With the release of DIY 3 as well as a surprising guest appearance on “Abazi Bafunani”, seemingly indicating that the perennial beef with Inkabi Nation’s Big Zulu has been squashed, singer-songwriter and Africa’s pioneering trap star Mthembeni “Emtee” Ndevu, has going through the labour pains of rebirth. Slowing pushing with the rhythm of his music and regaining the pervasive territory that he once had during the heights of his time under the sun, Ndevu has released visuals for “Wake Up” and “War”, a double bill offering in which his kids appear throughout the visuals while Durban songstress Nanette features exclusively on the former.
Directed by Khabazela, the six-minute music video seamlessly connects the two songs being adapted to visual format. The greater portion of the “Wake Up”/”War” visuals rely on minimalistic creative direction to achieve focus and to sharpen the message of the song with a simple concept that seeks to draw more attention to the songwriting and the vocal performances than itself. With the presentation of the video hardly departing from the photography studio, there’s a sense of intimacy in the visuals which interplay with the chemistry Ndevu and Nanette display in the song, conveyed by the couple-like photoshoot which plays out in real time.
Nanette and Emtee (from left to right) | SUPPLIED
With the pair arrayed in matching white (and black in other frames) outfits, camouflaging with the space of the studio, the rapper and the singer stay in harmony throughout their performance, keeping in sync as far as mood and energy are both concerned. This, after all, is a slow jam of two love breaking pieces of each other’s hearts to share with one another. While the music video lacks the incandescence of passionate kisses and sultry bodily contact like waist-grabbing and nape-grasping, their proximity and harmony make up for this deficit, turning the short film into a #couplegoals BTS reel as opposed to a steamy affair. This direction is sensible, however, considering the smooth transition into “War”, which doesn’t result in an ocular whiplash that would otherwise leave the audience confused by a sudden change.
Unlike “Wake Up”, the second half of the music video sees Emtee in a circle of what seems like a support group of men clad in all-black while he stands out in a striking orange outfit. And while he raps solo in various frames, the “Roll Up” hitmaker is also depicted having a blast with his children. One frame shows him as a doting father, surrounded by his kids and their toys strewn all around him, while there’s a vinyl nearby, incorporating the theme of balancing his career while taking care of his own.
The double header nature of the visuals for “Wake Up” and “War” do not only serve as a reintroduction of Emtee; they are an affirmation of everything he has stood for all along, which is positioning himself a loving father, a loyal friend to his day-ones, and a musician who continues to aspire for greatness with each drop.
Watch “Wake Up” / “War”:
