The Lounge Tanzania Mixtape Volume 1 is a project that brings together Tanzanian and Diaspora singers, rappers, and poets. The project features artists that are internationally known, as well as artists just starting their careers. In this conversation with seven of the artists, we talk about the evolution of the project and how the project reflects hip hop and popular culture in Tanzania. We also discussed the message the project sends to the music industry in Tanzania, which has tended to only promote one style of music. We talked about the collaboration between English and Swahili performing artists, the lack of East Africa representation in recent projects like Black Panther and the Lion King, and how this project shows East Africa's engagement in Pan African projects as well. The seven artists interviewed in this episode are Mike Tareto/IG: @miketareto Joe Legendary/IG: @joelegendary Shamsa/IG: @vikombeviwilivyakahawa Fete Jen/IG: fete_jen Ronny aka Ty Charls/IG: @ronnycharlz Mex Cortez/IG: mex.tz FG Tony/IG: @fg__tony The episode begins with "Tougher" by Lo SayAloha Ski and Mex Cortez and "Wale Wale" by Zenji Boy. The episode ends with "No Time For Trash" by Mex Cortez. The video version of this episode can be found on our YouTube Channel The mixtape can currently be streamed on the following platform: https://soundcloud.com/fete-jen/sets/the-lounge-mixtape-vol-1 The artists on the project are Mex Cortez Frankie Maston Joe Legendary Chi Lufu Mike Tareto V.I.C. Zamdazitta Lo SayAloha Ski Zenji Boy Sima FG_Tony Ty Charlz Mteganda H ShamsaContinue reading