TK The Rapper

At first glance ‘The Alarm’ seems like a typical hip-hop album. All about girls, cars, money, getting drunk… but once you play it, you experience a different side not only to the genre, but to your initial perception of lyricist TK the Rapper.

What’s nice about this album is it’s gentle – like the musings of a young boy in his diary, pouring out his hopes, dreams, past, present and future; and praying it’ll all get better. We see the recurring theme of hopefulness throughout the project.

On ‘No x 3’, TK raps about being the next thing in music. ‘Meme (Inolila)’ sees him reinterpreting vital advice from his mother, and creating a song about the trials and tribulations of chasing success in Windhoek, as someone from a smaller town.

‘Andigalikani’ serves as a prayer in which it petitions God to watch out for him and ensure a clear path.

‘The Alarm’ is a straight up hip-hop album which deviates from the genre every now and then in sometimes small and big ways. Thanks to features like that of King Elegant, the album is infused with Afro-pop. TK shows off a different side to himself on ‘Paige’. Here we hear a soothing, more tender sound, completely contrasting his delivery on ‘Mbelewa’ – the hit song that went viral online and gave him an edge over others.

He thinks people liked ‘Mbelewa’, a song on which he sings ” (I don’t wanna work in an office), because people can relate to this sentiment.

“So many people don’t want day jobs, so it’s fun to scream these lyrics every now and then,” he jokes. However, for someone about to graduate at university, the song was no laughing matter for his family but as he slowly builds his career, gains recognition and makes money, they are becoming more accepting.

Other standout tracks on ‘The Alarm’ are ‘After Party’ featuring Namibia Annual Music Awards male artist of the year Exit, Neslow and Shiki, with its elements of South African hip-hop and trap influence, and ‘Tweya Tweya’ about the hunger for success.

The features on the album may be few but they deliver just enough of a change to elevate the project. Other songs feature Vikta Juiceboy, Kaboy Kamakili, Zach, Bobby WVDK and Slime.

While TK still has a lot of growth ahead of him and a few more styles to explore, he definitely seems to be on the right path.

Find him online at @paperboy_tk.