30 GREATEST RAP LINES IN MDUBZ HIP-HOP HISTORY

(By Sangwani Chigezero Chibaka)

Malawian hip-hop has really made a lot of progress over the past years, most artists outwardly create rhymes around punch-lines to step up their game.  If you take your time and listen to Mdubz hip-hop you will agree with me that most rappers are really ahead of their time given their fancy lyrics and cunning wordplay. 

Most rappers have been feeding us great songs with fine lyrical content, and the industry is booming with various lyrical gemstones. While most rappers have dominated the game with their English bars, others have remained loyal to the vernacular. A good example is Gwamba, he has remained consistent in spitting Chichewa bars such that he is dubbed as the ‘Chichewa Landlord’, all because of his dialect lines which are rich in elaborate rhymes and sneaky puns. In appreciating the great rap skills we have in Mdubz, we have created the following selection of the greatest rap lines of all time. There are a lot of great lines out there, but these ones are the finest. 

In positioning the greatest hip-hop lines of all time, we considered their creativity, poetic quality, wordplay, rhythmic skill and public reception. So here we go!

30. Ena ndi ma gangster pa facebook//amachenjera pa zopusa ngati ukuku 

Artist: Phyzix

From: Makofi feat Daredevilz

Phyzix throws tantrums at social media trolls in this banger, a brief but powerful message to all potential haters. One of the strongest lines from the rapper. 

29. Sindizasiya nyimbo mpaka chala m’manda ngati Giddes

Artist: Achina Gatta Ase

From: Ofcourse 

Gattah stresses his ideal of sincerity in the rap game by citing the Legendary Giddes Chalamanda. He uses this beautiful metaphor to prove the point that he is here to stay.  

28. Ndimatha Bawo aise sindiopa kudutsa mu zikhomo//ndili ndimwana wa carpenter sindiopa kudutsa muzokhoma

Arists: Suffix

From: Tili Mommo

This line tells us to persist through our troubles and tribulations, but in a creative way such that most you won’t get it at all. The verse itself is ironic and the metaphor use is striking. 

27. Ndaphula fame ndani kodi anateleka//teaching these kids kuimbaku tima tele ka

Artist: Judagaga

From: So what, Trap Squad feat Hypa

Let’s be clear, Juadagaga is one of the finest female emcees we have ever had. Right from the start she proved to us that she is good, in fact better than the boys. The only female member of the hiphop crew Trapsquad, she drops one of her iconic verses alongside the late revolver and her brother chavura, too bad she left the game.

26. Hip-hop YeniYeni ngati Japan’s money (Yen, Japan’s currency)

Artist: Revolver

From: So what feat trap squad and hypa

A very clever pun from the late Revolver. Here he confuses our minds with the Japanese currency ‘Yen’ and the Chichewa word yeniyeni. Only legends can get this at first peek. 

25. Ndiinu tate palibe ti//to//tu

Artist: Mr Gray

From: Paminga

Most of you won’t get this line at first, the wordplay is just too much. Mr Gray probably won’t be in your top ten rappers simply because he is a Christian kid but trust me, this guy is a lyrical mastermind. 

24. Ngati stamp yakalata you would lick that// kujambula muku*na then leak that

Artist: Revolver

From: Waganyu saluza feat Chavura

Not all of Revolver’s lyrics were clean, in this verse he shows us how explicit he could get on the mic whilst maintaining his rhyming skills.  

23. Ndakula m’maluzi pano ndili m’ma win like a pooh (Winnie the pooh)

Artist: Revolver

From: Mundione pano feat Krazie G & Judagaga

If you are not a fan of cartoons, then you probably won’t get this line. Go watch the famous cartoon Winnie the pooh and then come back listen to this. Maybe, you will be able to get this line. 

22. Ndikaunjika ma style mafana amangobwera kudzaola muwaonetsetse ali ndi mphutsi

Artist: Gwamba

From: Zikuvuta feat Krazie G, Tidacase & Martse

Arguably one of the greatest collaborations of all time, Gwamba goes all hardcore on this. He sends the message loud and clear, retaining his style and originality. 

21. Mphaka wakwa neba akabwela kwanu mpamene iweyo umaona pusi (Pussy)

Artist: Krazie G

From: Bayuum Thii, BenSam Ent. Feat various artists 

Crazy genius indeed, be sure to mind the strong language every time you play Krazie G’s songs. This is an extract of his verse taken from probably the best hip-hop collaboration to ever come out of the country.

20. Mowa ulionse ndiwu sippa ngati bonya (Usipa)

Arstist: Revolver

From: Powers number one, feat Chavura & Stitch Fray

Irony at its best, the line is simple but yet outstanding. You wouldn’t understand what he means at first, but Revolver presents his love for alcohol in style.  

19. God schools me am like a pupil in his eye.

Artist: Suffix

From: Zaiyeyo, David Kalilani feat various artists. 

Very ironic indeed, Suffix meditates on the greatness of God at the same time humbling himself before the almighty. 

18. New school rap ineyo ndiine syllabus// iweyo ngati zavuta ingondisiila basi

Artist: Krazie G 

From: Can’t stop us now feat Signature & BFB

A creative illustration of limerick in a beautiful pattern. Blending Chichewa and English words is so common amongst many rappers, but maintaining the rhythm is not always easy. 

