Yellowknife artist 9 Sixx, whose music is described as Zimbabwean hip-hop, has released a new EP titled Proceed.
The EP can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify and Youtube.
9 Sixx was formerly known as Troublesome 96. He is heavily inspired by Tupac, he said, but changed his name to pull away from his inspiration and show he is building his own brand.
To celebrate the launch of the EP, the artist held a launch party at Yellowknife’s Top Knight bar where his brother DJed and Munya Mataruse appeared as a supporting act.
“It was amazing. The energy there was just overwhelming. Up till now that is one of my biggest highlights in my career,” 9 Sixx told Cabin Radio.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Initially, the artist planned to produce and release the songs as singles, but had trouble deciding which song to release first and decided to create an EP instead.
The songs on the EP were created in collaboration with artists Virus Zw, Nashie Zim and Drika.
The recording process was slightly unconventional as he and some of his collaborators were on completely different continents throughout the process.
“Half of the time is just through the internet,” he said. “We brief each other about the idea and they record from there, and then I record from here.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
After the recordings are complete, 9 Sixx’s producer, Zero53music, mixes all the songs until they sound “perfect.”
The EP consists of four songs, all of which carry a different message, from home values and heartbreaks to preparing for the future and visiting your grandparents.
The songs are titled Kwatakakurira, Ndiripo, Future and Sorry.
The most popular song on the EP, Future, is about heartbreak and how outside influences can affect personal relationships.
9 Sixx described the song as a written apology.
“Half of the things we are focusing on are coming from each other, not what’s coming from the public, from the people surrounding us,” he said.
“We are now forgetting our values or why we started the relationship.
“It’s usually two people in a relationship. When there’s three, four, five, now there’s the problem that I was trying to address.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The artist got the idea to name the EP Proceed when he realized people have to go their own way. The title is a message to his listeners to do the same.
“Proceed your way. Any way that you think you should,” he said.
“You know what you like. Find yourself and go with what you believe in.”
Elke Sorensen contributed reporting.
