EP explores profound themes that resonate with the average human experience: spirituality, secularity (not sure if that is a word) and Love & admiration as heard in the third track TDM. Jemedari's words are not mere rhymes; they are poetry, storytelling at its finest. Ni kama anatuandikia barua kutoka moyoni. I have no idea what “Mekatalili wa hili kabila langu” means but I will dead ass be using that line in the next 24 hours. TDM has a combination of instruments that makes the song familiar for no reason, the sax supplements the rest in a very holistic way.
The collaborations on "HEART N CRAFT" also deserve special mention, Fena Gitu on Vibe came with just that, vibes.
Her whole artistic personality is pegged on being high on life, you know?
The reason I think Fena was the perfect choice for this particular song is because she has a feel-good aura about her.The song is the high-octane moment before the close of the project with a more serious song “Breathe” Honourable mentions to Peter Nyabuto, Eric Kyalo Mwangangi, and Muema Nzomo too for bringing their unique talents and perspectives to the project, enriching and adding depth and texture to the overall sound. This collaborative spirit elevates the EP beyond a solo effort, we all know how much a hassle harmonizing the efforts to release a project like this is. The last song “Breathe” I think is a personal song for Jemedari and not for the fans. Have you ever listened to a track and know the artist was NOT thinking about anything else but an expression of their emotions, by themselves to themselves? I strongly believe that is one of those.
Well well well, at this juncture (insert village MC voice) I would like to give my two cents. This is a very good body of work in all aspects really. The lyricism is great, the production and track mastering is superb and the curation is crazy. However the songs and EP are short, I was left wishing there was more of both. Also this is not a HipHop EP, it’s not even genre specific, this is an EP for everyone.
When all is said and done,Jemedari,
