Blaq Diamond 150 has been making waves in the Afro-pop scene and has been dominating the radio charts with singles from their sophomore album titled Umuthi, writes Thanduxolo Zwane!
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Following the awesome success of their debut album Inqola, there was a lot of pressure bestowed on the duo, which consists of Ndumiso Mdletshe and Sphelele Dunywa to maintain the standard and delivery with a project that could match Inqola, but they did more than what we’ve anticipated exceeding all expectations by bringing to the fore a true medicine for the soul/umuthi olapha umoya and that’s exactly what their album Umuthi does.
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Umuthi Speaks to your soul while the two have narrated their lives so far in a musical format that is pleasing to the ear and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, it’s the type of an album you can play while picking up your folks at the airport after dropping off the kids at school or just out with your peers or a loved one.
Umuthi provides a sound for all ages that still manages to provide substance with the introduction of the musical journey starting on the title track Umuthi with the boys recollecting their journey in the city of Johannesburg thus far and the lack of love in the city of Gold where everybody just wants to make money and leave, joining them on this song is fellow Ladysmith native Cici as they reminisce about being back home and the sacrifices they have to make just for their success wrapped up by praise words in spoken word from Zamo Cofi.
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Following this beautiful introduction is a string of love songs laced within their narrative journey that can get even the coldest hearts to melt for songs such as Woza My Love, Lidume, Amehlo, We Sis, P.S. and the titular singles that preceded the album’s release Love Letter and Ibhanoyi.
“Umuthi isn’t just filled with love songs that can get the entire family dancing though as some of the music explores deeper subject manor from honoring their mothers’ and the sacrifices they had to make so that the duo could eventually succeed in the accurately named song Ngibonga uMama to the track that follows immediately, Memeza featuring Sjava, which explores themes of unrequited friendship.” T. Zwane.
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When it comes to Memeza, you can hear the trio cries serenade the downtempo beat as they exchange stories of the times they were there for people in their times of need who weren’t around when the tables were upside down, singling the fact that the Ambitiouz Entertainment flagship artists were the ones in need.
Another outstanding tune is Ung’bulaleni which explores themes of black on black violence and the tendencies or rather attitudes towards success in black communities of bringing each other down instead of lifting each other to greater heights.
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The album is concluded by Blaq Diamond answering to the Lord’s call, as they call to others to answer whenever they hear God calling them, including calling on God in their times of trials and tribulations. God will always answer our cries for help in times when we need him most – this is well placed in their song titled Sabela, which is neatly concluded by praises of how their prayers were answered and the doors of Heaven opened.
Umuthi truly is a healing journey anyone can relate to and all can enjoy, it also serves as a P.S.A (public service announcement) that states that Blaq Diamond is here for you and they‘re here to stay.
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