David is never one to shy away from controversy; sometimes you might think he actually aims for it, and when he shoots he doesn’t miss. However, hip hop music is at its best when it is infused with life experiences and whilst some aspects of it might be deemed “controversial” I am sure that David doesn’t intend for it to be that way. David started making music at the age of 15, and on 26 December 2012 He would have turned 30 and this project serves as a “preview” into David as a believer and an artist as he vows to begin to express himself fully in a musical sense. This project, especially the “Exodus” themed tracks, speak on David’s growth as a Christian and showcase his walk with God through the years: from opportunities that he let go for the purpose of gaining God, to the ministries he let die for the Living God. In this INTERVIEW David talks about 6 songs that are on his up-coming album "Exodus: The Preview" on the basis that they may be looked at as “controversial”. The reason behind the interview is to liberate them from the weights of controversy because the songs carry important messages that might be missed if they are looked at as controversial. The songs include:
· Exodus Pt.2
· Exodus Pt. 3
· As You Grow
· Exodus Pt. 4
· Ulendo
· The Epilogue
This is not a review; this is an interview and it is the most “in-depth” I have had. The content is rich, extensive, and insightful and you are in for a good but informative read. At its conclusion you shall have other important information like a sneak peak into initial Tour Dates, selling points for the album C.D’s, and information concerning the Arise Inc. website to be launched Friday 16 Nov at 12PM.
Exodus Pt.2
After I became Christian I stopped making music for about 2 years (2004-06). I was completely isolated from music – music videos, radio, C.D’s, everything; I burned my whole C.D collection which at that time amounted to more than K50, 000. This for me was like when Moses went up the mountain to be alone with God, just to have intimate fellowship with Him. I let go of the very thing that I had idolized. After 2006, God allowed me to step back into music and I was encountered with the secular rap scene and I was devastated, in fact, I was infuriated. I was face to face with the very thing that I knew God called me away from. I saw the secular scene which had now become the golden calf and all these rappers were worshiping it. Like Moses, I sought to bring people back to the love of God and I decided to do that through Exodus Pt.2. The point of contention in that song is that I mentioned the names of people that God had laid on my heart to reach out to. People thought this was a diss track but it was far from it; I sought to help people see the truth. If I wanted to do a diss track I would have done it properly because I used to live like that as Stix before I was saved: I battled N.I.C on radio 101, I took part in many ciphers and countless rap-battles; I used to sharpen my skills lyrically in rap battles, so this was nowhere near a diss track. A diss track is supposed to destroy someone’s reputation but in Exodus pt.2 I sought to build them up and bring these people to the love of Christ. The reason why I re-released Exodus Pt.2 is because the attitude and the message behind it is timeless even though the situation surrounding it has changed.
Exodus Pt.3
Many people thought I should never have done this song because it was an apology to the people I had mentioned in Exodus Pt.2. Jolly Bro, a secular rapper in Malawi actually said to me: “Exodus Pt.2 was the truth and the truth needs no apology and 90% of secular rappers in Malawi are sinful and sad and need someone to tell them the truth”, and many others shared this sentiment. However, I had a conversation with Physix, another Malawian secular rapper, and he told me that many felt judged by Exodus Pt.2 including The Daredevils, and Tay Grin. In fact, Insight had opened a Facebook group page so as to discuss the song and he felt as though I had condemned many to hell and myself to heaven. So I told Physix why I made the song in the first place: I felt like Moses who grew up in pharaoh’s palace which to me was hip hop. Thereafter, God took me away from it and into a “dessert”, and then when he brought me back I was able to see hip hop for what it really was: God-blaspheming, lustful, sinful etc. So I made the song so as to help these people see secular for what it is. After that, God took me back up to the “mountain” to be alone with Him again; God reminded me that I was just like them: blaspheming God and worshiping the hip-hop idols. But Romans 5:8 says whilst we were yet sinners God showed his love for us in this way: he sent His son to die for us. So Exodus Pt.3 is a song that highlights God’s love for the people who felt judged by God. I personally went and visited everyone I mentioned in Pt.2 and told them the truth and how I felt. Just like Moses, I turned to God to intercede for these people.
As You Grow
When I applied to the African Bible College (ABC) I pulled out of music again and Heart- Core Music was laid to rest. Heart-Core Music was a record label that I had set up earlier and it consisted of artists like Dj Kali, Crossover, K.B.G, Gino, Kinetic, Marvel in Christ, Taritta, Grace Alumni, and a Live Band called “36-26” (from the book of Ezekiel). Whilst the label was at its peak, God convicted me that it had become an idol and so God had me sacrifice it. In my time of isolation when I had just joined ABC I saw that this time it was the gospel hip hop scene that had deteriorated – music ministry had become the golden calf, including the gospel music scene where people were doing it for money, fame, to entertain etc. So this song is to the Church what Exodus Pt. 2 was to the World. In fact, As You Grow is really like another Exodus Pt.2. Whilst I got into trouble with Exodus Pt.2 for mentioning names, I got into trouble in “As You Grow” for not mentioning names. But this time the song was a reflection upon me also and Pastor Sean addresses the issue perfectly. (Please find Pastor Sean’s quote in the Sharp Iron Review dated 06/11/12 “Da Litespeax – Points Fingers and Mentions Names).
