Each time JP has a new track I am often challenged with finding the commentary and the angle to criticize and create opinions about his music. Not this time though. I think JP aka Indiginas and crew figured going through me is a less painful approach. So this track found its legs to me through the GetMziki Network we have and similarly again I was challenged with the same situation. As much as DJ Dona was going to post this track I told him let me give it a few spins and then give it back to him to make the post.
Part of my new years resolution is to form honest opinions off a group or a panel. So as it goes I have a group of 5 to 10 people I email a song to solicit their opinions. Interestingly the feedback I got from this song when I shared it with my panel was quite positive. It’s not that I expected the commentary to be any different anyway, I think for once I actually anticipated something and the feedback returned was as expected. Especially from an artist that I felt had to change his direction in order to remain relevant. The challenge however with African/Kenyan music is that people never really follow artists or their lifestyles. As such, an artists like JP can disappear for months or years come back with a hit and still remain relevant. As Africans we are not so consumed with where Koffi Olomide slept, how many cars he has or how well he is currently doing. These physical accomplishments or changes dont seem to determine how we deem the quality of the music. So true to the fact the ten people I sent this song to, didnt even ask if Idiginas had an album, who he was or where he was from. The feedback I got from the panel at large was that its a nice mellow track. African listeners just dont follow ARTISTS as much as we’ve hoped they would be. (side note: Maybe its because of the lack of relevant information!! who knows… I mean you cant get a picture or a track list of any key artist today, very few have websites, very few have complete albums and so forth)
This track has further been blessed by super producers Maich Black and the Herbalist as well as a catchy hook by Wyre the Love Child. I think this sits well within the spectrum of what I have been talking to JP about for the past two years. I keep reiterating that he needs to make grown up music, music that his peers will relate to. We have all grown older. I feel as though many of the artists we loved when growing up need to realize they too have grown older and we need to start listening to different content. Essentially I think Nonini also will have to start curtain tailing his content to his aging audience – they/we never stay young. Thats why LL Cool J cant really rap about the same things he did 10 years ago. His dynamics have changed and so has his audience.
For me this track is mellow, its well composed, has a catchy hook and well arranged beat composition. Indiginas seems more settled and more at ease with the delivery. It gives me that element of GROWN UP I have been talking about. Anyway enjoy the track here. JP this is a good come back! loving it.
listen to U got to know here:
[audio:http://files.getmziki.com/Indiginas_Feat_Wyre-U_got_To_Know.mp3]download the track here:
