User:Muddyb/Fid Q

Fareed Kubanda (born 13 August 1982) is a Tanzanian rapper, known for his stage name as Fid Q. Fid Q is arguably the most prolific Hip-hop artist to emerge from Tanzania in East Africa. His social awareness and political insightfulness coupled with his profound lyrical prowess has propelled him to the very upper echelons of the Rap elites. Fid Q has been the most consistent Hip-hop MC in terms of nominations for multiple awards so far.

Lyrical style
It is a toss between his early featured song with the Machizi wa Hatari, Hard Mad, Noor Elly, Wachuja Nafaka, and the now classic Joachim Kimario ("Master J") produced a song "Huyu na Yule" which officially introduced Fid Q into the Hip-hop mainstream in Tanzania and world respectively for the past decade. Either way, revisiting his early works further solidifies the argument that this he is not an average rapper; his creative process, subject matter, careful use of poetical devices and the precision and clarity of his rapid fire delivery, instantly catapulted him into the "one to watch" status.

In one of his song (Fid Q dot com) said "Akupigaye ngumi ya jicho na we mpige ya sikio akikuuliza unaonaje na wewe mwulize anajisikiaje" this bars became the most prominent in his career. This infamous bars from’ Fid Q dot com’ his independent release A side single, marked the beginning of endless stream of quotes from Fid. It preceded the release of his lon awaited debut album Vina Mwanzo, Kati Mwisho (VMKM). The critically acclaimed debut album is regarded as the manuscript that has given birth to a myriad of conscious Mcs over the years and continues to do so by inspiring a new generation of fierce and sharp hiphop traditionalists. Songs such as ‘Mwanangu’ an ode to his unborn son at the time where he envisions his son being his shield in his latter years, ‘Mwanza Mwanza’ an anthem dedicated to the city where he hails from- (forget the roof, this song is known to bring down the sky whenever he performs it live in his home town), ‘Unanijua Unanisikia’ a testament to the plausibility of a multi-lingual banger where Swahili/English are made to gel very well courtesy of 2 featured European artists, and the poignant title track which sends chills up your spine from just the way Fid dissects the philosophy of life in less than 4 minutes! It was the use of multi syllabic rhyme scheme with such consistency that made Fid Q unique and this album a timeless classic. If there were any doubts in the minds of the sceptics and the cynical, they were all erased with the release of Fid’s sophomore effort aptly titled ‘PROPAGANDA’. The spirituality, positivity, intelligence and thought provoking concepts cleverly fused in an eclectic selection of beats immediately reaffirmed Fid’s position. This album marked that triumphant moment that every artist dreams of; the pressures of successfully following up a classic debut is every Artist’s nightmare. Ironically, the initial title of the album was meant to be ‘Darwin’s nightmare’ as Fid’s critique’ response to a misleading independent documentary of the same name which depicted Mwanza (Fid’s home town) as a dangerous remote area of Africa to be avoided for various unfounded facts. Fid felt very strongly about this especially because it was based on fabrications but presented by a foreign director as being factual. With ‘Propaganda’, we get to see the artistic growth in Fid and likewise the maturity. Confidence oozes out of him as he experiments with sounds outside the conventional hiphop box. In the lead single (Street report) which features none other than the legendary golden era Tanzania Musician Zahir Ally Zorro, Fid paints the perfect picture of the ills of the streets for those who are not built for the concrete jungle. Over a thumping bass and dark synths, he goes into multi story mode verses with vividness that makes them somewhat cinematic. Zahir offers the perfect hook in his own unique baritone that is reminiscent of the golden days.