Exodus Pt.4
I remember a specific “Gang-It-Up” outreach in 2007 where Songe Madise, Gome Saka, Chim Chisiza, Slessor and more than 50 others came to Christ. The following day after the event, we were having counseling sessions and a young guy approached me and said that I was his idol and that he followed me since my old days as Stix, but God used me to tell him that Jesus is the one to be idolized and emulated. On that day I realized that I had hurt many people as Stix, and this was source of inspiration for Exodus Pt.4. In the song there is a fan named Joseph who writes a letter to Stix in the first verse. Stix features on this song on the second verse and he responds to his fan. On the third verse I, as David, respond to Joseph and all the other fans as represented by Joseph. MC Jin concludes with a message for all the young people in Malawi (he was signed to Ruff Ryderz under DMX and label mates with Swiss Beatz and E.V.E; he featured in movies like 2 Fast 2 furious, and has recently done songs with Da’ Truth and Ambassador). Mc Jin wrote an email to me on the 22nd of October 2012, telling me that he listened to As You Grow and is praying for the gospel hip hop movement in Malawi and could hear my heart in the song
Ulendo
Ulendo is a song dedicated to Wisdom Chitedze as a tribute to him. Many people asked me why I did not do a tribute to him during the time of his death, but one thing that people don’t realize is that I was going through a grieving process too. It was an emotional time where people would not have received the tribute as it would have been intended – it would have been forgotten as soon as it was released. Musically, this song is going to outdo 95% of the other songs in the project and it is 5 different songs in 1, a fusion of different genres, including songs by Wisdom like “Linga Langa” – I am very excited about this song. Wisdom even discusses things that happened to him two or three weeks prior to his death. I have been in talks with his mother and wife and there will be a huge memorial concert next year with Peter Mawanga, Q malewezi, Shadreck Chikoti, God’s Favorite, Sally Nyundo, Barry 1, and many more, including Wambali Mkandanwire (whom I am yet to approach). All proceeds from the event will go to his mother, his wife and his two sons. In addition to that, there is a book that is going to be published that Wisdom wrote before he died and there are unreleased songs that are going to be released at the event as a Compilation Album featuring “Wisdom and friends”. If there are any who want to be involved with this event then please let me know. You can email me at jkalilani@hotmail.com or twitter me @everviday.
The Epilogue
This is my favorite song on the album. Epilogue means “last word” and these are my “last words”, my last will and testament recorded on a song; it embodies all that i could ever say in any song at the end of my life. It discusses my funeral. I feel like the apostle Paul when he said “to live is Christ and to die is gain”, when to die is to go and be with Christ. It’s my best work to date. Culturally as Malawians we have a fear of death and I know many people will see this song as contentious because I talk about it as though it were a welcome thing. The very traditional and the very religious are not going to agree much with this song but I feel I have come to it with a fresh biblical perspective.
EXODUS: THE PREVIEW DROPS TOMMOROW FRIDAY 16 NOV AT 12PM. WATCH ALL YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK SITES FOR THE DOWNLOAD LINK!!!
Tour Dates
· 23 Nov Exploits University (Lilongwe)
· 24 Nov Chanco (Khetwayo “Character” Album Launch)
· 23 Dec Blantyre youth centre
Selling Points (Only Available From 23 Nov 2012)
· Blantyre: Blantyre Baptist Church (Lusayo Mhango 0999298171); Word Alive Ministries.
· Mzuzu: Word Alive Ministries (Pr. Reuben and Zohra Matundu’s home Church 0999989991/0991833475)
· Lilongwe: City Centre: Flavors Café @British Council; Lilongwe Market; Crossroads BP Filling Station; Bwandilo Barber Shops; Mtendere Superette Area 47 sector 5 near Zodiak.
C.D’s will include 3 hidden tracks and skits that the digital download will not have. Also, the C.D will have an in-lay containing song lyrics and other information.
Website Launch
The link to the new website will be put out on all social networks on Friday 16 Nov at 12PM along with the link to the album download. The new website will have features like exclusive material on Arise that you won’t get anywhere else: music video, pictures, concert dates. Also there is a promo for Spirit Filled Vol. 3 where the front album cover is going to be showcased…and it is coming soon. David’s bio and eventually all the other artists being managed by Arise will be uploaded; an exclusive interview with David; and a bonus track that wont be on other sites will be available for download. For now please visit:
Amzing!I love this interview.It is much detailed and I love you style of writing
ReplyDeletethankyou very much sir
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