Sizwe Sibiya
Last week, newcomer Tyson Sybateli dropped the album of the year, and barely a whisper was spoken of it.
Sybateli’s debut LP, If Found, Bring Home, brings back the old school lyrical boom-bap rap sound with a cool modern dimension that imitates the likes of Pusha T, Kota The Friend and even Jay Z.
The album hits with enough power to reshape SA’s rap scene, but it was released with barely any fanfare.
The project’s lead single, which shares its name with the album, could have been a smash hit with the right publicity backing, as it also features one of Mzansi’s best hip hop lyricists and rapper A-Reece’s big brother, Jay Jody.
“Born in Durban, I’m finally finding the time, to hang with my friends, my best friends on billboards while you beefing with yours. 2019 I had four meetings in court, you are not me,” raps Sybateli on the single.
“Everybody is trying to portray this image in the industry that yo, we are successful and what not and that’s not the case. The whole song [If Found, Bring Home] is basically just to summarise that,” he said in an interview with ZkhiphaniTV on Thursday.
The album cover, which has Sybateli sitting in front of a closed shop with a blurred face, reflects the rapper’s self-conscious anonymity in the rap scene.
“What is home? Some have simple answers, while others very deep ones. We all define home differently and we all try to find ourselves in it. The answer is character specific and simple and true to whoever is asking,” said the rapper, describing the 12-track album.
Listen to the album here.
