Brothers At Home, Brothers in the Booth – Tinx47 & Larry G Solidify Their Hip-Hop Presence With The Track ‘Bando’

 By Takudzwa Kadzura and Donald Gwasira 

Takudzwa Hillary Chiwanza (using Larry G as his stage name, yeah), a renowned hip hop writer, picked the mic in 2019 with his first track called Kasi Chronicles together with Lawd MDA (now Blek Off.N) Marking his debut and declaring his ungovernable love for hip hop, the track was laden with real bars addressing societal concerns. For a well-acquainted writer, the exquisite lyricism is well justified and backed by solid hip hop knowledge.

This time, his brother Tinx47La’Goon (Tinofara Chiwanza) has come with a tune titled Bando in which Larry G features.  Family ties have always proven to be an intact and formidable source of good vibes ensuring that bars like blood are always thick with meaning. And Bando details their ways of life – showing the unkind nature of life for people in low-income urban areas.

Bando is usually base or abandoned structure providing rendezvous for drug-seeking youths; sometimes referring to a chill-out spot, more like home, but surrounded with positive vibes only complementing the culture. These sites have ironically provided the youths with rehabilitation from daily madness in a country like Zimbabwe where things are falling apart all the time.

The track opens with Tinx47 assertively setting the record straight – from the D.V.AT (Dangamvura, in Mutare), a reminder that hip hop talent is awash in the Manicaland province. Another aspect that is evident in these raps is the ghetto upbringing which dominates the message throughout the tracks from these brothers. Tinx47 and Larry G, just like the Marleys or much more closer down south Jody and A Reece, have shared a common goal of using art as a form of expression.

Tinx 47 lured his elder brother Larry G to craft something which they feel represent other hip-hop heads in the country and around the globe on a beat produced by Kestrol Kun laced with a bouncy bassline (Kestrol Kun is from Chitungwiza but now based in South Africa – cousin to Tinx47 and Larry G). The first verse traditionally is honoured to the owner of the project and Tinx47 clearly took the chance to spit his heart out as he jumps on the beat with a steady declaring flow.

In his verse he claims that Mutare indeed has got diamond gem rappers as well when he proclaims, "They say the East ain’t making no sheets, Came up to change this I show them the streets”. These bars may also suggest that Mutare has got what it takes to be rated on the finest hip-hop list locally, regionally and internationally.

Larry G approaches his verse with fewer but bolder words in the Jamaican Patois accent, showing his versatility which hypes his vernacular flow, balancing the creativity and appreciating the ingredients fused by Kestrol Kun. Their [Tinx47 and Larry G] combination gives one the imagination of how this duo may sound again on a different concept. If it were a meal, possibly chef Tinx47La’Goon and Larry G may tell the dinners that it is just the starter.

The track covers aspects of hustle and respect for the fellow brethren on the streets. Larry G proceeds to tackle distractors and points out ‘BABYLON’ which is the system causing all the suffering but the youths can never give up. Tinx47 is also a beat-maker and the game is about to be served with an all-round hip hop brotherhood.

And we really expect more from these brothers. We christen them as prolific writers with profound messages to share.

You can listen to Bando by Tinx47La’Goon and Larry G via this YouTube link and tell us what your thoughts are.