Farai Katiyo – Yesterday, Today, & Forever God is good 1 e.p. review
Hip hop has been international about 4 decades now but it still amazes me that a whole music genre that has impacted and changed culture forever was birthed 50 plus miles from my home. Influence and style of many cultures from around the globe have infused into the bedrock of the rap game and brought back to the U.S. some great artist’s and music.
Welcome Farai Katiyo, born in Zimbabwe, grew up in New Zealand and resides in Melbourne, Australia. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from Farai because I tend to be critical when I listen to music, but I really enjoyed this 5 song e.p. The tracks are influenced by 90’s era hip hop but they don’t get stuck there. There’s some spacey future pop tones, jazz and blues melodies, boom bap grit, and uplifting anthemic rhythms. Farai tackles some deep issues that have affected him, people around him and society as a whole; it’s this bold song content which is the real ministry heat of this e.p. Issues such as rape, violence, daily stress, doubt in God and homosexuality are balanced by rememberable hooks over melodic song structures.
Songs have vocal features by Max Shotta, Trice Ta, EXL, Vikaye, Theo and BRB, all adding flavor.
The big stand out song to me is “Glory” feat Vikaye and Theo; Farai starts the song over a marching tempo “this song goes out to every broken soul like me looking for a purpose”, then Vikaye’s inspired singing gives glory to God as guitar strumming fills in, setting the mood of the track. My spirit instantly jumped, Farai flows about insecurity and purpose over the beat as a drum roll ushers in Vikaye affirming, “I’m special, I’m different, I’m chosen, to give you glory” my hands went up in praise. Theo slays half the second verse, Farai jumps back in and then Vikaye with a choir seals the deal. This jam is on repeat, repeat, repeat, I’m sold. This song needs to be the single. Glory and Oceans are the two stand out songs that the world needs to hear. Farai Katiyo and his camp are definitely certified straight ministry heat!
Follow Farai Katiyo on youtube and experience the in-depth behind the scenes making of each song, also download his music on itunes, apple music, Spotify or wherever you get your digital music.
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