This ‘old to the new’ theme is maintained very well in another album track called ‘JUHUDI’which features the Queen and the fossil of Tanzanian artistry, Her Highness Bibi Kidude (RIP). In a sinister backdrop and barely audible drum loop, Fid trades rhyme and spoken poetry with Bibi Kidude to create one of the most poignant song of his career. With the hook provided in the form of traditional Swahili idioms, puns and riddles delivered in Bibi Kidude’s infectious coastal dialect, the effect is that of a timeless classic song that will survive the test of time! Notwithstanding the potential for the two classics mentioned above to be contenders for the anthem song, it is the title track ‘Propaganda’ that finishes at the top! Produced by the great Marco Chali, this song is probably the most quoted Fid Q song of all time. The clever lyrics full of subliminal puns on both social and music industry politics (famously known as poli-tricks) confidently executed by Fid is simply worthy of the overwhelming endorsement by both fans and wider media channels. ‘Polisi wanasapoti gangsta rap ili uhalifu uongezeke, wabana pua kuimba mapenzi je itafanya ukimwi usepe, media zinapromoti bifu wanadai wanakuza mziki, wadau wana wasanii wabovu,jua kali ntatoka vipi, hizi ni propaganda, usiulize ni nani, ni yupi, saa ngapi, ilikuaje, na nani, ili iweje, hizi ni Propaganda, utaibiwa ukicheza blanda, Yule Last King wa Scotland sio Iddi Amin wa Uganda’.. Translates to: “Police support gangsta rap to boost up crime, RnB crooners with their love songs how is that supposed to rid of HIV, media is promoting rivalry, claiming they are growing the music, Promoters with weak artists, how am I supposed to break through, This is all Propaganda don’t bother asking Who, Which, What time, With Whom, For What purpose, this is Propaganda you will be robbed if you don’t play carefully, That was the last King of Scotland and NOT Iddi Amin of Uganda’…

The clever word play and excellent Juxtaposition captured in the translation above is an example of the greatness in Fid’s artistry. The subtle and innocuous way in which Fid manages to attack the seemingly invincible power structures through the use of suggestive dichotomies is simply unmatched by any artist in the Bongo Hip-hop scene. He possesses this incredible ability to throw these invisible darts towards adversaries with a smile and a wave without having to assume a covert sniper position.

As the die-hard fans and critics alike await for the release of Fid’s third album KITAAOLOJIA, (STREET-OLOGY) the anticipation is nothing like what has been witnessed before in the recent history. The fact that it is rumoured to be his last studio album (the completion to his Trilogy ), the buzz is simply overwhelming. There is that feeling of anxiety that is synonymous to the famous Trilogy films; Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter etc. And similar to these epic films the pressure is on to ensure that there is no anti-climax.

Fid is confident and takes it in his strides. After all he is essentially the Director and the main character to the completion of this Trilogy. In several interviews conducted in between his busy schedule ( Ambassadorship role, promoting his Cheusi Dawa Brand which includes a TV deal, Merchandise, Monthly Poetry Addiction event, Working on his autobiography, managing a non- profit organisation promoting literacy initiatives, facilitating  Sanaa ni Kazi- Career in Art workshop etc.), Fid has reiterated that this will be his best album yet.

He has dropped 2 huge singles to ease the pain of the anticipation for his ever demanding fans who are at the end of their tether with the wait which has lasted the best part of the past 2 years. ‘Sihitaji marafiki’ (I don’t need friends) which features Yvonne Mwale, a sensational soul vocalist from Zambia, climbed the charts rapidly within hours of being released. As always we are treated to the signature word play and multi imagery lyrics that we have come to expect of Fid Q.

The latest single from this highly anticipated album has only just dropped as this Bio was finalised and already it has come close to crushing the online Bongo Hip-hop channels with frantic demands for uploads and downloads let alone the reviews and discussions on twitter, Facebook and all major and minor blogs. Aptly titled ‘Siri ya Mchezo’ (The Game’s secret), you cannot help but admire the ingenuity of Fid when it comes to sparking the industry adrenaline rush! With an infectious beat provided by Ben Mwamba and a hook by none other than Sir Juma Nature, this is already shaping up to be a record breaking hit for Fid. Filled with more quotable lines than a Shakespeare sonnet, it is another epic release from this Hip-hop traditionalist who continues to defy all odds.

