I’m a Zimdancehall pioneer: Silent Killer
Dennis Chimanzi TRENDING chanter Jimmy Mudereri — whose stage name is Silent Killer — claims he is among the few pioneers of the Zimdancehall genre.
Born and bred in Mbare, the muso, who uses the tagline“Ngirozi Yehondo”, reckons he has over the years played a crucial role in the development of the popular genre.
In an interview with The Sunday
Society at his home in Mbare, the controversial musician, who has had brushes with the law in the past, said his interest in Zimdancehall dates back to 2006, when he was barely 16.
“I was doing Form Three at Harare High School when I started. I would often bunk lessons to go and record my songs in backyard studios,”the 32-yearold chanter said.
According to Silent Killer, Zimdancehall, which he opines has its origins in Mbare, was, by then, still in its infancy.
The artiste claimed he recorded more than 600 songs when he was still in high school.
“I was recording in backyard studios and the sound quality was not that good. My songs, to a greater extent, helped inspire the likes of Killer T, Seh Calaz, Ras Caleb, Kinna, Ras Lalo and Soul Jah Love, who went on to launch successful careers,” he said.
Stallone Pangeti — who is better known as Ras Lalo — said by 2007, Silent Killer was already an active recording Zimdancehall singer.
“He was there long before most of these supposed founders of the genre — the likes of Killer T, Seh Calaz, Kinna and Soul Jah Love. He is one of the Zimdancehall pioneers,” Ras Lalo, also a Zimdancehall artiste, said.
Ras Lalo claims Silent Killer made his breakthrough in 2007 with the song“Saga Redhobhu”.
But it was the 2016 song “Ndisu taka locker mastreets” that made him an overnight sensation.
Ras Lalo and some of Silent Killer’s former friends, as well as managers, claim drug and substance abuse adversely affected the chanter’s promising career.
“Drugs slowed down his career. If he was consistent and hardworking, he would have been one of the country’s most sought-after artistes. He should have, by now, been far ahead of other top artistes in the game,” Ras Lalo said.
Silent Killer’s manager Paul Shambare said efforts are being made to transform the musician.
“We are working hard to resuscitate his career so that he earns his rightful spot among the country’s top Zimdancehall artistes. He is immensely talented; all he needs to do is to shun drugs and work hard,” Shambare said.
Music producer Arnold “DJ Fantan” Kamudyariwa also spoke highly of the Mbare-bred singer.
“I knew and worked with him long before Zimdancehall became popular. He is one of the genre’s pioneers. One cannot talk about Zimdancehall without mentioning Silent Killer,” DJ Fantan said.
He said Silent Killer has recorded more than 50 songs with Chillspot Records.
However, the musician claims to have more than 3 000 unreleased songs and needs at least six years to empty the bag.
“I want to assure my fans that I am around and well. I will regularly supply them with new songs,” he said.