Slessor, Mzuzu’s budding rapper
Mzuzu might be the coolest out Malawi’s three cities, but it is less known musically and almost left out of the country’s musical annals.
Rarely renown artists including Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries, Maskal, Piksy, Tay Grin, Theo Thomson and others dare to date the city much less sample out recording studios, if any do exist, in this ‘green city’.
And urban music taking shape in the townships of Blantyre and Lilongwe as almost every renowned urban artist making it big attribute to have bud out of either the central or southern part of the country, and none emerges or made headlines on the scene as to have sprung out of corridors of Mzuzu city.
But flickers of light seem to beam from the almost musically deserted city, as one Slessor born Slessor Munthali is ready to carry the torchlight emblem o represent Mzuzu.
At 21, Slessor who was born in Blantyre before relocating to Mzuzu in 2001 has already started making strong strides both as a hip-hop artist and producer.
Currently working on first mix tape Renaissance, Slessor has three singles Heartbreaker, Wamatama and Ukhale Wanga featuring Young love and Frank Cn (Produced by Propee and Onniwa), which are enjoying airplay on several radio stations including MBC Radio 2, Galaxy FM, M.I.J and 101.
He is currently signed to Heart Beat records, which Consists of artists like Tanaposi, Nameless, Renegade, Yung love , Frank Cn, A.B and Cyclone of the Basement, Sean B and Norah.
“My real name is Slessor Munthali, so I chose to maintain Slessor as my stage name. In 2011 I was signed to Heart Beat records based in Blantyre. This made me the first urban musician from Mzuzu to get a record deal from as far as Blantyre. I also have my videos on MBC TV, and use social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to share my music,” said Slessor who is currently marking his mix tape.
The Renaissance mix tape features productions from God’s Favorite, Propee, Dizzo, Tanaposi, Stratus, Dj Yankee fella, Blage and the Dare Devils.
“I mainly do hip hop music and started rapping when I was 14 years old. I was influenced to choose hip hop by my big brother. I liked the way various artists expressed themselves through rap music, and I decided to use it as an outlet to express myself and tell stories that happen around my environment,” added the artist.
Went to Viphya Secondary School in Mzuzu, Slessor is studied for Diploma in journalism at the Malawi institute of Journalism (MIJ).
“My future plans are to take my music beyond the borders of Malawi and become an award winning artist. I believe anything is possible with hard work, prayer and dedication,” explained Slessor who is first Mzuzu urban artist to making it to the limelight.
He might start the steps forward into the realms of local urban music circle, but he is just a lit the light for others to follow and symbolize the best the nation has been missing from the Green city, Mzuzu.
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