Album Review: Utshintsho by Flash Ikumkani
Flash Ikumkani’s album is proof of the acclimation of his rise in the Hip Hop industry.
The much anticipated album release by Xhosa rapper, Flash Ikumkani dropped over a week ago. The project titled Utshintsho is the third full body of work and the fourth project released in 2022.
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Utshintsho, an Nguni word deriving from the IsiXhosa tribe, which translates to “Changes” refers to the transformation that the young rapper has undergone in the last year and his rise to becoming a household name.
Flash Ikumkani’s album is proof of the acclimation of his rise in the Hip Hop industry.
Utshintsho released under his newly launched record label may seem like a mellow vision, compared to his first album however it hasn’t stirred away from what his supporters love him for.
The 12 track album takes listeners down memory lane of leaving Emtee Records, becoming an unsigned artist and his hopes of one day, penetrating the international market.
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Much to the delight of his supporters, Flash Ikumkani seems to have kept to his authentic and chicky lyrics affirming why he isn’t the newest kid on the block.
The album breaks into two different sections and attempts to tell the story from his lens, drawing in listeners to every wind whirl of emotions.
The first part, mostly reflections of his earlier self – his dreams and past actions of his come up, which can be noted on the second track Ndilapha ft Thalie Mambooica.
He recalls his grandfather’s words and concerns about his move to the big city to pursue music and how that has not been what he imagined it to be.
The reflective mood can also be considered a last nod of his days at Emtee Record and the turning of a new chapter.
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Its mood changes gradually on the 5th track- Utshintsho setting the tone for the rest of the album, shifting away from the heavy energy.
The three mins song, named after the album, reinforces/affirms how he won’t give up and eventually will see the positive changes in his life.
The song marks a turning point for the album introducing a wave of traditional trap music with Ncasa, where he talks about how he has arrived in the music scene to refresh.
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The cocky rap hip hop does not stop as he spits hard taking a jab at his opposition on No Hook where he features Siya Seya and closes with Emakhaya where he talks about going back to his homelands of rural Eastern Cape.
The raw and evolving sound remains distinct and the unequivocally intense beats by Young2unnebeats and Young C Beats who jumped on production once again are amongst a host of the local talents who were also behind the production of his first album, iQhawe, released last year.