17. Ambili amakapempha chikondi chako tipaseko//koma ondilanda saazapezeka ngati corner pa circle

Artist: Krazie G

From: Mkazi ovala syndicate feat GD

Another one from the Crazy genius, here he uses the words in a creative style, without compromising the eminence of the track. He plays around with the words and gives us a double grammatical meaning which most listeners won’t get at first.

16. Kumutsatira Satana muzatha ngati makatani//Yesu azkufunsani kwa Satanako mu makatani

Artist:  Suffix

From: Nyau Nyau Remix

Another one from the award winning gospel artist. Suffix proves to his fans that he is capable of using rhyme and repetition and still manage to send the message straight.  

15. Chakachi ndi chaka cha ma miracle//Am going deeper ndikupita komirako

Artist: Mista Gray

From: Balinkede, Mastol & Mista Gray

Mista Gray’s wordplay is so elusive, it’s a great line, very factual and very swift. His flow makes it sound so effortless, but the energy within is something else.  

14. Ndiine chi penalty saangandimake ma guy

Artist: Gwamba

From: Bayuum Thii, BenSam Ent. Feat various artists 

One of those lines that seem simple, but are actually extraordinary. The figurative weight in this line is just too much.

13. Tilembelenikoni verse chifukwa ndiinu a all-star (Converse, All-star)

Artist: Martse

From: Never, feat Malinga & Tar Leo

Martse gives us a taste of what hip-hop is all about. It’s a fine verse, his wit and choice of words is just undeniable. Quite ingenious and the lyrics makes sense either way.

12. Ndili ndi anamwino awili call them nesnes (nurse, nurse)

Artist: Revolver

From: So what feat trap squad and Hypa

Revolver was really ahead of his time, he was fond of mentioning fellow artist’s names in most of his lines. It is the cleverness of the way he did it that made his style unique. Here he uses the gag of two nurses (nurse, nurse) to mention NesNes’s name.

11. Ndiine blankspace fans imandifilla

Artist: Gwamba

From: Sindidanda, Revolver feat various artists

Gwamba creatively uses the meanings of the two terms ‘blank-space’ and ‘imandifilla’ to give us yet another ironic meaning. He does this simultaneously without conflicting these two terms, only a great rapper is capable of doing that.  

10. Den zambiri opanda rent ndizamu samusa// ndizizadya bho kumangogeya zima samoosa

Artist: Hypa

From: Ndikadzalemera feat Gwamba

Hypa was indeed a hype, his puns were smooth. I wonder why he left the game, we miss him. 

9. Team so real aise my Crew si fiction (Crucifixion) 

Artist: Liwu

From: Broken Jenes

There is more than one meaning to this line, while most rappers focus their game around metaphors and punch lines Liwu remains a consistent lyricist. He preaches the gospel through verses and rhymes. 

8. Anawa ndi a Gwape nkona amakonda kuNyika

Artist: Gwamba

From: Bayuum Thii, BenSam Ent. Feat various artists 

One of the most iconic statements in Mdubz rap history. The irony in this line is so out of this world. 

7. Akazi kundikakamila ngati K pa Kenya//kuwafunsira amangochotsa K-yo ndi kuti Enya

Artist: Krazie G

From: Sindidanda, Revolver feat various artists

This is one of Krazie G’s earliest verses, it never gets old and still remains competent today.

6. Gwamba ndi mbola! Eeya ndiine sting ya njuchi

Artist: Gwamba

From: Zikuvuta feat Krazie G, Tidacase & Martse

One of the hardest tracks in rap history, Gwamba here proves to us once more that his rap skills are unbeatable.  The irony here is top level. 

5. Ndayaka akazi ayamba kukongola //adhawa dolla zawo zatha kale ayamba kukongola

Artist: Gwamba feat Dj Sley

From: Kwacha Chaser

Great rhyming skills from the ‘landlord’ blended with brilliant use of recurrence and alliteration.

4. Chifukwa cha kusamvera fans Edzi mukunkanayo//Muzamufuna ndithu Yesu Khristu mukunkanayo

Artist: Suffix

From: Ulendo wakumwamba

Here is a great verse from one of the most consistent Christian hip-hop rappers. An exceptional demonstration of rhyme and alliteration.  

3. Siine wakabanza but on a track I go cycle (phsycho)

Artist: Martse

From: Bayuum Thii, BenSam Ent. Feat various artists 

Martse went hard on this. He makes it sound easy and fluent, but the lyrical depth behind this line is remarkable. 

2. Ndipatse mpata ndifuna ndivine ndati nditaseko//tizinjoyi tanga mwa Yesu tilibe pothera ngati ndita circle

Artist: Mista Gray

Artist: Chimwana Chosamba

Mista gray raises the bar of his artistic course by clinching on the skills of rhyme and rhythmic pattern. He gives us a hard-core line but still manages to keep it Christocentric.  

1. kunveka kuchoka Lilongwe mpaka Addis Ababa//kukubeefila mdala iwe ndikulila aGwamba adissa ababa

Artist: Gwamba

From: Mizozo, Barryone feat Gwamba

Gwamba has proved that he is the illest vernacular lyricist alive, with styles like these you can’t argue that he has been in the game for long. 

So, we can all agree here that there is a lot of wisdom and inspiration in the words of these rappers. Don’t be upset if your favourite rapper isn’t on the list, we have a great deal of unlimited punch-lines that have been left out. These are just the crème de la crème of them all.