When you talk about Zimbabwean Hip Hop and Rap music, the name King Pinn comes to mind. Years after his death, people still feel his presence and his music is alive. Up to date, no other artist has leveled up to the strong lyrical muscle and quality of vocal flow of the late great king of Zim Hip Hop.
THE MAN BEFORE THE MUSIC . Born Tonderai Ernest Makoni on March 25 1980 in Leicester, England, King Pinn destined for greatness. He was born in a family of three boys, Takura(Rassie Ai), Tonderai(King Pinn) and Tafara. He attended Thornhill Primary School in Gaborone , Botswana and later went to Watershed College in Marondera , Zimbabwe for his high school. Takura (Rassie Ai), King Pinn’s elder bro described him as a loving young brother who had so much respect for and looked up to his elder brother. King Pinn was well known to tackle tough and tense situations, be it family, personal and public affairs. Apart from the above, he was loving, a great listener, a reluctant leader and above all very creative and talented with penning songs.
KING PINN AND HIP HOP MUSIC. King Pinn was never vocal or public about his passion for hip hop.The first time that anyone knew he had talent and love for hip hop was when he perfomed his first song ever to an audience of himself and his elder brother, in the brother’s bedroom. This was in the summer of 1998. Takura (Rassie Ai) had been rapping for a while and sharing his music with his siblings. But upon hearing his young brother for the first time, he decided to quit the genre. He realised a star was fighting to be unleashed in his brother. The first sign that Zimbabwe’s greatest rapper of all time had arrived was seen in Takura’s bedroom. Amazing works were to be experienced by Zimbabweans. A talent was discovered. Time had come that a star shine.
Takura (Rassie Ai) having realised his young brother was talented and also being a loving elder brother, decided to help King Pinn get studio experience and get his music out to the world. The first studio project that King Pinn worked on was with The Blackfoot Tribe, in which he was featured. The project was done at Shamiso Records in Eastlea, Harare Zimbabwe owned by Gilbert Muvavarirwa. The track was produced by Ian Hillman who was once bass guitarist for the late great Andy Brown and the Storm. This was one of the only two collaborations that the Blackfoot Tribe did with other artists, the other one was with Tino Ludwick. The Blackfoot Tribe was made up of Proffesor The Four P, Vic Fox, Laygwan Sharkie, Chief ‘Tone Capone’ Chihota and Rassie Ai.
Shortly after featuring on The Blackfoot Tribe project, King Pinn went to study Political Science and Media studies at the University Of Capetown, Cape Town , South Africa. This was months before Zimbabwe Hip Hop music industry and the nation at large was about to witness greatness at its best and extra ordinary talent from one young man……….(to be continued)
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