Rap is a battlefield — everyone is going after everyone and trying to get the one up on each other. Flows, genres, scenes and cliques are constantly evolving to fit the current day and its trends.
I can comfortably say Tkay Maidza is one of the most skilled artists on that battlefield.
Takudzwa Victoria Rosa “Tkay” Maidza is a Zimbabwean-born Australian artist who has had a decidedly impressive run in the last four years. Releasing two EPs in 2020 and 2021, she has garnered a respectfully large fanbase that recognizes her for her skilled flows, savvy production choices and silky smooth R&B chops.
Her new album, “Sweet Justice,” released on Nov. 3, 2023, is a testament to how incredible an artist Maidza is. While not filled with definitive hits, Maidza still cements herself as an emcee worth watching.
The album starts with the song “Love and Other Drugs,” a groovy and catchy R&B and rap track.
“Love, sex, drugs, pick your poison if you must/Drink, smoke, puff, what’s your point of getting buzzed?” Maidza sings.
Maidza sets the scene for the serene and captivating world of “Sweet Justice.” It is a world where vices and wickedness surround Maidza. However, during the album’s runtime, she proves to herself and the world she can overcome struggles and tribulations.
“Love and Other Drugs” then smoothly transitions into the spicy and industrial-inspired “WUACV,” where Maidza announces in the chorus that she “woke up and chose violence.” It is a welcomed juxtaposition demonstrating Maidza’s unique sensibilities.
Later in the tracklist, Maidza again confirms her versatility with the dancey hip-house track “Ghost!” — a song where Maizda sings about cutting herself off from a toxic relationship.
“Time that I cut my losses (Yeah)/Know what I want, no conscience (Yeah)/Wrap it up with a bow then toss it (Yeah, yeah, yeah)/Off with their head, no-nonsense (No)/I’m finna to fill my pocket (Yeah)/Know what I’m worth, off market (Yeah, yeah, yeah),” Maidza sings.
Maidza’s smart and poignant lyricism goes well when paired with her production choices. A lot of the tracks follow the same formula as the first two tracks — a smooth, R&B-inspired trap soul banger and a brutally heavy industrial hip-hop track with incredibly distorted bass lines straight out of a broken subwoofer.
The track “Silent Assassin” — featuring the prolific electronic artist Flume — only furthers this with dinging synth hits, a killer baseline and more of Maidza’s signature flows and superstar lyrics.
“Don’t breathe on me, I’m a silent assassin/I eat only, I’m a silent assassin/Got keys on me, I’m a silent assassin/Don’t sleep on me, I’m a silent assassin,” Maidza raps.
These key tracks — and the album as a whole — through their vigor and dynamism, keep Tkay Maidza’s streak going as a worthwhile artist. Despite this, Maidza’s tendency for lyrical execution overshadows the album’s more diverse set of R&B tracks.
My prediction is that in the future, Maidza will only continue to innovate the rap game and evolve as an artist. Not every rap cut on here is a hit. However, the ones that connect really connect — that is something not a lot of artists can say.
Rating: 4/5 stars
