Tkay Maidza – “M.O.B.” Video (Stereogum Premiere)
Sometimes the universe manages to self-correct itself with the precision of a pop song. After the reign (and subsequent fall) of clueless Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, a new voice has emerged from that same southern island. That voice belongs to Tkay Maidza, a Zimbabwe-born, Australian-raised rapper, singer, and producer who released her breakout project Switch Tape at the end of last year.
Tkay Maidza (pronounced: Tee-kay My-zda) is short for Takudzwa Victoria Rosa Maidza, the kind of name that practically demands its recipient create something huge and wonderful, like the glistening postmodern rap compositions she makes. On Switch Tape Maidza samples Yeezus, collaborates with electronic experimentalists like SBTRKT and Bok Bok, and handles sharp hooks with the same fluidity as her precisely rapped verses. A sense of free-floating exuberance emerges from even the darkest corners of her music; this is a woman who makes rapping sound effortless while twisting difficult rhythms and constantly evolving production.
After she uploaded Switch Tape to SoundCloud as one 33-minute mix, Maizda cut “M.O.B.” (Money Over Bitches, duh) out of that stream and used it as a single to point back toward the whole tape. Today we’re premiering the song’s animated video, a call-back to the cartoon Tkay in her “Switch Lanes” video. Maidza is a regal, fierce, and clever musician gunning straight for the top. Based off this song alone, it won’t be long until she get there.
Download Switch Tape for free here.