In a nutshell, Fid Q is a gift to the Bongo Hip-hop industry. He is authentic and genuine. His demeanour and disposition in life is synonymous to his music. What you see is what you get; there are no facades in his artistry. In many ways this has given him some of the most robust fan base ever witnessed. He has somehow managed to survive the pressures from the industry for so long. Where many have succumbed and compromised their artistry in pursuit of that radio hit, he has continued in his own path and refused to conform to the industry rules. It is no wonder he is known as ‘Jeshi la mtu mmoja’ (One man army). He embodies the spirit of resilience and survival that is very necessary for artist to retain their integrity and creative vision.

Being pursued by Vodacom (The Giant of Telecomms in Africa) to work on a promo commercial is a huge sign of the wide reach that Fid Q has and indeed his impact to the industry. Hailed as one of the most poignant fusion between a Corporate Giant and a HipHop artist, there just seems to be no stopping Fid’s reign.

Most recently (May 2014), Fid was invited to be the host/facilitator in a workshop/seminar on the importance of artists' intellectual rights. The invitee list was vast and covered a cross section of artists from all genres of entertainment. This crucial event that was sponsored by a mix of public and private sectors including legal firms, was aimed at raising awareness of the artists’ rights and welfare. Given the honour of being a host for such an event is again testament to the recognition of Fid’s leadership qualities.

We continue to wait for the release of KITAAOLOJIA and there are no doubts that Fid will deliver a breath taking finale’ to this TRILOGY with no disappointments. There are also plans to release the ‘Swahili kid’ book alongside this album. The plans for the book which will be somewhat biographical have moved closer to fruition with the securement of a local publisher.

ACCOLADES
Fid Q is the only artist in Tanzania who has been nominated for an award every year for the past 10 years! Despite receiving all these nominations, fans and critics have been baffled and frustrated at how he has not yet secured the most prestigious award of the best HipHop artist through the KTMA (Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music award).

Perhaps the most debated topic of conversation amongst fans and industry folks for a number of years has revolved around this very issue. On social media and every street corner for a period of over a month running to the KTMA 2014 awards, the name Fid Q was inextricably linked to what the outcome would be! Some of these conversations were pretty heated as the general public was beginning to be of the view that it was due to injustice and/or even vote rigging that Fid hadn’t won previously. Fid was nominated for 3 awards; Best Hiphop act, Best Writer and Best Single.

In what was the most memorable award evening of any of the previous KTMA events, Fid Q was finally awarded two of the 3 gongs ( Best Hiphop Act and Best Single) narrowly missing the third by a very small margin. The jubilation and cheer from crowd was further affirmation of how the overwhelming majority felt it was both, well deserved and long overdue.

Awards

 * 1) Best Hip-hop song Mwanza-Mwanza - 2005 - 2006 (Nominated)
 * 2) Best collaboration song Ni Hayo Tu - 2006 – 2007
 * 3) Best East African song- Zero by Witness featuring Fid Q -2007 – 2008 (Nominated)
 * 4) Best Collaboration song- Ukisikia Paa- JCB featuring Fid Q -2010 – 2011
 * 5) Best Live Performer Fiesta Festival Hall of Fame-2000-2011
 * 6) Street Award- Tuzo ya Kitaa- 2013
 * 7) Best Hiphop Act-KTMA 2014 (Won)
 * 8) Best Hip-Hop Composer - KTMA 2014 (Won)

Ambassadorship

 * Staying Alive- A co-sponsored project between MTV and Family Health International.
 * Dance for life-Similar to above but sponsored by the Embassy of The Netherlands in Tanzania.
 * Virus Free Generation- Tour of the Netherlands and Germany for African and European Artists to raise awareness on preventative measures towards viruses.
 * Malaria No more-WHO project aimed at raising awareness of the effects of the malaria parasite particularly the child mortality rate from this number 1 killer disease in Africa.
 * Fashion for Vision- Working in conjuction with a household name fashion designer Mustapha Hassanali to raise awareness on visually impaired patients and raising funds for medical research and treatment option for the most common causes of blindness.