Apr 29 2009
KING PINN
D.O.B – 25.03.1980 – 12.05.2003
P.O.B – LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM
1995 – 1997
As a young man approaching adulthood at High school in Marondera, Kingpinn formed friendships and artistic alliances with fellow schoolmates the Adopted One and Mundawg.
They would develop their lyrical skills to the timeless backdrops of classic hip hop laureates ranging from Chuck D to the swarming Killer Bees of the Wu-tang Clan; all the while diligently applying himself to his studies as well as getting him in the mandatory trouble all young artists get into while at school.
Kingpinn’s keen academic interest in cinematography and other audio visual art exposed him to Zimbabwe’s then increasingly competitive media industry, where he applied himself with enthusiasm matched only by that he had for hip hop and other influences like reggae and the diverse popular music belted out by Harare’s once impeccable Radio 3.
It was probably inevitable that in one way or the other music would play a significant role in his life as it did in the life of his older brother who at the time was paying his lyrical dues as a member of The Blackfoot Tribe one of Zimbabwe’s numerous groups underground soundscapers.
1998 – 2000
During this period The Kingpinn was engrossed in his pre-university academic and professional pursuits; involving himself in the background by filming at musical events billing many of Harare’s rising underground talent – all the while honing his lyrical wordsmithery to deadly effect which manifested itself on record for the first time with a long reminisced posse track with
The Blackfoot Tribe. Invited by the Tribe to feature on an album which never saw official release the Kingpinn introduced himself with true quality.
His friendship and artistic growth continued with his former schoolmates The Adopted One and Mundawg as they experimented with jazz influenced beats and dropped rhymes and reason that were pertinent to maturing young wordsmiths.
In 2000 King Pinn was again roped into another musical project at the behest of his brother who had involved himself in a project called The Future.
It was at this time when The King Pinn recorded some of his more widely recognized work like I Salute you and Inaugaration.
2000-2003
The King would mostly be as a visitor to Harare during this period as he was engaged in a University level qualification in Cinematography and Theater in Capetown South Africa.
While engrossed in the artistic diversity of Capetown Kingpinn made three academically acclaimed short documentaries on the Hip Hop Culture in South Africa: MOVING STEEL, DOING WORDS as well as rare appearances on the footage from Fire on the Mountain a large hip hop throw down somewhere in the shadows of Table Mountain. (See this space for more details).
These were done with no small amount of support from his new found brothers-in-lyrical-arms who attended the university or lived in surrounding communities. Literally setting up camp at the campus radio station, The King Pinn, Jux P, Kap’n, Fatboy and several other illumni of the Capetowns’ hip hop fraternity graced the airwaves with the sweet soliloquy of chaos.
The King Pinn was immersed in his work as recordings with The Others,Dungeon Keepers and Groundwork’s Productions kept his lyrical tide crashing like waves on the rock hard heads of the young, frustrated and disenfranchised peers who either opened their eyes and ears or allowed his talent to pass them without giving it a chance.
His was an untimely and much grieved passing but some comfort may be found for some in that unknown to many of his old and new listeners his close friends and family have been gathering together as much previously unreleased material (and there is a healthy amount for The King was no idler!) which is to be released in time, you guessed it; see this space for details!
ZIMBABWE INTERNET RADIO AND FORUM
