Tkay Maidza: The Chameleon

Tkay Maidza, Zimbabwean-Australian rapper and singer, has taken on a new frontier in her most recent album, Sweet Justice. As her first full-length album since 2016, it’s a perfect example of how her music has evolved. Called a “chameleon” by The Guardian, her melodic voice floats over a wide range of beats and lyrics. 

Maidza has been experimenting with beats on her musician father’s equipment since she was 15. Her talent as a DJ led to her booking clubs in the local scene as a late teen, then releasing her debut single, “Handle My Ego” with Badcop in 2013, followed up soon after by “Brontesaurus”. She quickly gained popularity through Triple J’s Unearthed, landing a contract with Universal Australia the next year. Her early music has a fun, clubby, EDM vibe that easily caught on.

Throughout the past decade she has released 29 singles, 3 EPs, 2 full albums, and has collaborated with dozens of artists across the spectrum, from JPEGMAFIA to Flume to Snakehips. Her songs snap from the club to the bedroom, with catchy and confident lyrics across the board. She has mastered rap, funk, EDM, pop, and indie throughout her extensive projects, making connections across the globe along the way, while earning a gold (M.O.B.) and a platinum (U-Huh) and hitting the ARIA top 100 charts 4 times. She’s been nominated for over a dozen awards, and won several, including an ARIA and an MTV Europe. As the first female rapper signed to 4AD (2020), she has made headlines many times.

Her most recent album, ‘Sweet Justice’, shows her musical and personal journey over the years. Maidza describes it as about “self-growth,” and “very pro getting your bag.” Even with the long list of collaborations, you can always recognize Maidza’s influence in every song, and you can count on her to elevate your mood and confidence. 

Don’t miss her upcoming tour, Sweet Justice, in Hell on 2/29.

Written by Mary Papetti