Arrested Development – Zingalamaduni
CRYSALIS
Hip Hop / Drum n Bass / BreaksVintage Vinyl 2LP (GAT) / 35 EUR
Media VG+ / Sleeve VG+
This is, without a doubt, the greatest hip hop album ever recorded- or, at the very least, one of the top five. Over an hour long, yet never dull, Zingalamaduni is the culmination of 90’s hip hop’s socially conscious movement; a focused, targeted, lyrically sharp and musically vibrant call for a true revolution of the mind for all races. The album received zero label support and died a quick death, probably because it was speaking about the opposite of what record labels wanted to promote (bitches n’ ho’s, basically.) Nevertheless, there’s no denying how great every tune on this album is, and the musical spirit of Africa infuses it with so much color, each song stands distinct, yet works as a masterful whole.
As good as their debut was, this one is even better- a testament to Speech & company’s talent and vision. A must-have album for anyone who values good music and socially-relevant, intelligent hip hop.