Phyzix’s two faces of rap

When musician Phyzix came on the music scene in 2006 with Cholapitsa, he sent a strong signal that he was a hardcore rap artist.

His message in the song was raw and aggressive-a voice of the frustrated youth in the township trying to figure things out.

Nearly 16 years later, this has been his style and has converted some fans who basically look at rap as a channel of airing one’s frustrations.

The same genre is also used to diss opponents and handle ‘beef’ with those a rapper does not see eye to eye with. It is the same scenario in most parts of the world including the US where rap music originated from.

Cholapitsa did not only establish him as one of the country’s best rappers, it sort of gave him an identity as a hardcore rapper who used bars to air out things that bother him.

In 2021, the rapper released one of his most successful albums to date; Gamba Seasons. The album contains songs such as Makofi, a hardcore rap hit warning his opponents that he has the abilities to beat them up.

In part it goes: “Sindikunyengelera mwana wa munthu

Ndikugawa makofi minimum ndi two, two

Ngati ndinachalira ndakwiyilatu

Kundiputa ineyo iwe akwiliratu

Mafanawa akumasukatu

Kunditapa mkamwa kumathoka za mkutu

Ena ndi ma gangsta pa Facebook

Amachenjera pa zopusa ngati …

Kabudula wanji kunyoza buluku?

Ena ndi mafumu koma ine ndi gulupu

Musandichimwitse...”

Under Gamba the hardcore rapper, the artist has in the last two years released songs such as Mwana Opusa, Zindime and many other songs.

But lately the rapper has been giving his fans something new and never associated with him before. Phyzix has embraced rapping about love and celebrating the love for a woman more and more.

The question on everyone’s lips is: Has he abandoned hardcore rap for love and sentimental songs?

He said: “I enjoy love songs as I am growing up. They are so peaceful, nice and friendly. They offer and create wider platforms for performance and growth of a fan base.”

Phyzix added that despite him embracing a more mature approach and singing more love songs, he still does hardcore rap songs.

“But I am grown up now, I no longer engage in beef songs. I am no longer pursuing hate in my music,” said.

He said when he creates love songs he wears the moniker Captain Bae while when he is hardcore rap he is known at Gamba.

“These are all parts of growing up and growing my reach and audience,” said the artist.

Under the Captain Bae moniker the artist has so far released songs such as Wife Material, Chikondi, Momo, Follow and Beautiful.

In Beautiful, a song which he did with musician Saint, Phyzix raps in part: “Anali yekha mu Eden Adam

Anamulengela mkazi madam

Asakhalemo yekha mu jangomu

Pali zambiri zotigwetsa mu dzikomu

We all need a queen for the kingdom

Ladies are the ones that all of us lean on

Keeping us on balance like a pendulum

I wanna tell the truth my girl

Mkazi wangwiro angamupeze ndani

Muli bwino paliponse mwamva mami

Munabadwa okongola ndikuuzani

Musazalore munthu kukunyozani….”

Reflecting on his decision to add some sentimental love lyrics to his rap art, Phyzix said the move not only signalled growth, but won him more fans as well as awards.

In 2021, the artist won Album of the Year for his album Flaws at the Malawi Sounds (Maso) award,

He was also named Kelfoods brand ambassador, among other opportunities.

One of his long-time collaborators, Macia, whom he collaborated with on his love song Chikondi, described the rapper as very gifted.

He said: “Phyzix is the kind of a person who knows what he is doing as long as music is concerned. So, I know if he chooses to do something, it will be a success.”