Emerging South African Hip-Hop Artist, Frank Miino releases a new song “Niyabasaba Na?” ahead of his debut EP. “Niyabasaba Na?” is a Zulu term saying “Are you scared of them?”
Get To Know The Rookie
Franklin Nobavu, dubbed Frank Miino, is an all-rounder artist who dabbles in Hip-Hop, RnB, and Afro-Trap music and he does so immaculately. The Kwazulu Natal native’s musical journey kicked off a long time ago since his high school days. He attended Maritzburg College where he toured with Midlands Youth Choir across Germany. Life’s currents plunged him into AFDA, to pursue acting. Though he realized that music was his passion. He says,
“I realised acting wasn’t as
fun as creating. So I started
creating my own music
instead of performing other
people’s songs”
Even though he is just embarking as a rookie in the game, he holds commendable collaborations. From working with Clout Internet Boyz and now releasing solo songs. “Niyabasaba Na?” will appear on hs upcoming EP “TNT.”
Niyabasaba Na? Review
The song’s aberrant production is thanks to Thembekani Mncwabe for producing it overall, Mmangaliso Mhlongo for the mixing and mastering engineering, and lastly Frank Miino for his penmanship.
I love the way it starts off, with those melodic tingling sounds–feels like anticipating the unexpected. And just as you’re waiting for a change to transpire, Frank jumps in…
“Niyabasaba Na?
Hhayi
Hhayi
Hhayi”
The delivery on this hook is neat and solid, you can hear him above the beat assembly. His vocals are crisp, the background ad-libs are a nice touch to this song too. He then dives into his verse, with a drop of voice–more feral.
“Said I gotta make it
Or I’ll end up a farmer
Ain’t nothing harder Shout out to mama
She worked hard so the cotton fields Wouldn’t need me
Live my a life, looking up, Never see a ceiling
In my prime get a mic, Do what I believe in
Get a boat, write a book
Anything I’m feeling”
He jumps straight into the heavy, talking about why he needs to break out and make it in this business. It makes the song more impactful because he really is asking, “Niyabasaba Na?” Clearly not. Bold, but backs it up with his flow and bars. I love the switch-up after this verse. It sounds like he was having fun in the booth.
I’m intrigued to find out what his EP will sound like, and what else he’ll delve into.
Go listen to his catalog right here