El Padre enters rap game
He describes his music as an ‘honest piece of art’ that reflects the issues faced by the youthful generation. El Padre, real names Tinashe Mukube hopes to break through into the rap game with the release of an EP (Extended Play) with sounds that put some of the muted conversations on a speaker. Titled ‘Thugs Need Love’, the EP is a five-song project and it is the artist’s maiden major project.
“I would describe this EP as an honest piece of art. It touches on sensitivity topics like depression, love, anxiety, drugs and the unwillingness of the heart and mind to let go of past trauma.
This EP voices out of the deep thoughts that we are afraid to have as men and as people in general. It brings to the realisation that everyone is going through something and you are not,” El Padre told Arts & Culture this week. The 18-year-old rapper further says there is a lot of American influence as he takes notes from some of the elite rappers including J. Cole and the Pulitzer Prize winner, Kendrick Lamar. It can be heard on the artist’s Thugs Need Love as the first track ‘Intro’ could be heard speaking to his father, pleading from an escape from this world. The second track titled ‘Is it true’ is rather sang from a broken heart as the rapper admits to being second best to his lost lover. In ‘Deep Thoughts’, the third track in the EP addresses mental health as he rhymes about seeking for a comfort place on drugs and alcohol.
The fourth track ‘Cry’ talks about being OK for men to not suppress their feelings when hurt as he echoes ‘Real n**gas cry’.
On the final track ‘Outro’ he pens a letter to ‘Life’ asking to be adjourned on the bad and the good he did.
The EP is written from a very personal level as El Padre narrates society from his point of view and personal experiences. It is a good listen for the Hip Hop heads as the rapper has shown the ability to conform over a variety of sounds and production styles, and that points to a mastery of the many necessary skills, delivery, flow and clarity.
The Thugs Need Love EP has features from upcoming artists and producers such as Raahil, Ocean Paak, Plutonian and Broke Boi. It has been released on online platforms such as Audiomark, SoundCloud, YouTube and Apple Music.
The rapper has garnered 43 plays in his first two weeks after release on Audiomark as he promises another project, a mix tape before the release of his debut album