Mr JazziQ – Coolest in the City (Album)

Think about how we use that word. Calling somebody the coolest in town is a bit of boasting, but it is also friendly. It is what you say about the friend who always arrives well dressed, knows every spot and never seems stressed. A title like Coolest in the City is confident without being rude, and that tone is very common in South African dance culture, where swagger and fun go hand in hand.

The credits tell a story of their own. Thesiix, Don Deeya, Shazz RSA, Magwe ZA, A.W.O, Ntandokazi M, Lemaza, Freddy K, De Rose, LoidZa, Young Mafia and Shoes Meister all appear across the project. That is a proper circle of collaborators, and it suggests an album built like a gathering, with different voices coming through the door at different times. I will not describe the sound of each record without being able to place every detail, but the lineup alone says this is a team effort.

The song titles also add to the picture. Nostalgia, Circle Bigger, Chommie Angeke, Stance Social and Katalia mix English with township slang and Zulu, which is how people actually speak in many South African cities. One moment you are talking about memory, the next about friendship, then about how you carry yourself in a room. Utshwala Bay’zolo even brings in the language of traditional gatherings.

For listeners in Nigeria, amapiano has long since become part of the weekend soundtrack, so this project should feel familiar and fresh at once. It suits a long drive, a house party that is just warming up, or a Friday evening when work is finally behind you and you want the night to start properly.