Mizchif

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Mizchif | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Hechichamunorwa Mount Zion Kwenda | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1976|06|23}} | birth_place = Salisbury, Rhodesia | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2014|09|04|1976|06|23}} | death_place = Johannesburg, South Africa | origin = Highfields, Harare, Zimbabwe | instrument = | genre = Hip hop | occupation = Rapper | years_active = 1994–2014 | label = Eargasm, Fondle 'Em, Ghetto Ruff, Gallo Record Company | associated_acts = HeadQuarters, 37mph, Richard the IIIrd, Tsakani Mhinga, Mavusana, Cashless Society, Necessary Noize | website = }}

'''Hechichamunorwa Mount Zion Kwenda''' (23 June 1976 – 4 September 2014), better known as '''Mizchif''', was a South African based Zimbabwean rapper. He was allegedly 'the first to independently release a solo hip hop album in South Africa,'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hypemagazine.co.za/2013/05/02/independence-day-%E2%80%93-a-reflection-of-mizchif/ |title=Independence Day – A reflection of Mizchif | HYPE Magazine |accessdate=31 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101160412/http://www.hypemagazine.co.za/2013/05/02/independence-day-%E2%80%93-a-reflection-of-mizchif/ |archivedate=1 January 2014 }}</ref> and the first person in South Africa to perform hip hop with a live band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zimlink.org/mainstream-and-underground-forgot-hip-hop-mizchif|title="Mainstream and Underground Forgot Hip-hop" - Mizchif|date=12 October 2013}}</ref>

==Early Background== Mizchif was born and raised in Highfield, Harare, Zimbabwe. He moved to Syracuse, New York at the age of 12 where he hooked up with a crew, Soul Pack, and began rapping. He moved to South Africa at 18, where he released his debut album ''Life from All Angles'' in 1999 on Eargasm Records.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Mizchif%22&pg=PA41|title=Global music pulse|last=Coetzer|first=Diane|date=18 January 2000|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=5 June 2010}}</ref> It was well received and had classics like "Place for a Wife" and "Fashionable," of which both respective music videos received constant airplay on several TV music channels across Africa.

Mizchif presented hip hop news on Johannesburg radio station YFM. He was also a video jockey on ''Nasty'', a hip hop show on MNET music channel, Channel O.<ref>{{cite news|last=Makiwa|first=Henry|title=AllAfrica|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200208160600.html|accessdate=19 December 2012|newspaper=The Daily News Harare|date=16 August 2002}}</ref> In 2001 Mizchif teamed up with Mavusana from kwaito group Oda Meeste, for the album ''Summertime'' on Ghetto Ruff records which had the infectious hit "Summertime".

His album ''Supernatural (My Return)'', was released in September 2003 and nominated for the Best Hip Hop Album at the 2003 South African Music Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.publicenemyafrica.com/zimbabwean-hip-hop/ |title=ZIMBABWEAN HIP-HOP | Public Enemy Africa |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803174500/http://www.publicenemyafrica.com/zimbabwean-hip-hop/ |archive-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Death== On 4 September 2014, Mizchif died due to ill health.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thejuice.co.za/top-stories/rapper-mizchif-dies/|title=RIP Rapper Mizchif|publisher=The Juice|date=4 September 2014|author=Ben, Siyathemba|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/music/2014/09/04/legend-rapper-mizchif-dies|title=Legend rapper Mizchif dies|newspaper=Sowetan|date=4 September 2014|accessdate=5 September 2014}}</ref> He was 38. His funeral was held on 8 September 2014 in his hometown in Greendale, Harare, Zimbabwe at the Warren Hills cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enca.com/hip-hop-legend-laid-rest-zimbabwe|title=Mizchif laid to rest in Zimbabwe|publisher=ENCA|date=9 September 2014|accessdate=9 September 2014}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Singles=== *"Fashionable" (1999) *"Place for a Wife featuring TK" (1999) *"Summertime feat Mavusana" (2001) *"Ngiyazwa" (2001) *"Wonderful World" (2003)

===Albums=== *''Life from All Angles'' (1999) *''Mavusana meets Mizchif (Summertime)'' (2001) *''Supernatural (My Return)'' (2003)

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.hiphop.co.za/ Hiphop South Africa] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070430222329/http://zimvibes.com/ Zimbabwe Urban Culture] * [http://www.africanhiphop.com/ The home of African hip-hop culture on the web. 15 years online.] * [http://www.yfm.co.za/ YFM]

Category:1976 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Zimbabwean rappers Category:Musicians from Harare Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to South Africa