ThirstyFrik is an all-out musician who produces, raps and sings. He gave us the club hit “Chokin’,” which sent waves through the Amapiano streets of Harare. ThirstyFrik has consistently been dropping singles in 2023 and he has dropped a body of works for his growing fanbase. His brand new EP with the provoking title, “I don’t belong here” is now out on various streaming platforms. Here is a review of the FOUR track EP according to how we heard it.
BuzzSaw. That’s the first word you think of when you hear “Hufananyina” soon as you play the number one track on the EP. The more you get into it, it begins to grow on you. It has a nice mixture of Shona and English lyrics. It features Runna Rulez who jumps in with a gutsy bar: “…. Ndiri under age but handisi Ben 10,….. Ndine glock 40 and I got his name pabara.” Translated it’s a flex basically saying ‘I’m young, good looking but I can’t be taken for a ride by the older ones. I got my bars ready and the hater’s name is on one bullet.’ Its my first time listening to him and I think he made a great feature.
The second track is called “Thotty.” It’s a proper slow jam soul trap song with great production behind it. It is also the one track where the title of the EP is mentioned. By definition, a Thot is a woman who has multiple casual sexual partners or encounters. Basically a baddie. ThirstyFrik laced the track with some great vocals and a melody that’s catchy. This track gives you vibes like those slow and sensual club scenes. I can imagine the video with quite some thot in it (pun intended). It is easy to listen to and tones down from the vibe brought in from the first track. It is a good song and sure to rock the club scenes.
“Ukumbotemba nei” is a typical hip hop track where the rappers throw shots, parry hits, and place themselves on a pedestal either through interesting creative flows or straight up bars on bars. This one is more of talking smack about ‘wanna be’s’. weith lines like, “When I pull up with your b***h ndamupa raw, uchandidi!...... Pandomuka ndisina mari, I tell myself I gotta go. Musaganze nemota dzamunopihwa nemaMhomz.” As if that’s all, he also talks about “thots” again when he says, ‘Ma bhebhi akutyisa paunopfeka pfeka 3/ Ndanga ndina Kim achiedza kukwenya sinhi/ anga ane drop achisheedzera creamy.” Like really. In his eyes the streets are not safe so to speak as there are various sexually transmitted illnesses rampant out there. After mentioning the symptoms for gonorrhoea, it is everyone’s responsibility, who is sexually active to protect themselves by using protection, getting tested regularly with your partner(s) and practising safe sex always. Overall it is a hard banging track with a lot of that gangster feel and hip hop lovers are sure to get a kick out of this one.
The final track on the compilation features ‘pretty gal’ Bouje Shepretty. This is a new name to the circuits and you can tell it is one of her first times on a record. Her bars are a mix of flex, some history and origins story. As you are reading this, I am still playing the track specifically her verse. I would like to leave it open to your own interpretation and maybe hit me up with your thoughts about it. Both Thirstyfrik and Bouje claim in the chorus: ‘Ndiri pretty boy/girl, ndozvandiri….Gevha/Musikana akanaka vaifunga ndobva mhiri.’ This is the centre of the whole track. The instrumental has an interesting sample underlying from the introduction. It has a hard bass and a flow that gets your head rolling. Ladies and pretty boys are sure to set this as their anthem.
‘I don’t belong here’ EP by Thirstyfrik is a well balanced piece of work although one or two more tracks could have really solidified it. The hard hitting bass on most of the tracks tells me the aim is for some club bangers with a hint of a message that a true hustler just does exactly that, Hustles. It comprises of great production and the sound is not lost from the Harare sound we have become accustomed to. Check it out for yourself on the links below, subscribe or follow the man Thirstyfrik and be sure to leave your comment below and tell me what you think about this review.
Thirstyfrik - Hufananyina visualiser
Thirstyfrik - I don't belong here EP
