While he may be an unfamiliar name to the casual listener, Mic Diggy (real name Michael Bashiri Banda) is no stranger to the world of rap, having been hovering on the sidelines of the Zambian hip-hop scene since 2014 while learning the ropes at Phat Jam Records. In the subsequent two years, Diggy saw some success with singles such as “Blame” and “Sangwapo” in addition to his well received debut mixtape entitled "Elevation" in 2016. After stepping aside for a self-developmental hiatus in 2018, he is now back on the scene with a point to prove, as he presents to the world his latest EP "Meanwhile in Africa" available on all major digital platforms since May 2021.
"Meanwhile in Africa" tells a compelling and cohesive story while hopping effortlessly from topic to topic, touching on different issues including relationships, hard work and determination for young Africans, and his own prowess as a rapper, among others. The Lusaka based emcee even throws a little backstory narrating his genesis in the music industry, including his infamous Twitter feud with his once-upon-a-time idol Slapdee on the 16th cut of the record appropriately entitled "Sixteen". Diggy shows great versatility throughout the tape, adjusting his flow to suit the feel of each individual track, such as the smooth, confessional type flow in "5 AM in South London", to a more gritty street feel on "A1 Freestyle" and "Level Up/Xclusive" featuring Loowehc XI. All this while maintaining consistency with his deep-voiced, gruff and honest delivery in both English and Nyanja. Mic Diggy's ear for talent (of course, as the head of independent label "The Company Records" ) is evident by his selection of collaborators on the project, most notably Pablo LO who contributes vocals on the song "Blessings" and “La Vida Loca".
As the world begins to sit up and take note of music from the Motherland, Diggy appropriately includes some very well composed Afrobeat-influenced numbers on the project, guaranteeing that there is something for everyone on this EP. The project stands out for its striking sonic feel, incorporating elements of lo-fi, trap and RnB. The end result is a very mature and pleasing hour long demonstration of the growth that Lord Diggy has undergone since the release of his last charting single "No Pressure" in 2016. The future looks very bright for this promising talent, and “Meanwhile in Africa” is certainly a big step in the right direction for Mic Diggy.
