A fusion of two worlds united by the solder of the hustler’s spirit best describes “Siphande”, DJ Mobi Dixon and Mr. Nation Thingz’s collaboration along with vocalist Luigi Anywhere. With Nation Thingz consolidating his success from his hit single “Hade Boss” with Gqom pioneer DJ Lag and Mobi pulling no punches, their single, due for release on the 22nd of March, is a tribute to all the go-getters and sunrisers with nothing on their minds but the fulfilment of their dreams.
Anchored in its name, translated directly from isiZulu as “We Hustle”, “Siphande” is an afrohouse thumper textured with kwaito elements toned down with amapiano treatment, the metronomic sound coarsened with grainy synths synonymous with the Gqom movement. Ushering in the burgeoning niche of 3 Step, “Siphande” is a braided street symphony woven with even strands that bespeak the expertise of Dixon who has been behind the desk for a minute and a half and then some.
A five-minute journey that plumbs the depths of rustic drums and rises to meet the future in its embrace of afrotech sensibilities, “Siphande” spends almost half of the song charming the ear with a dizzying sonic display that amplifies intrigue with every layer of musicality added by the second. By the time the song is introduced to its first words, “S’yakhuhla, s’yakhula, s’survive(a) konke / Ngisho k’shuba s’yafunda”, the stage has been all but laid out and the audience well past the stage of awe to turn off the music.
The song’s composition borrows heavily from its kasi ancestor, kwaito, in its repetitive and mantra-like nature, stressing the importance of “uyoz’thola kanjani uhlez’ ekhoneni?” culture and never giving up. Gritty and rough and leaning on the less-is-more approach, “Siphande” is musical cuisine cooked to the taste of taxi speakers made to blast music to motivate workers seeking to get the day started and headphones of gym rats and joggers looking to fetch their dream bodies. Whether the chase is centered around money or a healthy life, the song is drum-filled adrenaline raring to course through one’s ears.
Every second of “Siphande” is Mobi Dixon holding a lesson on house music-making, and Mr. Nation Thingz and Luigi hold their own quite well enough. It’s hip, it’s energetic, and, most importantly, it’s euphonic, a miracle when multiple genres can be brought to choir-esque harmony.
