6TN......The Hiphop Messiah

by Tawanda Ngena

Hip Hop artist Langton Chereni, otherwise known as 6TN believes that the time is ripe for 'real' local talent to stand up, not only for Zimbabwe but for the world as a whole to take notice and he has put himself at the forefront of this mission.

 "I see myself taking a lead and showing the way. I have taken it upon myself to do so and i am willing to work with like-minded artists in an effort to establish an identity for local hip hop and take it beyond our own borders.

"I believe that i am definitely what the local hip hop scene has been missing all along and I want to take it further than any other local artist ever has done before", he said.

He is currently working on a mixtape titled " Bag reZim-hip hop" and the first single from that 16-track CD, " Mukukura Kwangu" is set for imminent release onto the local market.
The song talks about Chereni's formative years and thus the title "Mukukura Kwangu".

The emcee or "gangsta redu" as he is affectionately known is blessed with both style and delivery.
6TN (pronounced as Sixteen) is a story-teller par excellence and a powerful social commentator as well through his music and upcoming tracks like " Mukukura Kwangu",  "Vabereki" and "Munhukadzi" among others help cement that.
"I write whatever i see and experience, whatever is real to me and my environment. My music is a reflection of the society i live in and i know my fans and those around me will identify with the songs", he said.

The Dzivarasekwa raised but Mutare born emcee has come a long way and he believes that his time has arrived.

"I have worked with so many artists along the way and i believe that doing so has certainly been a necessity for my growth as an artist.
"That maturity is reflected in my music for everyone to see and hear", said 6tn.
He has shared both the stage and booth with the likes of Movip, cashlibs,  dollagettaz ,Jay c ,caynabel ,calivan ,ill-tackteek and Ice kline, to mention a few.

Some of 6TN's earlier projects include "mudiwa dzoka" a single done and released in 2001 under Movip Entertainment, "Unodirei kudaro" (2002) under Elshadai Studios,
"Welcome to the hood" (2008) and "Hatidi Hondo" (2013), to mention a few.


Despite the recent strides and relative success on the local hip hop landscape in the last couple of years, the artist thinks the media and especially the radio deejays could do more for local hip hop.

"Were it not for the monopoly that a few lucky artists get to enjoy on radio at the expense of others artists, a larger majority of us would have gotten an equal footing and a chance to also be heard by Zimbabwe ", he said.

6TN also took a swipe at some of his fellow artists whom he felt were working against the growth of the industry.

"Not to throw 'shade' on anyone in particular but most of my counterparts could use a little help is as far as their concepts, they are too weak and alien to our own fans who, naturally will shun hiphop because of that.
"Speaking as a fan of hip hop also, i am tired of the 'nonsensical raps' and the childish antics of some of these artists, let us make music that is relevant to our own society", said Chereni.

The emcee said that he was inspired by the late Tupac Amaru Shakur to pick up the microphone and tell his own story.

"Zimbabwe as a whole should expect nothing but pure and hard-hitting shona bars from a real hardcore artist and that's me all day, everyday",  he said.

It remains to be seen whether he will be hiphop's saviour, albeit its 'messiah' or not, but you can never doubt the talent and unyielding resolve that drives the emcee on his mission to take local hip hop to its 'promised land'.
All that one can say to him is "God speed!"