And the trophy for consistency goes to…
Hot on the heels of the release of his album ‘David and Goliath’, Zimbabwean dancehall staple Freeman HKD has just released yet another album this past weekend titled ‘Trophy’.
Awarded ‘Best Album of the Year’ at this year’s Zimbabwe Music Awards, ‘David and Goliath’ was released in October of 2022 and included a collaboration with Jamaican singer Chris Martin titled ‘Zimbabwean Queen’ and the chart topping single ‘Vakomana veDrip’. While others take large gaps between projects, the famed singer has released ‘Trophy’ to great fan fair.
The launch was supported by acts such as Jah Prayzah, Feli Nandi, Delroy Shewe and Killer T to mention a few.
The album contains twelve singles and includes collaborations with singers Feli Nandi, Jah Prayzah, Nox, Tyfah Guni, Delroy Shewe and Saintfloew. The overarching theme of the album is love (whether infatuation, deceitful love, or paternal appreciation).
‘Ihombe yamatanga’ is a nod to those who take on the roles of motherhood. ‘Usandisiye’, ‘Baby Iro’ and ‘Mazirudo’ (featuring Delroy Shewe) are all songs focused on romantic love.
The standout single for me was ‘Man to Man’ featuring Nox and Tyfah Guni which lyrically speaks of a promiscuous woman and the uncovering of her affair.
The lyrics are the usual playful, rhythmic lyrics that fans have come to associate with Freeman, and he had a hand in writing most of the songs.
Biblical references, street talk and vernacular language all work together to produce the product that have drawn crowds to the dancehall crooner for years.
The collaborations on the album seem to be superior to the solo single though no merit can be taken away from the singer’s work.
Several artists could take notes from Freeman’s consistency and restless pursuit to remain on the charts. The trophy for consistency without a doubt, goes to Freeman when award seasons rolls by, we will see if the trophies will fall at his feet.
The album is now available on most streaming platforms.
