We review AKA’s highly anticipated album “Mass Country.”
It would not be fair to talk about the new album without paying homage to the iconic talent that was AKA. The famous rapper was responsible for making SA Hip Hop what it became in Mzansi and the African continent. He was named the best-selling South African rapper and had hits for days. According to his fans, no other talent comes close.
Unfortunately, we will not see more of him. The famous emcee was assassinated in Durban on February 10, 2023, while leaving Wish Restaurant after a birthday dinner with friends. The news has been a hard pill to swallow for SA Hip Hop fans and Mzansi.
Before his passing, AKA was prepping to release his next album, “Mass Country.” The album was first announced in 2022 when he released the first single, “Lemons (Lemonade),” featuring Nasty C. Fans had long waited to hear them on a song together. More singles were also released, but AKA died before the album dropped. Still, his family went ahead with the release time.
In an interview with Slikour, the Supa Mega said about the title that he was “taking more time with the sound and just trying to come up with something new. I call it Mass Country because I wanted to touch on Mass Country like Maskandi. That’s kind of like the play on it. I’m going to put that all in the pot. And we are going to come up with something magic.” Just as we expected, the album celebrates various music genres.
Cover Art
On January 10, 2023, AKA unveiled the cover art for “Mass Country.” He revealed that the artwork was designed by the famous Karabo Poppy. This proved that he wanted to go big with the album. The artwork racked up over 43 thousand likes on his Instagram page and got excited reactions from fans. It featured an artsy representation of the rapper’s face. It is also very African and modern. It seemed to highlight AKA in all his glory.
Popular Tracks
One track reigns supreme in this section. Of course, that’s “Lemons (Lemonade)” featuring Nasty C. The infectious jam marked the first official release from the album. It gave fans a taste of what to expect from the project. We were all excited to hear the “Energy” star and the Zulu man in a joint together after such a long wait. It fast became a hit and earned praise from fans. His next release, “Paradise,” was also well-received. Just before the album dropped, “Company” featuring Nigerian music producer KDDO dropped to rave reviews. Several other tracks on the album have gained praise.
Tracklist and Features
“Mass Country” boasts an impressive tracklist and list of features. We have always known AKA to be great at working with other artists. The album houses 14 tracks and features some prominent names in Mzansi and outside. Thato Saul contributes to the “Mbuzi Freestyle,” while Emtee and Manana joined him on “Crown.” Nasty C delivered a killer verse on “Lemons (Lemonade),” and Khuli Chana killed it on “Prada.” Other featured acts include Sjava, 031Choppa, Baby S.O.N, KDDO, Musa Keys, Gyakie, Blxckie, Yanga Chief, Laylizzy, Weathrd, and his girlfriend, Nadia Nakai.
Summary
We hear the album garnered mixed reviews from fans. Of course, that’s expected. Recall that the rapper stated that it messed with several genres, hence the title “Mass Country.” One thing that remained constant was the Supa Mega’s pen game and his ability to drop a good collab. He delivered an album that lives up to the reputation he has earned for himself as a hitmaker. Shout out to the king.
