Gasebalwe Seretse
21 October 2008
Although Cisco Bikani, better known as Cisco B, has been in the music industry for the past eight years he has struggled to make it to the 'A-list' of local stars. However, with his latest release Tshokolo, the artist from Sebina is likely to turn the tables around.
A Black Money Makers (BMM) production, the eight-track Tshokolo is bound to be one of the hottest albums this season.
It opens with the fast tempo and danceable kwaito-kwasa track, Bondo that will most certainly win the artist a lot of fans. Although it is not mentioned in the sleeve, the song, like most in the album, features BMM executive producer and 'king of kwaito-kwasa' Odirile 'Vee' Sento. Bondo is also a dance-style that Cisco B himself has introduced.
Another track that has potential to be a hit is Tonosa, which is strangely called a remix. If it is a remix, then it appears in one of the artist's past albums. Those familiar with kwaito-kwasa will know that Tonosa is also a dance-style in the genre.
During a short interview with Showbiz, the artiste said that he has observed that a lot of his fans love the third track, Baesekepo, a house-kwasa song. In the track he challenges his love rival, "Why o shebile mosadi wame ekete o shebile baesekopo?" Perhaps it is the daring lyrics that have won the song a number of fans. The track that follows Baesekopo, O Sondelani is quite a lukewarm offering. The only thing that makes it stand out is the Indian music that the producers have infused in the track.
The title track Tshokolo is another potential hit. Of all the songs in the album, it has 'a message' and its beats are also 'catchy'.
Filimi can be described as a 'house' version of Baesekopo though it must be mentioned that BMM has a long way to go before they produce convincing house songs. Other songs in Tshokolo are Bina, featuring Biza Mupulu, and Jesu featuring Vee. Bina like the name suggests 'nudges' listeners into getting to the dance floor while Jesu urges them (listeners) to cast their burdens onto the Lord.
It appears that BMM was happy with Cisco B's offering and to reward him, he has been bestowed with the title, 'brigadier'. It means that he has surpassed 'Captain' Dira, becoming the second-in-command after stable-owner 'General' Vee.
The only pitfall in the album is that it is laced with too much Zulu, which most Batswana do not speak. It never ceases to amaze this reviewer why local artists prefer to use a foreign language while South African Batswana hip hop musicians promote Setswana through the motswako genre.
In past interviews with kwaito and kwaito-kwasa artists, they defended this move by either claiming that they do not sing in Zulu but 'street language' or tsotsi-taal or that it is because they want their music to go international.
As mentioned before, Cisco B is not new in the music industry. His debut album, which featured 'wedding songs', was released under the name, Hard To Get, a group that he led with Thelma Letebele of Mahalapye in 2001. In 2003, he went solo and released another 'wedding songs' album Sephonono, which was followed by Manyanyatha, an album dedicated to his church, the Zion Christian Church (ZCC). Tshokolo is bound to elevate Cisco B's status in the music industry and if he works hard, he is going to give a number of leading artists a run for their money.
It is also likely that it will be a must-have album this coming festive season.
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