Reviews

Inkabi Nation – Inkabi Nation Album Review

On Friday, September 9, 2022, Inkabi Nation released its self-titled debut album. Away from the album release, the label has been one of the most successful Hip Hop labels in the country this year. A lot of credit goes to Big Zulu, who has been the driving force we’ve seen behind the artists.

Zulu’s fame has grown considerably across the country. The cab driver turned rapper has risen to massive heights, becoming the most sort after and talked-about rapper in the SA Hip Hop industry. Many say he saved the genre. It is arguably true, to an extent.

Zulu’s Inkabi Nation consists of some of the most significant voices in the industry right now. They include Mduduzi Ncube, Siya Ntuli, Lwah Ndlunkulu, L.A Beatz, and Xowla. Teaming up, they created what has been tagged one of the best albums of the year and the season.

The project does not feature any guest contributors. They did all the work themselves and made it an entertaining body of work. The project also features their chart-topping joint “Voicemail,” which has already recorded millions of streams across various platforms. No doubt, Inkabi Nation is here to change the game, and the SA Hip Hop scene cannot recover from that change.

Artwork

Inkabi Nation – Inkabi Nation Album Review 2
Inkabi Nation Album Cover

One thing that stands out with Inkabi Nation is how far they would go to promote their own. It is never about one person or name; it is about all of them. On the official artwork for the “Inkabi Nation” album, they all feature. Do you know how much Big Zulu’s heritage means to him? The label also upholds this, and so do the other artists. They are all clad in native Zulu attire as they pose for the shot. The cover photo is also a bit traditional and very South African. Big Zulu is pictured in the middle while Mduduzi Ncube, Siya Ntuli, Lwah Ndlunkulu, and Xowla all surround him. He’s the only one dressed in western attire. The background of the photo pays homage to mother nature. The photo shows you how homely the music feels.

Features

When labels bring their artists together to create a project, it is evident that the plan is to showcase the artists in their element and show what they can deliver. Sadly, most labels miss this and flood the songs with guest features. Fortunately for us, Inkabi Nation is not one of those labels.

The new “Inkabi Nation” album does not feature guest artists but includes collaborations between the label’s artists, including Mduduzi Ncube, Siya Ntuli, Lwah Ndlunkulu, L.A Beatz, and Xowla. They all did a fantastic job on the songs, making them entertaining enough for their fans to love.

There is no question about the most popular song on this album. In late June, Big Zulu, Mduduzi Ncube, Siya Ntuli, Lwah Ndlunkulu, and Xowla teamed up and released “Voicemail” under Inkabi Nation. It became the first official single from the album. The song fast became a success across digital and streaming platforms and also on the radio. It also became one of the biggest and most talked-about hits of the year, garnering millions of streams across various platforms. Since the album dropped, several tracks have gained love from fans, including the beautiful “Intro,” “Kuyokhanya,” “All I Need To Know,” “Naphakade,” and more. They have all gained praise from fans.

Production & Vocal Delivery

It would be a crime not to recognize the fantastic production of the new “Inkabi Nation” album. Production credits go to the talented Xolani Shabalala. Xolani is credited for producing all 12 tracks on the album, including the hit song “Voicemail,” while the artists were all credited songwriters on it. We must note how impressive the vocal delivery on the album was. Every artist who contributed vocals brought their A-game. This was obvious from the beautiful harmony displayed at the beginning of the album on “Intro.” The vocal deliveries all complimented the impressive production of the album.

Summary

Again and again, Big Zulu and Inkabi Nation hold the nation spellbound. Last year, the Mzansi star dominated the airwaves with “Ichwane Lenyoka,” an album we could not stop talking about. Teaming up with Inkabi Nation, Zulu proved that it wasn’t luck. They all did an impressive job on the new album. Artists Mduduzi Ncube, Siya Ntuli, Lwah Ndlunkulu, L.A Beatz and Xowla all delivered terrific performances in the tracks they contributed to. From the start of the album through the 12 tracks, there are no skips. There is a reason all the attention is on Big Zulu and Inkabi Nation. They worked hard to be where they are today.

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